Journals Books

While I was superficially attracted to this book because of its stunning reproductions and affordable price, Kranzfelder deserves much more credit. This book is wonderful for amateur Hopper enthusiasts and presents in-depth analysis balanced with connections to contemporary painters and changes in society. Mostly chronological, this book is divided into the various themes such as voyeurism, windows, sexuality, and urban isolation. Another excellent addition to any personal library from Taschen, the best art resource publisher.

Hopper made my favorite painting, "Nighthawks", arguably the most imitated and parodied painting of the past 50 years. Kranzfelder's biography is fairly superficial, concentrating on dates and major events in Hopper's life, rarely attempting to dig deeper into the subject. But that's OK; I wasn't looking for a full-scale appraisal. The reproductions are excellent and in general this is a good introduction to Hopper's life and work.

I have read the FRENCH translation of this book,and i enjoyed it,even if the approach often is on the intellectual side.No AMERICAN art in the first half of the previous century gets near that man, who visualized his country with a personnal perception.The paintings of HOPPER often gets to you in their quest of lonelyness.PEOPLE IN THE SUN for instance is fascinating.The most interesting aspect about HOPPER,is that his paintings are about the persistance of vision;the way one can try to read his mind.

Affordably priced and well written.

Must read for any admirer of Edward Hopper's work.

This is one of the most intelligent and interesting books on Hopper I've read. And I have a good-sized collection of books on this American artist because he's my favorite.

Not only are there rarer paintings and etchings in here not often included in coffee table books on Hopper, but author Kranzfelder shows his influence on photography, and shows the influence of other artists (notably Degas) on Hopper. Kranzfelder puts paintings and photos on one page, and the particular example of Hopper's work on the other so you can see the comparison side by side.

The text is also interesting and full of rare facts and a good analysis as well. If you want a great book about Hopper's work, this is one of the best I have seen. HIGHLY recommended.

I purchased this for my 14 year old as a present. She liked it. This in its self makes it worth 5 stars! On another note it is well constructed and should last the abuse of being carted around and written in for a year.

If only I'd only known Emily in my youth...As the grown up version of the "skinny geeky weird girl" I could have used the affirmation of my bizarre sense of humor in high school and who knows, maybe I'd have grown up more organized (naaah!)...oh well, at least my daughter (in high school now)can have it...She thinks it is great, along with "Emily the Strange" we also bought. I am hoping to add another "Emily" book to our collection soon.

Overall I have to say this dis-organizer is pretty cool. I love the graphics - just wish it had more pocket folders. Very fun to use! I look forward to opening it up and writing down appointments just because I love it so much! I'm a huge fan of Emily Strange for girls young and old! Definitely buy this dis-organizer-you won't be dissapointed!!

i love this item!!! and was a great price. great quality and lots of pages to write on. very cute designs on the papers inside.

This organizer is so cool.I don't know how I found Emily The Strange but I'm hooked.This organizer is a great addition to any Emily fans collection.It has calenders from 2004-2009 and has room for 50 weeks of schedules , 30 pages of paper for adresses,phone numbers,and e-mail , pages for to-dos , and pages for notes.It also has little doodles on every page.This is great for any Emily fan

I love this stationery set and so does my receivers. Emily is great fun and it all comes in handy: sticking the paper together to send it away as an envelope. It's worth your value!

No matter how big technology gets, it will never replace the art and charm of a handwritten note.
So, you open your Amazon goodie box and out falls what looks like a notepad; half the size of A4 (it's the equivalent of writing 2 standard sized postcards), narrow ruled-Emily style of course: The lined side is white with some artwork on the periphery-a cat here, a scratch there, Emily's head, Emily's logo etc., The reverse side is red and black with space for addresses. There are 40 pages in total with 5 different designs (so 8 pages of each design).
So, you write on it (really small writing if you're like me and tend to write letters that can rival the War & Peace novel) tear out the page-which, btw, is conveniently scored in the right place so you don't have to guess where you should fold it; next, there are 3 gummed flaps to moisten (or glue, if you're again like me and have a licking issue), seal, then off to your local post office for stamp-age. The paper's very lightweight so it's inexpensive to post.
These are kind of novel and stylish looking and a pleasure to write on. So far I've used a gel pen and a ball pen on them with equal ease and I think they would take any kind of pen really (not a marker though or anything that might bleed through the other side...)
A radical idea! Other stationery please take note!

