1 comments about Participation (Documents of Contemporary Art).

1. Until I read this book I could not give myself permission to have my own ideas about some of the world's greatest art pieces and give my educated opinion about them. Umberto Eco's 1st essay is a wonder!

5 comments about The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation.

1. At gunpoint you couldn't force me to read the 9/11 Report. What Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon have graphically done is truly innovative.
   Not only does this graphic depiction tell the story, it is historically factual. It sets out all the findings, history, conjectures, failures and recommendations of the Commission.
   We find out in exact detail the timing, training and execution of the terrorists in accomplishing their terrorist acts.
   We look inside the four flights and simultaneously see what each one was doing all at the same time. Using the magic of graphics we follow all these flights at once.
   Jacobson and Colon tell of the attacks in graphic clarity. They also show the history as outlined in the 9/11 Report leading to the United States not organizing properly to avoid the greatest attack of the United States on 9/11/2001.
   This report goes into great detail of what mistakes our Security Agencies made. The lack of cooperation between Agencies led to petty complaints and jealousies. A lack of a unified Security Command led to this atrocity.
   In this report, we see the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and also a report card given on 12/5/2005 in which the Commission was still giving low grades. Read it and be scared. We still have to get our act together.
   Great insight. I highly recommend this graphic report.



2. The 9/11 Report is a straightforward, full-color graphic novel adaptation of the final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. Featuring a foreword Thomas H. Kean and Lee H. Hamilton, the Chair and Vice Chair of the 9/11 Commission, The 9/11 Report distills the report's findings concerning how the attacks happened, America's subsequent response, and the glaring weaknesses in America's security. Perhaps the most troubling part of The 9/11 is its postscript, which lists letter grades of America's actions to make itself more secure up through 2006 - most of the grades are C's, D's, and F's. "Progress in many important areas has been slow or nonexistent. While the terrorists have been learning and adapting, we have been moving at a bureaucratic crawl." A plain-terms, respectful presentation accessible to readers of all backgrounds, the 9/11 Report is recommended reading for all American citizens - and therefore a "must-have" for public library collections everywhere.



3. When I saw this volume on the bookshelf, I shook my head. I picked it up and examined it a couple of times before finally deciding to take it home. I did not believe that a graphic version of the 9/11 Commission report would be anything more than an inadequate summary at best, or a sad joke at worst. I was wrong. The graphic version of the 9/11 Commission report is fascinating, communicating in words and pictures the most important concepts and vents of that fateful day.
   
   The book lays out many aspects of 9/11, from a side-by-side chronology of the attacks of the four jetliners used that day by terrorists, to the history and operation of Al Qaeda, to the way our government did and did not respond to the crisis, to the experience of first responders and victims of the attacks. Laying out its findings in neutral tones, the report details the confusion and dysfunction that allowed 19 terrorists to enter the country, train to fly, obtain access to airliners and wreak destruction and death on America. Americans are portrayed in our multi-racial realities. Terrorists are portrayed fairly frequently as menacing, with sneers and scowls that some might consider unneeded and even approaching racist. Others might find this portrayal appropriate and even subdued, given the mayhem they eventually produced. But this is a minor criticism and id not unduly ruffle my sensitive feathers.
   
   This book is fascinating and instructive, and not at all heavy on gore. A person assassinated by a hand grenade, for example, ifs shown without blood. Politicians of oath sides are depicted accurately and without attempts at personal caricature. Definitively a good choice for the age 10 and up, and would be a helpful primer to those who plan to read the full report. The forward by Thomas Kean and Lee Hamilton, he the Commission's Chair and Vice Chain, lends credibility to the volume. A winner and a real public service.



