Necessary Illusion: Art As "Witness" : Resonance and Attunement to Forms and Feelings

Book Description

A sensual, visually opulent photographic history of the nude athlete.

The history of sports is also a history of nude photography. Sports and games—indeed all forms of physical culture—have always been practiced in a state of at least semi-nudity. Yet never before have the sensual and erotic aspects of sports been celebrated with such enthusiasm as they are today.

Peter Kuhnst's thoughtful selection of images traces the history of the nude athlete in photography from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. From Eadweard Muybridge's motion studies of runners and javelin throwers, through European Naturism, the painterly photography of Pictorialism, and Leni Riefenstahl's work under the Third Reich, to stunning contemporary photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe, Herb Ritts, Bruce Weber, and Annie Leibovitz, the list of photographers is long and varied, and their styles range from traditional to rebellious to humorous to provocative.

This sumptuous and beautifully printed survey is sure to captivate both lovers of fine photography and sports fans.

With 160 photographs in color and duotone by: Yann Arthus-Bertrand • Diana Blok • Lynn Davis • Thomas Eakins • Greg Gorman • André Kertész • Annie Leibovitz • Herbert List • Robert Mapplethorpe • Eadweard Muybridge • Leni Riefenstahl • Herb Ritts • Frank Eugene Smith • Bruce Weber • and many others

Customer Reviews:

Hmmm.......2007-03-19

Not what I expected at all. Very disappointed. Basically naked people, athletic or not. Many od photos, B & W besides.

What not what I expected .......2007-01-24

Returned it -- SORRY

Painful........2006-06-14

I purchased this book hoping for some artistic pictures such as might be suitable for framing. What I found instead is a jumble of photos that are anything but. A completely disappointing collection at best.

Portraying Naked Men and Women at the Peak of Good Health .......2005-09-03

Contrary to what one might suppose from its title, this lavish portfolio does not compile nude portraits of celebrity sports figures or body-builder enthusiasts. Rather, most of the pictures included portray the health/hygiene and nature spirituality aspects of the multiform clothing-free movement from its earliest days. Together with a highly informative text, the pictures make evident the relevance of the values and practices of naturist/nudist groups for modern dance, film, art, gymnastics, and the recreational conventions of the larger popular culture. The high quality reproductions are printed on heavy photographic-quality paper and bound in an oversize volume by a firm in Switzerland specializing in the publication of art books. Kuhnst is Professor of Sports Science at the University of Bochum (Germany).

Visually Appealing.......2005-08-09

Masculine perfection is a fleeting thing, and fortunately for anyone who decides to look at or own this book, he will find it documented therein. The men are at the zenith of their physical perfection. This book is a real treat!..spoil yourself

Average customer rating:

An average 3 star graphic novel.

An excellent portrayal of life during the depression.

Kings in Disguise: A Novel
James Vance
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
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Terr'ble Thompson

An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, and True Stories

ASIN: 0393328481

Book Description

"One of the most moving and compelling human stories to emerge out of the graphic story medium."—Alan Moore

This award-winning tale, set in the height of the Great Depression, received rave reviews long before graphic novels became the phenomenon they are today. Hailed as one of the top 100 comics of all time by The Comics Journal, Kings in Disguise now reemerges as a classic. It is January 1932, and movie-loving Freddie Bloch is trading his father's liquor bottles for the cost a matinee: "Dreams were only a dime, but empty bottles [only] brought a penny apiece." When his father disappears and his brother gets arrested, Freddie finds himself homeless and adrift, trying to survive during the Detroit labor riots and amid the furor of violent, anti-communist mobs. Winner of the Eisner Award and the Harvey Award for Best New Series and an additional Eisner Award for Best Single Issue.

Customer Reviews:

An average 3 star graphic novel........1999-03-18

Nothing special here. It did have it's moments, but overall it was an average to dull read. I only paid 5 bucks for this book, so at that price it was a good value. Pay any more and your certainly wasting your money.

