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The Sky Is Everywhere
by Jandy NelsonJandy Nelson's beloved, critically adored debut is now an Apple TV+ and A24 original film starring Jason Segel, Cherry Jones, Grace Kaufman, and Jacques Colimon.&“Both a profound meditation on loss and grieving and an exhilarating and very sexy romance." —NPRAdrift after her sister Bailey&’s sudden death, Lennie finds herself torn between quiet, seductive Toby—Bailey&’s boyfriend who shares Lennie&’s grief—and Joe, the new boy in town who bursts with life and musical genius. Each offers Lennie something she desperately needs. One boy helps her remember. The other lets her forget. And she knows if the two of them collide, her whole world will explode. As much a laugh-out-loud celebration of love as a nuanced and poignant portrait of loss, Lennie&’s struggle to sort her own melody out out the noise around her makes for an always honest, often uproarious, and absolutely unforgettable read.
The Handbook of Home Design: An Architect’s Blueprint for Shaping your Home
by Laura Jane ClarkArchitectural solutions & designs to optimize the spaces in your home without spending a fortune.Architect Laura Jane Clark, from the BBC and Netflix smash-hit series Your Home Made Perfect, has spent over 15 years designing, remodelling, and building homes with budgets that range from modest to enormous. THE HANDBOOK OF HOME DESIGN distils Laura's wealth of experience and enthusiasm giving you an accessible yet detailed guide to design, empowering you with the tools and knowledge to shape your home how you want. Throughout your home design journey, whether large or small, Laura takes you each step of the way from understanding your home, reading a plan and writing a brief, right through to sketching your own design and having the confidence to get what you want on the building site. Packed full of tips and tricks, inspiration and technical know-how, THE HANDBOOK OF HOME DESIGN is like having Laura by your side, showing you how to design practical yet beautiful spaces, get more storage into your life and create the home of your dreams.Laura Jane Clark wants to democratize the whole concept of residential architectural design and empower you to redesign your spaces by giving you the language and ability to confidently communicate your vision, get the most out of your design and ultimately love your finished home. Whether you are a long-term homeowner, first-time buyer or simply visualising your dream space, no matter what your budget is, this unique insight into Laura's process allows you to achieve both the design you want and the home you need.www.lamparchitects.co.uk Instagram: @laurajaneclark_
Leon Battista Alberti: Writer and Humanist
by Martin McLaughlinThe first book in English to examine Leon Battista Alberti&’s major literary works in Latin and Italian, which are often overshadowed by his achievements in architectureLeon Battista Alberti (1404–1472) was one of the most prolific and original writers of the Italian Renaissance—a fact often eclipsed by his more celebrated achievements as an art theorist and architect, and by Jacob Burckhardt&’s mythologizing of Alberti as a "Renaissance or Universal Man." In this book, Martin McLaughlin counters this partial perspective on Alberti, considering him more broadly as a writer dedicated to literature and humanism, a major protagonist and experimentalist in the literary scene of early Renaissance Italy. McLaughlin, a noted authority on Alberti, examines all of Alberti&’s major works in Latin and the Italian vernacular and analyzes his vast knowledge of classical texts and culture.McLaughlin begins with what we know of Alberti&’s life, comparing the facts laid out in Alberti&’s autobiography with the myth created in the nineteenth century by Burckhardt, before moving on to his extraordinarily wide knowledge of classical texts. He then turns to Alberti&’s works, tracing his development as a writer through texts that range from an early comedy in Latin successfully passed off as the work of a fictitious ancient author to later philosophical dialogues written in the Italian vernacular (a revolutionary choice at the time); humorous works in Latin, including the first novel in that language since antiquity; and the famous treatises on painting and architecture. McLaughlin also examines the astonishing range of Alberti's ancient sources and how this reading influenced his writing; what the humanist read, he argues, often explains what he wrote, and what he wrote reflected his relentless industry and pursuit of originality.
