2 comments about Living with Art.

1. Thank you for fast delivery and the good quality of the book. I really recommend this seller.



2. I was required to buy this book for Art 131 and while it gives good term descriptions it gives little information to interest the reader and want them to go into an art degree.

5 comments about Gardner's Art Through the Ages: The Western Perspective, Volume I (with ArtStudy CD-ROM 2.1, Western).

1. I took one Art History course in my college career at Boston University and it was taught by Prof. Fred Kleiner, the author of this book. I clearly remember, over 25 years later, how wonderful and exciting Fred Kleiner's lectures in Art History were. When I go to museums I remember Prof. Kleiner's passionate, stirring descriptions of art and architecture. I was a business major, and his love for art really broke through and taught me to understand what is so wonderful about art. We also used Gardner's Art Through The Ages back in 1980, but it was before he was the author.



2. The book arrived fast but wasn't in very good condition. I paid $60 for it but I doubt I will get $20 when I resell it! I wish I had been given a better description or better price for this book!



3. The book arrived in a very timely manner and it was in great condition -- no markings or bent pages. I would definitely buy from this seller again.



4. I am extremely disappointed in amazon and this book. You guys delivered it over a month late.I'm not paying for amazon prime so I can receive much needed books over a month late. I had to go to my College bookstore and pay $120. You wanna know the worst part? They don't accept devolutions. So I'm extremely disappointed.



5. This book is very informative and it tries to explain so that there is not much confusion after looking it over.

5 comments about Universal Principles of Design.

1. Simplemente excelente, 100 prácticos tópicos de diseño.
   Es ideal para los no-diseñadores, que quieren aplicar conceptos de diseño gráfico.



2. This is a great book if you are looking for short explanation about design principles.



3. What's great about this book is it's organization and brevity. The authors articulate the design concepts in clear manner and supply concrete examples (on opposing pages) to add weight and understanding to the written explanation. Furthermore all concepts are linked to the canonical papers from which they come as well as the more modern advances in the field.
   
   It's a book your feel comfortable trusting.
   
   A design book that takes the additional care to give the audience a conceptual table of contents (of concepts grouped by type) *as well as* an alphabetical table of contents is the type of book that is, well...
   
   Well designed.



4. This book is indispensable for anyone looking for a grasp on design fundamentals without going to design school. The organization, examples and presentation are top-drawer. So intuitively done. For the non-designer, a wonderful reference and primer on classic design principals and why they matter. Should be on the desk of any marketer who works with creatives and wants a better understanding and appreciation of great design.



5. Universal Principles of Design is an accessible addition to design understanding. The information has been distilled into a consistent and clear format that allows key design principles to be quickly appreciated. It is the product of a considerable research endeavour; references sources are quoted allowing further exploration of the principles. The graphics and format, as to be expected in a book design of principles, makes delving into this book an enjoyable experience. I just wish I had a copy of this book as a student, many years ago, but you are never too old to learn and experience new ideas and perhaps reinforce design concepts that you have known for a long time.

5 comments about Gardner's Art Through the Ages, Volume I, Chapters 1-18 (with ArtStudy Student CD-ROM and InfoTrac ).

1. this book is great, and is very informative, however it is not the most recent edition of the book. the newer edition is much more thorough.



2. I was quite dissapointed with my purchase. The seller could have stated in his discription that the book had water damage. Pages were stuck together. I would have bought from a different seller had I known about terrible condition of the book.



3. The item was in great condition. This book was very expensive in the college bookstore. It is well worth going online to save money on these college textbooks.



4. I gave 4 stars only because I don't remember if there were any problems with the length of time between ordering and receiving, but the book was in perfect condition. Thanks.



5. we just got these books for my art history class, and this thing is amazing. color photots, detailed information, and interactive site. yeah, its nice
   
   oh, and FYI im 14, not 13. i just didnt feel like registering with amazon lol

5 comments about Two Knotty Boys Showing You The Ropes: A Step-by-Step, Illustrated Guide for Tying Sensual and Decorative Rope Bondage.