An excellent portrayal of life during the depression........1997-06-13

During the 1930s, Freddie Bloch is forced to leave his home in search for his alcoholic father. During his travels he becomes a hobo, riding trains, living in much the same way we imagine the homeless do in the 1990s. Bloch's companions make the best of their poor circumstances by convincing themselves that they live undercover, and are "kings in disguise." The story resolves in a way that both allows Freddie to grow and realistically accesses the great depression. This is a graphic novel as opposed to a prose novel, but the illustative quality(direct, understated, black and white drawings) add to the novel's power rather than diminishing its overall effect. This is accomplished in great part because Vance's dialogue sounds novelistic rather than like a movie or what one often associates with comic book writing. Kings in Disguise is Tom Joad in picture

Average customer rating:

Okay book, but could be better
Not bad
The Wait Is Over

Far Traveler
Rebecca Tingle
Manufacturer: G. P. Putnam's Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0399238905

Book Description

When King Edward gives his niece ®lfwyn two choices-marry one of his allies or become a nun-Wyn is at a loss to decide. Her strong, warrior mother has just died, so it's impossible to know what she would have wanted.
Wyn takes the first risk of her life and flees. Disguising herself as a boy, she adopts a new identity as a traveling storyteller called Widsith (far traveler) and reinvents herself, drawing upon the books she has loved all her life. Soon she finds her fate inextricably tied with the dark-eyed King Wilfrid, who knows her only as Widsith, and wants her help in a plot against her own uncle.
Praise for ,I>The Edge on the Sword:

Customer Reviews:

Okay book, but could be better.......2007-01-10

This book was good, but started out pretty slow. I enjoyed the middle and end of the book much more than the beginning. I realize that the author was basing the book on historical accounts, but I frequently found myself confused and bored. The middle and end gets better, but I don't think that many people under the age of twelve would enjoy the book because of its difficulty level. Overall, it was interesting, but there could have been a little more romance between Wil and Aelfwyn. I also wondered why her cousin went from being her best friend, to hardly showing any kindness or interest in her at all. I give this book four stars, becuase all though it was well written, it was a little lacking in exitement

Not bad.......2005-04-19

This book was moderatley exciting and enjoyable. However, it could get quite boring at times. It's the story of a girl who disguised herself as a boy to escape an unwanted marriage. But, Elfwyn, this girl has no self confidence, no spunk and I found myself feeling bored as I followed the story of her half hearted attempts to escape and find herself. The climax of the book proves that she is yielding and supports the king who wanted her to marry a man old enough to be her grandfather. I was dissapointed by this book as a story, but I'm sure as another reviewer remarked that the historical information in this book was interesting even if I personally did not appreciate it.
I think I might be a little too old for this book as it is recommended for ages 9-12. Being 14 myself I was not so enteretained by it.

The Wait Is Over.......2005-03-19

This is Tingle's second book about 10th century England; I eagerly await a third. Once again, the central figure is a young girl making her way in a man's world -- in this case, Aelfwyn of Mercia, who disguises herself as a boy "scop" (wandering storyteller and singer) to escape the political control of her uncle, King Edward. The story is rich in details about medieval life (the sort that make me long for time-travel), and although it's hard to imagine a girl as bookish and sheltered as Aelfwyn being able so successfully to transform herself into a scop, the momentum of the story carried me forward and over my doubts. I think I fell in love with her accidental protector, Wil, before she did.

One tiny complaint: there's no reason for this book to be marketed to a teenage audience. Adults are sure to enjoy it as well. I certainly did.

FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION - Volume 66, number 6 - June 1984: Ballad of the Flexible Bullet; Demon Lover; Joining; Will the Real Sam Starburst; Stoneskin; Two Bits; Skin Disguise; Two Masses

Average customer rating:

FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION - Volume 66, number 6 - June 1984: Ballad of the Flexible Bullet; Demon Lover; Joining; Will the Real Sam Starburst; Stoneskin; Two Bits; Skin Disguise; Two Masses
Edward L. (editor) (Stephen King; M. Sargent Mackay; Molly Gloss; Chet Williamson; John Morressy; O. Niemand; Wayne Wightman; Isaac Asimov) Ferman
Manufacturer: Mercury Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JHGFJY

Black Britain the King in Disguise Further Notes on Wedding Customs in Industry Folklore Vol.86 Spring

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Black Britain the King in Disguise Further Notes on Wedding Customs in Industry Folklore Vol.86 Spring
Venetia Newall Elizabeth Walsh Ruth Michaelis-Jones G.P.Monger
Manufacturer: The Folklore Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Dark Horse Presents #42 (DHP, Number 42)

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Dark Horse Presents #42 (DHP, Number 42)
Paul Guinan , James Vance , and Bruce Zick
Manufacturer: Dark Horse Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: B000UFP5GE

Product Description

Contains: Aliens; Kings in Disguise; The Argosy. Front cover art by Paul Guinan.

