No comments about Shaping Space: The Dynamics of Three-Dimensional Design.

5 comments about Math-terpieces.

1. This was our first book by Greg Tang, and I loved it so much, and can not wait to get my hands on more of his books. My son loves math, and I am always looking for new ways to challenge his thinking about the subject. This book is by far the best I have come across for that type of reading. I love the fact that the author was able to take two subjects, math and art, and intertwine them so that kids are really learning about two things at one time. The rhyming verses that he uses to set up the clues for number groupings is very, very nice as well. It is a great concept book. You will love the art, and you will love the way he gets kids thinking about art through math, and visa versa. It makes math fun for kids. 5 HUGE stars for this book!



2. My 4 year old LOVES this book. She will often stop me during mid read to clap her hands and tell me how much she loves it. We started out with just getting one way to make each desired number and are working our way closer to getting all of the possible ones. I love how she has gone from random guessing to being able to predict and look for the correct grouping. She is also realizing when she has made a mis-step and needs to try a different combination. Since we now need to keep track of our correct solutions, she is learning more about writing numbers and her first few mathematical symbols. The art is fun too. Thank you Greg Tang!



3. Before reading the book and playing with it with my kids, I was going to give this a lower review, but despite my dissapointment for having little value teaching about artwork, it's a great book. There is so much math in many masterpieces and it would be amazing to have a book that used different great pieces to illustrate this (for instance, patterns, which is a grade 1/2 math lesson is easily taught using Mondrian). This book does not do this at all, in fact, the artwork is just pretty backdrop to the math learning and grouping. So, I guess my bone to pick is the illusion that the reviews gave that this taught something about art, it doesn't, but it is a neat formula to teach math.



4. Greg Tang encourages his audience to develop number sense in a lively way. With the help of this and his other books, you can encourage your students to develop a more fluid approach to math. I have used many of his books in my classroom, and find it is best to pre-teach his way of combining number sets before reading the book aloud (just a short lesson).
   
   After introducing several of his books last September, I spent the rest of the year listening to students' spontaneous explanations of how 13 is really just two sixes and one more, or 5 + 8 which is really 5 + (5 + 3), but it's easier to see it as (5 + 5) + 3, and so on. When kids catch on to what he is doing with numbers, it is hard to get them to stop...but why would you want to?



5. I love this book and have shared it with colleagues! What a great idea to combine math and art, and what a great way to tackle problem solving which is not always a favourite with kids! For teachers, it helps us cover two subject areas at the same time which we greatly appreciate. When I saw the cover of this book, I was instantly intrigued. I liked the fact that it's suitable for all age groups -- older students may appreciate the art history aspect more, but the rhymes appeal to all ages. The illustrations jump out, are appealing and make math more interesting. When I showed this book to some of my students, one instantly said that it was "neat" because everyone came up with a different way of getting the answer yet everyone was right, to which I responded with a delighted smile!

4 comments about Indian Art.

1. While no expert in Indian art and architecture, I have been studying in this area off and on for about fifteen years. I have not encountered an introductory survey that was more balanced and illuminating. It is also well written and beautifully illustrated. The eccentric reviewer who accorded this book merely one star is obviously carping--perhaps because his or her own work was omitted from the necessarily selective bibliography. The other reviews have all been favorable up to this point, and for a good reason.



2. This is a significant improvement over Roy Craven's colonialist take on Indian art. This book is much more sensitive to the culture of India and its rich amalgamation of Vedic thought, the religion and philosophy of Buddhism, what we now term as Hinduism, and of course, later Islamic influence. Especially significant is the explanation of the narrative sculptural relief panels at Sanchi and Amaravati. Dehejia explains their rich narratives clearly - and what at first appears confusing becomes instead a rich tapestry of imagination. Her explanations also merge style with context; in effect, we understand these panels as they were understood at the time of their historical inception. She rightly de-emphasizes the dynastic and stylistically rigid categorizations that are so predominant in Western scholarship. A worthy and timely text. I highly recommend it.



3. I cannot agree with the previous reviewers. The illustrations may be wonderful, but the text is vague and uninformative. There are some puzzling omissions. Dehjejia wrote a book some years ago on Orissan architecture, but there is only the briefest coverage of this topic (and she does not even list her book in the bibliography. Speaking of bibliography, there are so many important omissions that it would be difficult to list them all. For the general reader, or for use as anintroductory textbook, it would be better to use Craven's by now classic Concise History of Indian Art.



