3 comments about Janson's History of Art 7th Ed..

1. this book is awesome! but be careful it is the right version. this a double volume book and you can just purchase volume one or volume two of the 7th Ed.... though it's a lot cheaper to buy both bound together



2. "Janson's History of Art" contains a comprehensive story of the human effort to communicate in an aesthetic manner. Art is the communication of imagination and ideas. It is an effort at adorning self and environment. It is the expression of man's reality, whether realistic or symbolic. H.W. Janson and his successors show us this unfolding story in this 824 page volume.
   
   When I taught art history in a fine arts survey course at the high school level, this was my art bible--one of the best. Its use as instruction for me and pictures of art for the student made "History of Art" completely invaluable. This was my teaching tool, along with so many other art books.
   
   Highest recommendation!



3. I bought this to supplement my art history course. It has everything I need to know as someone just starting out in the study of the field. I really enjoy the layout and photos. Highly recommended by my art history professor and now myself!

5 comments about The Silk Road: Two Thousand Years in the Heart of Asia.

1. I recently became interested in this topic and based on the reviews here ordered this book as a first step. I do not know the literature well but I would hope that there exists a better introduction for the novice.
   
   To be sure, this is a fine book in many ways. It is a beautiful package and it showcases the author's scholarship with intensive use of primary sources. And I did learn a lot. I was especially intrigued by the "east-looking-west" world view, resulting no doubt from the author's Sinophilia.
   
   To my mind, there are two big gaps. The first is the absence of the historian's "big picture." There is much detail but not much discussion to tie it all together.
   
   The second - and the more important - is that among all of the illustrations there are very few maps. In fact there are only two, at the very front and the very back, and they don't do much to relate the historical Silk Road to modern political boundaries and ethnic distributions. Time and again I wished there were maps to show the travels and conquests of various groups and individuals. For a history with a strong geographical component, this is a fatal flaw.
   
   Don't get me wrong. I am happy that I read the book. But I do wish I had started elsewhere, though I'm not sure where that would be.



2. The Silk Road, by Frances Wood is a wonderfully detailed account of the history of what is probably the most famous "road" in history. Of course we soon learn that this "road" is actually a series of roads running here and there through many countries and many cultures. I must admit that when I first received this book, I had a sinking feeling. It appeared to be just another coffee table book. It certainly looked and felt like one. How wrong I was. Just goes to show you indeed cannot judge a book by its cover nor by its shape. I cannot remember reading a book, in particular on this subject, which was so filled with wonderful facts and obscure bits of knowledge. What was even nicer was the fact that it is so well written and so well researched. Also, unlike many of the books on this subject, it is not Eurocentric by any means. Most of the story of this famous trade route took place in the far and Middle East and this is where the author places the majority of emphasis.
   
   While the author certainly touches on the types of goods which were carried along this route, and does address the economic aspect of trade in this part of the world over the past several thousand years, the majority of this work focuses on the various civilization, many of them completely lost, and on the travels of quite a number of important, but seldom heard of travelers and traders. This is NOT a rehash of all the old tales of Marco Polo, who, thank goodness, was not mentioned all that much. The study of Marco is interesting and enjoyable, but to learn the truth of these days and times, his writings are probably not the most accurate. Besides, if you want to learn of Marco and his family, there are certainly enough other books out there that more than cover the subject.
   
   Now before I continue, the reader should take note. As the author fully admits, this is a very complicated work, made even more so by the spelling of place names and the various rise and fall of numerous civilizations. I must admit that at many times I was completely clueless as to where, who and when the author was referring to. This is not the author's fault, it is mine. I had no idea just how ignorant I was of the geography of the area concerned, and how ignorant of the history of that area. If you do not know what and where Zhou, Xiongnu, Yarkland, Loulan, Zhibin, Parthis, Chang'an, Qin, Gaozong, Dunhuang, Xuanzang, and several hundred other locations are, then you will be in big trouble like I was. Many of these place names are further complicated because of name changes over hundreds of years and by numerous different spellings of the same place. There is obviously a large gap in my education. I had the same problem with names of various tribes and the names of people. Even maps are not that much help, as many of the places mentioned in the author's narrative simply no longer exist. Actually and surprisingly, this did not distract from the overall work all that much. And, when you think about it, what better way of learning these previously unknown facts, than the study of a work such as this? The reader should not be put off by this...consider it a learning challenge and experience!
   
