Themes Books

Having lived in Venice for five months, each scene in this book is the actualization of my own memories. I bought one book about Venice and gave it as a gift to my parents who were not there to see the city firsthand, and this book was it.

While not a travel guide or an in depth history book, this book does better than many others at capturing the light and true essence of Venice, the Serene Republic.

Whether you have traveled to Venice and are already under its magnetic, elusive spell or whether you plan to visit...or even if your fantasy world includes bits of Serenissima, VENICE SKETCHBOOK is bound to please.

Artist Fabrice Moireau travels Europe with his sketchpad, rendering quick sketches in watercolor that capture the light and moment as reflected by the architecture of the place. This book is his prolonged visit to Venice and he has visited every island, canal, bridge, and hidden place that make this wonderfully decaying old Queen of the Adriatic a romantic paradise. His sketches are beautifully executed, not always with scholarly perspective, but capturing the Venetian light, an amalgamation of sun, water, fog, and mist, like few others have in this medium. Sensitive hand written notes on each page by the important 'models' make the sketches come even more alive.

The book is graced by a fine Introduction by Deborah Howard who teaches architectural history at Cambridge and has written extensively about the architecture of Venice, Veneto, and the Italian Renaissance. In her elegant writing she sets the mood for viewing the sketches with an abundant but concise discussion of the history of Venice.

The book is divided into sections of the city and writer Tudy Sammartini, who lives and works in Venice, opens each sector with fascinating comments about the history of the buildings, the churches, the monuments, and all the sights that sector holds. Her background in the history of her beloved Venice enhances the value of this book beyond the simple coffee table picture book. Her writing is warmly readable and very informed.

Marry the contributions of these three talented people and the result is a book that is not only visually attractive and lovingly published on 'watercolor paper', but is also an informative and meditative volume of praise for the city known as Serenissima. Grady Harp, January 2005

I bought this book before I visited Venice last year and it proved to be a very effective way - together with my Dorling Kindersley Guide book (also recommended) - of creating a short-list of places to draw. Saved me hours of slogging round trying to find "that view"!

The drawings and watercolour sketches are extremely competent (if somewhat stylized) and give lots of inspiration for those working in watercolour of some the ways in which Venice can be portrayed.

A wonderful book for lovers of Venice and for those who would like to look at some of the incredible treasures of this magical, romantic city!

This book was a gift from a close friend who knows I am planning my first trip to Venice this spring. I have been immersing myself in guides to Venice, and this book, with its charming and skillful watercolors and expert commentary, seems the perfect introduction to this fascinating city.
It is not a guidebook per se, more of an artistic appreciation. Many of the comments are in cursive writing, so it seems you are looking at a personal sketchbook with running comments. The watercolors convey the interplay of light and color better than any photographs I've seen.
This book is clearly a labor of love.

This is one of those extraordinarily rare books that inspires me to buy not one, but 100...for family, friends, and colleagues. The idea is so simple and so brilliant but more important, it is beautifully executed. Truly inspired virtuoso selections, gorgeous photography and wonderful writing-- rarely, does one find all of these qualities in one body of work. My only regret is that the book wasn't available during the holiday season or I would have used it for ALL of my X-mas gifts. With tremendous respect, LCLJ

Not just the famous. Not the infamous. Not the obvious. This amazing book actually delivers on the promise of the title. I didn't realize how jaded I was until I sat down and moved through the text and images. Simply brilliant. Don't miss the experience and integrity of this book. ADDED BONUS: The book's superlative design and extraordinary photographs.

What's great here, in addition to stellar photos and high production values (what kind of paper is this?) is the surprising quality of the selection of the people. I like seeing boxers and map makers, basketball players and glass blowers set next to each other.

Joseph Campbell's sadly over-used expression "Follow your bliss" is personified in the 40 profiles that fill the pages of The Virtuoso. What a revelation to find that the world possesses such remarkable individuals in places we might least expect to find them. The Virtuoso says much about taking risks, about going as far as you can to arrive at a place that is larger than yourself. Love, and a dash of madness, are at the core of every choice a Virtuoso makes, shaping the lives of these extraordinary talents in the most unimagined ways, and those who come into contact with them. It takes a vision to see the vision in others. Clearly this author has that. Bravo!

