The Search for Form in Art and Architecture

Book Description

Important philosophical volume by foremost architectural conceptualist emphasizes organic design, interrelated study of all arts. He provides introductory, retrospective, and prospective analysis, explores the creative instinct, organic order, form and vitality, form and time, form and logic, form and function, the dogmatic, mechanized, and the creative mind, and more.

Customer Reviews:

The Search for Form in Art and Architecture.......2000-04-06

When The Search for Form in Art and Architecture was first published in 1948 it must have been an extraordinary read for many contemporaries. Eliel Saarinen's (1873-1950) book was a sensitive quest for emotional sincerity in a time when scientific logic and rationality ruled, and form, according to Saarinen, was used in a superficial and soulless manner. Just like Frank Lloyd Wright Saarinen had a career that spanned an astounding period of time, during which important changes took place within the fields of art and architecture and in society as a whole. In the book, ideas of the late 19th century come to a life again. More specifically the sentiments of the Finnish national romanticism, which in short can be characterized as a profound relationship with nature and a passionate outlook on life caused to a great extent by Finland's dramatic history. The book has a clear structure where Saarinen first deals with the meaning of form in general, then explores the use of form in an historical perspective, and finally gives pointers on how sensibility in art and architecture can be resurrected. The key being a close relationship with nature and the examples that nature provides us with. Saarinen does however not give any clear guide lines. But for professional designers the text can work as a stimulating reminder, or perhaps as a change of perspective, when in doubt or in need of reassurance. For me, as an art historian, it is always rewarding to be able to digest the thoughts of an artist first hand, instead of reading someone else's analysis. For the layman Saarinen's philosophical explorations can be a seductive journey that will broaden appreciation for form. The book reads easily from cover to cover. But as Saarinen throws out thought for the reader to ponder on, a good and relaxing way to enjoy it is also to every now and then read a segment here and there.

Book Description

Peter Orbach wants to live. It's too bad he didn't realize this earlier; it won't do him much good now that he's in Hell. He isn't the first person to believe he shouldn't be damned, but he may be the first that's objectively correct. Somehow, his soulless body still lives... and from all appearances, it's doing great without him...

Customer Reviews:

a great read.......2006-04-12

Parting Ways has a twisted kind of dark humour. Definitely check it out. I think everyone feels a little disconnected from their 'true self' at times. Parting Ways takes this to the extreme, with results that are disturbingly hilarious.

Best not to part ways with this masterpiece.......2005-11-08

Parting ways: The near life experiences of Peter Orbach is a work of art. Speakeasy Comics produced another book of pure quality and originality with one. The graphic novel, which is written by Andrew Foley, with art by Scott Mooney and Nick Craine, shows that comic books really aren't all about clichéd capes and villains that have to spell out their plans right before they "win". The story is one that most can relate to; it's about a man who has reached the edge of reason and decides suicide is the only way out. We then see the journey of the man, Peter, to the afterlife, but not the afterlife of pearly gates and fire ridden underworlds. He's dead now, but his body continues to live on Earth, living how Peter never would have lived.

This book has crisp artwork and a story that rightfully deserves to be turned into a silver screen hit. If you are a fan of sequential art, art in general, or simply a great story, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.

Book Description

In this witty collection you will find quotations grouped in categories that reflect the range of human existence, hopes, and achievement:

Life and Death (And Some of What Happens in Between)
“Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.”
—James Thurber

Love and Friendship
“The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing.”
—Blaise Pascal

Success and Ways to Achieve It
“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”—Sir Winston Churchill

The Life of the Mind
“Don't talk unless you can improve the silence.”
—Jorge Luis Borges

Politics and Politicians, Government and Statesmen
“Nothing in life is certain except death and taxes.”
—Benjamin Franklin

Proverbial Wisdom
“Joy shared is twice the joy. Sorrow shared is half the sorrow.”
—Swedish proverb

Customer Reviews:

A good belly laugh book. Excellent so don't miss it!.......2007-03-21

This book contains some of the funniest things I've ever read. It's so good to read because it makes me laugh at some of the things people say. If you want to be entertained and made laugh this book is perfect. It's a real treasure of funny sayings. I laughed so much I could not see the words.

1001 smartest things ever said (1001).......2007-01-10

Great little book. Fun/interesting and informative!!! Buy it!!

Book Description

Babylon Blue examines the '60s roots of global modern-day erotic cinema - from naturist films to the "nudie-cuties" of Russ Meyer - through to various incarnations of Euro-porn and hardcore, charting the rise, decline and resurrection of the genre since the early '70s. Finally, author David Flint chronicles the so-called New Porn Generation - the New Wave of adult movies, as epitomized by the sophisticated films of Andrew Blake, Michael Ninn and the Dark Brothers. Visually loaded with daring illustrations, Babylon Blue is the last word on sex cinema, featuring profiles of key directors, producers and performers, and detailed critiques of the finest adult movies of all time. The book contains interviews with sexploitation producer David Friedman, screenwriter Antonio Passolini, director Lindsay Honey and porn actress/producer Jane Hamilton.

