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PEOPLE Stars of Food Network
by The Editors of PEOPLEPEOPLE Magazine presents PEOPLE Stars of Food Network.
People to Follow: A Gripping Social-Media Thriller
by Olivia WorleyTen influencers. Ten secrets. One dead body. A pacy, addictive thriller perfect for fans of We Were Liars, The Inheritance Games and One Of Us Is Lying.'Agatha Christie meets TikTok . . . a wicked, juicy page-turner' - Alexa Donne, author of Brightly BurningThey're used to being followed. But not like this . . .Ten social media stars think they're about to join the cast of a hot new reality show.But the production crew never shows up, and the influencers find themselves stranded on a deserted Caribbean island with no contact with the outside world - except for messages from the mysterious 'Sponsor', who is threatening to expose their darkest secrets.When one of them winds up dead, things start to get more real than they bargained for . . .With the body count rising, the influencers must figure out who is trying to get them cancelled - like, literally - before their number one follower strikes again.
People to Follow: A Gripping Social-Media Thriller
by Olivia WorleyTen influencers. Ten secrets. One dead body. A pacy, page-turning thriller perfect for fans of We Were Liars, The Inheritance Games and One Of Us Is Lying.'Agatha Christie meets TikTok . . . a wicked, juicy page-turner' - Alexa Donne, author of Brightly BurningThey're used to being followed. But not like this . . . Ten social media stars think they're about to join the cast of a hot new reality show. But the production crew never shows up, and the influencers find themselves stranded on a deserted Caribbean island with no contact with the outside world - except for messages from the mysterious 'Sponsor', who is threatening to expose their darkest secrets. When one of them winds up dead, things start to get more real than they bargained for . . .With the body count rising, the influencers must figure out who is trying to get them cancelled - like, literally - before their number one follower strikes again.
PEOPLE True Crime Stories: 35 Real Cases That Inspired the Show Law & Order
by The Editors of PEOPLEInside many of the real life cases to inspire Law & OrderFor over 20 years and across two signature shows-Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit-viewers have been riveted by cases that have been "ripped from the headlines." Now, in True Crime Stories, a new special edition from People, go inside 35 real crimes that inspired the hit TV shows. From well-known cases that continue to fascinate us, including JonBenet Ramsey, O.J. Simpson, Robert Durst, and the Mayflower Madam, to the travails of such celebrities and politicians as Hugh Grant, John Edwards, and Anthony Weiner, here are descriptions of the crimes, the key players, and synopses of the episodes the cases inspired, complete with photographs of the real-life players and their respective Law & Order characters. This special edition also includes several "Reality Check" sections that provide insight into the detectives, prosecutors, and sets that have made the shows as realistic as they are. True Crime Stories also includes an interview with renowned Law & Order creator and producer Dick Wolf and photographs of your favorite cast members from both shows. For fans of both Law & Order and for true-crime readers, this is the one special edition you won't be able to do without.Bonus: an exclusive look at Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Brothers, the exciting new miniseries that focuses on just one shocking story for an entire season.
The People’s Dance: The Power and Politics of Guangchang Wu (Critical Studies in Dance Leadership and Inclusion)
by Rose Martin Ruohan ChenThis book presents an analysis of how the grassroots movement of Guangchang Wu or ‘square dance’ in China has become a national phenomenon. Through oral narratives offering rich descriptions of lived encounters, the experiences of those involved in leading, organizing, teaching and learning Guangchang Wu are revealed. Through these narratives, this book serves to understand the leadership practices occurring and how this dance practice is deeply rooted in the complexities of China’s rapid economic development, acceleration of urbanisation, and the desire for a healthier and more communal lifestyle.
The People's Machine: Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Rise of Blockbuster Democracy
by Joe MathewsCalifornia voters passed Proposition 13 in 1978. At the same time, a champion bodybuilder named Arnold Schwarzenegger was becoming a movie star. Over the past quarter century, the twin arts of direct democracy (through ballot initiatives designed to push the public to the polls on election day) and blockbuster moviemaking (through movies designed to push the public to the theaters on opening weekend) grew up together, at home in California. With the state's recall election in 2003, direct democracy and blockbuster movies officially merged. The result: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In The People's Machine, political reporter Joe Mathews, who covered Schwarzenegger's gubernatorial campaign for the Los Angeles Times and who has subsequently broken many front page stories about him, traces the roots of both movie and political populism, how Schwarzenegger used these twin forces to win election and, especially, how he has used them to govern. "Let the people decide," said Governor Schwarzenegger after his inauguration. The People's Machine, through remarkable access and whip-smart analysis-there is news in this book-reports on whether this system of governing proves blessing, curse, or mess, and on the remarkable Austrian bodybuilder, movie star, and political man with the nerve to carry it out.