Tropical Time Machines: Science Fiction in the Contemporary Hispanic Caribbean (Reframing Media, Technology, and Culture in Latin/o America)
by Emily A. MaguireHow writers and artists use science fiction to speak to the current moment in the Caribbean Exploring the remarkable recent increase in works of science fiction originating in Spanish-speaking parts of the Caribbean and their diasporas, Tropical Time Machines shows how writers, filmmakers, musicians, and artists are using the language of the genre to comment on the region’s history and present-day realities. Discussing how previous Caribbean literature and film has characterized places including Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic as “out of sync” with Western time, occupying a repeating or static space, Emily Maguire argues that science fiction breaks these cycles and resituates the region temporally and spatially. In chapters on cyberpunk, zombies, post-apocalyptic narratives, and the ab-real, Maguire shows how recent cultural production analyzes and critiques the ways globalization and national leadership have reinforced the region’s marginalization amid economic and climate crises. Art that employs the science fictional mode makes room for a new vision of the Caribbean, Maguire demonstrates—an alternate perspective in which the region has agency in shaping its own narratives and trajectories. The texts themselves are time machines, enabling creators to protest inequalities of the present from the point of view of an imagined, transformed future. A volume in the series Reframing Media, Technology, and Culture in Latin/o America, edited by Héctor Fernández L’Hoeste and Juan Carlos Rodríguez Publication of this work made possible by a Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Misfits & Hybrids: Architectural Artifacts for the 21st-Century City
by Ferda KolatanContemporary cities are shaped by the unlikely adjacencies of objects that are vastly different in kind, origin, and scale: buildings, infrastructure, and other urban components that over time accumulate into mismatched configurations. However, despite the ubiquity of these oddities and their impact on the city, we rarely give them much consideration. In Misfits & Hybrids, Ferda Kolatan explores the untapped potential in these unexpected conditions for a new kind of architecture. A diverse array of projects, developed in Kolatan’s design studios at the University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School of Design, illustrates how hybrid artifacts can reveal the often overlooked cultural, socio-political, and material histories of a site, fostering design tactics invested in reinventing the existing. Set within the cosmopolitan megacities of Istanbul, Cairo, and New York, the projects are conceived as real fictions, conjuring novel narrative, aesthetic, and representational forms to reflect the pluralistic postindustrial city.
The Last Decade of Cinema 25 films from the nineties: Twenty-five Unique Films From The Nineties
by Scott Ryan“ I feel like Scott Ryan could have written this directly to me and others in our generation who have basically ‘ given up' on movies. It is at once tribute and eulogy, so bittersweet.” – Screenwriter Helen Childress (Reality Bites)“ The nineties are lucky to have Scott Ryan.” – Actress Natasha Gregson Wagner (Two Girls and a Guy, Lost Highway)Ah, the nineties. Movies were something in those days. We' re talking about a decade that began with GoodFellas and ended with Magnolia, with such films as Malcolm X, Before Sunrise, and Clueless arriving somewhere in between. Stories, characters, and writing were king; IP, franchise movies, and supersaturated superhero flicks were still years away. Or so says Scott Ryan, the iconoclastic author of The Last Days of Letterman and Moonlighting: An Oral History, who here turns his attention to The Last Decade of Cinema— the prolific 1990s. Ryan, who watched just about every film released during the decade when he was a video store clerk in a small town in Ohio, identifies twenty-five unique and varied films from the decade, including Pretty Woman, Pulp Fiction, Menace II Society, and The Shawshank Redemption, focusing with his trademark humor and insight on what made them classics and why they could never be produced in today' s film culture. The book also includes interviews with writers, directors, and actors from the era. Go back to the time of VCR' s, DVD rentals, and movies that mattered. Turn off your streaming services, put down your phones, delete your Twitter account, and take a look back at the nineties with your Eyes Wide Shut, a White Russian in your hand, and yell “ Hasta la vista, baby” to today' s meaningless entertainment. Revel in the risk-taking brilliance of Quentin Tarantino, Amy Heckerling, Spike Lee, Robert Altman, Paul Thomas Anderson, and others in Scott Ryan' s magnum opus, The Last Decade of Cinema.