4. 9/11 Report
   By Sid Jacobson
   This book is about the plane crashes on September 11th 2001. It's a comic book with lots of information. It has all the planes and terrorists that crashed into New York, Washington D.C. and Virginia. It's like the book, "9/11 Commission Report," only in a comic book. It also talks about what the government knew and how Bin Laden and Al Qaeda planned the attack since 1993.
   We enjoyed this book because it had clear, nice pictures and was organized well. We also enjoyed it because it was descriptive and explained a lot and it was pretty easy to follow. It was also nice because it was facts, not opinions.
   We wish it could have been different by having less boring information that didn't matter. We also wish it was different by having it more understandable for younger readers.
   We would recommend this book to the ages: 15 and Up. We recommend it to both males and females because it's important to know the crisis that happened and how we could avoid a terrorist attack next time!
   We would recommend this book because it has lots of useful information and tells facts that many people don't know about the terrorists and the attacks.
   
   Written by: Jacqui, Alena, Pascal, and Adam



5. This has to go down as something our children will be reading in school. What happened on that day can not be forgotten nor will it be with books like this.

5 comments about Charlotte Moss: A Flair for Living.

1. This is a wonderful book for design mavens like myself. Lots of eye candy for inspiration. Even though most of the decor is "over the top", I still never cease to discover lots of very proactical ideas for my home and for my table.
   A lovely book for both the table and for the decorator's library.



2. Visually, this is a beautiful book. The photography is excellent, and it is the pictures that provide value. The narrative has less impact, as little in the way of concrete information is given. In the end, however, the various rooms, inspite of their beautiful contents, leave an impression of emptiness. One cannot imagine people actually living in these rooms, and leaving any human imprint. The rooms are perfect as in a museum, but just as in that setting, no one may sit down.



3. Moss is really good at the visuals (and textures) of interiors, and she has what's clearly a reverence for the history of home and garden design. Both help create the richness of image and inspiration that are this book's primary appeal. Less attractively, she does seem out of touch, not only with ordinary folks but also with ordinary emotions. You'll get some gorgeous visuals for the steep cover price here, but be warned that there's nothing "lived in" about this "flair for living."
   
   I don't think it is her wealth in and of itself that is the problem. Many home and garden writers (not to mention personalities in other fields) are wealthy and yet come across on the page as very emotionally present. (Plus, from the evidence within it Moss was already very well off when she created A Passion for Detail, her warmest and most generous book.) For me, the dollars and cents don't really matter.
   
   What does matter is warmth, which this book never really offers. Moss uses the cataloging of antiques, objects, purchases, historic influences, travel, famous inspirations, etc., etc. etc. as a way to wall herself off--it's a lavish fortress of sorts, as is the home itself. It's hard to tell who or what she would be without all this. In the end, the weird part about this book is that even when I loved a particular room or grouping or object, it didn't make me aspire to the lifestyle illustrated ...the formality and elaboration and old fashioned feeling of it all weren't attractive even when the objects themselves were.



4. This book is filled with beautiful photos of the most superbly arranged and layered rooms that Charlotte Moss has ever done. Each page is loaded with visual ideas and requires careful study in order to see everything.
   The text is very interesting because she discusses her inspirations and philosophies, which are not only interesting, but also a great source of inspiration in and of themselves. It has been one of my evening reads for over two months and I never tire of it. I have also given more than 12 as gifts and all recipients have raved about it.



5. I always purchase design books with some trepidation since I am not a designer and do not own a McMansion. I do have an 1880 square foot ranch home built in the 1980s that deserves to be both beautiful and well preserved. I also have a strong interest in good, functional design that combines beauty and comfort. Although I am certain I could never afford Ms. Moss's services, her book was the next best thing. My mantra is now "your home should reflect who you were, who you are and who you are becoming." The book is a like a wonderful walk through a beautiful park or art gallery that you can take much from in terms of content, concepts and sheer enjoyment. I find myself referring to it often for all three. It was well worth the price. The only reason for the four stars is I am still waiting for someone like Ms. Moss to turn her talents to a home that can be afforded by someone other than the ultra wealthy.

5 comments about Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return.

1. Graphic novel comes of age. This is the first novel I have seen by a writer trained as a graphic artist. It is wonderful!