Wayne Gretzky's retirement from hockey seems a fitting occasion to remark on the phenomenal collection of virtuosos Ken Carbone has gathered together in his new book. The gift of a Virtuoso like Gretzky, and of this book, is the realization that absolute focus and dedication to a passion can lead one beyond oneself. That message resounds like a gong through the handsomely designed pages and expressive photographs of The Virtuoso. The thrill of sharing a Virtuoso's talent is the transcendence it offers, the visceral feeling that one is witnessing, in the Eastern sense, life lived fully in the moment. Inspiration, indeed.

This large-format book brings together paintings, etchings and other visual images of how humans envisioned travel to the moon and the planets from early Renaissance times to the 1950's. Most were illustrations accompanying published works of fiction. These images, collected by Ordway, are very well reproduced and have useful captions.

Until the second half of the nineteenth century, these depictions of space vehicles, other worlds, and their possible inhabitants were wildly fanciful. After Jules Verne, improved astronomical observations and better engineering made these visions increasingly recognizable for those who grew up with the Space Age. The book, which includes photographs of early rocket experiments, ends with an extensive section on the 1950's, covering the ideas of Wernher von Braun and illustrated with paintings by Chesley Bonestell and Fred Freeman.

Readers may wonder why there are no visions from non-western cultures; were none sufficiently interesting, or do they really not exist? The foreword by Arthur C. Clarke is disappointingly flippant.

Beautiful "coffee table" book. The author's love for the pictorial material in his collection and this book shows at every page. The author is at his best with the "post-Goddard" material and 20th century representations of space flight. Being the proud owner of some of the original, older material, I did notice that a couple of captions for Flammarion and Terzi are wrong but I am just being picky... Enjoy!

All of the paintings in this volume are dated, the paintings are for the most part not accurate as we see spaceflight today, but their historical value is immense. For example, early paintings of the lunar surface often exhibit sharp peaks on mountains, of course we now know eons of cosmic bombardment smoothly rounded most features. Text at the beginning of this book explain how these paintings were collected over many years, they date from before the 1600's to the 1950's, a fascinating story in itself, and there is also a foreword by Arthur C. Clarke. Each painting is accompanied by a caption in this large-format book.

From our perspective today many of these paintings look very quaint, though when they were first published they must have appeared very futuristic. Buy this book for it's historical and art value, not for scientific accuracy.

Author Ordway's absorption with rockets and spaceflight began before NASA even existed: he was one of the first to work in the space industry and assembled a beautiful collection of images relating to astronautics and rockets. Five centuries of spaceflight images are presented here, in a stunning collection of both real rockets and illustrations of imagined creations. Many a science buff as well as science fiction fans will find Visions Of Spaceflight fascinating.

Fred Ordway has to be the world's leading space historian. If he isn't recognised as such he darned well should be! True to form Fred delivers an outstanding book filled with beautiful reproductions of some of the greatest space art ever painted. In the past fifty years Fred Ordway's contributions to the documentation of man's preoccupation with the heavens has to be unsurpassed. This book is a brilliant and perfect addition to any space enthusiasts collection. Trust me...buy this book!

i saw this book at a financial advisor's office and immediately came home and purchased it. it is a fabulous melding of text and photography, beautifully rendered. if you have visited this part of new york, you will enjoy the memories....if you have not been there yet, look at this before you go and it will greatly enrich your experience.

This is a holiday gift to open more than once. Beautiful! Useful! Fuses text and illustrations in a way that enriches both!

with all the mega mergers going on this may be the last photographic history of the old Wall Street.

This book makes a wonderful gift for the person with everything. A real treasure for all those who own stocks or those who want to visit NY.

This book is a pleasure to read and to keep around for others to enjoy. I keep it on my desk at work so that my visitors can enjoy the incredible photography. The book also gives a unique insight in to the history of the many firms on Wall Street and how consolidation has led to our current list of players. Many find it interesting to see how certain firms came to be what they are today.

One example of an interesting foreshadow is that the author has included a picture of the Banker's Trust building reflecting off of a Deutsche Bank conference room table. The two frims merged several years after the photo was taken.

