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740 Park: The Story of the World's Richest Apartment Building
by Michael GrossFor seventy-five years, it's been Manhattan's richest apartment building, and one of the most lusted-after addresses in the world. One apartment had 37 rooms, 14 bathrooms, 43 closets, 11 working fireplaces, a private elevator, and his-and-hers saunas; another at one time had a live-in service staff of 16. To this day, it is steeped in the purest luxury, the kind most of us could only imagine, until now. The last great building to go up along New York's Gold Coast, construction on 740 Park finished in 1930. Since then, 740 has been home to an ever-evolving cadre of our wealthiest and most powerful families, some of America's (and the world's) oldest money--the kind attached to names like Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Bouvier, Chrysler, Niarchos, Houghton, and Harkness--and some whose names evoke the excesses of today's monied elite: Kravis, Koch, Bronfman, Perelman, Steinberg, and Schwarzman. All along, the building has housed titans of industry, political power brokers, international royalty, fabulous scam-artists, and even the lowest scoundrels.The book begins with the tumultuous story of the building's construction. Conceived in the bubbling financial, artistic, and social cauldron of 1920's Manhattan, 740 Park rose to its dizzying heights as the stock market plunged in 1929--the building was in dire financial straits before the first apartments were sold. The builders include the architectural genius Rosario Candela, the scheming businessman James T. Lee (Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis's grandfather), and a raft of financiers, many of whom were little more than white-collar crooks and grand-scale hustlers. Once finished, 740 became a magnet for the richest, oldest families in the country: the Brewsters, descendents of the leader of the Plymouth Colony; the socially-registered Bordens, Hoppins, Scovilles, Thornes, and Schermerhorns; and top executives of the Chase Bank, American Express, and U.S. Rubber. Outside the walls of 740 Park, these were the people shaping America culturally and economically. Within those walls, they were indulging in all of the Seven Deadly Sins. As the social climate evolved throughout the last century, so did 740 Park: after World War II, the building's rulers eased their more restrictive policies and began allowing Jews (though not to this day African Americans) to reside within their hallowed walls. Nowadays, it is full to bursting with new money, people whose fortunes, though freshly-made, are large enough to buy their way in. At its core this book is a social history of the American rich, and how the locus of power and influence has shifted haltingly from old bloodlines to new money. But it's also much more than that: filled with meaty, startling, often tragic stories of the people who lived behind 740's walls, the book gives us an unprecedented access to worlds of wealth, privilege, and extraordinary folly that are usually hidden behind a scrim of money and influence. This is, truly, how the other half--or at least the other one hundredth of one percent--lives.
75 Fun Fat-Quarter Quilts: 13 Quilts + 62 Innovative Variations
by Roxane CerdaTurn your fat-quarter bundles into fabulous quilts with this guide featuring easy and versatile quilt patterns from an array of exciting designers.Does your fat-quarter collection require its own zip code? Put those treasured bundles to good use with 13 fast and fun fat-quarter quilts! Want quilts in multiple sizes and variations? You'll find a total of 75 possibilities! Play with scale, layout, colorways, and block design to make each project your own. Popular and up-and-coming designers share ideas in every style and for every skill level.
75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know: The Fascinating Stories Behind Great Works of Art, Literature, Music and Film
by Terry GlaspeyLet Your Faith Be Moved by the MasterpiecesArt becomes a masterpiece when it stands the test of time and challenges its viewers to see the world from a new perspective. The vast legacy of human expression is therefore a rich resource of introspection and wisdom for Christians today. 75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know anthologizes some of humanity&’s most influential and renowned works of art. Terry Glaspey masterfully analyzes how each piece responds to the reality of the human condition and Christian truth. Glaspey examines architecture, plays, novels, paintings, films, and even albums, evoking how some probe the dark corners of human suffering, while others capture the mystery, beauty, and wonder of life. Each selection is universally revered for its craftsmanship and ubiquitously esteemed across both time and cultures. From Rembrandt&’s The Return of the ProdigalSon to Jane Austen&’s Pride and Prejudice to Johnny Cash&’s At Folsom Prison, every masterpiece reveals some truth that has both enriched the Christian faith and left an indelible mark on the legacy of artistic achievement. Through engaging these masterpieces, Christians today can enrich their own faith with the creativity of history&’s brilliant artists.This book serves as both historian and biographer, as devotional and art criticism. May this book be a modest doorway into a world of deeper appreciation, a guide to the treasures of our tradition that enriches both your faith and understanding of the human experience.
