Studios Books

We bridge difficulties. We like a bridge over troubled waters. We needed a bridge into the new millennium. Bridges have a hold on us in a way that other examples of civil engineering do not. And we often don't notice them as we use them. Although I had traveled on the Natchez Trace Parkway many times, upheld by a bridge in Franklin, Tennessee, I had never looked down and appreciated the span until alerted to it a couple of years ago. It is a beautiful, big, parabolic concrete arch which I now get off and admire fairly often. According to _Bridges: The Spans of North America_ (Norton) by David Plowden, I am not alone. This bridge "is unlike any heretofore built in America and has been the recipient of innumerable awards." Calling attention to the bridges we take for granted, and telling a history of American bridge building, Plowden's book is fittingly big, and displays his beautiful black and white pictures in large format, splendidly reproduced. It is properly sized for the coffee table, but the text is appropriately comprehensive, and as worth reading as the pictures are worth admiring.

_Bridges_ is divided into chronological sections based on the materials used: stone and brick; wood; iron; steel (divided into three time periods, since there are so many steel bridges); and concrete. Erecting a stone bridge was expensive and time consuming, especially compared to using wood. There are more miles of wooden bridges than any other type in America, although Plowden has little good to say about the "cult of the covered bridge" which has obscured the trusswork he thinks is the important part of these wooden bridges. Iron was used for bridges for only a short time, and iron bridges are the rarest of bridge artifacts. Concrete bridges are the way to go for the main bridge-building impetus in America, the highway system. Reinforced concrete does extremely well for piers to hold bridges up, as well as for the flats that carry traffic. Plowden spends many pages on the most famous type of bridge, the steel spans, and his pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge present them in new ways, and he hurtles through the engrossing stories of their construction because they are relatively familiar. The stories of lesser known bridges, such as the wonderful Eads bridge in St. Louis (built by Captain James Eads, of few engineering credentials and no bridge experience) bring to light many surprising difficulties and solutions the bridge builders came up with.

Plowden's history serves as a demonstration of engineering problem-solving. Each bridge is unique in purpose, location, and difficulties of completion. This is true even in replacement bridges. Many of these beautiful photographs show bridges that are no longer existent. There have been bridge failures, of course, but usually bridges built in the nineteenth century show signs of distress, and are called out of commission. Sometimes railroads simply no longer need a particular link. There are, however, new vistas for bridge building, especially in the straits and bays that have needed bridges and now have proposals for bridges meeting new engineering and economic abilities previously unavailable. Plowden is confident that utility will continue to be combined with beauty, and his handsome book supports such confidence.

This is a perfect book for anyone who has already been to this gorgeous city or those who are interested in it. The book is full of photographs taken of the people, buildings, and everyday situations in the 19th century. What makes it unique is the many advertisements from the time, and the personal photographs that really give you a feel of that era. It is a perfect gift that offers you hours of a delightful journey back in time, and back to Europe. (I'm a local of Budapest, and i recommend it to all my friends abroad who would like to know about the city i live in.)

"The Magic Box" is a supplement for the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" roleplaying game that makes it clear that magic is powerful and available in serious measure only to the right person with the right knowledge (i.e., Willow), otherwise it is dangerous and unpredictable (i.e., early Willow). This volume by John Snead combines background from the show with more creative meanderings, along with quotes, stats, suggestions, and painted symbols for your game playing edification. However, even if you are more interested in the dearly departed television series than in playing a game (my hand is raised at this point), this is still a fun look at magic in the Buffyverse (through season six).

This book is broken down into six chapters and an appendix: (1) The Witchy World includes speculations on the history of the supernatural, specifics on magical organizations and their use, as well as a look at the latest and most potent mystical adversaries from the television series; (2) The Magical You reveals more details on the show's magical cast members, discussing new backgrounds, qualities and drawbacks. There is also a new group of archetypes and an update on a few magical favorites from the Original Cast; (3) The Art of the Arts presents the new game rules for magic such as power boosting, virtual magic, and varying side effects; (4) Magic, Light and Dark includes all the spells from the series that are fit to print; (5) Beyond Magic covers psychics and super-science, which are different from magic in the Buffyverse, but still need to be considered; and (6) Orphan Trouble is a ready-to-run "BtVS" roleplaying-game episode "in which the new kid on the block is far more naughty than nice." The Appendix includes a handy guide to potential spell elements and conversation notes for importing regular unisystem metaphysics to your games (and they say television and roleplaying-games are not educational).

The book is filled with those pithy quotations that made "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" a test of your pop culture knowledge, boxes containing additional information and supplemental charts and tables, and fiction sections or cut scenes that give you a sense of what sort of scenarios you can play out in these games. There are other supplemental volumes to the Corebook available, with the "Slayer's Handbook" for the heroes and "Monster Smackdown" for the villains. These books are filled with photographs and illustrations, with gorgeous production values, so that they will appeal to fans of the series whether they play the game or not. Final Note: Unlike the other volumes form Eden Studios "The Magic Box" is a trade paperback and not a hardback volume.

"Every piece of furniture in THIS BOOK WAS DESIGNED WITH TWO BASIC QUESTIONS IN MINE.

First, will this unit be attractive enough to fit into today's style-conscious home?

Secondly, have the construction procedures and assemblies been simplified as much as possible without sacrificing the functional or visual aspect of the piece?

These units, therefore, combine ease of construction, extreme utility, and a handsome appearance....."