2. I loved Persepolis, so when I realized there was a Persepolis 2, I quickly bought a used copy from Amazon. When I received it, I was very disappointed to learn that I had already read it! Although my first book was entitled Persepolis, it contained both stories. Check your copy of Persepolis before you buy the sequel; you may have read it!



3. The first novel in this series succeeded because its childlike graphics and gee-whiz storytelling matched perfectly with this subject matter. We could imagine the infant/child author telling her story in exactly these terms.
   This sequel fails because the issues of growing up and dealing with the disillusionment with one's own culture are much more subtle. The story and the graphics remind us constantly of the nuances that are left out, of the issues of women's rights and humanity that are sentimentalized, of the real conflicts that this child/woman is undergoing that are completely unexplored.
   There are a few quibbles to be explored: the view of vienna is odd and the little vignette of the narrator peeing standing up seems forced. But most importantly, the mismatch between the story and the way in which it is told ends up making for a read that turns boring quickly.



4. I call myself a history buff but in reality I really only know American history with a little knowledge of King Henry VIII. I was 18 when Iranian crisis started. This book gave me a better insight to the overall issues behind this area than any other reading I had done, which I admit is not vast. The difference here was this book laid things out in such an engaging way I was totally engrossed. The author was both straight foward and insightful, along with quite humorous.



5. This is the only book that I have manged to read the entire of it in one day!
   It is a comic book, supper easy read and very educational in terms of knowing different culture.
   I like Persepolis 2 better than 1.
   U may wanna watch the movie, as well. It won and nominated for many awards in 2007.

5 comments about Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Faces (REPACKAGED) (Ed Emberley Drawing Books).

1. my 6 year old loves this book, great for beginning artist!!lots of faces to learn...



2. I bought this book and the book to draw animals for my son. These books are easy to follow and offer step by step instructions. My son has been enjoying these. He is able to follow the directions and draw the faces.



3. I discovered Ed Emberley in 2nd grade. I had always loved to draw and had some reasonable ability (after all I ended up going to art school and getting an MFA and teaching art in college...). What these books by Ed Emberley have to offer is a way of seeing, of breaking down complicated shapes into simple objects, and being able to put simple shapes and lines together into a complex unit. Which is an important visual skill for anyone.
   
   Through simple and clear step by step instructions, he demonstrates how to create a wide variety of characters and personalities, which gives younger children access to a sense of satisfaction. I recall the real sense of pride having made some of these figures. He also shows (though I do not remember if it is in this, all or only some books of his) how to change up the figures and invent your won, which is very important. Yes, the names are hokey and it has its limits, but showing children success does really help. And to be honest, when my son wanted a pirate ship, MFA aside, I picked up the purple book (another of his books) to the pirates' page.



4. I had this book as a kid and LOVED it. Ed makes drawing so simple any child can understand and follow along. I think every child should have some Ed Emberley books!



5. My kids are too young for this, but I purchased it because I as a child, had 1 Ed Emberley book and I drew, and drew and drew! I can't wait till they can have as much fun as I did!

5 comments about Gil Elvgren: All His Glamorous American Pin-Ups (Taschen 25th Anniversary Special Editions).

1. Without any knowledge; yet a curious fascination for a bygone era, I perused many of the illustrators famous for their cheesecake-girl-next-door pin ups of the fifties on the web. Gil Elvgren came up tops! As Rockwell held a mirror up to the American public, Elvgren manage to evoke Rockwellesque subtleties into his work too. Your eyes are attracted to the girls, however, other elements like a dog, a turtle, a prop like a diary, add to the charm of the work and to the total innocence of the girls. Living in the current "Raunch Culture" where female nudity is pervasive, this book transports you back to another time where the girls exude a level of desirability that Elvgren perfectly captured in his work. The luscious and lovingly delivered colour plates (some 500 of them) demonstrate Elvgren's evolution into the auteur of pin up illustrators, as he progressively developed real depth into to his work. With limited knowledge of the subject matter, this book is a perfect introduction to an incredible genius and an incredible artform



2. I'm still studying and reading through it, but it has an interesting magic that's missing in many of today's similar subjects - innocence.