1. Very concise and easy to read. The necessary basics are perfectly illustrated so you can get off to a fast start even if you have never tied a knot in your life. The boys constantly remind you of the dangers involved and the lovely smiling models show you this is a fun art to be enjoyed by both parties. This is the first book everyone should buy who is interested in a knotty hobby.



2. good times, not difficult or even too graphic. just good information for even more good times ;)



3. A great book on Shibari. Well illustrated and photographed. The knots are delightful and fun to tie on my special someone.



4. Most people I have talked to all say why buy the book when you can watch all the videos on youtube? Well number reason I would say buy it. It shows all the actual knots! Not just the whole thing. It goes step by step showing you the basics knots used in most all bondages. Good detail. It helped me out on the ones I was having troubles with on the videos. If you are a big fan of there videos you really should buy the book. Not only to help them out but its a must read for the extras you will never see in the book. I will buy book 2 when released.



5. Clear instructions, many step-by-step photos, several very pretty designs. For the price, I would say the best rope bondage book on the market for beginners.
   
   For the more 'advanced' rope people out there, it might not be enough for you, but still well worth the money (especially if you get it on sale).

5 comments about Proust Was a Neuroscientist.

1. I loved it. It made me look at arts, science and philosophy through a new window. The style is engaging, clear and dynamic. I had read the thousands of pages of the "Search of the lost time" in French. Jonah Lehrer gave me a fresh perspective.



2. One of the most thought-provoking books I've read in a long, long time. It really is just a feast of insight. So many unexpected connections...From Whitman's time as a nurse to Proust's writing habits to how Woolf's mental illness impacted her writing. If you are interested in art and science and how they might intersect, a great read!



3. Its obvious that Lehrer concocted a thesis first and then did everything he could to support it, seemingly doing most of his research with blinders on. I think the best kinds of academic reads are ones that make you feel like the author arrived at his thesis organically and only after completing his research on the given topic. I didn't make it past the 5th essay.
   
   I know my assessment may be redundant considering the already-posted 1 star reviews, but I was shocked by all of the positive reviews (I suspect some are insincere; I've been asked to do as much at a previous job), and wanted to help balance out the scales a bit.



4. First off, I have not read such elegant prose as this in ages. Jonah Lehrer's style effuses artistry. It was incredibly refreshing, but now I thirst for more. Unfortunately, there is only one Jonah Lehrer and few with his skill, at least within the scientific realm. He is able to set music to neurotransmitters and make them dance.
   
   Secondly, not only is there a wide variety of stories here, each and every one is fascinating by itself. Topics range from visual art to music to poetry to writing, weaved together with science ranging from the molecular level all the way up to the systems level. Some of his ideas are not entirely original, but they certainly have been presented in an entirely original way, and in perhaps the most captivating and convincing manner yet.
   
   Truly an excellent book.



5. Inane, anachronistic title aside, books like this go to show the desperate lengths people will go to make money off insubstantial, pseudo-intellectual fodder--as if the insights of Proust, couched as they are in his rich prose, could be reduced to the idioms of a dismal science in its infancy. America is a great country, but by providing a leisurely environment for so many uninspired individuals, academia has become so competitive that students and graduates are reduced to drawing ridiculous theses if they are to take an original stance on a given subject. If you really want to understand humanity, read Proust. If you want to read a book that tries to capitalize off remarkable achievements in the study of humanity (like Proust's novel) without making an original or insightful contribution, read this. There's so many books to be read in one's life and such little time... choose wisely.

4 comments about American Widow.

1. With time inexorably passing by, and amongst the far too many pointless narratives exploiting 9/11 to nobody's gain, here comes Alissa Torres' extraordinary book. The blessing of truth, unmitigated and at times scathing, as it emerges page after page in American Widow, does more for our collective and individual insight than any increasingly pale, and vain, anniversary celebration. And the splendid drawings make this book highly recommendable for any curious and intelligent child and for all New Yorkers, really.