75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know: The Fascinating Stories Behind Great Works of Art, Literature, Music and Film
by Terry GlaspeyLet Your Faith Be Moved by the MasterpiecesArt becomes a masterpiece when it stands the test of time and challenges its viewers to see the world from a new perspective. The vast legacy of human expression is therefore a rich resource of introspection and wisdom for Christians today. 75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know anthologizes some of humanity&’s most influential and renowned works of art. Terry Glaspey masterfully analyzes how each piece responds to the reality of the human condition and Christian truth. Glaspey examines architecture, plays, novels, paintings, films, and even albums, evoking how some probe the dark corners of human suffering, while others capture the mystery, beauty, and wonder of life. Each selection is universally revered for its craftsmanship and ubiquitously esteemed across both time and cultures. From Rembrandt&’s The Return of the ProdigalSon to Jane Austen&’s Pride and Prejudice to Johnny Cash&’s At Folsom Prison, every masterpiece reveals some truth that has both enriched the Christian faith and left an indelible mark on the legacy of artistic achievement. Through engaging these masterpieces, Christians today can enrich their own faith with the creativity of history&’s brilliant artists.This book serves as both historian and biographer, as devotional and art criticism. May this book be a modest doorway into a world of deeper appreciation, a guide to the treasures of our tradition that enriches both your faith and understanding of the human experience.
7th Cousins: An Automythography
by Erin Brubacher Christine BrubakerFrom July 7th to August 6th, 2015, we walked 700 kilometres, from Pennsylvania to Ontario. A stranger asked if we were walking to learn how to work and be together. This was certainly part of it.In July 2015, Erin Brubacher and Christine Brubaker, two politically left, secular, Canadian women traced the migration route of their Mennonite ancestors by walking from Pennsylvania to Ontario, through the American Bible Belt. Along the way they were hosted by a series of people with whom they had next to nothing in common. They were welcomed into strangers' homes and treated as family. On their journey they encountered folks with religious and political beliefs very different from their own and learned to question what conversations to enter and how far to take them. They accomplished this and so much more while navigating their own relationship and the challenges of being with another person, on foot, for 32 days. 7th Cousins: An Automythography documents the walk itself and the performance text they generated afterwards. Included throughout are photo essays from the journey and commentaries from their collaborators Christopher Stanton, Andrea Nann, Kaitlin Hickey and Erum Khan.Praise for 7th Cousins:"7th Cousins is a sharp, very personal and insightful work of documentary theatre that embodies a kind of honest female friendship that is so important to experience in our current moment, as well as a journey into the U.S. that gives trenchant insights far beyond what I was expecting." —Jacob Wren, author of Authenticity is a Feeling: My Life in PME-ART and Rich and Poor
The 7th Knot
by Kathleen KarrIt's summer vacation, 1896, and Miles and his brother must spend it with rich, irritable Uncle Eustace, who wants to purchase art for his mansion. Little do the boys know that their summer will take them on a high-flying chase across Italy and Germany, searching for an answer to the mysterious disappearance of their uncle's servant and six woodcuts by the famous Renaissance artist Albrecht Durer. Unwittingly they become entangled in an international ring of conspirators, and must save the world from a dark force masquerading as a benign secret society.
7th SS Mountain Division Prinz Eugen At War, 1941–1945: A History of the Division (Images of War)
by Ian BaxterThis volume of rare WWII photographs presents a pictorial history of the Nazi mountain infantry division that fought in Croatia and the Balkans. Drawing on a superb collection of rare and unpublished photographs, this book tells the story of the 7th SS Mountain Division during the Second World War. Formed in 1941, it consisted of both volunteers and conscripts from the Banat, Independent State of Croatia, Hungary and Romania. The Prinz Eugen SS Division fought a brutal counterinsurgency campaign against the communist-led Yugoslav Partisan resistance forces in occupied Serbia and Montenegro. It was given the title Prinz Eugen after Prince Eugene of Savoy, a 17th century military leader of the Habsburg Empire. Covering the Divisions history from formation to the end of the war, this volume includes chapters on Operation Weiss, guerilla warfare, and other topics.
8 Wonders of Cincinatti
by Wendy BeckmanCincinnati is an amazing place to live and visit for so many reasons. Local author Wendy Beckman and illustrator Allison Ranieri celebrate the city's eight wonders--architecture, art, commerce, food, customs, geography, history and people. With its Venetian Gothic lancet arches and crystal chandeliers, the Cincinnati Music Hall stands as an architectural masterpiece. The Cincinnati Red Stockings made history as the first professional baseball team. Remnants of marine fossils from the Ordovician Period remind residents that the city was once under water. Limitless local varieties of goetta range from family recipes to trendy café dishes. And the city birthed trailblazers like track and field star DeHart Hubbard, the first African American to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event. These stories and more reveal the unique character of the Queen City.