?? Table of Contents

??Introduction
Early Days
An Interview with David F. Friedman
Beyond Deep Throat
The Golden Age
Euro Porn
Fortress Britain
An Interview with Lindsay Honey
Decline and Fall
An Interview with Jane Hamilton
New Porn Generation
An Interview with Antonio Passolini
Index?

Customer Reviews:

a long list.......2003-06-30

That's about all this books is, a very long list of adult titles and perfromers, a filmography, if you will. Not much detail or background provided on any of the films or performers. It's rather dry and hard to get through, despite it being fairly light.

But the big kicker was several statements I found that were obviously wrong, just general knowledge things-not even specifically related to adult film. It seems that this publisher doesn't employ a fact-checker or a proofreader. Additionally, the author is British and apparantly doesn't have a very good grasp on American law as it applies to obscenity and adult films.

Finally, although the book is entitled "an illustrated history of adult cinema" the illustrations are mostly video box covers and very few of those or the other photos have any sort of caption which makes them rather disjointed from the accompanying text.

Skin flick book never gets under the skin.......2000-06-14

Author David Flint makes it clear that he likes adult movies and has a vast amount of knowledge regarding them. This book cronicals the rise of the adult film and mentions all the movers and shakers who brought it to life.

But that is about all there is. He never spend enought time exploring the people, the times or even really the movies themselves to make this anything more than an advanced filmography of adult cinema.

He mentions in the preface that he does not intent this to be a comprehensive book, but the omissions keep it from becoming anything more than an interesting read.

Also his writing skills leave a little to be desired with the term GRUBBY being used to describe anything he finds distateful over and over again. He also has the habit of promising information later that never arrives (Such as exploring how AIDS has affected the industry during the nineties).

An okay book to begin with, but I would suggest a subscription to Michelle Clifford's METASEX fanzine for the real education on these films.

Good stuff for the people who looking for classic film.......1999-10-27

I think it's contain a lot of name and people who are in That kind of business. But it's not really detail in depth. The bio of the people and the interview was good. The graphic is bad. Dont's expect about the explict picture. It's about porn but not porn stuff.

Good if You Must Known Adult Cinema History.......1999-07-07

The cover of this book is perhaps the best part. The text itself makes a very interesting reading for all those interested in the subject; and it's the only book I could find that has substantive materials. It covers American as well as foreign adult film industries.

But I don't like the writing that much. I can't say exactly why. I wish the writing had been clearer and the presentation a little more compact.

Still, a high recommendation to all adult film lovers. ;-)

Average customer rating:
Play Guitar With the Beatles
The Beatles
Manufacturer: Hal Leonard Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0634012614

Book Description

This book/CD pack includes lyrics, music (in notes and tab) and chords with a CD that has both full demo tracks and backing tracks for six Beatles hits: And Your Bird Can Sing * Drive My Car * Here Comes the Sun * Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds * Revolution * While My Guitar Gently Weeps.

Play Guitar with the Beatles (Play Guitar With)

Average customer rating:

Play Guitar with the Beatles (Play Guitar With)

Manufacturer: Omnibus Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

Play Guitar With...the Beatles

Manufacturer: Music Sales Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Average customer rating:

requiem for a lost boy

Tony Miles: 'It's Only Me': England's First Chess Grandmaster (Batsford Chess Books)
Geoff Lawton , Mike Fox , and Malcolm Hunt
Manufacturer: Batsford
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Chess | Board Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Tony Miles - England's Chess Gladiator

The Chigorin Defence According to Morozevich: The Lines and Ideas in His Most Original Weapon

Petrosian vs the Elite: 71 Victories by the Master of Manoeuvre 1946-1983

Garry Kasparov on My Great Predecessors, Part 5 (My Great Predecessors)

Najdorf: Life and Games

ASIN: 0713488093

Book Description

From the archives of Britain's first grandmaster comes a fascinating and entertaining collection of games, articles, annotations, and reviews. This is the book Tony Miles would have written had he not died so prematurely in 2001, compiled by three of his close friends, and it contains all of his most famous wins, some of his losses, and some hitherto unpublished games from his earlier years. Among the gems that will intrigue chess lovers: a full run-through of the famous match against Karpov with the St. George's opening 1 e4 a6, as well as a much less well-known victory over the then-world champion from a television tournament. Almost all of the games have commentary by Tony, in his own inimitable style. As well as being a great player, Tony Miles's notes prove that he was one of the funniest writers on the game.

