Watson Books

This work is thorough, but at the same time simple and concise. It is essentially a collection of documents that relate to important events in Chinese history with short background sections introducing most works and longer introductions when a new period of history is covered. I believe that this is currently the most complete single volume on the market as it runs from the early 1600's all the way up to 1989, covering the Qing Dynasty, its collapse, the Nationalist Revolution and later the Communist Revolution, up through the ideas behind the Tienanmen Square demonstrations and the modern reevaluation of Confucianism. If you only want one volume on modern Chinese history that focuses on the sources, I think this is probably the one to have.

This book gets the majority of its bulk from direct translations of actual Chinese texts, and as such it is an indespensible tool for any student interested in Chinese religions and philosohpies. There is very little input on the part of the editors and I, personally, was very thankful this. It can be dreadfully difficult trying to find sources that aren't mired in thousands of pages of theory and speculation, and sometimes a person just needs the root text! An awesome book.

I'll make this short...For anyone interested in Chinese history, literature, or culture, this volume is an absolutely essential collection of primary sources, and includes prefaces and explanations by China scholars. There is no one better than de Bary, and this new edition includes everything from the 1960 edition up through the Jiang Zemin era.

This book is a collection of readings dealing with ancient Chinese history, especially focusing on philosophy and religion. The readings are organized into chapters related to various stages in Chinese history. Early chapters cover antiquity, Confucius, Mo Tzu, and Taoism. Then comes Confucian tradition, the Legalists, the Imperial Order, the Universal Order, and the Economic Order. This is followed by the Great Han Historians, Neo-Taoism, and Buddhism. This volume is rounded out with the Confucian revival and neo-Confucianism. Each chapter begins with a short introduction essay that introduces the context and events of the time and goes to a selection of original texts on the topic at hand. At the beginning of the book is a chronological table of Chinese history from 2852 BC to 1849 AD that highlights various events in Chinese political philosophy.

This book is a great resource for the serious student of Chinese philosophy and culture. The essays and readings provide a unique window into Chinese thought. The authors assume that the reader will have a basic familiarity with the overall picture of Chinese history, and provide many details and insights into why history took the course that it did. I found the reading selections, drawn from such documents as the Analects of Confucius or historical documents like Ma tuan-Lin's Introduction to the Survey on the Land Tax, particularly illuminating. To find so many documents such as these presented in English, together with essays that explain their context and importance, is invaluable for the serious Asian studies scholar.

This book is excellent for anyone wanting to read primary source information. It is a great help for any college student or proffessor interested in the Chinese Culture. I highly recommend this to any one who is interested in Chinese history.

This is a very good book, it is really funny and it was everything I expected it to be.

great stuff if you love Mad magazine. i enjoyed reading the history of the comic and it's Cuban creator.

Something somehow was richer in character about Prohias's many Black Spy vs. White Spy cartoons in Mad Magazine and this make me think he was really the best of the Mad artists to tackle this subject (maybe times were just better in the 60's than in the late 80's-2007, the period this book covers) still I much like the many original ideas the later generations of Mad artists came up (like the two page in-color caveman one in this book).

I purchased the Spy vs Spy2 book as an Xmas gift for my 12 year old son. He receives Mad magazine. He always loves to show me the Spy pages. He loved the book so much, he just ordered the first Spy vs Spy book. His best friend also spent a good deal of time pouring over the pages at his last sleepover. We hope you continue to keep these products available.

If you are a fan of Mad Magazine then there's simply no way you cannot be a fan of Spy Vs. Spy. Created by Cuban cartoonist Antonio Prohias, the strip has been a fixture in Mad Magazine since 1961. The political cartoonist fled his homeland in 1960, just before Dictator Fidel Castro took over the Cuban papers. Prohias retired from the strip in 1988 and passed away ten years later, but his creation has lived on in the capable hands of new cartoonist who have even brought the strip to greater heights be producing it in color Sunday newspaper strips, video games, as well as getting their own animated commercials for Mountain Dew.

This 320 page, oversized trade paperback features the work of the men who took over for Prohias, first the team of writer Don "Duck" Edwing and artists Bob Clark and Dave Manak, followed by artist/writer Peter Kuper, the current force behind the strip. In addition to presenting hundreds of Spy Vs. Spy strips, the book featured a short biography of Prohias, and interview with Kuper, and several other short features.

