Customer Reviews:
Prescott revisited.......2002-05-21
Any potentional historian of Spain must contend with the work of William Prescott. Though cutting edge historians of Spain dismiss Prescott as old fashioned (he wrote over 150 years ago), his work can still be read with pleasure and little awe (particulalry when one remembers that Prescott was blind when he was active as a historian.
Nancy Rubin makes use of Prescott and in a sense pours old wine in new bottles. Her Isabella is more acceasable than Prescott's pius queen. She also very ably puts Isabella in the proper perspective as the co-founder of modern Spain (at least from a geographic perspective). Isabella's reputation rests on her funding of the voyages of Columbus, but as Ms. Rubin's book ably demonstrates, she was much more than that. In a time when political couples (like FDR and Eleanor) are described as "political partners" Isabella and Ferdinand were true co-equals. He fought the wars and she tended to the quartermaster functions. No wonder they were a magnificent success.
If this book has one problem it is the rather ambiguous relationship between Isabella and the Jews and Moslems of Spain. Though she made use of the former throughout her career (particularly early on), she later was a willing participant in their forcible conversion. Perhaps this subject requires a book of its own.
Surpisingly Easy to Read!.......2000-12-21
Nancy Rubin's work on Isabel la Católica was very refreshing and difficult to put down. As a Spanish Literature student at UCLA, I recommend this book to anyone interested in the brightening their knowledge of this great woman. The chronology was consistant and the surrounding facts of the Catholic Queen were just the right size. It emphasized the rennovations that the queen implemented on the broken kingdom and the tenacity of her character, all fueled by her faith.
"I, Isabella..".......1998-05-03
Maybe should be called, "I, Isabella". One could think Isabella's reign was decidedly a mixed blessing, but still appreciate the drama of this book. Rubin takes us step by step through the bewildering maze of Spanish politics; she suggests answers to a lot of nagging questions (we see what a long shot it was against Columbus getting his funding); she conveys, ultimately, a sense of the loss and tragedy that followed on power.
Average customer rating:
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The Stettner Way: The Life and Climbs of Joe and Paul Stettner
John D. Gorby
Manufacturer: Colorado Mountain Club Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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| Biographies & Memoirs
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Mountain Climbing
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ASIN: 0972441301 |
Book Description
In Reading the Figural, or, Philosophy after the New Media D. N. Rodowick applies the concept of “the figural” to a variety of philosophical and aesthetic issues. Inspired by the aesthetic philosophy of Jean-François Lyotard, the figural defines a semiotic regime where the distinction between linguistic and plastic representation breaks down. This opposition, which has been the philosophical foundation of aesthetics since the eighteenth century, has been explicitly challenged by the new electronic, televisual, and digital media. Rodowick—one of the foremost film theorists writing today—contemplates this challenge, describing and critiquing the new regime of signs and new ways of thinking that such media have inaugurated.
To fully comprehend the emergence of the figural requires a genealogical critique of the aesthetic, Rodowick claims. Seeking allies in this effort to deconstruct the opposition of word and image and to create new concepts for comprehending the figural, he journeys through a range of philosophical writings: Thierry Kuntzel and Marie-Claire Ropars-Wuilleumier on film theory; Jacques Derrida on the deconstruction of the aesthetic; Siegfried Kracauer and Walter Benjamin on the historical image as a utopian force in photography and film; and Gilles Deleuze and Michel Foucault on the emergence of the figural as both a semiotic regime and a new stratagem of power coincident with the appearance of digital phenomena and of societies of control.
Scholars of philosophy, film theory, cultural criticism, new media, and art history will be interested in the original and sophisticated insights found in this book.
Product Description
The ultimate guide to practicing - a massive 376 color illustrated pages of practice ideas, tips, tricks and traps. Written especially for today's busy students (and their parents), in a bright and breezy format that invites browsing - plenty of subheadings, pullquotes, and fully cross referenced. Just look up the issue that's bugging you (say "speeding pieces up" or "preparing for performance") and the troubleshooting index will recommend all the Practiceopedia entries that will help...and will even tell you how they'll help...so you're now equipped with a smorgasbord of possible solutions to try. A mammoth compendium of practice wisdom from the author of The Practice Revolution.
Customer Reviews:
A mature piano student's review.......2006-11-07
I began to learn the piano about 3 years ago, just after I retired.
I have found "Practicopedia" full of useful ideas for practice which I have been using. My practice sessions are now far more organised. I am also hoping Philip's techniques will help me to learn my pieces more thoroughly and with less or no need to unlearn wrong notes etc.
