Book Description
“International interest in this distinctive art form was renewed by Sherwood, whose personal collection is considered the world’s most comprehensive. Captivating and commanding, this opulent compilation superbly show-cases vivid new interpretations of familiar subjects.” —Booklist. “Equally important for both botanical and art collections.”—Library Journal.
Customer Reviews:
Reference .......2007-01-11
This book is very helpful, especially as a reference for anyone learning botanical illustration or anyone wanting to learn about specific botanical artists.
It's beautiful art work also makes it very nice as a "coffee table" book for others to admire.
Great Contemporary Botanical Art.......2005-05-07
As a rank beginner in watercolor and pen and ink I much appreciate the effort it takes to produce great illustrations of natural objects. Shirley Sherwood has brought together her remarkable collection of modern botanical paintings (and some ink renderings) in "A Passion for Plants: Contemporary Botanical Masterworks" and made them accessible to the public. It is certainly an impressive effort.
Unlike many styles of illustration, botanical art usually involved a finely detailed painting on a white background, occasionally with additional smaller drawings or paintings. Occasionally a background is also provided, but most have no background. The renditions of just about every artist featured are extremely well done and it is hard to pick a favorite. Kate Nessler's watercolor of Rose Hips & Oak Leaves, Mariko Imai's exquisite watercolors of carnivorous plants, Elizabeth Dowle's paintings of fruit, Francesca Anderson's detailed ink renditions of sunflowers and cacti, and John Wilkinson's ultra realistic (complete with insect damage and hover flies!) watercolor of Ligularia, are just a few of the treats in this magnificent book. It sure makes for a tough standard, but a worthy one, for us beginners!
A great book for artists, botanists and anyone interested in plant illustration!
A superb, international collection of botanical art........2002-05-30
This is an excellent collection of botanical illustrations reproduced in very detailed, rich color on quality paper. Artists from all over the world are represented with brief biographies of each one. I think this book is one of the best books to have if you love botanical illustration and would like to see examples done by highly skilled, scientifically accurate illustrators. Just as good or better than the first Shirley Sherwood collection book.
Book Description
Transcending superficial concerns of mere stylishness, The Supermodern Wardrobe addresses the real needs of men and women navigating the urban landscape. Air pollution, physical assault, extreme temperatures, space restrictions: by utilizing multifunctional fabrics and technologically equipped textiles, innovative designers like CP Company, Samsonite, Kosuke Tsumura, and Vexed Generation respond to such contemporary challenges. Whether it's a bulletproof parka inspired by riot gear, a jeans jacket wired for an MP3 player, or a dress that turns into a travel pillow, the clothes are so pragmatic, they're revolutionary.
The first book to cover this genuinely cutting-edge category of fashion, The Supermodern Wardrobe explores mobility, self-defense, shelter, and other relevant themes. The analytical text, accompanied by 120 original, full-color photographs, is guaranteed to intrigue trend-mongers and couture insurgents.
Customer Reviews:
I just bought and recieved The SuperModern Wardrobe........2006-10-07
This book is DEFINETLY worth the purchase. As an avid collector of fashion as well as other books, I see this book more on the inspiring side. It is around 140 pages of all color and all mostly pictures. The photography on the clothing is almost always dead on. It lets you explore the garment from the proper angle and lets you really get a feel for what it is about. It goes through catagories explaining garments that deal mostly with FUNCTIONALITY, (ie- a hooded cloak that turns into a kite, or a jacket that has a cell phone charger built into it,) MODULAR SYSTEMS, (ie- skirts that can be lengthened or shortened or a long raincoat that can turn into a biker jacket), MOILITY, (ie- Samsonite jacket with a reading light put in) SHELTER, (ie- a raincoat that turns into a tent to sleep in.) PROTECTION, (ie- Solar protection coats), URBAN CAMOUFLAGE (ie- lots of camo print detailed textures) SUPERMODERN COUTURE (ie- couture runway and supermodern desiginers) and SUPERMODERN IN DETAIL (which goes into detail including lots of detailed pictures of everything).