While Edwing and his partners continued to produce the strip in much the way that it had been for nearly 30 years, Kuper came in with an entirely new look. Contrary to what many may think, Kuper doesn't achieve his look through airbrushing. In fact, he actually explains his creative process in the book. While the grainy look may not have been immediately accepted by longtime fans, no one can deny the incredible influence that he's had on the characters and how the black& white spies have continued to flourish under his watch. In 2001, Kuper began doing his Mad strips in color, giving it a complete different look. Perhaps it was Kuper saying that the world of spies simply is no longer black & white...or maybe he just wanted to do them in color.

In 2002, Spy Vs. Spy became syndicated in Sunday newspapers, with story and art by Edwing and Manak. The strip ran for only 39 weeks, in part because some editors deemed it inappropriate in the case of Mid-East violence. Thankfully, Watson-Guptill has seen fit to reprint all 39 of those strips in this edition. It's a wonderful book and one of the most legendary strips ever.

reviewed by Tim Janson

How do you compliment a master? There is none except "thank you."

In a real sense Bruno is a man that should have been born in another time. His sensitivity to the human figure and his love for fired earth is the stuff of a true Renaissance man. He captures the imagination and brings life out of clay.

What is most inspiring aspect of this Italian born sculptor is love to teach and share his skills, tips and tricks with other aspiring sculptors around the world. Sculptors like me. No studio library is complete with out all of his books and tapes.

Bruno works with slabs of clay smashed on the floor and then quickly forms them into layers of mass that are shaped into the maquette. His attention to proportion makes him the artist that others have sought to imitate, and none can completely duplicate.

The first time I browsed the book, I was blown away by the beauty of Bruno's work.
The second time, I was disappointed because of the limited explanation and technical descriptions.
But once I understood what this book was really about, I loved it.
It really is a documentary of Lucchesi at work. You can witness him working. The book is very visual.
You will not learn sculpturing, but you will get the chance to see an accomplished sculptor and his creation.
The book does not tell the why's, you can see the how's.

My copy is now really filthy, with stains of terracota all over it. I keep it by my working bench, and quite frequently, in the middle of my work, I open it to see how Bruno does it.

My recommendation is to buy this book in addition to "From Clay to Bronze " of Lagland.

I found this book to be a wonderful tool for the beginner or advanced sculptor. It leads you step by step and, as a 3rd-year sculptor, the techniques Lucchesi provides have greatly inspired and helped me improve my own techniques.

I'm a student working in wax, but the most important concepts in this book are definitely cross media; it was a good buy. I mainly use the book as a reference tool and posing guide -- it is a great problem solver. There can't be many issues in posing or proportioning that a beginner won't find help for somewhere in this book. Ms. Malmstrom has such a talent for photographing sculpture that you almost feel like you have the actual piece in front of you. And Mr. Lucchesi's work... it's tough to imagine a day so bad that his sculpture can't make you feel more at peace.

This is a super book, very informative and easy to follow. It answered many questions I had, and introduced many new (to me) ideas.

This is one of Robert Carmeron's last books and it is one of his best. Seattle really lends itself well to this kind of photography, the city is so naturally blessed. The photography in this book is classic Cameron and the photos are so vivid. I recommend this book to anyone with an interst in this beautiful city or just an interest in great photography in general, you won't be disappointed.

Seattle is set in a very diverse geographical region. This diversity provides for ample breathtakingly beautiful and lush photographs of the metropolitan area. Lakes, mountains, trees, islands, bays, rivers - this area has it all and is cleverly photographed in this Robert Cameron book.
The book is fairly up to date although citizens or connosieurs of Seattle may notice the dated-ness of the book by the conspicuous absense of some new construction in the downtown area and the changing condition of other areas of the city. If you like pictorials, this is a great one to own and probably one of the best of the Seattle Metropolitan Area. I highly recommend it.

THIS BOOK IS A KNOCKOUT, IT'S 12 X 14, THE PICTURES INSIDE, MOST OF THEM ARE THE SAME SIZE AND ARE SO CLEAR IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE THERE, YOU LOOK AT SEATTLE FROM ALL ANGLES AND TACOMA, YOU CAN MAKE OUT PEOPLE IN THE BUILDINGS, THERE ARE OLD PICTURES FROM THE 1920's RIGHT NEXT TO TODAYS PICTURES, THE BOOK TELLS YOU WHERE AND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT, YOU CAN READ SIGNS IN THESES PICTURES, IT SHOWS HOW CLEAN THE SEATTLE AND THE PUGET SOUND IS, IF YOU LIVE THERE THIS BOOK IS A MUST, FOR IT WILL SHOW YOU AREAS YOU MAY HAVE NEVER SEEN, FOR THERE IS SO MUCH TO SEE, AND TO THE REST OF THE WORLD, THIS BOOK THIS IS THE PERFECT TRAVEL GUIDE FOR THE NORTHWEST, IT'S A 160 PAGES OF THE CITY, WATER, NAVEL SHIPS, FERRYS,AIR PORTS, AND MOUNTAINS, THERE IS JUST NO WAY TO PUT THESE GREAT PICTURES IN TO WORDS! "THANKS" ROBERT CAMERON