In Beautiful Disguises.(Review): An article from: World Literature Today

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In Beautiful Disguises.(Review): An article from: World Literature Today
Bruce King
Manufacturer: University of Oklahoma
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from World Literature Today, published by University of Oklahoma on September 22, 2000. The length of the article is 627 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: In Beautiful Disguises.(Review)
Author: Bruce King
Publication: World Literature Today (Refereed)
Date: September 22, 2000
Publisher: University of Oklahoma
Volume: 74 Issue: 4 Page: 813

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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Kings in Disguise
(unknown author)
Manufacturer: Kitchen Sink Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KK0MM6

Average customer rating:

A king in disguise,: A play for children (Entertainment series)

Average customer rating:

A king in disguise,: A play for children (Entertainment series)
Florence Davenport Adams
Manufacturer: The Dramatic publishing company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Product Description

El genial humor de Quino, dedicado y relacionado en este libro solo a la pareja. De ahí su título.

Average customer rating:

Si Carino

Manufacturer: Tusquets USA Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Customer Reviews:

A little hard to believe.......2007-08-18

Although I am sure Sydney Guilaroff knew all the people he talked about, his book does have a number of inaccuracies, and he comes off as a somewhat naive and not very well educated person. Not sure how much of this is his fault or the fault of his editor/writer. He credits himself for being in so many places at the right time and being the inspiration for so much that after awhile, it gets a little hard to take. Just the Summer Stock story alone is pure bunk; Judy wore the same outfit from the Get Happy number in a deleted scene from Easter Parade 2 years prior. It hardly makes sense that Guilaroff can take credit for the outfit himself. Either way, for film buffs, it is a fun and breezy read, although if you are looking for some very keen insights that are truthfully written, probably not the book for you.

under the blowdryer.......2001-04-01

While being well written, Sydney Guilaroff's autobiography reveals him either as someone with perfect timing or one who brings bad luck to others. He was with Joan Crawford at her sickbed when she won her Oscar for Mildred Pierce, he spoke with Marilyn Monroe the night she died and recommended she take a Nembutal!, he ran into Lana Turner after she had purchased the knife that would kill Johnny Stompanato, he was with Elizabeth Taylor for her emergency tracheotomy, and he spoke with Judy Garland and Princess Grace of Monaco before they died. This kind of opportunism existed even before he became the head of MGM's hairdressing and makeup department from 1934, when as a novice he styled Louise Brooks' hair into her signature bob, and then at Saks New York was visited by Claudette Colbert and Joan Crawford. It was Crawford who helped bring him to Hollywood, since she insisted on visiting him for each film and Mayer resented her absence, though he also considered the coiffures worn by his female stars to be lacklustre. However Sydney had differences with Mayer, refusing to be signed to a contract and he quit after one argument, only to be brought back with the promise that he would have no dealings with the studio boss. Guilaroff's insider view of MGM makes him an informed source on Crawford leaving, where he says she left volantarily, and Garbo effectively fired after the failure of Two-Faced Woman. He perpetutates the myth that Judy Garland's recordings for Annie Get Your Gun were mediocre (proven to be wrong by their modern day commercial release) and provides the disparate and shocking tale of her drug-induced incapability even during her Summer Stock Get Happy return to work after she had lost the weight she had carried during production. The story of Judy performing the number perfectly in one take as soon as the music started is either evidence of her impulse to entertain or proof of Guilaroff's fabrication. Garland's drug-taking are about the lowest he is willing to stoop, though Irene Dunne's deliberate request for retests so that she could earn more money is catty. We learn Garbo was an insomniac, Cary Grant a depressive, though it's a surprise that he doesn't rationalise Montgomery Clift's drug-taking during Raintree County as a post-accident necessity considering he picked up on Garland's addiction the first time he met her. Guilaroff isn't shy about his accomplishments and credits himself with colouring Shirley MacLaine, Ann-Marget and Lucille Ball their red hair colours, providing Marlene Dietrich with a non-surgical facelift which used hooks in a wig to stretch her skin taut, and suggesting Garland wear the fedora for Get Happy since she had pulled out all her hair. He also attributes non-hair related suggestions, like the all over the face kissing Garbo gave Robert Taylor in Camille, directed Marilyn's test for The Asphalt Jungle, recommended Richard Burton for Cleopatra, and defended Lena Horne from the commissary racism. He also, perhaps unwittingly, exposes himself unflatteringly when he tells of his dislike of grey hair, criticising Crawford for it and thereby terminating her communication with him before she died, and spotting Garbo after she too had dismissed him. Guilaroff believes that Monroe's death was suicide and not accidental, her depression not alieviated by her psychiatrist and spurred on by her involvement and rejection by the Kennedys. His personal life remains a mystery, his remarkable adoption of a child while remaining a bachelor and not an admitted homosexual (his experience adoption helped Crawford succeed with hers), though he does admit to proposing to Garbo and being turned down, and to having long term sexual affairs with her and Ava Gardner.