Since buying this book I now enjoy walking around lower Manhattan. While before I was caught up in the rat race, I know see the beauty of the arcitecture and can better appreciate the history of Wall Street. This book is full of insightful anecdotes which lead to interesting stories for me to share.

This book is a must for anyone who works in the finacial world for its insight and to keep around for others to enjoy.

I was happily surprised when I saw one of the authors books on Nantucket while on vacation there. I bought the book and was again happily surprised at its combination of photography and narration. I would rate Nantucket Island five stars as well.

Having read Michael's personal journey thru his vision and writings, I am anxious to start my own travels. His personal discoveries expressed thru his imaginative eye and creative mind, have convinced me that it is time to "seize the moment" and explore a few of his countries he shared with us : exotic (Oceania/Fiji), mysterious (Machu Picchu,Peru), inviting (Namibia), and cool (Antartica).
I have a feeling that Michael's first 100 countries is just the beginning of many more in his personal journey to fullfill his dreams.
Mary Rolland

These photos exceed my imagination of far away places. Each and every photo pops off the page in Michael Clinton's own version of technicolor. Not only does he seem to capture the magic of so many countries, but he does it with an eye for composition that is flawless. Most prople are lucky to over-achieve at any one thing in a lifetime, this guy is on a mission.

As a world traveler myself (only about 40 countries not 100.... but give me a little more time), I greatly appreciated the photography and writing in this book. I sat down with my kids (8 and 10) and we spent a lot of time learning about the world through its rich pages. The pictures are spectacular and organized so that one feels like you are actually taking a trip from your livingroom as you go through the book. Now my kids want to take some international trips....OY! This could be expensive :)....I highly recommend this book for young and old.

I don't have wanderlust. I find New York to be all the world I crave. But Michael Clinton has brought the world into my living room and taken me on a journey through his astonishingly beautiful photos from the awe inspiring sculptural frozen icebergs in Antartica (my favorite) to a dwelling in La Boca in Buenos Aires that's as fancifully captivating as an abstract painting at the Whitney Museum of Art. His photos illuminate places, nature and people as I've never seen or never could should I ever venture out. Because Clinton captures an angle, a diversity, and a place in the moment as only his individual spirit can. His writing is as beautiful and compelling as well. This is a book to give to yourself and others for the pleasure of years of traveling through the sense of sight.

A beautifullly realized voyage of photo and text that make you want to book immediate passage and realize your travel dream. . The cover is compellingly gorgeous and the shot of the cesna over tha Namibian coast is a stunner ! LOts to see and ponder.

If only a book like this was done for each salmonid species. Great photograhy, very interesting text. This is still the only stunning volume on salmon fly fishing as seen through the eyes of a master photographer. Bravo!!!!!

Of course I would like to review this addition, but since there is a limited supply here in the salt water environs of the Virgin Islands, it has been extremely difficult to find a copy. Therefore, please don't hesitate to send us one for our perusal and subsequent comment. Hope all remains well for you and Paula. Mollie and John

This book has some of the best photography that I have ever seen. I ordered it because it has a very special place in my heart. My father is in it,in the Margaree River chapter. Your description of him just warmed my heart and the photo did too. He is Willie Joe Chiasson and I am his daughter Ethel Clark (formerly Chiasson). I now live in California. I was so pleased and proud to see this and I cannot tell you how happy you made me as well as him. I would also like to send my regards and appreciation to whoever else was involved in putting it together, such as Mike Crockett. Do the three dogs in the book belong to Mike? They look like the are having the time of their life travelling around and playing in the rivers all over the country. I would love to hear from you please.

I WAS NEVER REALLY FOND FLYFISHING UNTIL I ORDER FLYWATER AND WATERMARK...I NOW AM MORE CURIOUS ABOUT IT. THE PHOTOGRAHY WAS ABSOUTLY PHENOMENAL!!! I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH INCREDABLY SCENERY BEFORE. WANT TO THANK MIKE AND GRANT FOR GIVING ME THAT OPPORTUNITY!!!!! LOVE FROM ST.JOHN USVI

Incredible photos from North Carolina, Virginia, and other East Coast venues. The stories that accompany the pictures are an extra treat. Any fisherman would love to receive this as a gift.