4. Vidya's book is a delight not just for the scope and content of the written material and references, but also for visual pleasures it provides to the users. Indian art is nothing if not immensely varied and rich, and Vidya brings this to the fore. I was delighted to see the way the Madurai Meenakhsi temple was treated, to see its Gopurams teeming with mythological figures and dieties of all kinds : an apt symbol of the diversity and richness of this civilization and of life that it celebrates, for in many ways Indian art is like life : beautiful and confusing at the same time, a buzz of forms , shapes, and materials, all with their own rationale for existence and appeal. Vidya's book tries to a give a very good idea of this, from the earthy Khajuraho to the elegant Elephanta, from the ancient Indo-Greek Gandharan Buddhas to the naturalistic Nayaka. A book to please both scholars and lay readers alike.

3 comments about 1,000 Restaurant Bar and Cafe Graphics: From Signage to Logos and Everything in Between (1000 Series).

1. This book has a lot of very interesting usages for artwork and logos in the restaurant industry, but also includes a nice variety of design principles that can be used in many other applications.



2. I was looking for a book that showed more branding within the space, rather than all the 'extras' like menus, etc. Maybe the coverage in the book was too broad so they had to include equal coverage on each category (signs, menus), so they sacrificed on the interior/environmental design category. Also the 1000 is misleading - there seemed to be a lot of images from the same restaurants within each chapter in the book. If I were looking for a book on menu design, I'd buy it separately. That whole chapter was of little importance to me (based on what I thought the book would be about). I would not recommend this book for a designer looking for inspiration for environmental design/branding of restaurants. It wasn't comprehensive in this regard at all.



3. This 1000 series is wonderful and this is an excellent example. It really stands out in the sea of graphic design annuals that are poorly designed and are questionably juries.

2 comments about American Architecture: A History.

1. I'm taking Leland Roth's American Architecture class. I was worried about having to use his book for the class, but it turns out to be a very well written, interesting look at the history of American Architecture. Chapters are laid out in a well thought out manner and the pictures and drawings make for a more engaging read. I highly recommend this book for anyone who would like to know more about the built environment around them.



2. This extensive survey of American architectural history and styles covers works from pre-historic to modern times, covering the major developments which affected American-built cities and towns over a broad period of time. From evolving regional styles to period architecture and the development of urban landscapes, American Architecture: A History provides chapters packed with analysis and interpretation of American buildings and styles.

1 comments about American Art Since 1945 (World of Art).

1. American Art Since 1945 tackles a period of art that is drenched in social and cultural change. Post WW2 art forms are about breaking out, exploring, and defining new forms of creativity & expression. Yet this book is so dry and academic it fails to draw the reader in or excite. Instead the author repeats his few insights over and over and over. Then he repeats what he just said. And then he states it differently yet again. His writing style comes across like an undergraduate's; written with thesaurus in one hand and keyboard (or pen) in the other. The author tries much too hard to sound like & prove he's learned. That said, the book is well illustrated. And the text (style that it is) ties in to the images. But I think that true experts should be able to use accessible, exciting language to make even dry subjects (not this art, for sure!) fun to delve into and read about...this author didn't do that for me.

5 comments about Wabi-Sabi: for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers.

1. a close friend of mine loaned me the book on saturday - i read it once on sunday, and again yesterday (monday)
   
   the book is more powerful than i can describe in a review. 5-stars, no-brainer.. read this book!
   
   the orientation is more ideological than demonstrative or critical.. the relative shortage of (delightful!) examples leaves me wanting more. and as much as like loved this book, i would like to read the large glossy version titled "wabi-sabi: for people with ipods, large televisions, and who generally disdain reading" :)
   
   in its existing form, the book is an easy and inspiring read. if you're intrigued by the beauty of a pair of worn-out shoes, the grime of a subway station, the cracks in a crumbling rock, a decaying leaf, etc.. this book may give words, insight and extension to your aesthetic perception. given the relative lack of high-fidelity examples, it may be hard for others to gain an appreciation of wabi-sabi through this book
   
   wabi-sabi is primarily contrasted with modernism, providing a much more useful and forward-focused comparison than against its more classical/baroque aesthetic ancestors - however the comparison does imply an inappropriate (imo) us-vs-them context with modernism. modernism is concerned with the clean, permanent, undistracting, impersonal, etc.. wabi-sabi is about the dirty, organic, distracting and personal. the author positions wabi-sabi as occupying a subset of aesthetics that is *not* modern.. i don't know if this "anti" element is a crucial part of wabi-sabi (?). wabi-sabi would be more powerful to me if it were described only in terms of its own fundamental traits, without counter-reference to other aesthetic ideologies. i find my ipod attractive *and* i find decaying leaves attractive - is it possible there could be more one "good" aesthetic?! the author generally defines wabi-sabi as fundamentally antithetical to modern design aesthetics. for example, on page 9 he writes:
   