Beauty Is Oxygen: Finding a Faith That Breathes
by Wesley Vander LugtBeauty is oxygen because it comes from the lungs of God. Isolating individualism, rank injustice, and everyday monotony threaten to suffocate our souls. But Wesley Vander Lugt shows how beauty can breathe life back into us. Written in a graceful cadence that invites readers to turn these pages slowly, Beauty Is Oxygen weaves together theological reflection, poetry, cultural criticism, and Scripture. Throughout, Vander Lugt shows how beauty can break us out of self-centered malaise, promote healing and hope for our broken world, and reenchant our lives. Beauty is about more than positive feelings or pleasing aesthetics. Beauty is as essential to our souls as oxygen is to our bodies. As readers encounter these traces of divine glory in Vander Lugt&’s finely crafted meditations, they will find how Christ will &“make all things new.&”
Haunting Ecologies: Victorian Conceptions of Water (Victorian Literature and Culture Series)
by Ursula KluwickVictorians&’ views of water and its role in how the social fabric of Victorian Britain was imagined Water matters like few other substances in people&’s daily lives. In the nineteenth century, it left its traces on politics, urban reform, and societal divisions, as well as on conceptualizations of gender roles. Drawing on the methodology of material ecocriticism, Ursula Kluwick&’s Haunting Ecologies argues that Victorian Britons were keenly aware of aquatic agency, recognizing water as an active force with the ability to infiltrate bodies and spaces. Kluwick reads works by canonical writers such as Braddon, Dickens, Stoker, and George Eliot alongside sanitary reform discourse, court cases, journalistic articles, satirical cartoons, technical drawings, paintings, and maps. This wide-ranging study sheds new light on Victorian-era anxieties about water contamination as well as on how certain wet landscapes such as sewers, rivers, and marshes became associated with moral corruption and crime. Applying ideas from the field of blue humanities to nineteenth-century texts, Haunting Ecologies argues for the relevance of realism as an Anthropocene form.
Twilight Zone Reflections: An Introduction to the Philosophical Imagination
by Saul TraigerTwilight Zone Reflections is the first book of its kind to explore the entirety of The Twilight Zone (1959–1964) as a series. It acts as both an introduction to the field of philosophy and as a complete guide to the philosophical issues illustrated throughout the original 1959-64 television series. Author Saul Traiger explores each of the 156 episodes, investigating the show’s themes in metaphysics, epistemology, moral and political philosophy, and other topics in a way that is accessible to both seasoned philosophers and those outside academia. Each short chapter dives into a single episode and concludes with helpful cross-references to other episodes that explore similar philosophical problems and subjects. For example, a reader may be interested in questions about the nature of the mind and whether machines can think. By referencing this book, they could easily discover the thematic connections between episodes like “I Sing the Body Electric” or “The Lateness of the Hour,” and learn how both episodes introduce the viewer to possible worlds that challenge us to consider whether our idea of the mind, and even our very personhood, extends beyond the human to robots and other artificial intelligences. Each chapter introduces fundamental philosophical questions such as these through the lens of The Twilight Zone and inspires additional exploration. Further readings are suggested for all episodes, making this volume indispensable to academics, students, and fans of the show. Each chapter is short and accessible, ensuring that this book is the perfect resource to accompany a complete series re-watch. The Twilight Zone considered questions that strike at the heart of philosophical inquiry, such as the nature of self, the existence of god, the possibility of an afterlife, the relationship between knowledge and mental illness, the nature of possibility, even the nature of imagination itself, and so much more. Traiger argues that each episode can serve as an entry point for philosophical reflection. Twilight Zone Reflections is a valuable reference for anyone interested in exploring a well-known slice of popular culture history that doubles as a vast store of philosophical ideas.
Through a Noir Lens: Adapting Film Noir Visual Style
by Sheri Chinen BiesenShadows. Smoke. Dark alleys. Rain-slicked city streets. These are iconic elements of film noir visual style. Long after its 1940s heyday, noir hallmarks continue to appear in a variety of new media forms and styles. What has made the noir aesthetic at once enduring and adaptable?Sheri Chinen Biesen explores how the dark cinematic noir style has evolved across eras, from classic Hollywood to present-day streaming services. Examining both aesthetics and material production conditions, she demonstrates how technological and industrial changes have influenced the imagery of film noir. When it emerged in the early 1940s, the visual style’s distinctive shadowy look was in part a product of wartime cinema conditions and technologies, such as blackouts and nitrate film stock. Since the 1950s, technical developments from acetate film stock and new cameras and lenses to lighting, color, and digitization have shaped the changing nature of noir style. Biesen considers the persistence of the noir legacy, discussing how neo-noirs reimagine iconic imagery and why noir style has become a touchstone in the streaming era. Drawing on a wealth of archival research, she provides insightful analyses of a wide range of works, from masterpieces directed by Billy Wilder and Alfred Hitchcock to New Hollywood neo-noirs, the Coen brothers’ revisionist films, and recent HBO and Netflix series.A groundbreaking technological and industrial history of an essential yet slippery visual style, Through a Noir Lens shines a light into the shadows of film noir.