3. This book is absolutely beautiful. Lots and lots of color - designed and bound very well. Worth every penny and then some. Impressed with Amazon's service (my first order) and the whole shopping/purchase experience here.



4. I highly recommend this to anyone with an interest in Elvgren or pin-ups. Beautiful picture quality, comprehensive collection. For the money, you can't get much better than this!



5. Elvgren is a master of his art. This book truly is a gem at this price. If you love pinup art he is the master. Its a slice of days gone past and pretty girls to write home about. Elvgren will live on forever. Take a piece of history home.

5 comments about The Rape of Europa: The Fate of Europe's Treasures in the Third Reich and the Second World War.

1. On the one hand, it is a very scholarly account of the systematic theft of Europe's art by the Nazis. I was interested in this book after reading a review of the movie, which came through Sacramento all too briefly (never to return, it seems).
   
   There was also an article on this in, I believe, Smithsonian Magazine.
   
   So my interest was seeded.
   
   It is the story of how about 200 American (and a few British) servicemen were sent out with Patton's 3rd Army (among others) to find and catalog paintings and other artwork looted by the Nazis in every conquered country. They found masterpieces from the Great Masters in every location from caves to Neuschwanstein castle in Bavaria. There were literally 2,000 hiding places the Nazis used - many found with the aid of local townspeople. The 200 literally saved Europe's heritage.
   
   Quite a story, wouldn't you agree? However the book is laden with such detail as to be a cumbersome read. Do you really need to know what Picasso was doing in Paris during the occupation or that a Parisian Art dealer fell though an open hatch (and died) on a ship crossing the channel to freedom in England? Just because you know it doesn't mean you have to tell everyone else about the fact.
   
   In wading though this I wonder how Lynn, after 60 years, came across this stuff!
   
   The book is an invaluable source of information for learning every nut and bolt detail of the Nazis' plan to loot Europe for someone needing research. But as a bedtime read?
   
   I gotta tell you I am using discipline to wade through this book because the subject is so interesting. I am almost through.
   
   My parents enjoyed the book and it has received rave reviews so what do I know...



2. The Rape of Europa is an eye-opening book. Nicholas has done a tremendous amount of research that reveals the almost unimaginable extent of Nazi art looting during World War II. But the book never gets bogged down in details. The chilling story moves along quickly. I recommend this book highly for anyone interested in World War II, or for readers who are curious about the political uses of art.



3. What an eye opener. after reading this book one think the world war II was ment by the Germans to get hold on art only. One can never visit an museum in europe/america/ Argentina/south america/auction houses without thinking: what is the provenance of said article: also robbed / fenced/ stolen? How much blood is on it? Is there not an exhibition in London (March 2008) with stolen art by the Russian (so called reparation payment taken from hidden German wareshouses) this month full with French/Paris school / entarte kunst and more? Comming from France the loot was 28 thousant train wagons(containers)
   
   After reading, one should feel never be save anymore regarding own collection!



4. After seeing the documentary movie with the same title, I was anxious to buy the book. The movie is based on the book and generally I find books preferable to movies. In this case, however, I would recommend the movie unless you are an art history major or World War II history buff. The book is a scholarly work with dense writing and extensive footnotes. While I can appreciate such texts, it was not what I was expecting since the movie is so engaging that I sat through it utterly entranced and with an intense desire to learn more.



5. The movie, THE RAPE OF EUROPA, is a gripping documentary about the plan by Hitler to take over all of Europe's cultural treasures and the way that the U.S. dealt with these artworks after the war. The Nazis' success at stealing paintings, sculpture, and other art was phenomenal and this film does an excellent job of presenting all the facts. Many of the participants, or their descendants, are still alive and speak to the filmmakers movingly of their efforts, whether it was as the "monuments men" or the owners.
   At a time when it is all too easy to forget history, the filmmakers have created a terrific movie that reveals yet another horrific aspect to the Nazi regime. Highly recommended.