Customer Reviews:

requiem for a lost boy.......2007-09-12

Tony Miles was (he died a few years ago) a magnificent player and among the strongest players in the world between 1980 and 1990. Although he was best remembered for his swift victories using the black side of the Sicilian dragon at the beginning og his career, he was in fact a player with a liking for strategic games and queenless middlegames; he was overshadowed in England
by the rather less interesting (but extremely strong) player known as Nigel Short who was also one of his "bête noire" i.e. most difficult opponent; a crushing match defeat against Garry Kasparov was also instrumental in leading him to a severe nervous breakdown which seriously impaired his chess level; the book tells the story of this well loved player through his most devoted friends; it gives us the chance to meet a very witty and entertaining player who fell prey to the pettyness and low tactics of some other English players much less talented in chess but surely much better connected to the then reigning powers in chess.

Amazon.com

In their eye-opening, soul-prodding look at the excess of American society, the authors of Affluenza include two quotations that encapsulate much of the book: T.S. Eliot's line "We are the hollow men / We are the stuffed men," which opens one of this book's chapters, and a quote from a newspaper article that notes "We are a nation that shouts at a microwave oven to hurry up." If these observations make you grimace at your own ruthless consumption or sigh at the hurried pace of your life, you may already be ill. Read on.

The definition of affluenza, according to de Graaf, Wann, and Naylor, is something akin to "a painful, contagious, socially-transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more." It's a powerful virus running rampant in our society, infecting our souls, affecting our wallets and financial well-being, and threatening to destroy not only the environment but also our families and communities. Having begun life as two PBS programs coproduced by de Graaf, this book takes a hard look at the symptoms of affluenza, the history of its development into an epidemic, and the options for treatment. In examining this pervasive disease in an age when "the urge to splurge continues to surge," the first section is the book's most provocative. According to figures the authors quote and expound upon, Americans each spend more than $21,000 per year on consumer goods, our average rate of saving has fallen from about 10 percent of our income in 1980 to zero in 2000, our credit card indebtedness tripled in the 1990s, more people are filing for bankruptcy each year than graduate from college, and we spend more for trash bags than 90 of the world's 210 countries spend for everything. "To live, we buy," explain the authors--everything from food and good sex to religion and recreation--all the while squelching our intrinsic curiosity, self-motivation, and creativity. They offer historical, political, and socioeconomic reasons that affluenza has taken such strong root in our society, and in the final section, offer practical ideas for change. These use the intriguing stories of those who have already opted for simpler living and who are creatively combating the disease, from making simple habit alterations to taking more in-depth environmental considerations, and from living lightly to managing wealth responsibly.

Many books make you think the author has crammed everything he or she knows into it. The feeling you get reading Affluenza is quite different; the authors appear well-read, well-rounded, and intelligent, knowledgeable beyond the content of their book but smart enough to realize that we need a short, sharp jolt to recognize our current ailment. It's a well-worn cliché that money can't buy happiness, but this book will strike a chord with anyone who realizes that more time is more valuable than toys, and that our relentless quest for the latest stuff is breeding sick individuals and sick societies. Affluenza is, in fact, a clarion call for those interested in being part of the solution. --S. Ketchum

Book Description

Based on two highly acclaimed PBS documentaries watched by 10 million viewers, "Affluenza uses the whimsical metaphor of a disease to tackle a very serious subject: the damage done -- to our health, our families, our communities, and our environment -- by the obsessive quest for material gain. In cleverly titled chapters like "Swollen Expectations" and "A Rash of Bankruptcies," the authors examine the origins, evolution, and symptoms of the affluenza epidemic. Yet they also explore cures and suggest strategies for rebuilding families and communities and for restoring and respecting the earth.
Demonstrating that now, more than ever, Americans need ways of fighting the affliction, this edition includes a new introduction and updated figures, adds information on the impacts of stress and overwork, and provides an in-depth look at various campaigns and movements offering solutions for today's problems. Engaging, fast-paced, and accessible, it reexamines a serious, far-reaching issue for a wide audience.

Customer Reviews:

Book a of TV show - and it shows.......2007-10-01

I believe strongly in the message that this book is trying to get accross; that our current way of living in the Western world is unsustainable in the long term and it doesn't make us happy anyway. However, much like a TV show this book lacks depth and detail in it's arguments and tries to cover too much ground with too few words. AS the book progresses it feels less like new information and more like a cut and paste job from a whole range of sources, held together with some interesting graphics. On the upside, the book is set out well and it follows a logical order, building on firstly the problems and causes of Affluenza and then suggesting solutions, none of which would mean the end of life as we know it. The world, and more importantly your life, can be better and happier - just stop working so hard and consume less. Thats the general theme of the book.

As a better read, may I suggest 'Affluenza' by Clive Hamilton, which covers a lot of the same ground, but does so with a more cogent argument, albeit with an Australian slant.