80 Godey's Full-Color Fashion Plates: 1838-1880
by Joanne OlianSuperb illustrations from a rare source provide authentic views of evolving Victorian fashions -- from high necklines, elongated bodices, and fitted bonnets to extravagant bustles. The meticulously reproduced plates include depictions of dresses, gowns, and coats as well as accessories. A must for costume designers, cultural historians, and fashion enthusiasts. Introduction. Captions.
800 Classic Ornaments and Designs (Dover Pictorial Archive)
by Ernst GüntherGraphic artists, illustrators, and craftspeople will welcome this treasury of beautifully engraved ornate frames, scrollwork, and other highly decorative designs -- 800 in all -- reproduced from an extremely rare mid-19th-century style book. Comprising 142 plates, the volume features a lavish assortment of ornaments, bedecked with flowers, mythological creatures, and other fanciful touches, all beautifully rendered in meticulous detail. Other striking designs incorporate a rich selection of classical columns, plus heraldic designs -- shields, coats-of-arms, seals, and insignias from Austria, Russia, Denmark, France, and many other countries -- for a touch of medieval flair or aristocratic ambience. In addition, this collection offers a variety of charming calligraphic alphabets in styles ranging from plain to majestic. An invaluable source of inspiration and a treasury of designs for permission-free use, these distinctive images are ideal for enhancing such print projects as ads, brochures, newsletters, posters, signs, catalog copy, and much more.
806: A Novel
by Cynthia WeilSibling 1 throws blenders and plays guitar. Sibling 2 is allergic to everything and is into magic. Sibling 3 is a varsity swimmer with a group of female fans. Enough said. The only thing they have in common is their biological father, and the only thing they can agree on is that they all want to meet him. With the help of a broken-down, “borrowed” Jeep, KT, Jesse, and Gabe make their way across the country evading police, trying their luck on the slots, and meeting a life-changing pig, all to track down Donor 806, their father. Any hope of success requires smarts, luck, and ingenuity. Good thing they have each other...even if they don't see it that way.
82 objetos que cuentan un país: Una historia de España
by Manuel LucenaUn recorrido excepcional por la historia de España a través de sus objetos. Frente a lo que hacen otras historias de España, este libro propone un camino de estudio distinto, pues rastrea la existencia milenaria del país en su cultura material y emocional. Alejada de cualquier esencialismo, no narra lo que los objetos «son», sino lo que han representado para los españoles a través de los tiempos. Es esta una relación identitaria, pero, por encima de todo, pasional y utilitaria. Los españoles han proyectado en los 82 objetos que componen la obra múltiples contenidos simbólicos. En los textos dedicados a cada uno de ellos hay elementos descriptivos -qué es cada uno-, analíticos -de qué manera se configuró su contexto- y relacionales -de qué forma fueron considerados únicos en cada momento histórico, cómo adquirieron una pátina o configuración determinada-. Pero, sobre todo, portan significado por el aura que contienen, el amorcon que fueron fabricados y la evocación que provocan en nosotros. Prehistoria, España romana, Edad Media, los Austrias, Ilustración, siglo XIX, siglo XX y el tiempo presente son las partes en que está dividido 82 objetos que cuentan un país. Sigue, por tanto, una cronología clásica, aunque puesta al día. El número y selección de los objetos se ha basado en un intento de acumulación densa y en caracterizaciones canónicas procedentes de diversos ámbitos y disciplinas. No asumen distinciones arcaicas entre «alta cultura» y «cultura popular»; tampoco son siempre materialidades concretas, sino en ocasiones difusas y flexibles, pues el ingenio de los españoles se ha plasmado a lo largo de los siglos en los más variados campos del arte y la cultura, la moda, la política, la cartografía, la numismática, la ciencia o la ingeniería. Reseña:«La historia de España por una original vía paralela a los hechos, a través de los objetos que la jalonan.» Miguel Lorenci, Colpisa «Imágenes y textos de calidad que, a modo de rompecabezas bien encajado, nos reflejan como pueblo y promueven una introspección colectiva que sobrecoge, emociona y estimula a partes iguales.»Ignacio Andrade/Carlos Rubio, Interviú
850 Calligraphic Ornaments for Designers and Craftsmen (Dover Pictorial Archive)
by Kiyoshi TakahashiBlending the old and the new . . . the elegance of eighteenth-century pen flourishing, replete with elaborate swirls and curlicues, and the precision of modern graphic design, boasting clean lines free of feathering, blotting, and other irregularities . . . in this spirit, artist Kiyoshi Takahashi offers this collection of 850 original calligraphic ornaments. Created in response to the recurring needs of his own design studio, Mr. Takahashi's expertly drawn, top-quality ornaments include delicate calligraphic swirls, scrolls, frames, borders, cartouches, and other design elements suitable to any number of commercial and crafts uses. They lend decorative flair to menus, posters, bookplates, stationery, honorary scrolls, and certificates, and are ideal for enclosing, enhancing, or drawing attention to advertising copy or any other graphic message. Two pages of examples show just how well these ornaments can embellish modern typography. And, best of all, Mr. Takahashi's ornaments are readily usable and completely copyright free. Commercial artists, graphic designers, illustrators, craftspeople, and calligraphers will appreciate this collection of 850 precisely rendered modern ornaments recalling the graceful pen flourishing of the eighteenth century.