   "wabi-sabi - deep, multi-dimensional, elusive - appeared the perfect antidote to the pervasively slick, saccharine, corporate style of beauty that i felt was desensitizing american society. i have since come to believe that wabi-sabi is related to many of the more emphatic anti-aesthetics that invariably spring from the young, modern, creative soul: beat, punk, grunge, or whatever it's called next"
   
   otherwise, i don't know anything about zen buddhism - and the book left me wanting to know more



2. It was not as good as I expected. I would not pay full price for it again, in fact, it did not stay in my collection but was bought by a used bookstore. If you are interested in a philosophical or spiritual aspect of art or writing, look elsewhere. While it is a lovely looking book, the information could have been found online for free. I would have been happier with a small book of Haiku.



3. This book has been very important for me in its ability to explain something that is hardly explainable - more to suggest the essence of Wabi Sabi and let the reader take it the rest of the way. Particularly in the second half of this slender book does the nature of Wabi Sabi come to life. It is a book I will continue to read on occasion, and it sits next to my Tao te Ching ready to be accessed at any time.



4. A good introduction to the history and basic concepts of Wabi-Sabi. It has good examples that are relevant to our culture and lifestyle. I wish it had better photos. But overall I recommend it.



5. This was a great intro to the ideas of wabi sabi. the use of modern art as a reference point is a very constructive way to describe "what is" and "what is not" wabi sabi. I definitely recommend this book for any artist or creative mind.

1 comments about Understanding Color: An Introduction for Designers.

1. This book is pretty good. It explains the different color wheels, how we see color, value, saturation, harmony, and so much more. It is pretty thorough and easy to read. I recommend this book for anyone needing to understand color theory.
   
   Minetta Minnick

2 comments about Designing Interiors.

1. I had heard of this particular book before, and it was referred to me by one of my university professors. We practicaly use it everyday now (Faculty of Architecture)



2. This was a text book of mine and well worth the purchase. It should be owned by all interior designers and decorators. The authors are thourough and clear in their various chapters. They cover everything from decorating to space planning, architecture to furniture styles. A definite addition to an interior design library

5 comments about Color.

1. The two-star rating refers primarily to the ridiculous price. The book is obviously marketed at this price as a textbook, although I see it in Borders and B&N (alongside the other books on the shelf, this one is outstanding only because of its price). While the content is accurate and well presented, there are any number of other books available that do as well with the material at half, a third, or even less price. Itten is always a solid choice - and never a bad one. He is still the defining author on this topic and his books are classics.
   
   Nice to look through, one notices that the pages are thin enough to allow leakthrough from the other side of each page. At this price, it should certainly be printed on heavier paper.
   
   My daughter had this text in a recent class, but the instructor was gracious enough to suggest that students seek earlier editions at much lower prices. This instructor is among the enlightened few. Many instructors/professors have little or no idea how costly are the materials they list for students to use in their courses.
   
   College/university faculty need to wake up and pay attention to this issue of textbook pricing, even if they are authors of the books!



2. This book was required text for a color theory class I took recently. For years I've been looking for information on color but could not find anything beyond the basics, usually associated with painting/art books. This book is all- encompassing: information about various color theories, perceptions of color, color and light, color in printing and more. It is full of examples, pictures, graphs, charts. I came away with the information that I knew must be out there! I would recommend this book to any color student. Mine is dog-eared!



3. This book is a must read for anyone studying the visual arts.
   
   This is a brilliant book. He is a brilliant artist. I studied under Paul Zelanski at the University of Connecticut, School of Fine Art. He used to have a lot of fun with us during class critiques. A favorite saying of his was "You know, there is no such thing as an ugly color. But THIS... THIS comes pretty close (pointing to something hanging on the studio wall)!" Then he'd launch into a wondeful dissertation on the theory and practice of color. I learned a great deal from him. You will too from his book.



4. Excellent source for artists, archietcts, or designers who want to push the envelope with color. Definite must for students in any Art and Design school!



5. It is just excellent,it provided me everything what I wanted,it helped me a lot in clearing all my doubts over the subject.