2. 
   The events of September 11, 2001 will go down as the day international terror began to rule the United States and an era of battle readiness gained prominence. For Alissa Torres, and those left behind by the deaths of the thousands in the towers, a painful chapter in life began.
   On many levels, Torres bares her soul as she wades through the intense emotions surrounding the loss of Eddie Torres, her husband. Pregnant on September 11, 2001, the birth of her child by a dead husband put her into a situation even more intense. Betrayal, loss, anger, loneliness, and desperation ooze through in the sparse diary/dialogue laden narrative. The art by Sungyoon Choi is simple, and does not overwhelm the angst filled text.
   
   Content wise, most Americans will never get a more honest education in the politics of humanitarian aid, whether Red Cross, or government based. The frustration the survivors must have dealt with are intimidating in lowpoint emphasis. The transformation from wife, to widow, to victim, to charity dependent, and finally to independence is compelling.
   
   This will be a controversial book given the subject matter. Agree with Ms Torres or not, you will find yourself wanting to find out `the rest of the story'.
   
   Tim Lasiuta
   www.randomhouse.com



3. This is a beautiful love story told during a tragic period
   in our Country's recent history. The drawings are hauntingly beautiful.
   I was quickly drawn into this gripping story and tribute to a husband who is sorely missed.



4. American Widow is a graphic novel revealing the story of Alissa Torres who was left widowed at seven months pregnant by the tragedy of 9/11.
   
   The story includes that fateful day up to the one-year anniversary with alternating flash backs including scenes of Eddie at 10-years old, his life before meeting Alissa and their courtship, marriage and pregnancy. In chapter one alone, my arms were covered with goose bumps. 9/11 was just Eddie's second day at his new job with Cantor Fitzgerald. Included is Alissa's deeply frustrating struggle with several assistance agencies and the government plus you see how different friends and family react to her circumstances.
   
   The story exposed shows us just a glimmer of what surviving family members endured that I would have never imagined. When Alissa's private thoughts are shared you get a sense of how difficult and confusing this time in her life was and you can't help but be affected by this deeply personal story.

5 comments about 30,000 Years of Art.

1. I am really enjoying this book - but it's all but impossisble to read in bed! Truly a delight and very educational.



2. Possibly useful for children with no knowledge of art, the book is cumbersome in size and slightly loathsome in outlook. '30,000 Years of Art' lumps all creative output from both past and distant cultures into one whopping big format. That being one big picture beside one simple page of text. It renders equivalent Australian aboriginal art and French nineteenth century eroticism, an idea that I find thoroughly absurd. There are many better books around that introduce world art without ruining the distinctive character of entirely different enterprises. The best introduction to art is William Fleming's 'Arts and Ideas', the pictures are not quite as big but what it lacks in size it makes up for in depth. It covers roughly the same period and includes a brief discussion of music and architecture as well. This book reminds me of those giant roadside attractions (the big pineapple etc) that some cities cling to to create tourist interest. Like this book they represent nothing more than empty imaginations.



3. This is a full color work on ancient artwork,
   as well as modern art. The renditions date back
   to 50,000 BC. Sample pieces are as follows:
   o France- Dappled Horses of Pech at 25,000 BC
   o Australia- Sash at 17,000 BC - rock pigments
   o Spain- Altamira Bison limestone at 15,000 BC
   o South Africa- Cold Stream Burial Stone
   o Iraq- Samarra Plate at 5,000 BC
   o Peru- Paracas Embroidered Mantle 50 BC
   o Italy- Cubiculum Fresco at 19 BC - a colorful dress
   o China- Watchtower at 100 AD
   o Italy- Opus Sectile Panel of Christ (marble)
   
   A beauty of this work is that readers can observe
   Christian themes which coincide at or near the time
   of Jesus Christ. In addition, a clear sense of the
   people and fashions of the times is evident throughout.
   The acquisition is worth the price of admission.
   This book will have a wide constituency of readers
   from business, academe and the arts.