887
by Robert LepageFrom internationally acclaimed playwright and author Robert Lepage comes 887 — an autobiographical story originally toured as a solo show. Framed by Lepage’s attempt to memorize Michèle Lalonde’s poem “Speak White,” 887 is an exploration of memory, culture, and community in Quebec.As the 40th anniversary of La Nuit de la poésie in Montreal approaches, playwright Robert Lepage is invited to recite Michèle Lalonde’s seminal poem “Speak White” from memory on the special night. After agonizing hours spent attempting to memorize the piece, Lepage finds himself unable to recall a single line. In a last effort he decides to employ a mnemonic device dating back to ancient Greece called the Memory Palace — a technique of imagination and association. Lepage’s Memory Palace is 887 Murray Avenue, the apartment block where he grew up. Winding his way around the rooms of the building and the lives of the tenants therein, Lepage guides the reader through a world of recollections of 1960s Quebec, the decade that shaped the province’s cultural and political consciousness.A mesmerizing and multifaceted glimpse into the realm of memory, 887 is a tour of culture and community in 1960s Quebec through one masterful artist’s remarkable, boundary-defying perspective.
9-1/2 Years Behind the Green Door, a Memoir: A Mitchell Brothers Stripper Remembers Her Lover Artie Mitchell, Hunter S. Thompson, and the Killing that Rocked San Francisco
by Simone CordayBefore the advent of AIDS, the theater and its steamy live shows are a countercultural venue for celebrities in entertainment and sports, and for San Francisco politicians and journalists. Simone Corday, who danced at the O'Farrell and was a girlfriend of the late Artie Mitchell, shares her unique story and her insights. As the only woman insider, she writes about this insular when she was close to the impulsive Mitchells, and a friend of the O'Farrell's honorary Night Manager, Hunter Thompson.
9.5 Theses on Art and Class
by Ben Davis9.5 Theses on Art and Class seeks to show how a clear understanding of class makes sense of what is at stake in a broad number of contemporary art's most persistent debates, from definitions of political art to the troubled status of "outsider" and street art to the question of how we maintain faith in art itself.Ben Davis currently lives and works in New York City where he is Executive Editor at Artinfo.
9-Patch Pizzazz: Fast, Fun & Finished in a Day
by Judy Sisneros“The projects are easy (not to mention fun) . . . Beginners or experienced quilters will love 9-Patch Pizzazz. It’s a keeper for your quilt book library.” —Armchair InterviewsThey’ll never believe you made it in a day! Talk about bang for the buck: combining a special fabric with a few easy nine-patches yields captivating quilts ranging from sassy to sophisticated. You’ll get hooked on this technique! Judy provides sixteen different layouts for unlimited project potential.A beginner book without that “beginner look!” It’s been called the “potato chip quilt”—no one can make just one Use your favorite fabrics including large-scale, novelty, and panels “Most quilts only use three or four fabrics and only squares and rectangles are used in their design but the results look much more complex than that would suggest . . . The choice of fabrics and design guidelines at the beginning of the book are well illustrated, simple to comprehend and can be adapted to produce quilts of any size . . . The six projects given in the second part are for small quilts which can be used as large wall-hangings or lap quilts.” —Popular Patchwork“A great way to use large scale fabrics, and it’s also a design that leaves a lot of room for your own sense of color and artistic layouts.” —Quilting . . . for the Rest of Us
90 Houses of the Twenties: Cottages, Bungalows and Colonials (Dover Architecture)
by Jens Pedersen Daniel D. ReiffThis outstanding house plan catalog from a prominent Midwestern builder was issued on the eve of the Great Depression. Its full-color, beautifully realistic illustrations depict colonials, bungalows, duplexes, and other residences, accompanied by floor plans and detailed descriptions of interiors. A nostalgic look back at the way homes were constructed during the 1920s, this volume offers an authentic resource for modern home restorers, builders, and interior designers and a splendid browsing book for fans of architecture, advertising, and Americana. Architectural historian Daniel D. Reiff provides an informative Introduction.