Three different cool designs for you to chose from! Send these dark messages to freinds and foe alike....

Emily's products are always awesome and this just adds to her glorious line of stuff.

I love this black mail stationary set, all you need to do is write, lick, fold, stamp and nap! INstructions are on the back with cat showing you how to do it. Very cute, very simple instructions, just get your pen and stamp set, then do the instructions, me and my friend Ashley write Emily's morose code with this!
Now get strange or get lost!
Emily the Strange, the stranger!

I am a law student in the university of Plymouth and i would like you to send me some information that this book contains, concerning the subject of the separation of powers. Your advice will be of great help. Thank you.

First, to the reviewer looking for the doctrine of separation of powers: you'll find it in Montequieu's "Spirit of the Laws". Also check out "The Federalist", number 51.

Now then, Bagehot, like Madison, describes the operation of a modern liberal regime. The trick for founders of liberal government is to produce a government that permits the people civil liberties, but does not permit the people to abuse those liberties, or in the words of Madison, to create a government that is "democratic yet decent". Madison and the American Founders accomplish this end by so constructing the institutions of government that mens' selfish natures will be turned against each other ("ambition is made to check ambition"), rather than united in tyrannical concert.

Bagehot too describes the operation of a system of government that rules by the consent of the governed, yet which does so by restraining the vices of those who ought not to rule. Bagehot argues that the English government is moderate and decent because of a division of government into the "dignified" and the "efficient" parts, and a "noble lie" about the relationship between the two. It is this noble lie that permits the government to operate without the interference of those who would turn it away from the public good. But to discover the noble lie, you'll have to read Bagehot.

Warner Winborne

Professor of Political Science

Hampden-Sydney College

Hampden-Sydney, VA

This book stimulates the little gray cells. Every time I watch Prime Minister's Questions, the superiority of the Cabinet system over the Presidential system is painfully obvious. If Bush were subjected to the kind of scrutiny, in Congress, that Blair is subjected to every week in Parliament, he would have been exposed as an impostor long before supreme executive authority was placed in his hands. Refering to our Civil War, Bagehot wrote: "The notion of employing a man of unknown smallness at a crisis of unknown greatness is to our minds simply ludicrous. Mr. Lincoln, it is true, happened to be a man of... eminent justness... But success in a lottery is no argument for lotteries."

Well, we used up all of our good fortune in the 1860s. We've come up craps in this millenium.

If this is the unaltered version of the book of the same name and same author that I read about 30 years ago, it is a classic. It describes how the classic English Constitution worked, before Britain joined the European Union. Especially it explained how it worked without being written down, largely by constitutional convention which was morally binding but (quite often) not legally binding.

Walter Bagehot was a journalist and a social and political thinker of the middle Victorian period (1850s and 1860s). His classical work "The English Constitution" comes as a collection of polemical assays upon the structure of the British political system. Cabinet, monarchy, Houses of Commons and Lords, execution of political power, and the foundation of the systems of checks and balances are explored in the book.

Throughout the book a comparison and contrast of Cabinet system and the Presidential system (a.k.a USA) is a constant theme. Bagehot does not hide it preference for the Cabinet system, which in his view is a both more dynamic and more effective. One of his main points is that direct popular election is a myth, since most of the electorate are ignorant of the nature of the political power (and moreover are forced to this ignorance by the effective uselessness of the legislative debate in the USA as opposed to the UK). Moreover, a result of the direct election is a static Presidential term of 4 years, which allows the executive branch to execute almost unchecked control of the political process. According to Bagehot, the indirect electoral system of the Commons, where people vote for the MPs and they then select the PM amongst themselves produces a more effective government, which is more responsive to the popular will since it can fall at any time due to policy disputes. A hidden secret of British success according to Bagehot is a fusion of legislative and executive powers in the Cabinet system. In the latter chapters, Bagehot exposures two forms of power - the dignified power (in the person of the monarch and the lords) and the effective power as exemplified by the Cabinet. Dignified power serves as a façade of legitimacy under which the dynamic and opportunist real effective power can subsist. He follows through to explain how each of the minister of the government exercises its power for the common goal, what are the legal powers of the monarchy and how it is exercised indirectly via control of the composition of the peerage and the power to dissolve the Commons.

Bagehot's style is clear, flavorful, his knowledge of political process is profound (with a qualification of more so of British then American), his research is well done, and he is a master of dramatic tricks to keep the reader interested. I would recommend the book as both a scholarly reference, and a well presented popular case.

