5 comments about In the Oriental Style: A Sourcebook of Decoration and Design.

1. A favorite of my Interior Design book collection!
   Being stationed in Japan for over 10 years with
   my husband, I fell in love with Asian Arts and
   enjoyed decorating my home with such treasures.
   I recently moved back to the States, and more than ever,
   I appreciate each piece for it's
   craftmanship and beauty. This book shows how much more you can do with treasures from the Orient!



2. This book is described as a sourcebook and that's what it is. It is certainly not an overview of Oriental furniture since the emphasis is on display and design. It is, however, a great book for those who wish to blend in some Oriental furniture in their Western homes.

   The title may be a bit misleading; the main part of the book concentrates on South-East Asian furniture and not so much on Japanese/Korean styles. Most of the furniture comes from Thailand, Burma and China.

   For those, like me, who live in that part of the world that is OK. The antiques available in Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong are mostly, in the affordable categories, from these countries.

   In particular, there is a wealth of Chinese old furniture on the market. And for those who think prices are a problem, forget it. We have picked up many cabinets from Chian around $ 750 and for similar amounts you go to a good furniture shop in BKK and have lovely pieces handmade for you from your own design ideas.

   Even if you don't live here, but are here on a visit you can easily buy and have it shipped ( we have done it for friends on quite a few occassions). The shipping rates are quite OK and allow you still to pick up some pieces at good prices.

   For amateurs like me, who simply wish to introduce some Asian elements in their homes this book is very valuable and gives many ideas, not in the least through the many photographs.




3. It is a good sourcebook to get an overview of 'Oriental' styles. You will find an introductions to Oriental traditional living, architecture, furniture and decorative items from Asian countries like Thailand, Burma, Japan, Korea, Myanmar (Burma), China, Philipines, Tibet and Indonesia including Bali. The book shows you as well how Oriental Style can innovate Western interiors.



4. Studying this book made me appreciate the great job done by most editors of style and design source books. This particular book falls short of the standard set by Asian style gurus like Tan Hock Beng and Barbara Walker.

   While this book is chock-a-block with professional photos of beautiful objets d'art and of sumptuous east-meets-western-interior-decorator homes, it comes off as an unsorted pile of images; the editorial vision never gets far beyond, "hey, y'all, check out this neat-lookin' stuff!"

   One way the editor could have improved the flow of this book would have been to devote just one more pair of facing pages to each of the featured homes. Facing pages are used to some advantage to concentrate on one given home, but these photos sometimes seem disjointed together rather than harmonious. And far too much distance is put between the walls and the camera, so while the overall room can be studied, there is often a lack of up-close, detail shots.

   Positive elements: the traditional Japanese interiors are gorgeous, and there are nice shots showing how objects can be grouped; there are lots of hints on how to work east and west together.

   Negative elements: three categories of Oriental design and decoration as introduced in the preface are never referred to again; this could have been a way to organize the book! Reader is made to jump from a collection of ornate Chinese and Japanese armoirs (pages 104 - 105), to a variety of Asian bedroom interiors (pages 106 - 107), to 3 rooms of a contemporary Philippines residence (pages 108 - 109). ...it's annoyingly random. There are too many photos of antique shop displays (with overwhelming arrays of objects) with (get this) big price tags on the items, in plain view! If you love the cluttered look, this may not be objectionable, but if you want to see more actual examples of putting a design element to its best advantage, this book won't measure up. I found the examples of western homes using Asian artifacts to be odd, & even sometimes quite insensitive to the beauty of the pieces.

   To be sure, there are some lovely photos in here, and many of the pieces (individual design elements) are quite nice. I don't doubt that the average reader will find something here to be inspired by. But there is a general lack of order and subtlty, and far too many inappropriate juxtapositions of images on the same page.




5. This is an excellent book for the westerner who wants to introduce an eastern thematic decor to your home, e.g., cabinets, art pieces, tonality and color, while maintaining elements of western living, e.g., western chairs and eating tables. It provides a range of eastern styles and elements that is ideally suited to one seeking a selection of pieces from various eastern cultures. If you are seeking the zen setting of a pure japanese style, this is not the right book.

2 comments about A Grammar of Gatha-Avestan (Asian Studies).

1. This is a beautifully presented, up-to-date work on the language of the Avestan Gathas (not the later language). The emphasis is on the historical development of the language and its relationship to other Indo-European languages, rather than a guide to reading the texts. However, the astute student should be able to find everything here necessary for understanding the Gathic hymns. Grammar and pronunciation are exhaustively presented, and all the vocabulary used in the texts is found somewhere in the book, though English is not the author's native language, leading to occasional obscurity (he refers at one point to a 'diphtongue'). Highly recommended.



2. This is a good book in regards to being a historical grammar. It requires a good deal of linguistics background. Beekes goes over all major features of the language, including meter and laryngeals. One should not think of this as being a reference grammar or a text book grammar.