It explains this all with great pictures so you know exactly what they are talking about. They use high fashion designers such as Alexander McQueen, but then they will show someone completely different such as a jacket designed by Samsonite. Its not all these very famous designers either.
Other designers include, Vexed Generation, Phillips-Levi, C.P. Company, Issey Miyake, Simon Thorogood, Hussein Chalayan, etc.
Book Description
Fifteen-year-old Jeremy Duncan is the heart and soul of puberty. A typical teen, Jeremy is shy, self-absorbed, and bored. He loves hanging out and playing the guitar, and is constantly befuddled at his parents' uncoolness. He lives in the shadow of his older brother's perfect 4.0 grade-point-average, star athlete, flawless complexion image. Jeremy's girlfriend, Sara, loves that she can get him to do anything for her. His best friends are Hector and Pierce, whom he's known for-almost-ever. His parents' Uncool baby boomers. (Unless you're a parent. Then they are two suburban professionals trying to do the best they can with a teenager going through that "awkward" phase.)The enormously popular comic strip Zits depicts teenage and parental angst like no other. Teenage Tales is a cornucopia of recent Zits for die-hard fans everywhere.Zits can be seen in more than 1,100 newspapers, which is almost unheard of. Only 18 other comic strips have achieved that extraordinary milestone. Zits has won the National Cartoonists Society's Best Comic Strip of the Year for two years in a row.
Customer Reviews:
every parent of teenagers need this.......2007-03-21
This book is great for parents of teenagers. My teenagers even liked it. The cartoons are so true.
Zits junky.......2006-11-10
Actually, it's not fair for me to submit a review of this or any other Zits Sketch book since I am a certifiable Zits Junky. "Teenage Tales" is every bit in keeping with the spirit of Zits as it's 7 predecessors.
Top rate all the way.
Hilarious!.......2006-08-07
Zits captures the essence of all teenagers in this book! Its so funny...and so true! Its perfect for all teenagers.
Teenage Tales :.......2006-02-21
its a little of all of us in this book,you will not be able to put it down.
LOVE IT!!!!
Teenagers relate to Zits.......2004-04-26
It is funny and the most well dramatized version of a teenage life.
Book Description
People say “Love’s a joke,” and they’re not kidding. Despite that first tender, hesitant “Do I?” moment and that definitive “I do!” at the altar, everybody still seems to end up asking themselves the same darn question: “What did I do?” Champion jokester Judy Brown knows what you’ve gotten yourself into and has assembled over 800 hilarious answers to that question.
In Love’s Funny That Way, you’ll discover all of the best comedians at the top of their game, dishing on the best of all comedic topics—love. Whether you’re dating, married, divorced, or smart enough to count yourself out of the game entirely, you’ll want to read Jerry Seinfield on blind dates, Rosie O’Donnell on bridal showers, Jon Stewart on gay marriage, and much, much more.
Judy Brown was a contributing editor and comedy critic for the L.A. Weekly for more than a dozen years. She is the author of It’s a Man’s World, Funny You Should Say That, Funniest Jokes from the World’s Best Comedians, and She’s So Funny, among many other books. She lives in Santa Monica, California.
Customer Reviews:
A little disappointing.......2003-11-24
Despite the fact that the author penned the Harrison Ford movie, "Witness," there's a few things I'd question about this book.
For a start, she treats loglines (e.g., the short TV Guide-style 'blurbs') and thematic statements as being the same when they might not be at all. For example, "love conquers all" may be your theme, and "a deaf woman falls in love for the first time" may be your logline.
In the beginning of chapter 2, she recommends studying scripts that have no camera angles or stage business, but then discusses those very things at length just a page later. If she's advising writers to avoid them, why spend several pages on them?
She also references "three-act structure" within the first 3 chapters, but doesn't actually explain it until Chapter 8. I found it odd that details like formatting margins and camera angles are defined long before structure. If you don't have at least a basic 3-act outline or idea, it's probably too soon to be worrying about margins.
There's some nice nuggets in this book, but it's really more of an introduction to the screenplay form and to the general nature of the business. You'd still need to supplement it with something more meaty, such as (but not limited to) books by Syd Field, J. Michael Straczynski, Christopher Keane, Richard Walter, David Trotter, Robert McKee, or Lew Hunter.