It's worth noting that I am acquainted with the author in a very small way, as we were both participants for a while in an Internet newsgroup he mentions at the beginning of the book. From there, I bookmarked his Web site for Mr. Kenyada's Neighborhood, a non-profit that has accomplished great things over the years, and one time when visiting the site I found out that he had authored this book.

This book is a collection of essays and notes, many fairly short save for an Internet roundtable the author conducted about race and the state of Black America that is the biggest highlight of the book. That roundtable is a fascinating and enlightening one to read, even for someone like myself who has been privy to a few such conversations in my lifetime. It's the kind of private conversation that many White people don't believe Black people have - those who think Black folks just blame racism and White people for everything that happens. A reader can't walk away from reading that conversation, or even this book, believing that unless the facts don't matter to them at all.

Though a short and quick read, the book contains a lot more substance than a first glance might suggest. It's thought-provoking in many respects, not only in a deep social sense but even on things that seem simpler, and it covers a lot of ground quite well considering the larger subject underpinning the book is one that numerous books have been and will be written about. It also contains touching recollections of things like the author's time in Vietnam and some times with his father, who also served in the military.

One of the highlights of the book is his touching tribute to Phyllis Hyman, which also made me as a jazz and R&B fan think about some of the artists - both old school and contemporary - that I'm a big fan of. He makes the observation that Phyllis changed the genres and perhaps the way we later took to stars like Anita Baker, Whitney Houston and Angela Bofill, which had me think of other examples that could go in that mix like Rachelle Ferrell, Randy Crawford, Maysa, Ledisi and others. Would we see and enjoy them the way we do now if not for Phyllis?

There is also the "Interracial... Record Buying" essay, which interleaves humor with serious points. "The First Thanksgiving... after September 11th" is much like the book: short but excellent. Additionally, several essays are really collections of anecdotes that do a great job of illustrating what the author intends to show.

All in all this book is well-done.

The truth about what, why and how this country became what it is today. A virtual lesson in one's man's honest opinion and a lesson we should all learn. This book is absolutely awesome and with all the seriousness in it's contents, shouldn't be taken lightly. A must read.

I've have long dealt on the theory of reparations to African-Americans for their enslavement. After reading this book, I'd have to agree with Mr. Kenyada. Forget the 40 acres and the mule. Give an apology! This writer creates thoughts in your mind that you've had trouble putting into words. Clears the brain so that one sees things without a question mark. This book definately should be required reading in every school in this country.

I'll preface my review by stating that I am professionally acquainted with Mr. Kenyada (we're both engineers). We're also about the same age, so we've experienced pretty much the same events, but from two different viewpoints: I'm white and he is black. I'm used to seeing his letters in the editorial section of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, but I was very pleasantly surprised (and envious!) to see his first book published.

The quality of the writing is A+. Mr. Kenyada does a marvelous job of being literate, passionate, and compelling, all at the same time. Mr. Kenyada writes of his life experiences and his feelings as an African-America growing up in the United States in the 2nd half of the 20th century. His essays range from harsh assessments of American history and society to some very sweet memories.

I have to admit that the title gave me a bit of uneasiness, evoking images of the raised fists of Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the Mexico City Olympics. With some trepidation, I began reading the first essay, "The APOLOGY," and after reading it I understood why APOLOGY was in capital letters. A very frank, powerful essay with a message for both blacks and whites. It made me think, which is quite an accomplishment.

The essay "The First Thanksgiving" was one of the most uplifting assessments of the aftermath of 9/11 that I have read anywhere.

Thanks to the author for turning me on to Phyllis Hyman. I have since downloaded some of her songs and enjoy them very much.

I disagree with Mr. Kenyada's opinions on President Bush, the 2000 election, and the Iraq war. I think history will be kinder to President Bush than than are many of his detractors, but that's just my opinion.

Overall, the book is superb, with far more meat in it than its length would suggest. I wish millions of people - of all races - would read it. The honest, intelligent writing is worth more than dozens of the absurd "race dialogues" that are held every year, where everyone sits around and filters everything they say through political correctness filters to avoid the risk of offending anyone. So nothing meaningful ever gets said, everyone present gets the warm fuzzies, then they pat themselves on the back and go home. Mr. Kenyada's essays didn't always give me the warm fuzzies, but that's really not the reason for writing, is it?