This magnificient book contains some of the most impressive photographs of the West I've ever come across. Macduff Everton does with color what that great photographer,Ansel Adams did with Black and White in his majestic photographs of the West.
If one has ever doubted that Photography was an art,the work of these two photographers alone,should dispel that attitude.
I visited Mono Lake in the early morning,during the day and in the evening;and as much as I was impressed with its scenery,I never imagined the splendor that Everton has captured in these wonderful photographs.
When you look at one of these photographs,like the one on page 63 you have to be impressed with the light,shadows,clouds,forms,color,composition and all that has been captured in this photograph. Just think,this is a one-of--a-moment scene;that will change in a few short moments ,and this exact image will be lost forever,if not captured at the time.
This book will be looked at over and over again,and bring back many of the secens I enjoyed in these wonderful areas.Though,try as I did at the time,I only saw a glimmer of the splendor Everton has captured in this book. It takes skill,dedication ,patience and experience to "see" and capture these scenes in the way Everton does to share with us.
The book has top-notch paper,color rendition,printing and paper.However,this book has one weakness. The inside hinges are vere fragile and subject to breaking with minimal usage. I have already had to make repairs to my copy.

The Western Horizon honors the expansive beauty of U.S. topography west of the 100th meridian & east of the Pacific. Mary Heebner provides lightning commentary and subtle sketches complimenting her husband, photographer Macduff Everton, as he captures sites in inimitable ways. Together, they lift a creative curtain... and what a chronicle of our planet's passage they present!

Spectacular photographs are framed with informative prose-poetry re: geologic history and human wear. Many of the images are highlighted by magically addictive, cloud reflected light ... others are pure, simple zen. You gaze & graze on Earth's lines as they reach skyward. Time is everywhere. Many thanks to Abrams for yet another choice coffee table reference. Hopefully, Heebner & Everton will have an opportunity to soon grant us some more cardinal horizons. I'd rate The Western Horizon at no less than a full box of gold stars - it's a perfect book either to share or to savor alone.

This book deserves more than five stars for the unmatched color panoramas of the most picturesque horizons in the western United States.

You could visit these sites for twenty years and not see actual scenes as luscious as these. Whether you know the West or think you would like to, I suggest that you start with this remarkable book. This is the West as you've never seen it . . . but could. The wonderful photography is nicely complemented by the essays that provide geological and historical perspectives on the scenes portrayed here.

The photography is all done in 148 or 150 degree large format color panoramas. This perspective approximates what the human eyes can see, including peripheral vision. As a result, these images give you a remarkable sense of being present that is almost impossible to obtain in a book.

The reproduction quality is amazingly good, and the lighting and tones vary wonderfully from one outstanding photograph to the next. Almost all are displayed over an entire wide panorama-sized page, and many extend over parts of two such pages.

The feeling is so ethereal that it evokes the same sense of natural wonder that looking at paintings by the Hudson River School creates. There are in fact some parallels, as a few scenes include tiny people or animals in the foreground.

The book is divided into sections showing the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado Plateau, the Cascade range, the Pacific Northwest, and California. Although I have traveled extensively in the West for over 40 years, more than half of these scenes were new to me. I can see that I have many wonderful trips ahead of me to visit these locales, now that I know how gorgeous they are.

Here is a list of the sites:

Sand Hills, Nebraska

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Montana Prairie

Breaks of the Missouri

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Waterton/Glacier International Peace Park, Montana

Lemhi Pass, Montana

Mores Creek, Idaho

Aspen, Colorado

Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Colorado

Grand Canyon, Arizona

Grand Staircase -- Escalante National Monument, Utah

Ghost Ranch, New Mexico

Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Monument Valley Tribal Park, Arizona/Utah

Wupatki National National Monument, Arizona

Mount St. Helens

Crater Lake, Oregon

Mount Shasta, California

Oregon Coast

Big Sur, California

Santa Catalina, California

Yosemite, California

Mono Lake, California

Joshua Tree National Park, California

Death Valley, California

The text connects these boundless images to "a West of unlimited horizons" and the work of Turner in developing his frontier theory of the role of the West in stimulating American imagination and initiative. Even today, the book argues that the "unconstrained Western horizon" is important to our sense of taking on the new challenges of modern society.