Write Like a Pro From One of the Best.......2002-09-16
This is a skinny but great book, one of the best I've read on screenwriting. ... In this book, Pamela Wallace covers the basics, but also gives the reader solid professional advice, such as how to make strong, clear choices for a character that may or may not appear in your screenplay, but nevertheless help enrich the story. One of the most helpful points in the book is the section that deals with finding a character's defining moment - the point in the character's life that helped shape him and drives him throughout the story. There's also an interesting section on how to write compelling dialogue that actors can actually SAY, not just read. A big thumbs up for this one. Ms. Wallace knows what she's talking about.
Sage Advice From The Trenches.......2002-07-16
YOU CAN WRITE A MOVIE is the first screenwriting-related book I've read by someone who is a successful scriptwriter in the film/TV industry. Oscar-winning Wallace (WITNESS)has had fame & glory, but also has managed to stay "in the game". Her advice, her experience, & her knowledge come from a very real place which may not always reflect the usual information written in other screenwriting books. But reading her book & knowing that what's written is from a working professional gives this concise, easy-to-read book a much-validated recommendation.
splendid. The best screenwriting book on the market........2001-05-05
This book is a very concise guide to writing a screenplay by an oscar winning writer. I think this book is a welcome alternative to books by writers without real credits.(Syd Field etc). It is very helpful in helping a writer focus their story before writing the script. Writing a good logline and defining the theme are focused on. The chapters on charachterization and writing dialog are the best I have seen for the beginning writer.
Average customer rating:
- You are so Nashville if....
- Fun in Music City
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The Bluebird Cafe Scrapbook: Music and Memories from Nashville's Legendary Singer-Songwriter Showcase
Amy Kurland
Manufacturer: HarperEntertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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The Thing Called Love (Director's Cut)
ASIN: 0060935219
Release Date: 2002-06-18 |
Book Description
There's a little bistro in a small strip mall in Nashville, Tennessee. Twenty years ago owner Amy Kurland flung open its doors, and Music City's greatest unsung singer-songwriters ambled in. It was there that Garth Brooks performed his earliest gigs -- and landed a recording contract with Capitol Records. Since its opening in June 1982, the club has inspired a television series, a feature film, and more webcasts than a person can count. And it has perhaps become the premier legend in a town that's known for legends -- one of the hippest hangouts and best listening rooms in country-music country!In celebration of the Bluebird's twentieth anniversary, owner Kurland -- with able help from collaborators Mark Benner and Neil Fagan -- has compiled a treasure trove of mementoes and memories from the cafe's first two decades. It is chock-full of candid photographs, history and fascinating trivia, unique memorabilia, and fond personal remembrances from the likes of Pam Tillis, Henry Gross, Rusty Young, Garth himself, and many, many more of the country royalty who, before they could fill great arenas, filled the Bluebird Cafe with song. Here, too, are mouthwatering recipes straight from the Bluebird's incomparable kitchen and from musicians, including Faith Hill and the Dixie Chicks -- everything from Shrimp Gumbo to Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake!There is no other place in the world quite like the Bluebird -- and there is no other book more indispensable to the true country-music lover's collection than The Bluebird Cafe Scrapbook. It's fun, funky, absorbing, intriguing, and always heartfelt -- a one-of-a-kind keepsake that gloriously celebrates a unique Nashville monument and the talent that made it so.
Customer Reviews:
You are so Nashville if...........2002-07-29
The Bluebird has been a mainstay of the Nashville music scene for years. Here's the story of how it all happened from the owner Amy Kurland to the performers who make the Bluebird what it is today. This is a great read and a must of the collector of country music history.
Fun in Music City.......2002-06-25
Just a pleasure to look at. There is no pretense and a lot of funny stuff.
Average customer rating:
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Final Fight: Streetwise Official Strategy Guide (Official Strategy Guides (Bradygames))
BradyGames
Manufacturer: BRADY GAMES
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ASIN: 0744005728 |
Book Description
BradyGames’ Final Fight: Streetwise Official Strategy Guide includes the following:
Platform: PlayStation 2 and Xbox
Genre: Fighting
This product is available for sale in North America only.