Book Description

Helysei Gibelli Musici Eccellentissimi Motetta Super Plano Cantu cum Quinque Vocibus et in Festis Solennibus Decanenda Liber Primus (Venice: s.n., 1546)

Average customer rating:

My kind of Book!

Two charming people, but...

Rustic Accents for Your Home: 45 Projects from Vines, Twigs & Branches (The Rustic Home Series)
Laura Donnelly Bethmann , and Ann Ramp Fox
Manufacturer: Storey Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1580171354

Amazon.com

A stroll through the woods or even a trip to the backyard will yield most of the no-cost materials needed to create the nature-inspired decorative items featured here. Using very basic tools and supplies (pruning shears, hammer and nails, wire, glue, and twine), the authors whip together twig-bedecked baskets, lampshades, desk accessories, clocks, frames, bathroom caddies, window treatments, and dollhouse furniture, as well as such major pieces as a headboard and faux mantel. Directions are adequate for these generally simple projects, but more photographs of the finished product would have been preferable to the colored drawings that illustrate most projects. --Amy Handy

Book Description

The natural world is our home, and we like to bring a little bit of it into the house, writes Laura Donnelly Bethmann in the preface to this unique home decorating guide. She and co-author Ann Ramp Fox practice twigology, which they define as "the art of forming whimsical, practical, naturally pleasing twig things while enhancing one's knowledge of the unique characteristics and beneficial qualities of trees." Now they share their art in this colorful handbook filled with easy-to-make, attractive, and inexpensive features and accents for every room using vines twigs, and branches. One look and you'll yearn to be a twigologist, too. Getting started is easy with the authors' clear, straightforward instructions, a few simple tools, and some free of inexpensive materials. In no time at all you'll be creating your own natural-feeling home environment, accented with the whimsical projects you've made with your own hands.

Customer Reviews:

My kind of Book!.......2000-11-29

What a great book! I love walking in the woods. With these simple projects I can bring some twigs home and turn them into something that is both a reminder of the outdoors as well as a useful object. (And a conversation piece.) Also, we don't have to spend a lot of money to make something. And the basic information about using tools and materials will help me with future craft projects. Thoreau would have loved some of these items for his cabin at Walden Pond!

Two charming people, but..........2000-07-07

The authors give some background detail about their lives and their philosophy of living, and it is engaging, but most of these projects are not things you'd want to see displayed in your home. The majority look like a bunch of twigs tied together, which is, of course, the idea. Except I'd like them to have some style too. One notable exception: the lampshade pictured on the cover. Some of the projects are illustrated with drawings instead of photographs, and that makes me suspicious. Couldn't the authors make one of these themselves, so it could be photographed?

I would have been happier with some more practical projects than a toothbrush easel that comes with the caveat that toothbrushes displayed in it may hang crookedly.

Book Description

Filled with in-depth insight and expert advice, The Vital Few vs. The Trivial Many will open your eyes to a new way of looking at the investment world, especially the stock market. You'll discover how to look past media hype to discern what the Vital Few or corporate insiders—those who know their companies best—are doing. By explaining which information is accurate and valuable, as opposed to that which is misleading and financially hazardous, investment professional George Muzea will show you how to successfully and intelligently evaluate the stock market and find valuable gems that have yet to be discovered by the masses.