90-Minute Fabric Fun: 30 Projects You Can Finish in an Afternoon
by Terrie Kralik90 Minutes + Fabric = Fun! Make great gifts or add fashionable touches to your home decor in no time with these fast - and fun - fabric projects from designer Terrie Kralik. You'll get hooked on Terrie's time-saving techniques, which make it easy for you to create everything from runners and rugs to fabric bowls and boxes. 90-Minute Fabric Fun features: 25 quick and clever projects using locker hooking, braiding and fusible techniques. 300 color photos and illustrations to walk you through the techniques and projects. Embellishment guide that includes tutorials to make your own bows and tassels. Dozens of inventive tips to help you get the most from your projects and your fabric. Full-size box and bowl templates.
90 Minute Quilts: 25+ Projects You Can Make in an Afternoon
by Meryl Ann ButlerIf you have always wanted to try quilting but didn't think you had the time, or if you've been quilting for years and want a fun break from complex projects, then 90-Minute Quilts is just the book for you! Through easy-to-follow timesaving techniques and the use of tested tools, author Meryl Ann Butler shows you how to stitch up everything from four-patch pillows and wall hangings to crib-size baby quilts and larger snuggle/lap quilts. In the time it takes to watch a feature film, you can now create a lovely keepsake to give as a gift or cherish in your own home. Now that's 90 minutes of pure entertainment! Book jacket.
97 Things Every UX Practitioner Should Know
by Daniel BerlinTap into the wisdom of experts to learn what every UX practitioner needs to know. With 97 short and extremely useful articles, you'll discover new approaches to old problems, pick up road-tested best practices, and hone your skills through sound advice.Working in UX involves much more than just creating user interfaces. UX teams struggle with understanding what's important, which practices they should know deeply, and what approaches aren't helpful at all. With these 97 concise articles, editor Dan Berlin presents a wealth of advice and knowledge from experts who have practiced UX throughout their careers.Bring Themes to Exploratory Research--Shanti KanhaiDesign for Content First--Marli MesibovDesign for Universal Usability--Ann Chadwick-DiasBe Wrong on Purpose--Skyler Ray TaylorDiverse Participant Recruiting Is Critical to Authentic User Research--Megan CamposPut On Your InfoSec Hat to Improve Your Designs--Julie MeridianBoost Your Emotional Intelligence to Move from Good to Great UX--Priyama Barua
The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design
by Roman Mars Kurt KohlstedtA beautifully designed guidebook to the unnoticed yet essential elements of our cities, from the creators of the wildly popular 99% Invisible podcast Have you ever wondered what those bright, squiggly graffiti marks on the sidewalk mean? Or stopped to consider why you don't see metal fire escapes on new buildings? Or pondered the story behind those dancing inflatable figures in car dealerships? <P><P>99% Invisible is a big-ideas podcast about small-seeming things, revealing stories baked into the buildings we inhabit, the streets we drive, and the sidewalks we traverse. The show celebrates design and architecture in all of its functional glory and accidental absurdity, with intriguing tales of both designers and the people impacted by their designs. <P><P>Now, in The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to Hidden World of Everyday Design, host Roman Mars and coauthor Kurt Kohlstedt zoom in on the various elements that make our cities work, exploring the origins and other fascinating stories behind everything from power grids and fire escapes to drinking fountains and street signs. With deeply researched entries and beautiful line drawings throughout, The 99% Invisible City will captivate devoted fans of the show and anyone curious about design, urban environments, and the unsung marvels of the world around them. <P><P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design
by Roman Mars Kurt Kohlstedt 99% Invisible__________Out now: The most entertaining and fascinating book about architecture and design, from the wildly popular podcast 99% Invisible. __________A New York Times Bestseller'Full of surprises and quirky information . . . a fascinating journey through the over-familiar.' - Financial Times, Best Books of 2020'[A] diverse and enlightening book . . . The 99% Invisible City is altogether fresh and imaginative when it comes to thinking about urban spaces.' -The New York Times Book Review'A delightful book about the under-appreciated wonders of good design' - Tim Harford, bestselling author of The Undercover Economist and Fifty Things that Made the Modern Economy'99% Invisible goes deep on the design and architecture we tend to overlook - this is it in