Book Description
Since 1980, Michael Porter's classic Competitive Strategy has provided the methodology that most big companies use for strategic analysis. But now, distinguished Columbia Business School professor Bruce Greenwald offers a bold new theory of competition—a theory that is far simpler than Porter's and much easier for strategic planners to apply in the real world.
Porter identified a complex five-force model for studying competition in any market. But Greenwald argues that there is only one essential factor in determining competitive advantages: how easy it is for competitors to enter or expand in a given market. If a company can erect strong barriers to entry—through customer captivity, lower production costs, or economies of scale—it can manage these advantages, anticipate competitors' moves, or achieve stability through bargaining and cooperation.
Greenwald draws on game theory to explain what you should do if barriers to entry are strong, weak, or nonexistent. He covers a wide range of examples, from retail to telecommunications to auction houses. And his lessons can be applied whether your business is dominated by a single huge player, a handful of roughly equal players, or no one at all.
Competition Demystified will give executives and strategic planners an indispensable new way to exploit competitive advantage and achieve exceptional profits. It is destined to become a management classic.
Customer Reviews:
Good opening, followed by boring "already knew" business examples.......2006-09-26
Reading the begining of this book I was totally blown away by this book. It was intresting to read about the concept of barriers of entry and local dominance that the writers has their own thoughts about. This is new stuff (diffrent from Micahel Porter) but not enough to write a whole book. So what is followed is already famous examples of competitive wars between famous companies that has taken place. The writers try to prove their theories but in reality, I dont buy it. Wanna learn more about strategy, go for the military books. Or go for Co-ompetition, thats a better book.
A guide to becoming a strategist.......2006-03-09
My two key takeaways from reading Greenwald's well-argued and counterintuitive premise are:
1. There are but a few fundamental sources of competitive advantage
2. Most companies can tap these sources at a local level (not a national or international level)
These show that the front-line manager - the regional coordinator of retail chain or the country manager of service firm - has the power (and the obligation) to pursue local competitive advantages. Greenwald provides a simple, intuitive method for helping such "front-line strategists" seek out a competitive edge.
I recommend this highly for anyone who aspires to be a strategist.
Interesting Insights, Flawed Conclusions!.......2006-01-13
Greenwald lays out what he calls a simplified theory of competitive strategy," followed by analyses of a number of real-life situations. While the theory usually makes sense, Greenwald's application is not always as compelling.
"Competition Demystified" begins by observing that for at least the last half century, strategy has been a major focus of management concern. Sometimes enormous consequences flow from decisions not even thought to be strategic - eg. IBM's outsourcing creation of its PC operating system and CPU manufacturing. Regardless, effective strategy is central to business success.
Greenwald says that the first issue is selecting the arena of competition, and the second involves management of external agents. Barriers to entry is the area one should focus on first, and primarily in these analyses. If there are no barriers many strategic concerns can be ignored - the only option is to focus on being as efficient and effective as possible.
Greenwald believes that competitive advantages that lead to market dominance are much more likely to be found in a local arena (either geographic or product space). Further, there are only three kinds of genuine competitive advantage: supply (privileged access, proprietary technology protected by patents or experience), demand (eg. psychological or actual costs of switching - includes branding, loyalty programs, laborious setup and coordination issues), and scale economics.
An elephant (vs. ants) with a competitive advantage has as its priority to sustain what it has, and must recognize the sources and limits of its competitive advantages. Alternatively, companies with a competitive advantage may have potent competitors (eg. Coke - Pepsi, Boeing - Airbus). In this situation strategy formulation is most intense and demanding. They need to know what those competitors are doing and anticipate reactions to moves the company might make.
A common managerial axiom is to avoid commodity businesses - differentiate. However, Greenwald says that this doesn't work - Mercedes and Cadillac are clearly differentiated products, but their high original returns attracted new entrants (Lexus, BMW, Accura) and they now earn only average returns. (Another alternative is for existing competitors - eg. Lincoln - to expand; Lincoln, however was not successful in accomplishing this.) "Competitive Demystified" also notes that over-capacity, especially in a capital-intensive area - airlines, can create long-term poor profits. (This contradicts Southwest Airlines' success.)