Everyone who sees these photographs will agree that it would be horrible if these sights were ever to be spoiled. We are fortunate that government policy began to preserve these lands beginning in the 19th century. With today's challenges of pollution and visitors, perhaps even more will have to be done.

Reading and looking at this book is a spiritual journey, not unlike a peaceful meditation. If your spirit is troubled at all, I suggest this book as a balm that you can always use to ease your discomfort.

Live with beauty!

Wow. What a wonderful book that amazes me, everytime I open the cover. Everton seems to have complete control over the dynamics range in all of his photographs. Dark clouds yield to lighter, fluffy clouds, down to a light horizon, and a rich, dark lower 1/3 of these exposures. Add to this control his use of a tool that has limitations, at Noblex 150 panoramic camera.

Everton also captures locations that have already been widely photographed before, but with his own signature. He adds a new face to Calf Creek Falls in Utah. A must have book for your table.

I noticed that the writing on the front flap of the book jacket claimed that the images are large format panographs. After taking a close look at the first few images on pages 1-10, I came to the conclusion that these are panographs taken in 135 format not the medium format of the 120 or 220 types. Everton's notes of camera and film on page 7 confirmed my assessment. It is interesting that he departed from the usual practice of his peers by choosing the colour negative film Fuji NHG II rather than its sibling, the transparency film, Fuji Velvia 50. Though it does not have the punchy colours and high contrast of Velvia, NHG II gives softer colours in highlights and more shadow details. With negative films, mastery in controlling exposure is only half of the accomplishment, mastery in making prints is essential for bringing the final image to the masses. Everton said he developed his prints in a rental lab. If so, his craft is well done. The contrast control of each image is good with no lost of colour saturation and shadow details, even for heavily overcast landscape such as the one on Lemhi Pass (p56). About half of the images was taken at a time when a storm was approaching. Some even have a clearly visible rain curtain (p33,49,62). The panograph of the Great Sand Dune Monument (p62) is a real visual treat. The land and sky were connected by a rain pillar over the sand dune on the right, illuminated by the emerging light. The highlighted strip of the desert floor formed the visual anchor for the reader, guiding my eyes to start the journey from the lower left-hand side of the image then wander into the distant storm-covered horizon. The smoothness of the dunes form a visual contrast to the roughness of the storm clouds above. It is rare to see a rainstorm in a sandy desert let alone under such magical lighting. Capturing fleeing moments like this calls for great patience and skill on the photographer's part. The panograph of Lower Geyser Basin is my second favourite (p49). The steam pillar jetted out of the geyser is the force within the deep earth whereas the heaven is owned by the menacing storm dumping torrents of rain from above. I couldn't stop asking if this image was taken on Planet Earth or near Mount Doom of Middle Earth in Tokkien's fantasy. My other favourite is the panograph of the Lower Calf Creek Falls (p72). Here stillness and transquility was interrupted by the gushing waterfall. The branches of the two trees at the foreground formed a perfect arch that frames the waterfall. This is a stage built by Nature where we are invited to sit in front and be immersed in the sound of moving waters.
The map next to Everton's preface showed not only the places where the images were taken but confirmed the warning that American wilderness is an endangered specie. The rest of the writings is simply an eloquent elaboration of this urgent issue. This book is another quality publication from Abrams Inc. I give it four out of five stars.

Windows to Vietnam is truly a beautiful book. Scott Clarkson's photography and Veita Jo Hampton's poetry complement each other perfectly. Clarkson's photographs selectively, yet effectively, show us both a people and a nation that are positive-thinking, confident, optimistic, and ambitious. At the same time, the book pays homage to the character, the culture, the history, and the heritage of the Vietnamese people. Hampton, recently nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, in this book goes well beyond her proposal to Clarkson to allow her to "write to these photos": Her poetry looks not only at but deeply into, even beyond, the photographs and brings out details that are not readily visible in the photos, except perhaps to a poet's imagination and ability to "see" that which may not be evident to others. The metaphoric "Windows" in the title is most aptly chosen, as evidenced in "Carved Frames of Hue" (p. 55; photos pp. 48-57 and back of cover), as well as in other photographs and poems showing or alluding to windows and views. Clarkson's cover photo, "Friend on the Mekong," captures in a single shutter's click the face and figure of a man that reflects the strength, character, and heritage of the people of Vietnam. The poetry and the photographs stand as testimony to Hampton's view, quoted on the inside/back of the book's jacket, that the most effective communication is achieved through the "deliberate blending of words and pictures."

