5 comments about Seashore Style: Decorative Ideas Inspired by the Spirit of the Seashore.

1. I was a little disappointed, the title inspired more than what appeared in the book. However, it still contained beautiful and inspiring pictures and a few tips on colors, styles, and materials evocative of the sea. Thank you.



2. What I thought I was getting was a DECORATING book about seashore style. What I got was a book about lots of ditsy little crafts projects -- but nothing on overall decorating. If you want little crafty projects, the book is fine; if you want a decorating book, look elsewhere.



3. Seashore Style is a great reference book for people who enjoy living by the ocean - or even inland lake. It gives one some very good ideas on decorating seashore-style.......

   In fact, I decorated my guest bedroom seashore-style and it's just charming. I think it's now my favorite room in my house.

   I don't live by the seashore, but I wish that I did - and this little guestroom makes me feel a little closer to the ocean.

   "Seashore Style" is placed in a predominent spot in the guest room for all to enjoy who stay over.

   Enjoy!




4. ...Are the objects brought together in this seaside photographic adventure, which focuses on the old and weathered rather than the new and convenient style of seaside living. The settings are for the most in the famous seaside huts of the British Isles, but the whimsical and practical ideas presented apply as well to classic "shantytown" communities such as Wildewood, New Jersey and other rugged American coastal getaways. This book is more a photographic essay than a decorating guide for the average shore dweller or the lavish beach houses currently in vogue; but the suggestions can easily be applied to porches, studios, lofts or small outbuildings one knows not quite what to do with. Children will enjoy the nature craft aspect of the projects, and adults will appreciate the help with making the most of spartan waterfront living. In my opinion, this book is most valuable as a relaxer, a lovely something to sit down with and read at leisure when an escape from the daily grind is in order.



5. I encountered this book thru a friend and found it to be interesting, creative and educational on the type of decorating I am interested in. Please put the book back in print. The pictures are truly beautiful. I want it on my bookshelf.

1 comments about Sexual Life in Ancient China: A Preliminary Survey of Chinese Sex and Society from Ca. 1500 B.C. Till 1644 A.D. (Sinica Leidensia).

1. The ancient Chinese believed that human sexuality was analogous to 'cosmic' procreation. They saw absolutely no difference between rain wetting a field and semen fertilizing the womb of a woman, or between a damp soil ready for sowing seed and a moist vagina ready for penetration.
   Their sexuality was never tainted by morality (guilt) and could never be a sin.
   
   The ancient Chinese palette went from the most detailed biological pictures of copulation to the most spiritual experiences of love.
   
   However, there were important differences between confucianism, taoism and tantrism.
   The most conformist way of life was confucianism, which believed in biological immortality through offspring. Marriage was an important institution, but not an occasion for rejoicing. Music was prohibited for three days, because it was considered as a signal for the father that his son would soon take his place!
   Taoists believed in physical immortality and tried to prolong life through different techniques: respiration (mastering the uterine respiration of the embryo), diets, gymnastics or heliotherapy imposing a harsh body regimen for its adepts.
   A taoist 'alchemist' sect considered the woman's womb as a kind of chemist's cup capable of fabricating 'Life's Elixir' through copulation.
   Certain sects organized mass copulations trying to put their followers in a mystical delirium and making them believe that they were invulnerable and invincible in combat. Powerful men used them in this sense for political goals.
   
   Tantrism was a more difficult practice. Sexual intercourse had to take place when a woman was most fertile, but the man had to withhold ejaculation (coitus reservatus) in order to capture the yin of the woman and heighten his own vital powers.
   
   Robert van Gulik (author of excellent 'Chinese' detective novels) treats this particularly difficult theme masterly.
   He wrote a most stimulating book, not only for Chinese scholars.

1 comments about Human Values and Social Change: Findings from the Values Surveys (International Studies in Sociology and Social Anthropology) (International Studies in Sociology and Social Anthropology).

