Beauty Books

Richard Harries gives us his take on Christian aesthetics. Is beauty only in the eye of the beholder? How do the classical aesthetic judgments play out in a modern world? Can truth, beauty, and goodness still function as the parameter of critical evaluation? Harries answers these questions in very accessible language. His understanding of beauty as an aspect of God's glory is right on target. He says, "The conjunction of beauty with truth and goodness has its origin in God and is what we mean by His glory. The Bible does not dwell long on beauty in isolation but it has much to say on the subject of glory."

Unfortunately there are comparatively few books on the aesthetic tradition in Christianity, which is sad given the key role creative art has had to play in this faith. From the loving creation of icons in Orthodox Church to the beautiful architecture of medieval cathedrals to the great works of poetry and literature by writers like Dante, Hopkins and Milton, artistic creativity has been a key expression of religious faith for many centuries.

Central to this is the idea of God being beautiful, or as Gregory of Nyssa would say, the archetype of beauty. Harries offers a useful introduction to how Christians have seen God, despite his infinity, invisiblity and incomprehensibility, as the beautiful, along with the true and the good. This work is ecunmical and looks at how Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and Protestants have conceived of the aesthetic exploration of their faith in great works of art. It is a useful introduction to the subject of aesthetics in a theological context.

Do you remember plaited lanyards you tried to make when youwere in the second grade in day camp; the ones that somebig kid could make in all sorts of spirals and squares but (c'mon admit it) you just couldn't make work for you? Well this book takes that art back to its basic, the nineteenth century art of hair braiding. Mark Campbell makes this incredibly difficult appearing craft much easier to do than you'd ever imagine. So if you want to know just how to make your own (pardon) heirloom bracelet, this is the book for you.........Georgie

This is a great compilation of 19th century engravings and instructions on how to create Hair work Jewelry. The craft is very similar to macrame, bobbin lace, or kumihimo. Just done with hair instead. It has instructions on the basic principles and tools involved in the craft. There are over 150 different braiding designs included. It also gives brief illustrations on how to sew smaller braids together to make wider bracelets. It also includes period engravings of finished hair work pieces. This does not have any instructions on how to create the elaborate hair work wreathes that were worked into to looking like flower arrangements. But it is superb for creating a lost art of jewelry. My only problem was finding hair to work with that was long enough. Or finding other colors to create interesting designs. Working with string to test a pattern can help to get the hang of it. Ebay is a great outlet for human hair. Search for real hair extensions. If human hair is too morbid for you, horse hair is an option.

I've owned Elgort's "Model Manual" for over a year now, and find myself coming back to it often for inspiration, reference, nostalgia, and a new experience each time. The art direction, layout, and of course, photography, make this book memorable and a worthwhile purchase. Models (professional and aspiring), art directors, and anyone interested and/or ivolved in fashion, beauty and design are encouraged to take a look!

Medicine is not an art or a battle between technology and nature - it is a war, war between computers. On our side: the cognitive human brain and increasingly intelligent computers it makes. On the other side: The noncognitive and simple RNA and DNA computers of human genetics and human cells gone bad. So far the latter have lost a ground, but they have done remarkably well and even gained back little territory via fast-action guerilla tactics (e.g. rapid adaption to antibiotics) The (not so surprising) ability of DNA/RNA to evolve countermeasures to today's primitive medical technologies has led many to conclude that cyber-revolution will sink into a stalemate. Not so -RNA/DNA will lose the war, as fast as the genetic codes may evolve, they are old simple systems whose basic level of performance plateaued epochs ago. Worst of all - they do not think. They have never seen the likes of the increasingly smart macro and nanocomputers that will be thrown at them in the next few decades. The technology is moving much faster than its targets, and the Information-processing speed of genetic DNA will soon be billions of times less than that of their attackers. Point is that humans will soon have creatures among them that make Christy Tulington look like Frankenstein's Bride and her wits equal to that of Minnie the Mouse.

This book is well researched and well written. It even contains recipes. As I am in a research and reenactment group, this has been a godsend. I am delighted with the professionalism of this book. I have to be careful every time I open it that I don't drool on it. GREAT BOOK!!

While there are many books out on cosmetics, perfumes, and the history of adornment, there has been a dearth of well-researched, modern historical and archaeological studies with practical information. Sally Pointer, from the National Museum and Gallery of Wales, has written a text that fills that gap admirably. The depth and accuracy of the research, and the scholarly discussion, in The Artifice of Beauty, is combined with the re-creation experiences of a skilled museum curator.

Anyone interested in researching and/or recreating fashion, material culture, or personal life in history should have this book in her or his library. Those interested in homemade cosmetics and perfumes will also find it very useful.