Download Description

Discover the investing strategies of company insiders-to earn insider-level returns
Investors looking to garner exceptional long-term returns must first learn how to stop following the investment herd, which virtually guarantees average or below-average results. The Vital Few vs. the Trivial Many gives independent investors the knowledge and instincts to tip the investment scales in their favor, by explaining which information is accurate and valuable as opposed to that which is misleading and financially hazardous. The author, praised by Barron's and SmartMoney for his candor and techniques, discusses how to look past media hype to discern what the "Vital Few" or corporate insiders-those who know their companies best-are doing. Muzea then shows investors how to successfully incorporate those techniques into their own portfolios, intelligently evaluating the stock market and finding valuable gems that have yet to be discovered by the masses.
George Muzea (Reno, NV) is founder and President of Muzea Insider Consulting Services LLC, which advises 60 money-management firms with approximately one trillion dollars under management and whose impressive client list includes famed speculator George Soros's right-hand man, Stanley Druckenmiller, and other former Soros Fund Partners. Muzea is frequently quoted inboth print and broadcast media and is a popular speaker at investment forums nationwide.

Customer Reviews:

China.......2007-07-20

FYI, the rights to publish my book in Asia has been bought by China Youth Press. It will be published in simple Chinese this summer. China Youth Press is wholly owned by the Chinese Government and is located in Beijing, China.

I find it amazing how ambitious China is. I am sure they are doing the same with many other U.S. investing books and, in my opinion, it is a sign they want to continue with their global expansion and to become more sophisticated in other markets such as ours and those in Europe.

PS We should have an excellent Tax Loss Buying Season this October, in my opinion. Appendix B covers this. Good luck.

PPS I didn't want to rate my own book but Amazon requires one enter 1-5 stars so I had no choice. I would have prefered to use --).

George Muzea,
Author, The Vital Few vs The Trivial Many: Invest with the Insiders, Not the Masses!

For Serious Investors Mostly.......2007-06-22

George Soros was Muzea's client for over 10 years. Stanley Druckenmiller consults with him. If these people find his advice insightful, and if you can identify the aforesaid names, then what does it cost you not to read his book? Everybody who's serious about making money in the markets should get some insights into what the "pros" do. Especially a pro who's had some pretty superior performance.

Another timing technique.......2007-03-09

The book's main idea: invest when insiders are buying, get rid of shares when they are selling. The source of insider transactions - Yahoo Finance. The author uses insider transactions as the sign of impending turnaround of shares that have been declining in price for a while. I guess the approach is valid, and insider transactions should be taken into consideration when buying shares.

In short, this is another approach to investing/trading and could be used in combination with other methods. The book, though short, could be even shorter and should rather be a chapter in more comprehensive text. Then again, it tells you how to profit, and fifteen bucks is not much to pay for an investing idea.

Terrible; there's no "there" there........2006-12-17

I also got sucked in by all the other positive reviews. Here is the key takeaway from the book: buy when insiders are making meaningful open market purchases, and sell when they are making meaningful open market sales. Whether or not that is an insight for you, save your money. I expected much more. His favorite source for insider trxn info? Yahoo Finance. Gee, thanks. The rest of the book is complete fluff: anecdotes from the author's life, a primer on technical analysis (oh please), and his silly "Magic T" decision-making system. If you are curious about "Magic T", I can summarize that for you as well. Suppose you have to make a binary either/or decision: make a list of the five positive expected outcomes for each of the choices, and then rank each of these ten outcomes from 10 (most important) to 1 (least important). Sum the ranks, and the higher sum is your preferred choice. Insightful, huh? My promise to you, dear reader, is the following: If you buy this book, after reading it, you'll be thinking, why didn't I listen to that guy?

What?????.......2006-08-02

I read the other reviews, and I just don't get it. What is the point of this "fluff" filled book? Here are George Muzea's ideas on investing: ask your friends what their feelings are on the markets, and then do the opposite... listen to CNBC financial network, and then do the opposite of what you think they are trying to promote... buy when the "insiders" of companies buy their own stock (look, my Father has worked for the same company for all of his life and he only buys stock of his employer's company because he is faithful to the company... period... it doesn't mean that his company's stock is going to go up!!!). Well, now you have it and you don't have to buy the book.
The "newsletters" of people trying to promote "insider" trading schemes always go under within a few years of start-up... I wonder why that is??

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