Community activist and author Richard Kenyada has written a penetrating collection of social commentary that examines the historically predominant issues of race: raparations for slavery, white privilege, black rage, terrorism, black fraternity in war, racial profiling, the digital divide, the vacancy of black leadership, and more. But it's not all doom 'n gloom. It's lyrical, often satirical... Thought-provoking for everyone, inspirationally imperative reading for African Americans - this is an honest and, at times, painfully personal exploration of race in America... and it takes no prisoners.

I first came across this book in my local library. I was so enchanted by the different designs, that after tiring of renewing it, I have decided to order my own copy. I recommend it to any person interested in needlepoint, as well as global designs...

Must add my praise for this book. Gorgeous colors in clear graphic designs plus various colorways so you can see what would happen if you use different colors. I get a feeling of generosity from the authors who obviusly love their craft and want to share it.

In addition to bold and unusual patterns, Mary Norden has an extremely good eye for colors. I use patterns and parts of patterns from this book all the time.

There are many lovely needlepoint books with an emphasis on romantic or Victorian designs. This book consists of designs with Asian, African and Latin and Native American influences. The photographs are beautiful, the instructions and charts are clear, and the colors dazzling! Highly recommended for all needleworkers---knitters, cross stitchers, crocheters, etc.---not just needlepointers.

This book brings the beauty of the various international fabrics to your needlepoint canvas. It's not your grandmother's needlepoint - no cats or flowers, just bold and exciting designs with great color graphs and ideas. I highly recommend this book - I even ordered a copy for my sister although it was out-of-print.

I loved this book on American farm life! It is well-written, interesting and one of the best on this subject, in my opinion. I have just ordered several other of Jerry Apps books.

Jerry Apps magnificently captures the heart and soul of growing up on a small family farm in EVERY FARM TELLS A STORY. His youth was spent in rural central Wisconsin half-a-century ago, but the character of the culture he writes about was not unlike that of much of rural Middle America in those times. The book is based on his Ma's journal accounting of all the family's expenses and revenues through the years, but the anecdotes take you back to all the stories behind those numbers. Apps shares with us how all the entries were, indeed, more than just numbers - they had meaning and context in the bigger picture of what farm life was all about. In a comfortable and enjoyable style, he tells stories of family values, the hard times and good times, the honest dealings and fair play that caused most farm kids back then to grow up with integrity and a solid work ethic. EVERY FARM TELLS A STORY is a great read, but it's much more than just nostalgia. In a personal and sometimes almost poetic way, it documents a significant part of our country's historical heritage.

I really injoyed this book, laughed out loud several times. I really enjoyed all the old farm ads also. Great picture of how farming used to be.

Farm values and management can offer many lessons, especially when told through humor, as Jerry Apps demonstrates in Every Farm Tells A Story; A Tale Of Family Farm Values. Tucked into an inviting chronicle of changes in farming over the decades and resulting changes in values and methods, readers receive a fine blend of business savvy, history, and humor lending to light, easy reading.

I have just come across a book you all should read: it is called EVERY FARM TELLS A STORY, A TALE OF FAMILY FARM VALUES, by JERRY APPS. it is published by Voyageur Press and is a wonderful story about growing up on a farm near Wild Rose Wisconsin in Washara County in the north central part of the state. As most of you know, Cousin Tom Larson and I spent a number of summers on the Bergum farm north of Wheeler in Dunn County; and almost everything that Jerry Apps describes in the book is something we did with Uncle Nelmer (who Tom and I still consider the greatest man in the world) and Aunt Selma (our second mother) and Kon and Stanley on that farm: threshing, making wood, cultivating, feeding chickens, stripping cows; old fashioned crank telephones, freeshows, feed mills--everything. The book is illustrated with period advertisments. This is a brilliant nostalgic journey. It's a neat
companion to my own The Reunion. But all of you should take a trip in EVERY FARM. this is a story that speaks to those of us who have had anything to do with farm life. it's a wonderful book for all my cousins and for all of us.

Steven Fortney
Author of The Reunion.

this book is an excellent title with great photos, great text, and great projects. i seriously recommend it to any woman of faith or woman's group (or men!) seeking to meditate on and express their faith through art projects. even as a new mother with very little free time, i find myself often thinking and flipping through this book for ideas to create sooner rather than later. deeply Christ-centered and beautiful expressions of faith.