Stunning quality; if you've been there, you will easily be able to pick out your favorite spots, despite the distance. The captions are a little dry, but the pictures make this aesthetic book one of value.

Everybody who has any relation to Seattle should have this book! To people who live there it shows their city from a different point of view. To people who like to get a detailed impression of the city and its close environment I really recommend it ! But this book (in my eyes) is not made for people who look for a "tourist guide".

My kids--ages 6.5 and 3--are obsessed with this book. It has all the great elements of children's literature: heroes (in this case a cowgirl - yeah! - -and her female horse sidekick), two bad guys, suspense, vibrant and action-packed illustrations, and tons of humor. The only catch: You must read it in a funky Western twang to get the right feel out of it. My daughter has been checking this out of the library since she was 3. I finally decided to buy our own copy last week.

One of the best childrens books ever!. original and so much fun to read out loud. makes me want to learn to yodel, square dance and drink saspirilla.

this book is a pleasure to read out loud...the art work is beautiful. Finally, a cleverly written adventure with a girl leading the action.

Ms. Watson's story set in the old west with dashing heroine is sure to delight the little ones in your household. Reading this story to my children reminds me of the Saturday afternoon TV westerns of my childhood. I find this story most amusing when read with the inflection of the late, great Slim Pickens. This is a FUN book!

New and inspiring. One of the most original childrens novel to date. Excellant!

I ORDERED THE FIFTH EDITION BC IT WAS THE ONE IN THE PICTURE BUT RECEIVED THE THIRD EDITION INSTEAD. NOT A SATISFIED CUSTOMER.

Having first read Archetypes of Wisdom (an older version) back in my first year or so of college, I eagerly awaited revisions to the book I fell in love with. Soccio did not disappoint. The newest edition of Archetypes of Wisdom is its best yet and I strongly encourage anyone interested in philosophy to give this book a read.

Ideas are presented in a clear cut manner as is the biographies of key philosophers throughout the ages as well as the background history of the time periods in which these philosophers lived.

Great book!

As an introduction to philosophy, Soccio has done a great job. He does a great job of explaining a subject one of the most daunting subjects one could try to explain, and does it consistently. Highly recommended.

P.S. Soccio was my teacher at a community college a few years back--great guy, to boot.

I actually have the second edition to this textbook so I'm not sure how much it's changed--not much would be my guess since it's a truly wonderful book, one of the few textbooks that I've kept, and the only one that I periodically consult. Embarking on the study of philosophy with it's breadth and complexity can be daunting, and Archetypes of Wisdom provides an excellent introduction.

As a textbook, I think this is an impressive accomplishment. I enjoy it partly because Soccio is encouraging rather than patronizing. He does his best to write with clear, terse language rather than using stilted, esoteric prose.

Soccio has organized the commentary, biographical information and analyses very well in this beautiful tome.

As with all text instructions, it's necessary to have an credible instructor to answer any questions left after reviewing the chapters. This book has always prepared me well enough for lectures and discussions to be confident in my classroom musings.

The accompanying CD-ROM is very useful, containing a number or primary documents from select philosphers. It's crucial to read the original author's treatise to be aware of the value of the interpretation of the textbook's evaluations.

The structure and layout is gentle on the eye and the reading flow is easy with engaging content. It's a high-quality compilation and explanation of some of the most interesting questions and persons of the philosophical world.

Don't forget to visit the Wadsworth website to take online quizzes, print out chapter glosseries and practice essays. It's helpful.

As an ancillary text, my class used Readings From the Roots of Wisdom, which covers important philosophical writings from multinational writers, cultural minorities (including women) and more modern thinkers.

With both these texts, you will survey a wonderful collection of work. You can really get a cerebral orgasm from this stuff, if it interests you enough. My rating is 4.6

As a long-time rubber stamper, I began making books earlier this year. This book has great instructions for all different book designs, as well as decorating techniques. I found the instructions easy to follow and well detailed. This is a much used resource in my craft book library.