Alternatively, watch the TV show.

Misses the mark but an important topic regardless..(2.5 stars).......2007-06-05

Affluenza has its heart in the right place but unfortunately fails in the execution, which is a shame since the message of the book is dead on. Western society has a serious problem with mass consumption brought on by media, politics and societal institutions. Studies have shown that people who simplify their lives and consume less, are actually happier in the long run.

The bulk of Affluenza sums up the issues from various different angles. It delves into the history of consumerism and how interest groups have their hold on the current system. As the book progresses it hints as various solutions to the problems which are pretty much of the buy less, drive less and eat less meat variety.

My problem with Affluenza is twofold. The book is poorly written and I'm referring mostly to the pacing. It will bring up a topic and quickly start describing a fictional family in some hokey situation to try to bring the point home. This gets old before it even begins and just doesn't work. The authors focus too long on most points and the I quickly started scanning through complete chapters that really offered little insight that logical people haven't already concluded.

This brings me to my next point....who is this book meant for? It's very preaching when it should be engaging. The people I know who would be interested in this book would find it too pedestrian because of their high knowledge content of the topic already. The people who should read this probably wouldn't be able to get through a third of it. This brings up the more important question of how to reach the general public on important issues that require people to sacrifice.

Bottom Line: Credits to the authors for the purpose, research and effort, but there is a very selective few I would give this book to.

I wanted it to be better..........2007-05-28

I love the concept of this book, and think it sheds light on a very important epidemic in our society. However, I have to agree with other reviewers that while the idea of Affluenza might have been revolutionary when the show was first aired, in 2007 the book just tells you a lot of stuff that - if you're tuned into the world - you probably already know.

Despite the fact that there isn't anything really groundbreaking in this book, I think it provides a lot of insights into a serious American problem (that we're exporting all over the world), and is a nice, easy read.

American Dream or Global Nightmare.......2007-02-03

"Affluenza" takes on the idea of materialism and survival, although by the time I had reached page fifteen, I wasn't sure it was having the desired effect. A visit to the Mall of America still sounded pretty good although traveling that far to shop seems less appealing in the days of "order it online" instant gratification. In the world of clutter clogged houses, shopping is often used as therapy which in the end can make us feel worse with looming credit card debts.

What does no recess for second graders, depression, bankruptcy and perhaps even suicide have in common? The authors present every possible societal problem for consideration. Is Affluenza the symptom or the problem? The authors would like us to believe that materialism is the disease and spending less money is the cure.

My thought on the matter (after taking the quiz and only having a score of 17 - I'm not yet afflicted even with a serious LUSH beauty product addiction looming :), is...this...Affluenza is a symptom of a society that has forgotten its soul. The book does briefly discuss gaining the world and losing your soul, but I've always thought this to be more of an eternal principle.

Will this book raise your blood pressure? It might in places where you read about the real reason whales seem to be washing up on beaches, why butterflies are dying from genetic engineering and how it could one day become possible to advertise on the moon (please no).

While the book presents problems for society to solve in very creative ways, they leave most of the solutions to the reader. However, if you think about it that is really where the responsibility rests in the end. Most of us realize money doesn't make you as happy as being in love or even as happy as having a life purpose you really believe in. In the end, I don't think having money to spend is the problem, buying gifts for friends and family, is not the problem.

If the way you live your life makes you and others around you unhappy, that might be a problem to consider. Then, on a more global scale, you can consider how your choices affect the world. If you really want
to change the world, I think sponsoring children all over the world is one step in the right direction. The way you spend your money could actually make you happy, I've found this to be true.

"Affluenza" is printed on recycled paper.

~The Rebecca Review

History, facts and insights are pointed and revealing messages addressing the modern condition........2007-01-07

The second edition of AFFLUENZA: THE ALL-CONSUMING EPIDEMIC will reach new audiences who might have missed one of the best nonfiction title nominees of 2001, providing updated details and healthy alternatives to the consumer oriented 'epidemic' of modern times. From shopaholics and bankruptcies to those seeking meaning in material goods, AFFLUENZA details the process of recovery from physical and cultural clutter, and offers both personal and political remedies for the problem. History, facts and insights are pointed and revealing messages addressing the modern condition.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

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Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic
John De Graaf; David Wann; Thomas H. Naylor; Foreword-Scott Simon; Illustrator-David Horsey
Manufacturer: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000QY8EJO

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AFFLUENZA the All-Consuming Epidemic
David Wann, Thomas H. Naylor John De Graaf
Manufacturer: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JV3KQ6

Average customer rating:

Affluenza : The All-Consuming Epidemic
John; Wann, David; Naylor, Thomas H. De Graaf
Manufacturer: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KXM3BQ

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