Simple products and processes are not fertile ground for proprietary technological advantage. These are hard to patent (looks like "common sense") and easy to transfer (competitors could hire away employees). Similarly, technological advantages primarily provided by consultants or suppliers cannot be markets with substantial competitive advantages provided by technology.
The best strategy for an incumbent with economies of scale is to match the moves of an aggressive competitor - be they price cut, new product, or new frill. Any market share lost to rivals narrows the leader's edge. (Alternatively, competitive advantage based on customer captivity or cost advantages is not affected by market share loss.)
Greenwald believes that only a few industries have scale economies that coincide with global size - eg. Microsoft, Intel. Most are local. Meanwhile, growth of a market is generally the enemy of advantages based on scale.
Then, we come to application problems. My guess is that if American Airlines, etc. had tried to match Southwest's early fares in Texas (Greenwald's recommendation) they would have been found guilty of predatory practices under anti-trust laws, and severely hurt themselves economically in any case.
Greenwald comments negatively at length on Wal-Mart's decision to go national, pointing out that its financial returns fell when it did so, because its competitive advantage was mostly through local saturation, and not squeezing suppliers or superior distribution, etc. However, I cannot help but believe that if Wal-Mart had remained a regional phenomena it would not have the supplier leverage it has (Greenwald's financial review of this topic was overly superficial, at best); regardless, it would have been bought by a larger competitor (eg. K-Mart, Sears) and then probably atrophied in an alien management climate. Further, it probably would not earned sufficient funds to develop its computerized management systems for store replenishment and inventory control.
In Wal-Mart's case Greenwald forgot a basic rule of economics - maximum profits are reached by expanding until marginal revenues meet marginal costs. In addition, my understanding of the stock market is that maximum share price is attained through strong, steady profit growth (even if incurred at declining rates).
Other analyses within the book can be similarly attacked. My conclusion is that strategic planning is MORE complicated than Greenwald tries to make it out to be. Nonetheless, his book does provide useful background.
Disappointing.......2005-12-16
The book starts on the premise that competitive strategy is a complex subject and that Michael porter did give us a good structure/framework to analyze this phenomenon to succeed in the market place. Then the author is quick to add that among all forces analyzed by porter, "barriers to entry" is the most significant factor that affects competitive strategy. This is how the author sets the stage to explain "Competition Demystified"
With this quick and firm conclusion on the most significant factor affecting competitive strategy, the book starts off with case after case to justify this hypothesis. To simplify things, it looks at sustained profit margins and continuity of the key players in the given space as a proof for entry barriers. This approach is perhaps to support the second part of the title of the book "A Radically Simplified Approach to Business Strategy ". Granted that the cases discussed do justify the assumptions and are supported by hard facts or published numbers. But if competition lends itself to just a couple of variables, then every company can follow the strategy and hence no competition at all!. In fact one can say "The end of competition". Kindly recall "The end of history..."
The book however deserves praise for use of Game Theory in a simple non mathematical approach to analyze competitive situations and the behavior of the players. But again, this approach is just a part of the problem and not a full explanation of competitive strategy.
Given the speed of globalization and technological changes especially the internet in the last decade, the book fails to incorporate such forces that significantly affect the success of global firms.
Too voluminous, and fails to impress on what it sets out to accomplish.
Outstanding!.......2005-10-31
Competition Demystified is truly a great business book. An eye-opener, particularly for marketers - and a shocker for those who are still enamored of branding. For more, see
http://being-reasonable.com/index.php/weblog/permalink/bookshelf_competition_demystified/
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- Art Nouveau Frames and Borders CD-ROM and Book (Dover Electronic Clip Art Series)
- August Strindberg: Painter, Photographer, Writer
- Boggs: A Comedy of Values
- Bruce Nauman -- Raw Materials (Unilever)
- Can Rock & Roll Save The World?: An Illustrated History Of Music And Comics
Books Index
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