For those who wish to take the hobby of scrapbooking to the level of fine art, this book will provide plenty of inspiration. Covering everything from numerous ways to create and bind a scrapbook from "scratch" to techniques for making your own decorative paper, it's all within the covers of the book.

Many different methods of bookbinding are presented in thorough detail moving from simple to more complex. Paper making and decorative paper techniques, such as batik and various print or collage techniques are presented as well.

Very innovative ideas for ways to display your special photos are shown as well. Samples of pages are unlike any I've seen elsewhere, and are always eye-catching. This book is not one for those who wish to speed scrap, but if you want to create a one-of-a-kind album, or a unique layout for special photos, look to "The Art of the Scrapbook" for ideas.

This book is a beautiful, artistic work on book making/binding. It's thorough, beginner-friendly, and has attractive projects. I only have one problem with it: the title. I would think that the title would more prominently announce something about bookmaking, and not use the word scrapbook (since these days, scrapbooking has grown in popularity, and is a completely different hobby).

That said, this book is an excellent introduction work to bookbinding. It has instructions on many different types of book bindings (from simple to more challenging), as well as much info on decorations for your book covers (marbling, quilling, and more). The book is written in an encouraging, informative tone, with the emphasis on craftsmanship and artistic expression. The text is accompanied by full-color pictures of handmade books by various artists around the country.

This book is an excellent introduction to bookbinding, and will certainly whet your appetite for all sorts of exciting artistic expression.

This book isn't just a book that shows some examples and gives you some templates and says "go do this"... This is a book that any true artist would love to have in their collection. It gives complete instructions on construction of paper arts and all facets of the craft. There are more projects in this book than I have found in any other book on the subject. The projects are explained with clarity and I learned how to do things I would have had to take a class to learn. The author is a real artist not just a craft person. I recommend this book to anyone that wants to take this craft to another level.

I own quite a few scrapbooking and bookmaking books, and this is the one that got me hooked. I absolutely love this book. The tools and materials needed lists were extremely helpful in getting me started. The author also shows some terrific and easy techniques that I haven't seen in other books. The gallery sections are incredible -- beautiful without being completely way out there. Lots of practical ideas for projects. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

Looking for proper alignment, sequencing and Yoga philosopy all in one book? Look no further this book is for you.

A really intensive beginning guide for students so that they can improve their yoga through understanding (anatomy, philosphy, spirituality are all included). Well done Gregor.

ASHTANGA YOGA: PRACTICE AND PHILOSOPHY is the first of its kind covering all eight limbs of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, and comes from a yogi who describes its history, the basic movements, and posture using photos, written instruction and even anatomical illustrations. Details on myth and philosophy accompany insights on techniques and are accented with black and white photos throughout, making for an excellent pick for any new age collection.

In the western world, yoga is often viewed as a great way to exercise- perfect for flexibility and stress management. It is that. However, in our ignorance, we are only getting part of the benefits of this practice.

True yoga is not only about the physical positions it is also about the philosophy. Without the philosophy, the forms have no context or meaning. Moreover, without this balance, students may actually be causing themselves and their bodies harm.

Ashtanga Yoga is an important resource for anyone who wishes to practice yoga. It blends practice and philosophy together for fuller understanding. Some of the best extras in this book include photographs of each posture, colour illustrations of the muscle groups used in each movement, and line by line interpretation of the Yoga Sutra.

This is not just another 'how to do yoga yourself' book, but a thorough study of both the postures and philosophy of Ashtanga yoga. At a time when almost every well-known teacher has their own 'brand' of yoga, Mr. Maehle goes back to the source to both explain the foundation of the practice and the philosophy that supports the physical practice.
Almost all western practictioners come to yoga as a form of excerise and are unaware of the philosophy from which the physical practice developed. This book covers both in accessable language and explanation. Serious student will want to have this as a resource and serious Ashtangis will find it invaluable along with D. Swenson's Practice Manual. Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual: An Illustrated Guide to Personal Practice

Chess Rumble provides a gripping and moving account of an eleven-year old boy's struggles with living in poverty in a single-parent household after the death of his sister. Plagued by feelings of rage and provoked by his younger brothers' antics and the taunts of his classmate, Marcus uses his fists as a coping device. Of course fighting makes his problems worse to the point where he risks getting kicked out of school and having to leave home.