   The author is quite outspoken and quite critical during the last part of the book when addressing "The Great Game" and the role the major European powers had in raping, exploiting and destroying traces of these wonderful and lost civilizations. She is also quite harsh in her assessment as to the role of religion is destroying irreplaceable artifacts in the name of one God or another, even addressing the recent atrocities carried out by the Taliban in Afghanistan against religions shrines and the almost complete destruction of museums, all in the name of religion. While I dearly love having access to some of these pieces of history in our own museums, I must admit that we were as guilty as the next is literally stealing from these countries. On the other hand, one wonders if some of these priceless artifacts would still exist in this world had they not been removed from their original source. Food for thought here!
   
   This is a very readable, scholarly work and the many, many pictures, photographs and reproductions make it an absolute pleasure to the eye. This is one of those books that if you read it for the art work alone, you will enjoy and will learn. If you choose to read only one book covering this fascinating subject, then this is the one you should probably choose.



3. This is the best of all the many books I've read about "the" silk road, since I have been visiting Gansu province, China, for the past ten years. It is very informative, as well as beautifully illustrated and engagingly written. Wood adeptly covers the subject from varied perspectives: historical, geographical, cultural, artistic, political,etc. Superb!



4. A wonderful read of Asian history along the famous trade route. The art and photographs are beautiful and the author's style is easy to read. Not your typical, dry history read.



5. This book is full of interesting facts and it takes you in a cultural voyage the whole time. I found it easy to read, informative and engaging.

3 comments about The Ultimate Book of Optical Illusions.

1. Gave as a gift. The person enjoyed the book as it helped him pass time when he was ill. Some of the illusions were better than others, but if you like this kind of thing then this should be ok.



2. Some are a little obvious, and some I don't get at all. But mostly it's a pretty cool book to leaf through!



3. I cannot tell you how pleased I am with this book. I had been loooking for a "science-y" type book to donate to my son's kindergarten class - something to get kids excited about science other than dinosaurs. Well, my son got so excited when he started "getting" the illusions that I literally thought he was going to have a potty accident. He wanted to look at page after page - some of the illusions he got right away and others he didn't really see, but he was not deterred. In fact, the whole family - both parents and 2 kids, looked at the book enthusiastically for much of the night. There are hundreds of excellent photos with nice simple captions. The book is very entertaining and offers a broad array of types of optical illusions. The book does not describe how or why these illusions work, so if you are looking for that, you'll need to look elsewhere. But for a great collection of optical illusions - suitable for your coffee table or your children's classroom, you will not be disappointed. I am going to look at Seckel's other books to buy another!

2 comments about J.J. Pizzuto's Fabric Science Swatch Kit.

1. The shipping was very quick and the kit was complete and in good condition.



2. the book helps out a lot for a fabric and textiles class

5 comments about The Art Book.

1. Due to the size of the art prints and the barely visible text,, the book is close to worthless. These paintings were never meant to be shrunken down to this size. The actual book is not much bigger than a paperback. Very disappointing. Very misleading. Total waste of money. I'm surprised Amazon chose to market it.



2. Small compact paperbook can take with me when traveling. Am enjoying the brevity, but not as much the small print type, but still very enjoyable book.



3. I love this book. It shows a beautiful example of the artists work in alphabetical order and a great short history of each artist. I discovered a lot of artists I wasn't familiar with. It's a great quick reference and easy/enjoyable reading. It's more than I expected! A must for anyone interested in art/artists.



4. A bargain at the cover price and even better at the prices listed here at Amazon. I have copies at both my homes and am always referring to it. Would that Phaidon could do the same for music and lovers of great literature.



5. An excellent mini art history book. It covers the majority of well known artists with a representative work. All this and the paperback is small enough to carry around. I present it to my students for special achievements.

5 comments about ColorSense: Creative Color Combinations for Crafters.