[from the book of the introduction by Klaus Grabe]

This is a great book for the absolute beginner to the world of music recording on a PC. The only prerequisite is a basic understanding of how to operate a computer. The style is clear and direct - and with an appreciated dose of humility and humour. The reader gains confidence in building/modifying a PC so that it can successfully satisfy the demands of music recording software. Then the reader is guided through the selection of the audio-specific hardware and software required. The recording, editing and mixing of a multitrack song are then very clearly and thoroughly taught. Finally, the reader is shown how to create their first CD and, if they wish, how to publish it to the internet in the form of mp3 files.

Criticism might be leveled at the author because he is using a particular combination of hardware and software throughout the text (Steingberg's Cubase SX, Tascam's US-428 and Edirol's PCR-50). In my view, however, this is a sensible approach because the beginner faces an overwhelming number of possible combinations of gear (many of which may not work together!). Afterall, the world of PC audio recording has two major obstacles: the software and the hardware. This book saves you much time by giving you a working hardware setup which allows you to move directly to mastering the software. By using a setup that is tried, tested and true, you get results quickly and painlessly. In this sense, the author is doing the reader a huge favour. Renting this gear from your local music store won't break the bank and will allow you to gain some well-guided experience. After a couple of months, you'll be ready to decide on what gear configurations you want to actually purchase and (perhaps more to the point) you will have gotten a complete overview of how things work. In fact, you may have recorded and produced your first CD!

Well written, up to date and sorely needed. Highly recommended.

"The seeds of Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural philosophy are found in his Home and Studio at Oak Park, Illinois. It was here--from 1889 to 1909--that Wright tested his theories, which would coalesce into his famed Prairie style. Always experimenting with materials, forms, colors and the shaping of space, Wright constantly remodeled the Home and Studio, adapting to the changing needs of his family and work. By the 1970s, after the Home and Studio had been remodeled still more and sold several times, the unique structure, fabrics, and materials that so defined Wright's establishment had all but disappeared.

"Recognizing the importance of the Home and Studio, the city of Oak Park and the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust (then the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Foundation) set out to revitalize the community and preserve the historic building. Building a Legacy is a fascinating pictorial story of the incredible thirteen-year restoration effort.

"With conversational text, informative sidebars, and historic and present-day photographs and drawings, the book commemorates the dedicated efforts of community volunteers and paid workers. Covering the grassroots efforts to raise money, the detailed plan for the restoration, and the painstaking efforts necessary to complete the project, Building a Legacy documents this successful achievement of saving an intimate creation of one of the world's greatest architects."--Borders

This is a memorable book full of huge pictures beautifully shot by photographer Paul Starosta. I like the large format and the printing qulality. Examining the caterpillar and its metamorphosis into a butterfly is one of the great photo essays in the book. There are great photos of a huge assortment of butterflies and moths in this book with good info on the species and their geographic data. The emphasis is on pictures, so if you're into the mistery and beauty of butterflies this book will not dissapoint.

This is one of those books that I return to again and again. Absolutely gorgeous photographs of buttons through time... you'll be amazed at the variety and beauty of these little works of art! Antique/vintage buttons are a far cry from the simple little things you see today... they were status symbols and more than just a way of fastening clothes. Everything from (real) jewel-encrusted buttons and miniature portraits to astounding mosaics and miltary buttons concealing compasses... with bakelite Art Deco pieces, porcelain from Japan and Goodyear rubber in between. Diana Epstein and Millicent Saffro are true connoseurs, and their love of buttons is evident in every page of this wonderful coffee table book. It's an absolute marvel... thoroughly recommended!!

Actually it's quite true. I am now a cabaret artist* after having been inspired by what I read about the history, philosophy and chutzpah of cabaret artists from this book. I particularly enjoyed the information about Parisian and German cabaret.

Cabaret is quite an ephemeral form of performance and therefore not as well documented as other art forms, so it's fabulous to have a text that takes you on a very intense journey through cabaret's eventful history. Lisa's bibliography is extensive... There are not many early cabaret books written in English, so Lisa has done a lot of the homework for us.

This book is not about your white washed "Moulin Rouge" variety. It's the gritty, political, not always nice, irreverent cabaret I have come to love and respect.

Lisa includes great pictures (some colour), exerpts of songs, poems etc (in the original language and then translated into rhyming English!)

I loved this book so much I actually photocopied it when it was not in print and hard to find. (Many many years ago) But don't worry, I now have the hot little book next to my bed.

It's a great summary and a great reference work.

Since you can't see the contents on Amazon, here's a summary:

1 Ladies and Gentlemen...

2 Paris 1881: Cabaret is Born
[includes Le Chat Noir]

3 Cabaret on the Move: 1897 - 1914
[Berlin, Munich, Budapest and the rest...]

4 Cabaret as a Meeting Place for Artists

5 Cabaret as a Vehicle of the Artistic Vanguard
[Futurist Performance, Dada]

6 The Roaring Twenties
[Berlin]

7 Relatives and Progeny of Cabaret

8 Into the Third Reich

9 Cabaret in Exile

10 Life and After-Life

*Disclaimer. (Although it changed my life. It may not change yours. I was already a theatre writer and performer. This book just steered me quite firmly in the cabaret direction).

The layout of this calendar enhances the beauty of the images, making each page a work of art. The information includes all feasts for the U.S. and Canada, as well as the major secular holidays. The quotes from the Holy Father make the calendar even more special.

Robert & Linda Easterbrooks