glorious guidebook form . . . fascinating.' Wired__________This is 99% Invisible. __________A beautifully designed guidebook to the unnoticed yet essential elements of our cities, from the creators of the wildly popular 99% Invisible podcast Have you ever wondered what those bright, squiggly graffiti marks on the sidewalk mean?Or stopped to ponder who gets to name the streets we walk along?Or what the story is behind those dancing inflatable figures in car dealerships?99% Invisible is a big-ideas podcast about small-seeming things, revealing stories baked into the buildings we inhabit, the streets we drive, and the sidewalks we traverse. The show celebrates design and architecture in all of its functional glory and accidental absurdity, with intriguing tales of both designers and the people impacted by their designs.Now, in The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to Hidden World of Everyday Design, host Roman Mars and coauthor Kurt Kohlstedt zoom in on the various elements that make our cities work, exploring the origins and other fascinating stories behind everything from power grids and fire escapes to drinking fountains and street signs. With deeply researched entries and beautiful line drawings throughout, The 99% Invisible City will captivate devoted fans of the show and anyone curious about design, urban environments, and the unsung marvels of the world around them.__________You are about to see stories everywhere, you beautiful nerd. Now get out there.'If you've ever wondered why our world is the way it is, this show has your answers' The Hustle'99% Invisible...is completely wonderful and entertaining and beautifully produced...' Ira Glass, This American Life'The hugely inventive 99% Invisible treats the design of everyday things like a forensic science.' WIRED
The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design
by Roman Mars Kurt Kohlstedt 99% InvisibleAn entertaining guide to the unnoticed yet essential elements of our cities, featuring new and exclusive material from the creators of the wildly popular 99% Invisible podcast. Have you ever wondered what those bright, squiggly graffiti marks on the sidewalk mean?Or stopped to ponder who gets to name the streets we walk along?Or what the story is behind those dancing inflatable figures in car dealerships?99% Invisible is a big-ideas podcast about small-seeming things, revealing stories baked into the buildings we inhabit, the streets we drive, and the sidewalks we traverse. The show celebrates design and architecture in all of its functional glory and accidental absurdity, with intriguing tales of both designers and the people impacted by their designs.Now, in The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to Hidden World of Everyday Design, host Roman Mars and coauthor Kurt Kohlstedt zoom in on the various elements that make our cities work, exploring the origins and other fascinating stories behind everything from power grids and fire escapes to drinking fountains and street signs. With deeply researched entries and beautiful line drawings throughout, The 99% Invisible City will captivate devoted fans of the show and anyone curious about design, urban environments, and the unsung marvels of the world around them.__________You are about to see stories everywhere, you beautiful nerd. Now get out there.(P)2020 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
99 Problems: Superstars Have Bad Days, Too
by Ali GrahamPoor Superstar. All the money and fame in the world won’t prevent him from having a bad hair day. Or stepping in gum. Or not being able to fit into skinny jeans, or watching helplessly as a scoop of ice cream falls from its cone. Or so an unnamed Superstar’s life is ingeniously imagined in this very funny book. Inspired by but not based on Jay Z’s monster hit “99 Problems,” illustrator Ali Graham riffs on what might be the real problems afflicting a world-famous music mogul who also happens to be married to the foremost diva of our time. Begun as a Tumblr, which went viral almost instantly, 99 Problems is a highly conceptual gift book showcasing 99 full-color illustrations of a cartoon character who looks just like a certain legendary rapper, and the often ordinary and sometimes fantastical things that happen to him. And that’s where the book finds its hilarious, compulsive hook—in an age that worships celebrity and assumes, somewhat enviously, that fame and fortune can protect one from life’s travails, what if that just weren’t true? There’s a surprising, underlying warmth here. Even when the author dips into flights of pop culture fantasy—Superstar on the bow of the Titanic; Superstar whipping up a bad batch alongside Walter White from Breaking Bad—the recognition of shared kinship is strong. It’s a cartoon version of celebrity, but like the best cartoons, it’s edgy and knowing, yet sweet, too.