4. A superlative review of human accomplishment in the visual arts. Intelligent, well designed. Beautifully printed and bound. Unbelieve bargain- without a doubt the single best buy of recent times!



5. It is always stunning to see a photograph of the approximately 28,000 year old cave paintngs. In the eeriness of a flame-lit cave, a human being probably not much different than you and me depicted the world around him or her. All we know for sure is that someone had a need to express themselves. And so humans have done so for the past 30,000 years, with a sampling of 1,000 artworks between the covers of this magnificient book.
   
   One of the most amazing features of this book is the price. Incredibly low for such a large book with so many finely reproduced photographs of artworks. Truly a bargain - and one that belongs in every home.
   
   Why should a book on art be in every home? Because this is a book of history. Not the history of art, per se, but the history of humankind.
   
   In many cases, the art is actually artifact - remnants of a culture, of a civilization. (It can be argued that much 20th Century Western art is actually evidence of the devolution of civilization, but that belongs in another venue.) Virtually every culture is representedd from across the globe. The collection is relatively eclectic, especially for what we consider "primitive" cultures where what we see as "art" was for that culture merely a everyday tool.
   
   We see from the art that much of the time, it was the province of the powerful or the rich. We can see the preoccupation of certain cultures with religion, which is actually the theme of most of the works here. That may be a result of such works often being large and more survivable. One can only imagine how much of what we would consider art today has been destroyed or plundered. Think of all the gold objects carried off by invaders or the indigenous work destroyed, such as the Mayan manuscipts burned by the Spanish or the recurrent repressions of the Jews and their religions. Of course, much art was simply destroyed because it had outlived it usefulness: many Greek and Roman bronzes were melted down over time.
   
   We should be thankful that we have what we have and that thanks to miracles of modern technology, we can enjoy and appreciate it in the comfort of our own homes. Truly amazing.
   
   The commentaries for each of the artworks shown are mercifully plain-spoken. The pretensiousness of academics is happily absent.
   
   Overall, this book is an admirable overview of the history of art and really should be in every home. It is a great value.
   
   Jerry

5 comments about Unjournaling: Daily Writing Exercises that Are NOT Personal, NOT Introspective, NOT Boring!.

1. As a veteran writing teacher, I was wary of the 'not personal, not introspective, not boring" claim, as I take the instruction of writing very seriously. However, I found the prompts very entertaining and an excellent way to coax even the most reluctant writer into sharing their thoughts. My 7th grade classes enthusiastically write for several minutes for these prompts, and any writing is a move in the correct direction, in my opinion. "Unjournaling" adds some spice into my writing instruction.



2. I teach writing to middle school students and find this resource wonderful for reluctant writers...try you'll love it!



3. I used this book with my summer school writing students. They loved it. These are not your ordinary writing prompts, for sure. They get the students thinking and writing (with a few laughs!).



4. I recently purchased this book and immediately put it to use. I teach 8th grade writing and was looking for a book with prompts that would help students develop skills in all types of writing. The prompts in this book cover narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive writing. My students have seemed eager to write and share their responses to prompts they have been assigned so far. I also like the fact that an example of a response to each prompt is given in the back.



5. The quality of the writing prompts is beyond what I expected. I just received the book from Amazon and have used the prompts on writing students with great success. Highly recommended.

3 comments about Art History, Vol. 1, 3rd Edition.

1. I recieved this book for an Art History class and it has all kinds of information in it. Pictures, drawlings, artifacts, it has it all. It is a great book if you want to learn more about art. I would suggest it highly.



2. This textbook was so well written and put together, that I'm going to take the course that deals with the second volume. The pictures of artwork were amazing.



3. Good book with a lot of images and art knowledge. Good for reading to understanding more about art.