Pointer first lays out "The Nature of the Evidence" in her introduction, then tackles the various ages of humankind in nine chronological chapters. While none is completely exhaustive-- the beauty regimens of the nineteenth century alone have filled multiple shelves of books-- each chapter provides a good groundwork for understanding cosmetics, perfumes, and ideas of beauty in the period. Her strongest suit is in the early evidence, Ancient World and Classical world sections, but those areas have previously been the subject of much archaeology but little reliable summary. Her information about the medieval through the seventeenth centuries is a treasure trove of facts and quotations.

Of special interest is Pointer's analyses of possible make-up trends based on pictoral representations of people in the period. Were pink cheeks admired? Highly accented eyes? What color of hair was in fashion. Information about hairpieces and false hair, washes, soap and other cosmetic preparations are also included. Sidebars cover specific items that Pointer herself has researched and recreated, such as a nail stain made from alkanet root, Roman wigs, Mesopotamian eye paints, alcohol-based Hungary Water, seventeenth century 'invisible rouge,' 18th century Carmelite water. Illustrations of advertisements highlight the later chapters. The text here is interesting as well as erudite, and Pointer carefully delineates her deductions and suppositions so that the reader can tell what is documented fact and what scholarly reasoning. Throughout, attention is paid to the safety of the ingredients discussed, and the possible and documented health effects on their users. Some facts-- such as a strange fashion in the nineteenth century for nipple-piercing and a selection of medieval mouthwashes-- will surprise the reader. Others, such as the utility of pomade for the hair, that the skin-destroying properties of ceruse (white lead) were known to the historic critics of 'painting', or that bathing and washing were done with some regularity in pre-modern periods, may explode some cherished myths.

After the text history, Pointer lays out "A Guide to Recreating Perfumes and Cosmetics, with Selected Recipes Adapted for Modern Use." The second section of the book is of interest not only to historians and re-enactors but to chemists, in that it consists of a glossary of cosmetic and perfume ingredients. While not exhaustive, especially with reference to more modern ingredients, this guide will be invaluable to those curious about Behen oil, Kohl, the elusive Nard, pomades, stacte, terebinth resin, etc. Here, also, are included a number of excellent recreated or redacted recipes. The next section covers Tools, Implements and Cosmetic Containers, with special attention to the pre-modern period.

One cannot overemphasize the importance of chapter 12, on Adapting Early Recipes to Modern Usage, for the recreator, re-enactor, or cosmetics student or dabbler. In this section Pointer lays out two historical recipes, one classical and one Victorian, and shows how she worked out safe, modern recipes for the items described. (For SCA purposes, these two recipes would be excellent guides for creating competitive documentation.) The painstaking work here, and the careful explanation of what changes and compromises the author felt necessary, are outstanding. This is supplemented by a table of Modern Cosmetic Pigments to assist the re-creator, a listing of Weights and Measures, as well as an Appendix listing ingredients mentioned by Classical Authors (compare to Forbes' Studies in Ancient Technology volume 3) and "Abdeker's Library of the Toilet, 1754." The index, notes and bibliography are easy to read and useful.

I highly recommend this text for personal and library collections. Libraries with an interest in personal care, women's history, cosmetic chemistry, fashion, pre-modern culture, hobby herbalism, and historic costume and medieval culture will find this an especially helpful introduction.

This book chronicles all models produced from about 1986 to 2006, with the greatest focus on the hand crafted V-series cars of 1990-2000 (Virage and all its decedents). In many ways the book shows how the company has made the transition from a ultra-low volume maker of coach built cars into a maker of expensive semi-mass produced sports cars (like an English Ferrari). Personally I have mixed feelings about this transformation, but the book does a magnificent job paying homage to both eras.

Each chapter details one model, or one special run of cars. In some cases the "run" describes production quantities in single digits...in a few cases it even represents a single unique car. The book itself contains amazing photographers, and was obviously produced with great attention to detail and love of the cars/company.

One funny aspect of the book... Many places in the text "well known far east customer" is mentioned, but his name is never actually given. This is obviously the Sultan of Brunei. It is well known he was a major Aston Martin customer during this period, and commissioned many of the highly custom cars in the book. Since these cars are locked far away, this book is the only way to experience these works of art.

I only have one minor complaint. I really wish they included more photos inside of the Newport-Pagnell factory itself. Since this book chronicles the last chapter of hand-made cars, it would have been nice to see more details of this lost art.

Worth every penny.

Very comprehensive of the modern cars. Including many, many one off and unique Astons AND Lagondas also.
An incredible resource.
Hence my "Must Buy" title as above.

Written by a former holder of a medical psychology fellowship in plastic surgery, Awakening Beauty: An Illustrated Look At Mankind's Love And Hatred Of Beauty is an unparalleled study that spares nothing in its examination of what beauty is and how its perception is intertwined with modern American culture for good or ill. Exploring the bright and seamy sides of beauty pageants, plastic surgery, trophy wives, wardrobe, maekup, and much more, Awakening Beauty combines black-and-white photographs with a no-holds-barred critical examination of tough questions about subjective values.