I did have some trouble finding my way around at first. For example, there was no entry in the Chapter Guide on starting a new piece. However, I later found it in the Usher section which is a very useful compilation of Practiceopedia refences to address particular problems.
I can thoroughly recommend this book for mature (late starters) students who like to be well-organised. I am sure they will benefit from its advice.
Great for music teachers and students!.......2006-08-01
This book echoes a bit of Johnston's previous book: The Practice Revolution, but there is plenty more info that makes it worth buying, and the format makes it easy to find what you need! I am confident this book is going to help me help my students in becoming better musicians, and it is already making a difference in how I approach my own practice.
Customer Reviews:
More pedagogy than guide.......2007-08-28
Another book with a misleading title, this one is a rather academic review or summary of "best" approaches to teaching the physical aspects of playing the viola (or violin). Whether the "best" approaches are in fact being presented is open to question. Certainly, the physiology of playing the violin or viola is an important subject; but more and more my observation tells me that actual superior players of these instruments in our string ensembles are getting away from "classical" instrument-holds and moving toward the fiddle-player's tendency to "play" with the instrument in a forward position. That is what I have seen in the past few weeks from Midori and other well-known players. I cannot recommend this book to a beginning player of violin or viola. The intended audience is more for would-be teachers of the instrument; so it is all the more important perhaps to sound a cautionary note. There are many questions about the ergonomics of playing the viola (or violin) that need to be addressed, including even the reintroduction of the cello-style playing position. What the "majority" of teachers of these instruments are recommending to their students, or at least what is endorsed in this book, could push many young players to unergonomic and physically harmful techniques. Because this aspect of playing the viola, the ergonomics, is not directly addressed, all the recommendations as to development of technique are slanted toward a rather rigid style of play, one that is contradicted by the early historical illustrations we have of string players and by "folk" practice. This book should be approached with caution.
Excellent resource for Viola Teachers.......2007-08-25
I have been using this book with my Viola Studio for several years. Some of the most useful parts I find are the graded repertoire list, his discussion on technical set up issues, and he goes into several useful techniques on relaxation and breathing exercises and incorporating those ideas into making the "compleat" violist. I highly recommend it, and I include this as an optional text for my viola studio at the University of Florida.
Good Viola Book.......2007-05-28
Yes, it's a good book for anyone interested in the viola and the extensive literature for it. It has a lot of valuable tips on technique, etc. However, it is not a complete method for the instrument in the way that the Potter book is for the cello, which I was kind of looking for. It's more for reading than for practicing from. It's a valuable addition to the literature and would seem to be valuable also for violinists.
The viola handbook.......2007-03-21
Very knowledgable book. The best book that I could find on the internet.
Outstanding Resource!!!.......2005-09-30
I am a violinist, but picked up this book looking for tips on technique and practice. This book is as helpful and relevant for a violinist as it is for my Brothers of the Bow of the Alto persuasion. Well-written and amply illustrated, this is a must read for serious viola students and a strong recommendation for violinists as well. It covers everything from how to hold the instrument to bowing technique to reading music and even (to my horror) transferring from violin to viola! If you are a strings teacher and haven't read this book I urge you to look it over. I don't believe you'll be disappointed...I sure wasn't!
Book Description
This book and CD set is designed to help music teachers at all levels develop standards-based assessments. Covers all nine content standards in the National Standards, and provides specific examples of student responses to assessment tasks. The CD provides audio benchmarks and includes music to stimulate student responses to selected tasks. This set is the second publication from the Benchmark project.
Average customer rating:
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Jazz: A Student's and Teacher's Guide (Resources of Music)
Graham Collier
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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| Classical
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| Music
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| Theory, Composition & Performance
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ASIN: 0521205611 |
Average customer rating:
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Student study guide and workbook to accompany Teaching children music : fundamentals of music and method
Grant Newman
Manufacturer: W.C. Brown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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ASIN: 0697034208 |
Customer Reviews:
I guess anyone can write a book on blackjack.......2006-08-23
Pay attention now. Are you listening? Put your thining caps on, now.
Those and other endearing remarks await you in this, what should have been titled, The idiot's guide to play blackjack like an idiot. You can save youself a lot of time and just hand all your stake money over to the dealer and go eat at the buffet or watch the shows.
His strategy is so stupid and his foundation for it is so lame (trust me, the math, statistics and computer simulations that have gone on before to create basic strategy are wrong) I wonder if this book was written by the casinos? There's good reason for this, of course. Computer simulations show a 1% advantage using his system - for the house.
I paid 55 cents for this book and it was not worth it. As for the strategy, it's simple. Because he says in mutiple deck games the dealer won't bust as often you should hit just about everything - 14 against 2 and 3, 15 against 3, 12 and 13 always and don't split aces against 10's.