The Interactive Documentary in Canada
by Michael Brendan Baker and Jessica MulvogueInteractive documentary emerged rapidly from a constellation of changing technologies and practices to much excitement, yet its history is short and its future uncertain. In the mid-2010s Canada was a world leader in the creation of i-docs. Less than a decade later technological obsolescence has rendered many of these celebrated projects inaccessible, while rapid digital innovation continues to change the i-doc form and its modes of experience.The Interactive Documentary in Canada captures this transitional moment in documentary filmmaking and media production. Bringing together a range of historical, theoretical, and critical approaches, this collection examines the past – and the imagined future – of a nonfiction storytelling phenomenon that has Canadian institutions, figures, and works at its centre. Embracing a polyphonic conception of interactive documentary, the volume includes explorations of web-based, app-based, installation, and virtual reality works that push the boundaries of what is understood as documentary cinema. Leading documentary scholars and makers consider the historical and technological contexts of i-doc production, innovation, and exhibition; the political and pedagogical potential of the genre; the ethics of the i‐doc experience; and the format’s future lifespan in the contemporary media landscape.The Interactive Documentary in Canada establishes a place for the i-doc in the history of Canadian film, highlighting the genre’s significant impact on the National Film Board of Canada and on contemporary global documentary media.
Point Cloud Compression: Technologies and Standardization
by Wen Gao Wei Gao Ge Li3D point clouds have broad applications across various industries and have contributed to advancements in fields such as autonomous driving, immersive media, metaverse, and cultural heritage protection. With the fast growth of 3D point cloud data and its applications, the need for efficient compression technologies has become paramount. This book delves into the forefront of point cloud compression, exploring key technologies, standardization efforts, and future prospects. This comprehensive book uncovers the foundational concepts, data acquisition methods, and datasets associated with point cloud compression. By examining the fundamental compression technologies, readers can obtain a clear understanding of prediction coding, transform coding, quantization techniques, and entropy coding. Through vivid illustrations and examples, the book elucidates how these techniques have evolved over the years and their potentials for the future. To provide a complete picture, the book presents cutting-edge research methods in point cloud compression and facilitates comparisons among them. Readers can be equipped with an in-depth understanding of the latest advancements, and can gain insights into the various approaches employed in this dynamic field. Another distinguishing aspect of this book is its exploration of standardization works for point cloud compression. Notable standards, such as MPEG G-PCC, AVS PCC, and MPEG V-PCC, are thoroughly illustrated. By delving into the methods used in geometry-based, video-based, and deep learning-based compression, readers become familiar with the latest breakthroughs in the standard communities.
Technology, Intellectual Property Law and Culture: The Tangification of Intangible Cultural Heritage
by Megan Rae BlakelyFocusing on cultural expressions that are most likely to intermingle with copyright law, trademark and IP-adjacent regulations, this book examines contemporary issues in technology, intellectual property law, and culture.Intangible Cultural Heritage can consist of traditional knowledge, songs, craftsmanship, dance, and other practices, as well as the associated cultural artefacts and spaces; a widely varied global living heritage, transmitted generationally, must be allowed to organically evolve, often defying the process of identification so desirable in the realm of legal protections. This nebulous essence is particularly ill-suited to modern legal frameworks that can conflate the creative outputs that copyright is meant to protect with shared cultural practices. Combining a legal perspective with historical tact, the book develops a theoretical model to track the interaction amongst these issues as well as to make policy recommendations based on the existing and projected possible future outcomes. Several chapters of the book will be dedicated to contemporary issues where this framework and interaction are currently developing, focussing on law and technology issues with archiving and museums, online platforms and copyright infringement, and communities and creative production in virtual worlds.The book will be of interest to students and scholars in the field of copyright law and intellectual property law.