2 comments about A Passion for Sea Glass.

1. I have enjoyed this book and am very happy I made the purchase. I would recommend it to all those who love seaglass or are interested in learning about seaglass.



2. After enjoying A Passion for Sea Glass with my morning coffee it is taking every ounce of willpower to convince my feet to stay in my office and not let them take me off to the coast for a week of sea glass searching. The images are beautiful - the photographer is clearly an artist. Cheers to the author for a very engaging book.

5 comments about Fine Art Printing for Photographers: Exhibition Quality Prints with Inkjet Printers, 2nd Edition.

1. After reading some excellent reviews from "Fine Art Printing" Uwe Steinmueller and Juergen Gulbins, I am truly convinced that this book must be seeing for those who really would like to learn, in low level, the best printing technics. But there were a important missing in this book. What are the best steps to preserv the best integrity from Raw files and them print.
   
   If you in Lightroom and could send your Raw file directly to printer is one option. In second, you can choose edit in Lightroom and go thru Photoshop in TIFF convertion. And third way is export in DNG thru bridge and still in photoshop. So what is the best ways, aproaching printing resolution?



2. Great book with lots of good information, but I am a little perturbed with the lack of profiles, and information for people with a common printer that is a generation or two older. I have an Epson 4000 printer, and it is still going strong, and was also a very popular printer. The authors have chosen to skip these printers and go straight to the 3800 and 4800 printers instead. I wish they would go back at least a generation to help us out. I DON'T replace my printers EVERY time a new model comes out. I do so when the need arises--which often will mean I might skip a new model or two. I think that most people are the same!
   
   Otherwise, I'd recommend this book highly.



3. The thing I love about niche books is that they stand out from all the others in the market. Nice books can be risky, being independent either the market is new or unknown and its kind of like throwing darts, not knowing whether you'll make a big hit or not when you toss that sharp projectile in the air. With 'Fine Art Printing for Photographers: Exhibition Quality Prints with Inkjet Printers' this is certainly a niche market, that being inkjet output for photography lovers. Does the dart find its mark or trail off, careening off the wall??
   
   Bullseye!!
   
   I think that this is a great book for professionals or hobbyist photographers that are looking to get the best quality hard copies of their work from a (much) cheaper alternative way of printing. From looking at different kinds of equipment to settings to sample images, this book does every kind of examination that I would want and does it well.
   
   Looking to learn how to enhance photos? CHECK
   Want to learn the basics of Photoshop? CHECK
   Want to learn how to present photos better? CHECK
   Want to focus on black & white photos? CHECK
   
   Great writing, layout, and a great niche market, this is an easy recommendation.
   
   ***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED



4. If you are pushing hard for the last 3% improvement in Fine Art look no further..To be a Master is to have your OWN Style and Skill..This book provides the up skill techniques to present your work more professionally as a Master must...So many great usable tips and ideas to help you improve...Simply Buy it and use it and see..I did..



5. This is a title on digital printing by Rockynook, a recently established publishing house specializing in books on computers, digital photography and image production. They distribute their titles through O'Reilly here in the US. They have strong ties to a German publishing house dpunct.verlag, whose specialty is computer science and digital photography. Most of the early titles published by Rockynook have featured German authors. While I don't read German, the several books I've read in this series read as if parts have been translated from German, with occasional verbiage that reads as if it were transliterated, not translated. But the overall quality of the books is excellent, they're filled with beautiful pictures representative of the authors personal work, and overall the clarity of the text is more than adequate.
   
   This is the second edition of this work, the first was published just last year in 2007. The publication of a second edition following so closely on the heels of the first suggests the rapid changes that are occurring in digital image production.
   