While it's true that mutiple deck games have more deviations in outcome, they will balance out in the long run. Hello, are you listening to me. That is why your "system" is worthless mumbo jumbo. Bad strategy is still bad strategy over the long run. I suggest you read Stanford Wong's excellent Professional Blackjack for the theory and numbers behind basic strategy and card counting. And if you are looking for a simple but effective card counting system then look at Knock-Out Blackjack by Vancura and Fuchs.
Sceptic turned believer........2005-05-07
Heard a lot about this book so I bought it.
Read it thru thought is was mostly BS.
Tried strategy at home with suprising results.
Played in the casino again with suprising results.
To date in over 6 months of regular weekend play, I am up using this strategy.
After using this strategy I will not go back to old basic.
Read this review........2005-02-26
This book is the target of a smear campaign by the casinos. Most of the negative reviews on this book are being placed by insiders within the casino gaming industry.
*I have worked for the gaming industry for the past 25 years. Before this book was even published, copies of the manuscript were aquired by several of the casino gaming PR. This "Gregorian Strategy" was repeatedly tried under fire by gaming experts, witnessed personally by myself and others, against other known systems and EVERY time this strategy out-performed not only basic strategy, but basic strategy used in conjunction with the High-opt, the Hi-Lo, and KO BJ counts.
*I am not a gambler, and I do not play BJ or any-other casino game. I know what I know from working behind the "eye in the sky." I have seen everything in my day and I am telling you this from the inside, dont believe everything you read. Especially most of the "one star" reviews on this book.
Get a refund.......2005-02-24
If you don't wanna count cards but wanna play blackjack, get Basic Blackjack by Stanford Wong, It's the best non counting blackjack book bar none. This book is junk with no mathematical support.
Effective strategy........2005-01-18
Pros: Book has an effective new strategy for the game. At home and in the casino this strategy performs better than old basic strategy hands down.
Cons: Book writing style is somewhat "annoying".
Overall A decent book with a winning system.
Book Description
Starting a new job search?
Looking to increase your status and/or your salary at your current job?
Got an important presentation coming up?
Does your appearance increase your prospects . . . or will it destroy them before you even start to talk?
It doesn't matter how smart, hardworking, or dedicated you are-if you don't look the part, you're simply not going to succeed in today's business world. Every look you put together is more than a collection of clothes, accessories, and good grooming-it is truly your personal logo. In The New Professional Image, 2nd Edition, image consultant Susan Bixler, whose advice has been featured in Time, The Wall Street Journal, and Vogue, is your indispensable guide to creating your wardrobe and tailoring your appearance for every day and every challenging business situation.
The New Professional Image, 2nd Edition answers all of your most pressing concerns, such as:
What's the best look for that make-or-break interview?
How do you determine which colors will make you sparkle?
How do you select the cuts and styles will enhance your body type?
How can high-quality choices actually save you money?
What's too casual for "casual Friday"?
Now completely updated and with a special chapter dedicated to plus-size professionals, wherever you are in your career, you can't afford not to read The New Professional Image.
Customer Reviews:
Good book for people just starting to look after their apperance.......2007-07-16
Its too broad
If you are just beggining to think about or change you apperance then this book id for you.
If you are well and truly in the know how with how you look and what you can and can not wear then this book is NOT for you
This book covers the general speal on apperances counta and professional presence.
It goes over broadly traditional business dress, business casual dress, and plus sized professionals.
its good because it has pictures scattered through out. Over all it is a good book if you are just beggining to change your apperance.
I would wait until it goes down in price however as I dont think it is a fantastic ROI.
Books:
- James II: The Triumph and the Tragedy (English Monarchs. Treasures from the National Archives) (English Monarchs. Treasures from the National Archives)
- John Brown: Queen Victoria's Highland Servant
- King James VI of Scotland, I of England
- Kings, Queens, Bones and Bastards
- Las Hijas de Sultana (Biblioteca)
- Life Of Her Most Gracious Majesty The Queen volume 1
- Lord of Arabia: An Intimate Study of a King (Kegan Paul Arabia Library, Vol 4)
- Lord Palmerston
- Louis Xiv And The Greatness Of France
- Louis XIV and the Parlements: The Assertion of Royal Authority
Books Index
Books Home
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- The Lorax
- Tales from the Diary of a Hairdresser
- The German Economy: Colossus at the Crossroads
- Rodale's All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: The Indispensable Resource for Every Gardener
Isabel The Queen: Life And Times (The Middle Ages Series)
Ferdinand and Isabella (Profiles in Power)