Women of Tarot: An Illustrated History of Divinators, Card Readers, and Mystics
by Cat WillettDiscover the hidden stories of tarot and divination—traced through the lives and contributions of Lady Frieda Harris, Marie Anne Lenormand, Pamela Colman Smith, and Rachel Pollack—in this vividly illustrated popular history of the cards. Tarot's storied history takes us from the highest circles of Italian Renaissance society through to present day card creators. And throughout that time, women have been the primary drivers of both artistic and magical innovation in the form, though they haven't always been given adequate credit for doing so. Now, for the first time, readers can explore the lives and work of some of the women who have brought us the word's most popular divinatory art. In Women of Tarot celebrated artist and author Cat Willett traces the lives of four women who have pioneered work in tarot and divination. There is Lady Frieda Harris, the nineteenth century British artist and mystic who created the Thoth Tarot with the occultist Aleister Crowley, and Marie Anne Lenormand, the most celebrated fortune teller of eighteenth century France, who brought card reading to the masses. Then readers will meet Pamela Colman Smith, the iconic cross-continental artist whose illustrations adorn the world's most popular tarot deck—the Rider-Waite-Smith Deck—and finally Rachel Pollack, the trans woman responsible for creating scores of decks in her lifetime, as she strove to make tarot an art that was inclusive of all practitioners, especially the LGBTQIA+ community. Woven throughout is a timeline of the development of tarot, as well as miniature profiles of women from cultures around the world whose work has impacted divination and fortune telling, including Nefertiti, Voodoo Queen of New Orleans Marie Laveau, author Zora Neale Hurston, and contemporary artist Nanse Kawashima.
Cosplay the Marvel Way: A Guide to Costuming Culture and Crafting Basics
by Judith StephensThe cosplay producer and co-creator of the Women Of Marvel podcast weaves together the history of Marvel cosplay with practical tips, advice, and instructions on how-to create your own cosplays based on popular Marvel heroes Black Panther, Captain America, Ms. Marvel, Ironheart, Phoenix, and Loki. An officially licensed guide to learning about and creating Marvel cosplays, Cosplay the Marvel Way walks readers through every step of the creative process—from choosing a character, gathering your materials and tools, building your cosplay using items in your closet or from the thrift store, and showing off their new look at a convention or photoshoot. Whether you are just starting out or have a whole closet jam-packed with amazing cosplays, this book is perfect for anyone Marvel fans that are interested in or love dressing up as their favorite super heroes. Cosplay the Marvel Way is a reminder that cosplay is more than making and putting on a costume–it&’s about community, about finding who you are, and expressing it through the intersection of comics and fashion.
Il Dolce Far Niente: The Italian Way of Summer
by Lucy LauchtThis book is a gorgeous, photographic ode to the magic of southern coastal Italy in the summer by renowned travel, fashion, and lifestyle photographer Lucy Laucht. A languorous August afternoon. That brilliant light and those impossible Mediterranean blues. The touch of sun on hot skin. And everywhere, the sounds of laughter and lighthearted conversation. Captured by photographer Lucy Laucht, these lyrical scenes of Naples, Ischia, the Amalfi Coast, Capri, Puglia, Sicily, and the Aeolian and Egadi Islands are an ode to the Italian way of summer and that distinctly Italian art of sweet idleness.
The Future Is Present: Art, Technology, and the Work of Mobile Image (Leonardo)
by Cary Levine Philip GlahnA critical history of the pioneering art and technology group Mobile Image and their prescient work in communications, networking, and information systems.In The Future Is Present, Philip Glahn and Cary Levine tell the fascinating history of the visionary art group Mobile Image—founded by Kit Galloway and Sherrie Rabinowitz in 1977—which appropriated emerging technologies, from satellites to electronic message platforms. Based in Los Angeles, this under-studied collective worked amid urban crisis, a techno-boom, consolidating media power, and ascendant neoliberal politics. Mobile Image challenged fundamental conventions of the public sphere, democracy, communication, and political participation, as well as notions of power, representation, and identity.Glahn and Levine argue not only for the historical importance of Mobile Image, but also for a critical artistic process that is at once analytic and transformative. They weave themes such as embodiment and its mediation, public/private dialectics, and techno-utopian vision throughout the book, binding these projects to discourses around race, gender, and class, as well as margin and center, the local and the global. In today&’s world of ubiquitous digital re/production, networking, and social media, The Future Is Present shows how the work of Mobile Image continues to have profound implications for art, technology, and the politics of public and private experience.