More than simply a work of art or collection of jewels, "Window to Vietnam" is an equisite experience. It combines visual delight with intangible imagery to render a deep understanding of a multi-dimensional country... its past, present and the marvelous confluence of both. This book is a "coffee table must!" But don't be surprised to find yourself taking it to bed.

I spent one month in Viêt Nam last year and although I shot more than 1800 pictures, may I say this is a wonderful and marvelleous book which has remembered me all my journeys. I recommend it to everybody who wishes to visit this amazing country.
I fell in love with Viêt Nam and their people. This is a different book; you have beautiful photographs far away from the ones you usually see in any publication shot by Scott Charles Clarkson; you read poems with a very special sensitivity written by Veita Jo Hampton and the Foreword written by Mark A. Ashwill is a must, before you start looking and reading the book.

Vietnam is surely one of the most photogenic places on earth and the images in this lovely coffee table gift book bring this vibrant country into your home. Delightful, large format color photographs celebrate the land and people of Vietnam - its vibrant colors, ancient way of life, and active lifestyle. These remarkable pictures are accompanied by poems which riff on the themes evoked by the images - an intriguing merger of past, present and future in Vietnam today. Anyone who loves Vietnam will enjoy this gorgeous gift book celebrating the country and its people. Allison Martin, Families with Children Adopted from Vietnam.

What an enchanting journey to Vietman! The words and pictures of Windows provide a unique exposure to the culture, sights, sounds, smells, economy and lifestyle of Vietnam today. As you enjoy the beauty and history of Vietnam that this wonderful book brings to life, one must admire how Vietnam bridges its ancient past to its future. With images created by an insightful poet and brilliant photographs that speak to you, the authors weave their talents throughout every page to create a masterpiece.

This book is elegant. The writing is both graceful and inspirational. As someone who is not yet sixty, it makes me feel as if this is a period of my life I can look forward to. Each woman profiled in this book has lead an exceptionally fulfilling life, because she relied on her intuition to guide her rather than conforming to her family's or society's expectations of her. The photographs in this book have the quality of portraits; they seem to capture the essence of each woman's character. I highly recommend it.

Janet Rhodes
Walnut Creek, CA

This book is a beautifully presented gift of spirit. Mothers, daughters, grandmothers, granddaughters as well as the men in their lives will be inspired by the in-depth conversations that give candid insights into the joy, vision, and gifts of women throughout their path and arrival into maturity. Mazer's commentaries interwoven in each story give us an important additional perspective, and Alicino's photographs are alive with radiance and wisdom. Here is a celebration of life you will want to share with everyone on your list.

Read this book;savor like a box of chocolates, enjoying it a piece at a time,for these are well-lived lives recounted by intelligent women who are also beautifully photographed. If you are a guest this summer, this would be a thoughtful gift to your host or hostess.

Wise Talk, Wild Women changed my life and was exactly what I needed to help me move forward into the next phase of my being. At age 60 I found myself completely stuck. My mother's life was so totally different from mine and I had few female relatives whose wisdom about this stage of life I could draw upon. Wise Talk, Wild Women is extremely well written and the comments by all of the women are focused on exactly the aspects of life for which I needed insight. Although all of the women are quite different from one another, each story had several components that I could relate to and one or two paralleled my life so closely it was almost eerie. It is hard to say what was most significant but it occurred to me as I read the book that I had completely lost sight of my own accomplishments. Reading about these women's lives helped me get back in touch with what I have done thus far and how I will use that to focus on the future. I also felt a strong kinship with these women because all have either dedicated their lives to or are now focused on the greater good, something that I have done and continue to do. Wise Talk, Wild Women was truly inspiring.