Great ideas that inspired me to make journals for my "older" family members. Often unwilling to follow through on projects, they love the books and love the idea of journaling this way. We will have a record of their faith to share with the next generations.

Gorgeously photographed, sensitively written, this would be such a lovely gift. Beautiful projects and many good ideas. I love this book.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to express their spiritual thoughts and ideas in different artistic ways. The visuals are very clear and there are lots of inspirational projects.

Some beautiful art work in this collection. The perspective is deeply Christian, so those of us on the periphery will have to tread carefully. Still, great projects like the prayer board will translate well to anyone in search of religious reflection through design and self-publishing.

My husband had received this book for his 50th birthday so he knew it was good. Our neighbor is enjoying it too.

Knowledgeably edited by Ronnie Sellers, Fifty Things To Do When You Turn Fifty is an informed and thought-provoking collection of fifty writers contributing ideas, advice, observations, and instructions upon turning fifty years old. As an ideal how-to and what-to-do book informing its readers of the many fears and beliefs that might concern most fifty-year-olds, and explores why they might feel as they do and what to do to avoid or confront such barriers. Fifty Things To Do When You Turn Fifty is very strongly recommended to all readers who have or are contemplating turning fifty-something as the ultimate guideline of staying young as an explorative and practical fifty-year-old.

This is a compilation from various authors writing on the subject of turning 50. The first contributor really lays it on the line by saying "Stop complaining" and get your act together so that you'll get through many years after 50. I appreciated that these 50 writers "provided essays on a pro-bono basis" and profits from the book will go toward non-profit organizations focused on cancer research. This is a great book to give as a gift to friends reaching this sometimes challenging milestone.

Knowledgeably edited by Ronnie Sellers, Fifty Things To Do When You Turn Fifty is an informed and thought-provoking collection of fifty writers contributing ideas, advice, observations, and instructions upon turning fifty years old. As an ideal how-to and what-to-do book informing its readers of the many fears and beliefs that might concern most fifty-year-olds, and explores why they might feel as they do and what to do to avoid or confront such barriers. Fifty Things To Do When You Turn Fifty is very strongly recommended to all readers who have or are contemplating turning fifty-something as the ultimate guideline of staying young as an explorative and practical fifty-year-old.

Knowledgeably edited by Ronnie Sellers, Fifty Things To Do When You Turn Fifty is an informed and thought-provoking collection of fifty writers contributing ideas, advice, observations, and instructions upon turning fifty years old. As an ideal how-to and what-to-do book informing its readers of the many fears and beliefs that might concern most fifty-year-olds, and explores why they might feel as they do and what to do to avoid or confront such barriers. Fifty Things To Do When You Turn Fifty is very strongly recommended to all readers who have or are contemplating turning fifty-something as the ultimate guideline of staying young as an explorative and practical fifty-year-old.

There is no better timepiece than a child, or two, or four. Parents-to-be understand, intellectually, that time passes and your children grow before your eyes but Laura Pratt captures that whirlwind passage, writing with unflinching honesty and passion each little snapshot from her life as a mother. She uses lush description to perfectly capture, preserve, and report each touching vignette that she shares and the result is a book on motherhood that is by turns hilarious, insightful, and unrepentently sentimental. Highly recommended.

This is a book with something for every parent. Ms. Pratt shares stories that all parents can identify with, from the mad rush to the hospital (only to be told that you're still pregnant--go home), to the adventures of sorting legos and planning your life around your new addition(s).

A great gift for any expectant or experienced mom!

Laura Pratt has quite a way with words--and she clearly loves her role as Mother. The author lets us get a glimpse into the "ordinary" world of mothering 4 children. Her descriptions of everything from the discomforts of pregnancy to a mother's mixed emotions on sending her eldest child to school for the first time will make any mother laugh, cry, and most of all, *appreciate* that someone has put into words so beautifully the way we often feel but can't always articulate. The writing is intelligent and honest; sentimental without being sappy. Highly recommended for any loving mother.

I just love Ms. Pratt's style. This book will have you laughing and crying and nodding in agreement. And it's not just for moms--even my husband could relate to the chapter where Ms. Pratt describes a "real life hopped on pop". I'm planning to buy this book for all my favorite parents.

I just thought this was a fantastic book. I really saw my own life unfolding before my eyes as I turned the pages. The author, Laura Pratt, does a fantastic job of capturing the joys and sorrows of motherhood. And her words made me realize, more than anything else before, just how "fleeting" the "years" are.
Joanne