Assembling Tomorrow: A Guide to Designing a Thriving Future from the Stanford d.school (Stanford d.school Library)
by Scott Doorley Stanford d.school Carissa CarterA powerful guide to why even the most well-intentioned innovations go haywire, and the surprising ways we can change course to create a more positive future, by two celebrated experts working at the intersection of design, technology, and learning at Stanford University&’s acclaimed d.school.&“This brilliant book offers a new approach to all creative work that will expand your understanding of what it means to make and open up possibilities you didn&’t know existed—it did for me.&”—Adam Johnson, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Orphan Master&’s SonIn Assembling Tomorrow, authors Scott Doorley and Carissa Carter explore the intangible forces that prevent us from anticipating just how fantastically technology can get out of control, and what might be in store for us if we don&’t start using new tools and tactics. Despite our best intentions, our most transformative innovations tend to have consequences we can&’t always predict. From the effects of social media to the uncertainty of AI and the consequences of climate change, the outcomes of our creations ripple across our lives. Time and again, our seemingly ceaseless capacity to create rubs up against our limited capacity to understand our impact. Assembling Tomorrow explores how to use readily accessible tools to both mend the mistakes of our past and shape our future for the better. We live in an era of &“runaway design,&” where innovations tangle with our lives in unpredictable ways. This book explores the off-kilter feelings of today and follows up with actionables to alter your perspective and help you find opportunities in these turbulent times. Mixed throughout are histories of the future, short pieces of speculative fiction that imagine the future as if it has already happened and consider the past with a critical yet hopeful eye so that all of us—as designers of our own futures—can create a better world for generations to come.
War and Aesthetics: Art, Technology, and the Futures of Warfare (Prisms: Humanities and War #1)
by Jens Bjering, Anders Engberg-Pedersen, Solveig Gade, and Christine Strandmose ToftA provocative edited collection that takes an original approach toward the black box of military technology, surveillance, and AI—and reveals the aesthetic dimension of warfare.War and Aesthetics gathers leading artists, political scientists, and scholars to outline the aesthetic dimension of warfare and offer a novel perspective on its contemporary character and the construction of its potential futures. Edited by a team of four scholars, Jens Bjering, Anders Engberg-Pedersen, Solveig Gade, and Christine Strandmose Toft, this timely volume examines warfare through the lens of aesthetics, arguing that the aesthetic configurations of perception, technology, and time are central to the artistic engagement with warfare, just as they are key to military AI, weaponry, and satellite surveillance.People mostly think of war as the violent manifestation of a political rationality. But when war is viewed through the lens of aesthesis—meaning perception and sensibility—military technology becomes an applied science of sensory cognition. An outgrowth of three war seminars that took place in Copenhagen between 2018 and 2021, War and Aesthetics engages in three main areas of inquiry—the rethinking of aesthetics in the field of art and in the military sphere; the exploration of techno-aesthetics and the wider political and theoretical implications of war technology; and finally, the analysis of future temporalities that these technologies produce. The editors gather various traditions and perspectives ranging from literature to media studies to international relations, creating a unique historical and scientific approach that broadly traces the entanglement of war and aesthetics across the arts, social sciences, and humanities from ancient times to the present. As international conflict looms between superpowers, War and Aesthetics presents new and illuminating ways to think about future conflict in a world where violence is only ever a few steps away.ContributorsLouise Amoore, Ryan Bishop, Jens Bjering, James Der Derian, Anthony Downey, Anders Engberg-Pedersen, Solveig Gade, Mark B. Hansen, Caroline Holmqvist, Vivienne Jabri, Caren Kaplan, Phil Klay, Kate McLoughlin, Elaine Scarry, Christine Strandmose Toft, Joseph Vogl, Arkadi Zaides
The Nature of Our Cities: Harnessing the Power of the Natural World to Survive a Changing Planet