1. I was disappointed. This book was like every other color book out there. Really just page after page of color combinations and a color wheel. Was not useful and I returned it.



2. I've always been intimidated by color wheels and the like - the terminology has been beyond me as well.
   This book not only explained it very simply and concisely, the examples in the back and the color swatches make selecting colors for a project absolutely 'dummy proof'. A must for color dunces like myself. I'm still not an expert, but at least have the confidence that I'm not going to make ugly projects.
   Perfect size to take with me to the store, and it's indestructible.



3. Susan has done an incredible and very thorough job of teaching color theory in a very down to earth, non-technical, easy to understand way. This is a perfect book for anyone who wants to learn about the interaction of colors, for creating or for life! Susan presents color in so many combinations, patterns and designs and thoroughly explains how colors interact with each other. Cool color chips in the back and great small color wheel included. A MUST for anyone who wants to learn more about color, crafters and artists of all kinds.



4. I must have read (and probably own) dozens of books about color theory. Some I've found close to worthless, some are useful, and a very few are really helpful. Color Sense is one of those.
   Levin, a cofounder of K1C2 (a great knitting company) and inventor of the Rainbow Color Selector, has written a book which must be the color book she has always wanted to find but hadn't.
   The first section, How to Use this book, cover all the basics of color. First it covers how the pages are organized, so the reader can understand the color combination pictures. Then it talks about the swatches and templates included at the back of the book. It also shows you in detail how to use the small Rainbow Color Selector that is included with the book.
   Before a short glossary of color terms, there is a discussion of color considerations. These aspects, proportions, undertones, value, and other factors make or break many projects. These simple explanations will help you identify problems with your color schemes and repair them.
   The heart of the book are the color palettes. They are divided into three large groups: combinations of one,two, three, and four colors. The main types of color combinations, like complementary or triad, are put into one of these groups.
   For each color combination, based on the twelve-color color wheel, there is a two-page spread. On the left page, the top contains three swatch diagrams for the combination, one light, one saturated, and one dull. Below each of these are several combinations in that particular value range showing different proportions of each of the component colors. I find this fascinating because the matter of proportion in color combinations is rarely shown but is very important, particularly in fiber arts. I'm sure you will find that some combination are much more appealing than others.
   The right page shows 20 more color combinations, five against each of four backgrounds. Various shades of the main colors are shown with no background and against white, gray, and black. The same combination of shades is shown against each of the backgrounds.
   Although the particular choice of background color also has a big effect in needlepoint, these samples can help lots in making a decision between, say, a light blue and a navy blue for a pillow background.
   The books ends with a set of color swatches, all printed on card stock, with 7 shades for each of the twelve colors, plus multiple swatches of black, white, and gray. You can take these out and create your own color combination or match the cards to combinations in the book and carry them with you when selecting threads.
   Throw in a Rainbow Color Selector and you have a wonderfully complete and usable book on color which is aimed at anyone who works with thread, yarn, or beads.



5. Two things I like about a book is one that tells you what you already know but looks at it form a different angle; the other thing I like is to be surprised with something that I should have known but did not. This book has both and more.
   
   The first chapter is on how to use the book with 20 action packed, well maybe not action packed but information packed pages on how to get the most out of the book. This is a good starting place.
   
   The book was designed for needlework's and painters and the like. However I have two other reasons I bought the book. First for general knowledge to be able to see the world in a different way "But Now Can See!" The practical purpose is planning colors for dyeing yarn.
   
   The book comes with a color wheel and detachable color samples to carry with you while shopping. I may have to buy a second copy as I can not force my self to dismantle the samples.
   
   The book has a practical binding and is more than worth the cost.
   
   Way to go Susan Levin.
   
   Color Works: The Crafter's Guide to Color

5 comments about The Monster Book of Manga: Draw Like the Experts.

1. This is one in a series of three books.
   
   This book is filled with awesome designs, which area a great resource of inspiration and learning.
   
   Highly recommended.