I saw this book and was intrigued by all of the famous people on the cover, like Howard Stern, Pamela Anderson, Jon Benet Ramsey, Bill Gates, Monica Lewinsky, and many others. So, I decided to buy it. It is one of those books that honestly, you don't want to put it down. Trying to not pick this book up and re-read a section you have read a dozen times before is like trying to avoid Krispy Kreme doughnuts when it is that time of the month. This book changed my life! I feel like for the first time I understand what I see on television, what I read in magazines and what all of it has to do with me and the way I look. After reading this book I even understand Howard Stern and Tom Leykis! The book should be required reading in every college in America. If I had read this book when I was 18, I would have saved myself years of misery and heartache. My friends and I have talked about the book so much that we thought about teaching a learning annex class on it. The photos are way cool, like the one of the wives and girlfriends of professional athletes, the photos of the celebrities without their makeup, the photos of the world's richest men, and the murderers. I wonder how the author got all of these really neat photos. This book is a guilty pleasure. I highly recommend it. If you have a face and a body you owe it to yourself to not only read it, but study it.

This book was given to me by my boyfriend who said that this book had my name written all over it.

As a teacher, I am surrounded by children and for that reason, among many others, I have chosen to retain a childlike personality as an adult. The book, Balance, makes me laugh each time I thumb through it, and I've read it through probably a hundred times already.

Things from "how to make a blanket fort" to "how to tickle" (Figure 1 - Wait for maximum vulnerability. Figure 2 - Go in for the kill. Figure 3 - Scram.) are retold with such a flair for the English language, in addition to the wonderfully animated figure drawings, that people from 5 to 105 have to smile. It recaptures so much of what gets lost as we grow older, and so much of what so many people want to rediscover in themselves. There is a kid in all of us, a childlike anticipation for FUN, and this book helps those who think they've lost that kid, find that innocence (or mischieveousness).

It is a wonderful gift for nearly anyone, and makes an even better gift for yourself. It helps you remember the wonderful things from youth - adventures, pleasures and simple things like flying kites. It is a precious treasure of smiles for any grown-up kid. It is one of my most cherished possessions. I hope you like it, as well.

This is a great little book that will make you smile, with smart simple instructions to the "simple pleasures." My favorate is How to sleep in, illistrating how to "Beat innocent clock into submission." If you know anyone in your life who needs to de-stress or just laugh, this book is perfect! It is a regular on my coffee table.

This timeless, colorful book shows famous people as they travel around the world making their living. The tales of travelers from author Ernest Hemingway, politicians Teddy Roosevelt & General MacArthur, movie stars, Harrison Ford, Katharine Hepburn and James Dean to Icons Charles Lindbergh, "The Lone Eagle" and Amelia Earhart, the Banana Republic was there. Nostalgia at it's best, with copy and pictures from all aspects of travel. From Sun Valley to "The Snows of Kilimanjaro," from Key West to Rick's Cafe Americain in Casablanca, the book and clothes are timeless. A travel journal that takes you to places you have only dreamed about. This book takes you around the world with the famous and shows you how to dress for each destination. A great book to add to your library.

This book was a catalog of clothing sold back in the 80's during the "Indiana Jones" rage. The store's owners were journalists who found clothes that would travel, and then romanticized the clothing in drawings and stories. Part of the fun is discovering these clothes in thrift stores today.

Book was informative and enlightening. I learned a lot about techniques I should consider to save and restore my skin. It was well written and easy to understand for a lay person such as myself. I would recommend it to anyone interested in this topic.

Beautifeye is a great resource for anyone who wants to easily understand all the newest procedures for the eyes and face. This book outlines cosmetic procedures including peels, micordermabrasion and Botox and surgeries such as brow lifts and correction of droopy eyelids. It is very helpful that each procedure clearly lists the results and complications. The before and after photos display the actual results that may be achieved from different procedures, which is useful for visualizing how these changes may look on my face. There's no hype here, just concise info, as opposed to most fashion and beauty magazines, which always confuse and overwhelm me when they write about these sorts of things. I would recommend this to anyone who's seriously considering a cosmetic and/or surgical procedure.

This book is remarkable and uplifting in seeing the beauty in "Average Janes" and telling their stories through both stories and photos. A wonderful gift for women of all ages.

In this work by Nancy Bruno, I found delicate tales of true life, and pictures of intense beauty. No, not the kind that is plastered all over the television, or printed in magazines, but the beauty that life brings; the hidden beauty that we all need to see, and appreciate.
Inside the pages of this book, we are graced to read life experiences from 35-women. The strength, courage, accomplishments of each is the true beauty that shines. The black and white pictures add the visual that completes and satisfies the perfection of this beauty. A reminder of truth for all. Beautiful Women, celebrates the true essence of the pure beauty of women, and brings it forth for all to appreciate and enjoy. A lovely work.