by Nadina GalleIn the tradition of Elizabeth Kolbert and Michael Pollan, The Nature of Our Cities is a stirring exploration of how innovators from around the world are combining urban nature with emerging technologies, protecting the planet’s cities from the effects of climate change and safeguarding the health of their inhabitants.We live in an age when humanity spends 90% of its time indoors, yet the nature around us—especially in America’s cities—has never been more vital. This distancing from nature has sparked crises in mental health, longevity, and hope for the next generation, while also heightening the risks we face from historic floods, heatwaves, and wildfires. Indeed, embracing nature holds untapped potential to strengthen and fortify our cities, suburbs, and towns, providing solutions spanning flood preparation, wildfire management, and promoting longevity. As ecological engineer Dr. Nadina Galle shows in The Nature of Our Cities nature is our most critical infrastructure for tackling the climate crisis. It just needs a little help. A fellow at MIT’s Senseable City Lab and selected for Forbes’ 30 under 30 list, Galle is at the forefront of the growing movement to fuse nature and technology for urban resilience. In THE NATURE OF OUR CITIES, she embarks on a journey as fascinating as it is pressing, showing how scientists and citizens from around the world are harnessing emerging technologies to unlock the power of the natural world to save their cities, a phenomenon she calls the “Internet of Nature.” Traveling the globe, Galle examines how urban nature, long an afterthought for many, actually points the way toward a more sustainable future. She reveals how technology can help nature navigate this precarious moment with modern advances such as:Laser-mapping that identifies at-risk neighborhoods to fight deadly health disparitiesA.I.-powered robots that prevent wildfires from reaching urban areasIntelligent water gardens that protect cities from floods and hurricanesAdvanced sensors that achieve 99% tree survival in dry, hot summers Optimistic in spirit yet pragmatic in approach, Galle writes persuasively that the future of urban life depends on balancing the natural world with the technology that can help sustain it. By turns clear-eyed and lyrical, THE NATURE OF OUR CITIES marks the emergence of an invigorating, prescient new talent in nature writing.
Apprentice in Wonderland: How Donald Trump and Mark Burnett Took America Through the Looking Glass
by Ramin SetoodehFrom the editor in chief of Variety and author of the New York Times bestseller Ladies Who Punch, the never-fully-told, behind-the-scenes story of Donald Trump and The Apprentice, the long-running reality series that catapulted him to the White House.Here for the first time is the definitive untold story of Donald Trump’s years as a reality TV star. Trump himself admits he might not have been president without The Apprentice. Now, just as he uncovered the chaos inside the daytime favorite The View in his bestselling Ladies Who Punch, Ramin Setoodeh chronicles Trump’s dramatic tenure as New York’s ultimate boss in the boardroom, a mirage created by Survivor producer Mark Burnett and NBC boss Jeff Zucker. With unprecedented access, including hours of interviews with Trump, his boardroom advisers George Ross and Carolyn Kepcher, Eric Trump, and some of the most memorable contestants, and writing with flair and authority, Setoodeh shares all the untold tales from this legendary show that has left its mark on popular culture, shaped the legend of its star, and ultimately changed American history.
The Secret Life of Salvador Dali
by Salvador DalíStep into the surreal and fantastical world of one of the 20th century’s most enigmatic and imaginative artists with The Secret Life of Salvador Dalí. This extraordinary autobiography offers an unfiltered, intimate glimpse into the mind and life of Salvador Dalí, the master of surrealism whose provocative works and eccentric personality captivated the world.In The Secret Life of Salvador Dalí, the artist takes readers on a mesmerizing journey from his childhood in Catalonia to his rise as a leading figure in the surrealist movement. Dalí’s narrative is as vivid and imaginative as his artwork, blending reality with dream-like sequences that reflect his unique vision of the world. His story is filled with eccentric anecdotes, profound reflections, and a deep exploration of his creative process.Dalí delves into his early years, describing the formative experiences that shaped his artistic sensibilities and fueled his boundless creativity. He recounts his passionate relationships, including his profound connection with his muse and wife, Gala.Throughout the book, Dalí’s distinctive voice and flamboyant personality shine through. He offers candid and often controversial views on art, fame, and his own legacy, challenging conventional norms and pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. His descriptions of his paintings, sculptures, and other works provide a deeper understanding of the symbolic meanings and personal significance behind his creations.This autobiography is essential reading for art enthusiasts, surrealism aficionados, and anyone intrigued by the life and mind of one of history’s most fascinating artists. The Secret Life of Salvador Dalí invites readers to explore the enigmatic world of Dalí, where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur and the extraordinary becomes the norm.