No comments about Country Decorating (Home Magic).

No comments about The Perfect Home: Best of Style (Perfect Home Series).

2 comments about The Magic Flute: Die Zauberflote. an Alchemical Allegory.

1. This book is worth it's heavy weight in gold! In fact, it is so well researched and so well written that I look forward to re-reading it! I actually convinced my local library to borrow it from a university library for me. I enjoyed it so much that I wound up buying my own copy!
   
   Mr. Van Den Berk presented the alchemical, hermetic and esoteric allegories so well that he renewed my interests and inspired me to research some of his ideas on a deeper level. The numerous citations in the book gave me plenty of choices with which to start my own research.
   
   The other reviewer did a pretty thorough job so I will not repeat him, however he did mention that the subject of "illumination" should have been developed further. I felt that the whole "illumination" theme was a given and didn't need to be explained any further by the author. The whole idea of Spiritual Alchemy and the Rosicrucian mind-set centers on individual illumination. There are many paths to illumination, therefore to merely point out one of them might limit the possibilities for some readers. Leaving it open for interpretation forces the serious reader to do some contemplation! I like that!
   
   I am so happy to have discovered this book and can honestly say that it contributed a great deal to MY personal illumination! Thank you Mr. Van Den Berk for this wonderful contribution to society!



2. Van den Berk is here the forerunner who cuts a path through the thick forest which would otherwise not be viable. Proving anew and definitely that the opera is an 'alchemical' one is what he does, which he is very sure about, and may be proud of. He does so by interpreting the diverse characters, symbols and processes, as well as the totality of them, as illustration of the 'magnum opus', the great work of the alchemists. And this within and from the lives and context not only from the makers of this opera, Mozart and his librettists, members of the 'illuminate' version of Freemasonry. But still more, and this is a really fascinating part of the study, from the history of mythology of which alchemy grew as one branch. So we learn among many other personalities and symbols from Pamina as salt, Tamino as sulphur, and Papageno-Papagena as mercury and hermaphrodite. And not less from the processes of transformation which all these undergo, resulting in the definitive 'chemical' wedding (the sacred marriage), through the phases of nigredo (blackening), albedo (whitening) and rubedo (reddening). Everything is shown in the most convincing details, from classical Greece and old Egypt to the Rosicrucian works of the 16th Century. From Isis and Osiris to Mozarts visit to Pompeji, and the history and meaning of the etchings which accompanied the publication of the opera. With detailed insights into Mozart's membership of Freemasonry, his personal views about what it stood for, and the way this influenced his musical and theatrical creations. With most insightful explanations of 92 very adequate illustrations. So to me indeed this is a monumental work.
   I add hastily that the book is a pleasure to read, because Van den Berk is a master in letting the reader make the discoveries together with him. Although possibly not every part is to any reader of the same interest, it is clear that one enriches oneself very much by following the author throughout the whole book. Particularly if one is also interested in the evidence which proofs the theses of the author. Van den Berk has a strong intuition and at the same time a thorough feeling for scientific and historical proof, and always lets the later support the former.
   And be sure the map he sketches does not contradict the innumerable hard facts for one moment! So I have to conclude that this work offers a lot to many people, not the least many suggestions for further studies in the field, and much inspiration for every reader, also those with a more personal interest in the various subjects, themes and topics related to Mozart's Zauberflöte.
   I wish this book in the hands of many, and thank the makers of it for their inspiration and knowledge, particularly the author himself through which all this value comes through us.
   