2. I have been enjoying this book alot. it gives me quite abit of refs and it helps me out when I have projects due and I am stuck on a pose or having anatomy issues and need to freshen up on my art skills. I will admit though that this book is rather for someone who is intermediate in illustration not so much a beginner since there is alot of techniques that are kinda a refresher course for an artist not really someone who is just starting out in art. but all-in-all it's a good read. great for refrences^^



3. While the art is great and it provides step by step instructions, the instructions are difficult to follow at a beginner or intermediate level. It's called 'draw like the experts' because you have to already be an expert to get much use out of it. It's a nice edition to by how to draw collection, but its more 'pretty to look at' that helpful.



4. This book really isnt bad persay - however I HEAVILY recommend it's cousins
   "Moster Book of More Manga:How to Draw Like the Experts" and
   "Monster Book of Manga:Fairies and Mystical Creatures" edition.
   
   I own the entire series along with roughly 8 other how to draw manga books and I am most impressed by the REST of this series. Not necessarily this book. The other three books are put out by Ikari Studios and you can REALLY tell the difference in the artwork. Its rich and colorful where the artwork in this book is good...however...it's not the best in the group.
   
   My personal opinon is all. Overall the book is helpful but not a beginner book. More of a supplement.



5. I bought this book a few months ago, and I have really seen my manga art improve. Some of the art in it is kinda lame, while other ones are amazing! If you look over the details of each character and how to draw part, you can really teach yourself how to improve your drawing. The key to making this book worth while is to look at each detail and learn that way, and not at the overall picture.

1 comments about The Field of Cultural Production.

1. Bourdieu's analyses of class, taste and culture are seminal and serve as a framework for deeper examination of the embeddedness of class structure in the choices of individuals.

5 comments about Shoji: How to Design, Build, and Install Japanese Screens.

1. I've read the book 3 times already, and refer back to it frequently. It gives a good introduction to shoji, but I find that it is meant to be a refresher for an actual class. Some sections are vague, such as calculating board feet, so I had to go to woodworking websites for that exact procedure.
   
   The book was good enough to make me acquire two Japanese pull saws and a marking guage. I'm in the process of getting a finishing plane, so maybe I will then see how I do on actually constructing a shoji screen using the book's tips! Tool vendors seem to know the author, so he does know his stuff.



2. This is an excellent guide to making japanese screens.if you are a beginer or a pro i think youll find this the ideal choice to start off with.



3. Can not say enough about this book, it gives you a good start if you know a little about wood, but does not stop there.
   
   If you get this book you'll enjoy that it does not insult your interest by just showing pictures of work only a master could do. It gives the information needed to do your first design plus what you'll need once you understand the methods.
   
   Thanks Jay, you have given me a great new experience.



4. the book was easy to understand. easy to read. a great book , if you want to build a shoji screen this is the book for you. tells you about other uses and other stronger materials to use



5. The book arrived speedily and in great condition. What more can I ask?

5 comments about Images.

1. You may well wonder what the big attraction is for a coloring book with all these odd little images.
   
   Try it and you'll see. Once you experience the great relaxation to be found in one of these collections of odd images to color, you will wonder how you ever did without them before.
   
   Crazy cool book! Turn on some Grateful Dead music and color away!:)



2. Truly challenging desings...although they repeat like four times...because I really am into geometrical designs, it really was a mind boggling process to extract the structures I wanted from the overall design...also the coloring sessions (in my case) were long and tedious so you must have time and patience for them...



3. I found these designs difficult but challenging. Spaces are small so this might not be great for younger kids. Designs are somewhat monotonous.



4. I recieved this book, along with books 2-5 also, for christmas. My mom ordered them out of a magazine together though. but they are the same books. Anyway, I love these things!! I am 14, and they still Keep me busy. Also, I had several teachers who had us do these at school.....not exactly sure why, but they did. Anyway, I think older kids, maybe 3rd or 4th grade and up will like these better than any old coloring book. I even got my sister whos 24, doing one of these last night! lol so overall, its perfect! =)



5. I am an adult that loves to color and these Roger Burrows books are great. I find they work best with colored pencils in that the designs are very intricate, but fine tip markers work fine as well if you don't mind bleed through (the paper is fairly thin). Very good, cheap, relaxing therapy! Can't miss--these would be fine for older children as well that are very attentive to detail.