His bleak situation changes for the better when the school principal introduces Marcus to a chess master who has a program at the school that encourages troubled youth to fight their battles on the chessboard. Marcus does not take to the chess master or the program right away, but a particularly nasty fight and a visit to his sister's gravesite convince him to give the chess master another chance. Based on real inner-city enrichment programs that teach kids how to play chess, this book shows how a unique social program can help children to develop new skills, meet new people, and begin to overcome disadvantaged economic circumstances. This fast-paced and intriguing book is bound to hold the attention of most young readers as they get a good dose of important lessons in economics, sociology, and social policy.

A superb view of inner turmoil, this book speaks through street dialect a troubled boy's grief. Admirably illustrated and paced, the work deserves a space in libraries and in the hands of kids who are better at making fists than making amends.

G. Neri's CHESS RUMBLE is appealing to reluctant readers, especially boys, on a number of levels. Neri nails the voice of a boy growing up in the inner city in a way that's reminiscent of Walter Dean Myers. Neri's main character, Marcus, is a young man dealing with family troubles and fights at school, until he meets a powerful mentor and learns to fight his battles on a chessboard instead.

This novella in verse is full of language that's vivid and accessible, and Jesse Joshua Watson's illustrations in shades of black, brown, and gray help to set the mood. This one has serious kid-appeal -- not just for the kids who already love to read but for those who don't often find books on the library shelves that seem to be written for them. This one is.

Chess Rumble is a powerful book that reaches young readers through Neri's succint and compelling prose and Watson's impressive illustrations. Many young people will glimpse shadows of themselves in Marcus as they slip vicariously into his world to experience his sorrows, joys, mistakes,and triumphs.

The book shows a hurt and angry young man's gradual transformation as he learns to make better choices, fight battles without violence, and think about the consequences of his actions, all invaluable life lessons pertinent to inner-city and rural-youth.

Neri's book speaks to kids in a language they will understand and embrace. I think both students and teachers have been waiting for a book like Chess Rumble for a long time.

CR is a deft blend of text and illustration. Marcus is a big boy at whom life has thrown some mean punches. Beyond anyone's help, he takes his anger and frustration to the limit - the proverbial brick wall beyond which his survival lies in his own two hands. CM is the mentor who has walked in Marcus' shoes and found the King's game in time to be saved. But Marcus needs to get his big hands around chess pawns instead of an adversary's throat (as he'd like, his nemesis Latrell's) and to make game moves - with his own will - to prove he's redeemable. Masterfully expressed gamesmanship for life. Reluctant male readers and chess-player wannabes from 8 years will enjoy this.

This is my bible for watercolour colour. It is far and away the best book on the subject, not just because it sweeps away all kinds of wrong thoughts, but Schink shows the different palettes used for different styles of painting in a simple, constructive way.

Christopher Schink is a terrific teacher and communicator in this lovely, and invaluable instruction book. Complete with many colorful examples and exercises, this world-class painter uses work from many different exceptional painters, along with a few of his own, to show how wonderfully expressive your own work can be by utilizing some of these techniques. He also shows and shares his deep understanding of what happens to color as it's mixed and layered, etc. And at the bottom of it all is the message that painting is about communication of ideas, and not simply a series of techniques! This core message is the most valuable of all.

If you can only buy one water color text book, buy this one. For a change this painter focuses on teaching you more than just tecnical skills. He gives you excellent information on color history, and analysis of other watercolorists work. Deals with problems you may run into and provides great visual examples. Handles subjects like controlling pictoral space, simultaneous contrast, and well as composition and design. This is book to study, not just look at the pictures!

Christoph Schink is an award-winning artist who shares his unique look at the art of watercolor and using color and light. The book does not just deal with juxtapositions of color or of mixing pigments; the author goes into the compositional effects of color choices, with examples of changes if you use value (dark to light, color becomes diminished) or if you use all pastels or colors close in range on the color wheel. In addition, there is a section on how the masters employed color in famous paintings, and a section of example works by other artists. This is valuable--the inclusion of other artists makes the book appealing to a variety of painters; not everyone responds to individual artists, so the wise author of painting books is one who generously shares the canvas with his colleagues. You are guaranteed to find some inspiration in the gallery. This is a nice large format book that shows off the colors on the pages well. Excellent.

I found this book to be most interesting on the topics of Colour, Tone, etc. Mr Schink goes on to apply the initial principles he outlines at the beginning of his book, to show how different effects and appearances can be created, even from the same basic composition! It was a fascinating read, and provides a good point of reference for me.