   Now I will continue with some questions which remain to me unsolved. To my opinion the richness of this book cannot be underestimated very much! Although the author is very well aware of many themes there are also aspects which he does not give very much attention. I mean the path of illumination itself.
   To me the experience or realization of illumination is important as well as the path from and to it. I can refer to illumination in the works of Jacob Boehme which have well influenced the authors which according to Van den Berk also inspired Mozart, particularly the famous Oetinger of whom a book was found in Mozarts library with a very interesting part about music! And I can also refer to illumination in the Buddhist tradition. While I experience the book of Van den Berk as 'scientifically' impressive, why does not deal he with the core itself of his subjects - namely the path from and to illumination - that intensively? Of course it is very likely that he does this indirectly so why not also directly?
   But let me first acknowledge some other characteristic of this book which has impressed me very much: the author everywhere adds to his conclusions the way he has found them, and this is very inspiring. It tells us we ourselves could also find what we seek, if using our means in the right way. So the book itself is a splendid illustration of going one way, be it only that of detailed 'scientific' mythological and historical research (including important aspects of human psychology).
   I add another point, which for me touches the core. To me illumination in the Western tradition of alchemy has everything to do with the so called union of the opposites of which the union of the opposite sexes is the most important example, also called 'androgyny' which is an important topic from classical to modern times (see my book on "Androgyny in Christianity, particularly in the works of Jacob Boehme" 1986; extenxive summary in English at http://www1.tip.nl/~t770268/androgsum.html ). As this includes the relation of sexuality and spirituality - the role of the union of the sexes at all levels, even as symbol of spiritual illumination! - it would be important not to forego this tradition and its implications, particularly when the subject is central to it, and to the Zauberflöte it surely is. For example: how is the relation in the opera between sexuality at lower and at higher levels and how has it come through in the course of the reception of the opera?! This is again a core theme Van den Berk's book puts on the scene of our attention, and although he himself does not elaborate upon it very much, it is very important as well and will hopefully be seen by many readers. The relation of sexuality and spirituality is of great importance to the history of the West, not only through the churches, through theology and mysticism, and not only through alternative traditions like Gnosticism and alchemy in which it flourished abundantly, but also in the philosophical presuppositions of Western culture as such. It is not by chance that the theme of the Zauberflöte is a core theme. Whereas it is a great merit of this book of Van den Berk to have proved this with regard to the roots of the Zauberflöte in alchemy and Freemasonry, it would be a great accomplishment if the much broader implications of it - I repeat: a core theme of Western culture - from now on would be elaborated upon more fully. Again: that Van den Berk with his book touches upon such a fundamental theme to our Western culture and spirituality, and so makes possible a more thorough study of the latter, to me is a great advantage and a great merit. It makes even comparisons and discussions with other cultures more near and better possible. Not a small value.

5 comments about The Smart House.

1. As with everything else from this author, it is just a collection of pretty pictures, with absolutely no detail on materials and construction techniques.



2. CONTENTS:
   The Smart House Examined 6
   SMART TECHNOLOGY
   House R128 14
   Lake House 38
   Courtyard House 56
   SMART MATERIALS
   Valley Center 72
   Cabin at Elbow Coulee 88
   Freund/Koopman Residence 104
   Shorthand House 122
   Lexton/MacCarthy Residence 140
   Colorado House 160
   Gosline House 176



3. I bought this book to get insight into the Smart home concept and implementation.
   This book has very little of hard knowledge, as far as smart homes are concerned. It does have a lot of picture, I agree with the other critics, IT MAKES A GOOD COFFEE TABLE BOOK.
   I wouldn't recommend it for anyone that actually wants to know about the smart home concept.



4. This book started out on a great premise, to talk about smart technology, smart materials and smart design in residential house. Examples illustrated in this book are not bad, either. Layouts are there, pictures are there. Descriptions are quite well-written. Still, this book is lacking of that wow factor that manages to captivate our interest, or perhaps, to keep us reading from beginning till end. Perhaps, it is the quality or the presentation of this book. It is printed in Hong Kong and compared with books done by Taschen and Phaidon, this book is definitely of a more inferior quality. My conclusion is simply, hmmm...I'm not sure. Keep up the good work, though.



5. this book is a great display of "smart" housing in the contemporary scene. if you are an architect or an architecture student who is looking to rip off other peoples designs and details this book is not for you!!

No comments about Candace Wheeler.

No comments about Wayward Monks and the Religious Revolution of the Eleventh Century (Brill's Studies in Intellectual History) (Brill's Studies in Intellectual History).

No comments about Decorative Floors in a Weekend: Simple Step-By-Step Projects for Maximum Effect With Minimum Effort (In a Weekend).

2 comments about In The Deco Style.

1. This book has some very nice pictures in it, but it is lacking a lot. Its really disorganized into a art deco mismash. The art deco movement was so huge, its hard to place into an entire book, but there are somethings I would have liked to see in here. Some of the buildings in Los Angeles which has some amazing art deco architecture. The author completely skips over designers like Russell Wright and Walter Von Nessen. There there are things that plain just don't fit in here, there are many Moderne buildings, which is close, but not exactly deco, there is a random page on 1930's fashion and a whole section of 1980's art deco reproductions. I don't want to see reproductions, I want to see the real thing! I wish more would have been put in about buildings in America, but I understand this book was published in the UK.



2. "In the Deco Style" was first published by Rizzoli Publishing in 1987. In the nearly twenty years since it was published, a technological revolution has taken place in art book publishing. Today's art books are bigger and brighter and of a much higher print quality. There are many nice color photos in this book but on the printed page, they come across as comparatively dull and muted. If you want to see the difference that twenty years can make take a look at "Art Deco 1910-1939". In that book, the colors are warm and the photographs almost jump off the printed page.
   
   This book was written 15-20 years after the Art Deco revival of the late 1960's. For its time, the book does a very good job of describing the Art Deco movement with all its many different schools. However, an additional two decades of scholarship has taken place and we now have a much more nuanced understanding of the time.
   
   If you are an seriously interested in Art Deco, this book is very fine purchase. It is reasonably priced and there are many interesting photographs. However, if you are new to the subject, purchase "Art Deco 1910-1939", the single best coffee table style of book on the subject.