I recently met Gwen Mazer at a book signing and was impressed with her work. It was a fascinating event mostly attended by women with many women over 60 and one very charismatic woman who was 99 and still going strong. I think this latter woman exemplifies the spirit this book is written as does the author.

The concept of the book is simple, it looks at different women's perspectives on aging, life, love, etc. The author uses a very personal style with rich, thick descriptions and quotations to bring to life a very inside or subjective perspective on these issues. The individual chapters also cover a broad range of cultures, levels of achievement, fields of expertise, etc.

I agree with Gwen that in many ways 60 is the new 40 for many people and attitudes towards aging across society are outdated. In fact, my understanding from the research on the aging brain is that how you expect to grow old is the number one determing factor in how the brain ages. If the 99 year old at the book signing event is any indication of human potential, then I think this may just right on target.

What you will come away from after reading this book is a different attitude towards aging and what is possible. It not only looks at individuals, but when taken as a collection presents a new cultural pattern emerging among women. As a man, I see this in my practice and I believe it is gathering momentum. I find it a litarlly a disgrace how many seniors are treated in our society. I also understand this is correlated with life expectancy and how people age.

If you are interested in references written for laypersons on the topic of brain aging try these: Healthy at 100: The Scientifically Proven Secrets of the World's Healthiest and Longest-Lived Peoples and Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide to Your Well-Being,Making a Good Brain Great: The Amen Clinic Program for Achieving and Sustaining Optimal Mental Performance and The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain and Aging With Grace: What the Nun Study Teaches Us About Leading Longer, Healthier, and More Meaningful Lives.

Finally, this book is a work of art. There is excellent photography which captures the spirit of the person in each chapter, it's printed on good quality paper and the design is carefully thought out. If you are at all interested in this area, I recommend this book for it's "real life" and "in the bones" approach. Many similar books do not have the lively spirit of this one, the breadth or the depth.

All the books featuring the works of Goldsworthy are stunning. His work is unexpected and a joy to anyone who loves nature.

It's a big and invigorating book. If you like earth art this book (and there are others) offers some of the best of Goldsworthy. The concepts and execution are as inventive as they are cerebral. While I've never seen his work in person the photos and narrative of this book really feel like they capture the detail. In other ways the book itself is as well presented and printed as any book of art I've seen. If you can't afford it (it was expensive for me) try and get your local library to invest. It would be a great contribution to your local enclave.

This book is so cool! I studied about Andy Goldsworthy for Art, and he is my fav artist. What he does is different and is not boring. When you look at his art it makes you think. They look so beautiful and peacful.

Andy Goldsworthy creates forms that echo the patterns of nature so completely the viewer is almost convinced that mother nature herself made them, rather than human hands. Goldsworthy's sculptures are more than works of art. They become integral yet fleeting parts of the lanscape that surrounds them. His shapes are fluid and delicate, and his ideas are deceptively simple,yet appear to defy both time and gravity. His experiments in Wood are gentle and thought-provoking, and prove that beauty exists all around us. Looking at his book makes me appreciate the trees, rocks, and water all around us. Andy Goldsworthy honors the earth with his quiet, sculptural meditations.

Goldsworthy's art isn't what he makes. It's what he does to things that are already there to make them fresh and beautiful to the jaded eye of an average human. Simple things work best in his art, evoke more raw emotion and longing: he lines tree branches with dandelions and red maple leaves; he hangs large snowballs in trees; ribbons of leaves trail off into the water and spiral icicles circle tree trunks. It's all so simple and captivating, it's really quite astounding. Goldsworthy's art is fleeting. The only reminders of his non-permanent works are photographs. In Wood, Goldsworthy goes beyond the confines of this material and shows us his mastery with the entire spectrum of natural media - snow, ice, rock, leaf, etc. The book is subdivided into sections dealing with each specific medium, the last being Tree - each work is centered around a low-lying branch of a large oak. Nevertheless, I must say that this collection of Goldsworthy's art is slightly inferior to his Collaborations with Nature, which is a better first choice if you are unfamiliar with his principles.