Calabashes and Kings: An Introduction To Hawaii
by Stanley D. PorteusEmbark on a captivating journey through the rich history, vibrant culture, and breathtaking landscapes of Hawaii with Stanley D. Porteus's Calabashes and Kings: An Introduction to Hawaii. This comprehensive and engaging book offers readers a detailed exploration of the Hawaiian Islands, providing a deep understanding of their unique heritage and enduring allure.Stanley D. Porteus, a distinguished psychologist and longtime resident of Hawaii, combines his keen observational skills with extensive research to present a vivid portrait of the islands. Calabashes and Kings delves into the origins and evolution of Hawaiian society, from its ancient Polynesian roots to its complex interactions with Western explorers, missionaries, and settlers.The book covers a wide array of topics, including the traditional customs and beliefs of the Hawaiian people, the significance of the calabash in daily life, and the revered status of the islands' monarchs. Porteus highlights the impact of historical events such as the arrival of Captain Cook, the rise and fall of the Hawaiian Kingdom, and the eventual annexation by the United States.Porteus’s narrative is enriched with captivating stories and anecdotes that bring the history and culture of Hawaii to life. He explores the natural beauty of the islands, from the majestic volcanoes and lush rainforests to the pristine beaches and vibrant coral reefs. His detailed descriptions provide a sensory experience that transports readers to this Pacific paradise.This book is an essential read for anyone interested in Hawaii, whether you are a traveler seeking to deepen your understanding of the islands or a student of history and culture. Calabashes and Kings serves as both an informative guide and a heartfelt tribute to the spirit of Hawaii and its people.
Rumor and Reflection
by Bernard BerensonImmerse yourself in the profound and contemplative world of Bernard Berenson with Rumor and Reflection, a captivating diary that offers a unique perspective on the tumultuous events of the mid-20th century. Written during the years of World War II, this book presents a collection of Berenson's thoughts, observations, and insights as he navigated the complexities of a world in upheaval.Bernard Berenson, an esteemed art historian and critic, provides readers with a deeply personal and intellectual chronicle that goes beyond mere historical record. Rumor and Reflection captures his contemplations on a wide range of subjects, from the devastation and chaos of war to the enduring beauty of art and culture. His reflections are marked by a keen analytical mind, a profound appreciation for the arts, and a thoughtful consideration of the human condition.Set against the backdrop of his villa in Italy, Berenson's diary entries offer a serene yet poignant contrast to the external turmoil. He muses on the fate of Europe, the moral dilemmas posed by the conflict, and the impact of war on civilization and culture. His writings are interwoven with his deep knowledge of art history, providing rich insights into the works and lives of great artists, and how art can serve as a lens through which to view the world.This book is an essential read for historians, art enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the intellectual and cultural currents of the 20th century. Berenson's unique perspective and eloquent expression provide a window into the mind of a great thinker grappling with the profound questions of his time.Join Bernard Berenson in Rumor and Reflection for an intimate journey through a period of great turmoil and transformation, and discover the timeless wisdom and enduring relevance of his reflections.
The Dress Doctor
by Edith Head Jane Kesner ArdmoreStep behind the scenes of Hollywood's Golden Age with Edith Head's The Dress Doctor. This captivating book offers a fascinating glimpse into the life and career of Edith Head, the legendary costume designer whose visionary work earned her a record-breaking eight Academy Awards and solidified her status as a fashion icon.The Dress Doctor is a delightful and insightful memoir that chronicles Edith Head's illustrious career in the film industry. With wit and charm, Head shares her experiences of designing costumes for some of the most famous stars of the silver screen, including Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, and Elizabeth Taylor. Her detailed anecdotes bring to life the glamour and excitement of Hollywood, as well as the challenges and triumphs of creating iconic fashion moments.Edith Head's unique perspective offers readers an insider's view of the creative process behind the scenes. She provides practical advice on style and design, drawing from her extensive knowledge and experience in the industry. Whether discussing the art of tailoring, the importance of color, or the intricacies of fabric selection, Head's expertise shines through, making this book an invaluable resource for fashion enthusiasts and aspiring designers.Throughout The Dress Doctor, Head's passion for her craft is evident. Her innovative designs and keen eye for detail helped shape the visual aesthetic of countless classic films. From the elegant gowns in Roman Holiday to the sophisticated ensembles in Rear Window, Head's work continues to inspire and influence the world of fashion and costume design. Join Edith Head on a journey through the dazzling world of Hollywood fashion, and discover the stories behind the costumes that captivated audiences and defined an era. The Dress Doctor is a timeless tribute to a true legend of design, offering readers a rare and intimate look at the creative genius of Edith Head.