   First, some caveats. The book is not really intended for the casual photographer who may print out occasional 4x6 prints on his ink jet printer. It is not for those who are using color lasers or small dye sublimation printers. It is for photographers using photo inkjet printers. The emphasis here is on "photo." Other printers are briefly discussed, but the discussion relates to "fine art printing."
   
   What does that mean? It means one must be willing to make a substantial investment in both equipment and time. A high quality lower end photo printer with some printing capabilities for 13", 17", or 19" paper will start around $500, and the prices go up from there. These printers typically have 8-12 ink colors, and large prints use a lot of ink. That means substantial ink replacement costs. Good quality photo paper in larger sizes may run $2-$4 per print or more, depending on size. By the time you've calibrated your printer, done several test prints, make adjustments, hopefully printed a final perfect copy, you'll have invested some serious time and money to make a single quality image.
   
   The stated goal of the book is to teach you how to make museum quality prints. Museum quality means not only are the prints excellent in composition and rendering, it also means that they'll last for decades to centuries. Besides outlining some of the tweaks in Photoshop that are an inevitable part of printing, there are discussions of the choice of archival inks, paper weight and finish, managing workflow, color, and presentation. The use of printing packages is covered. Both Windows and Mac systems are discussed. The final framing and presentation of prints is well covered.
   
   A real positive is that specific recommendations concerning three manufacturer's printers are given, Epson, HP, and Canon.
   
   This is an excellent work for the serious amateur, and possibly a reference for the professional photographer who wishes to retain final control over his images. Also, this is a good introduction for those interested in discovering the requirements for high quality inkjet printing.

5 comments about Making It: Manufacturing Techniques for Product Design.

1. I bought this book from Swipe Books in Toronto because I actually got the chance to read through it and I saw how awesome it was. When I got back to Australia it got to the stage where so many people were borrowing "Making It" from me that I've bought them all their own copies. It's an awesome book, an unbelievable snap shot on every type of manufacturing process out there and why you would use one instead of another. For anyone studying or in ID, just buy it, you won't regret it and will no doubt have to buy your mates a copy because you get sick of them borrowing it too.



2. this is an excellent book, it has good pictures and images that describe step by step all the processes.



3. A catalog of processes is essentially what this book is. It's broken into 7 process sections: Cut from Solid, Sheet, Continuous, Thin & Hollow, Into Solid, Complex and Advanced. Each section has from 6-20 subset processes, eg, 'Cut From Solid' includes CNC machining, Turning, etc., 'Into Solid' has Forging, Sintering, 'Thin and Hollow' processes such as Blow Molding, Filament Winding, etc. The range of processes seems quite comprehensive and includes some I'd never heard of before such as Inflating Metal under the Sheet section, which is basically using air to inflate sheets of metal in a mold.
   
   Each process is typically described in 2-3 pages and follows a common layout. There's a picture of a typical item produced, some text describing the process, and an information section which includes economic production volume, type of surface and finish, and the typical sizes and tolerances of parts produced. This is followed by a '+' and '-' list of advantages and disadvantages of the particular process.
   
   A Further Information section on each process lists web addresses of manufacturers who supply the process and/or provide more information on it. This is a great resource, but you do wonder--given the fluidity of the web--how long some of these addresses will be viable.
   
   For the price this book is a great catalog of many of the manufacturing processes available. It doesn't go into any detail on how to design for the process (as a designer) or make it function (as a machinist/manufacturer), but it's a great reference as an overview of available processes, their benefits and limitations, and where to go to get more information.



4. I am a 1st year student in an industrial design dept. the book really gives a wide review over production methods and in a very elegant non-exhaustive way. It maps the methods of production and gives cross-refrences that describes a reliable picture of the industrial processes and their characteristics. In conclusion - analitic and kind. highly recomended.



5. Very readable & understandable review of various materials specifications & materials techniques including both traditional and the unconventional.
   
   A good catalogue of one of the elementary and fundamental drivers for new product design.