1. Inglehart is undoubtedly THE go-to expert on social value changes and shifts in industrial society. Through his work with the World Values Survey, he has made significant contributions to social science. This book is a great introduction to his body of work and summarizes nicely the patterns human behaviors have formed over the decades. Building on his earlier work, Inglehart finds significant shifts away from survivalism towards social postmodernism in industrial societies of the post-WWII era. He shows the links between such postmodernism and social movements in a characteristically scientific way throughout the book. It's a bit heady and not exactly a "fun" read, but quite accurate, and worth careful consideration. I would recommend this to anyone doing research in the social science field, advanced undergraduates, or even a layperson looking to gain greater understanding of the human family's behavior over the last decades. If you're wondering why we have the society that we do, this is the right resource with which to explore such a question. Once you read this, you'll also want to pick up Modernization and Postmodernization, Inglehart's 1997 book that is a bit more in-depth. As a political science graduate student researching social movements, Inglehart's work has been invaluable to just about every lit review I've written. If you're only looking at this because it's on a requirement list for a class, thank your teacher for making you read this.

1 comments about Hidden Wisdom: Esoteric Traditions and the Roots of Christian Mysticism (Studies in the History of Religions).

1. Publisher's info:
   
   This book investigates the problem of esoteric traditions in early Christianity, their origin and their transformation in Patristic hermeneutics, in the West as well as in the East. It argues that these traditions eventually formed the basis of nascent Christian mysticism in Late Antiquity. These esoteric traditions do not reflect the influence of Greek Mystery religions, as has often been claimed, but rather seem to stem from the Jewish background of Christianity. They were adopted by various Gnostic teachings, a fact which helps explaining their eventual disappearance from Patristic literature. The ten chapters study each a different aspect of the problem, including the questions of Gnostic and Manichaean esotericism. This book will be of interest to all students of religious history in Late Antiquity.

No comments about Designed for People: FG Stijl.

2 comments about Domesticities: At Home with The New York Times Magazine.

1. These residential interiors, mostly from the New York City area, were published in the previous 8 years in THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE and printed in book form in this November, 2005, edition. It is interesting to compare these projects with the ones featured in the previous NEW YORK TIMES interior design book published in 1978. Although never best to generalize, one cannot help but notice the change in what is published. Editor Pilar Viladas is much more interested in photographic effect than design that contributes to creating a liveable setting. Architecture plays a part in some of the presentations, but more often the focus is clearly on Display, as if the photograph was of a store window display and the interior was just created fo effect.
   
   The projects are grouped into 6 or 7 at a time into chapters: The New Classics, The Mavericks, Modern Living, and Personality Profiles. The Display Approach works in the loft apartment of designer Thomas Jayne who did a temporary installation of his belongings prior to a planned renovation, and in Albert Hadley's furnishing of a New Jersey house that looks like a fair exhibition shed. And who's to say that living in a Funhouse set like the apartments (yes, two) of designer Anthony Baratta wouldn't be amusing? The Anti-Decoration of the art-filled Harlem townhouse of Christie's print specialist Cary Leibowitz seems just to be styled for the photo shoot however. And the former home of Houston art patrons John and Dominique de Menil which is now used as the site for special events by the de Menil Foundation also has the appearance of a staged setting, down to the Charles James ball gown hanging on the shower curtain rod. Other projects, dramatic but liveable, include a Westchester County house furnished by product designer Kevin Walz, Cuban-born architect Carlos Apairicio's own Upper East Side apartment, and actor Joel Grey's downtown loft which utilizes furnishings from previous apartments designed by Albert Hadley and by John Saladino.
   
   Thanks to bargain pricing, this book with 28 featured projects is good value for those who enjoy more contemporary American residential interior design. All photos are color and well-produced, and the text is literate and informative. Not necessarily recommended for the average do-it-yourself-er, however. It would be better suited for serious amateurs and the libraries of interior designers and architects.



2. Most books I buy there may be one or two pages you like, but the rest is a dud. This book has beautiful pictures and great home decor ideas. Many different styles.

No comments about Architectural Detailing in Residential Interiors.

1 comments about WonderWall - Masamichi Katayama.

1. This is one of the best books in my collection. The first section is devoted to BAPE stores and has some great photos and explanations.
   
   If you like architecture, graffitti, or fashion books you should definitely buy this.

No comments about Evliya Celebi in Albania and Adjacent Regions: Kossovo, Montenegro, Ohrid (Evliya Celebi's Book of Travels, 5).

No comments about Family Houses/Maisons Unifamiliales/Einfamilienhauser (Evergreen).