Pepsi and the Pill: Motherhood, Politics and Film in Britain and France, 1958–1969
by Melissa Oliver-PowellThe 1960s was a decade of massive political and cultural change in Western Europe, as seismic shifts took place in in attitudes towards sexuality, gender, and motherhood in everyday life. Through case studies of British and French films, Pepsi and the Pill offers a fresh vision of a pivotal moment in European culture, exploring the many ways in which political activity and celebrated film movements mutually shaped each other in their views on gender, sexuality, and domesticity. As the specter of popular nationalism once again looms across Europe, this book offers a timely account of the legacy of crucial debates over issues including reproductive rights, migration, and reproductive nationalism at the intersection of political discourse, protest, and film.
Perceptual Organization: An Integrated Multisensory Approach
by Stephen HandelThis textbook goes beyond introductory sensory perception by incorporating supplementary electronic materials to demonstrate the parallels between both hearing and seeing. Each chapter intermixes seeing and hearing processes so that students can easily understand that perceptual organization is the same across different kinds of sensations and modalities. Figures illustrating visual organization are paired with sound files demonstrating the analogous auditory organization. While most books on sensation and/or perception treat the senses individually there is growing awareness of just how important multisensory integration is to understanding the connection between sensory perception and cognition.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Official Cookbook
by Jarrett MelendezDine like a demigod with over 60 recipes fit to be served anywhere from Camp Half-Blood to Mount Olympus in the only official collection developed for fans of the books and the Disney+ Original Series.Make any meal an epic offering to your friends and family, with mythical recipes inspired by Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Filled with delicious dishes straight from Sally Jackson&’s kitchen, Aunty Em&’s Garden Gnome Emporium, Waterland, and beyond, this cookbook is a hero&’s culinary journey of its own. Featuring instructions from Grover Underwood, helpful tips and tricks from Annabeth Chase, plus full-color photography, this deluxe recipe book has all the essentials to see any home-chef fulfill their destiny. Not to mention a whole host of blue dishes, designed with love, to bring your community together over a dinner that looks as good as it tastes. QUEST YOUR WAY THROUGH OVER 60 RECIPES: Serve up dozens of appetizers, main courses, desserts, and beverages with roots in both classic Greek and American-style cuisines. BRING CAMP HALF-BLOOD TO YOUR HOME: From enchiladas to ambrosia, cook up dishes that bring the unique magic of Percy Jackson&’s world right to your kitchen. SEE PAST THE MIST WITH FULL-COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY: Stunning images throughout this cookbook reveal mythically good meals. PERFECT FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS: Great for beginners and experienced chefs alike, this cookbook will help you prepare amazing dishes for your friends and family inspired by your favorite gods and heroes. GIFTABLE & COLLECTIBLE: As the only officially licensed cookbook for the TV series, this is a must-have for any fan looking to capture the myth and the magic for themselves.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Ultimate Guide
by Mary-Jane KnightPercy Jackson and the Olympians: The Ultimate Guide is the third companion book to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan.
Perdón (Forgiveness Spanish edition)
by Chiquis Rivera"Escribí este libro no para para aclarar malentendidos sino para compartir algo mucho más importante y valioso: mi largo camino hacia el perdón"Chiquis Rivera es la cantante y celebridad de televisión que saltó a la fama de la mano de su madre, la popular Diva de la Banda, Jenni Rivera. En Perdón, su primer libro autobiográfico, narra con detalle estremecedor el abuso al que fue sometida por su propio padre durante su infancia, y explica cómo logran sobrevivir las víctimas a tan corta edad. A la vez nos revela su tortuosa vida sexual, al crecer marcada por las heridas del abuso, y comparte cómo logró vencer sus miedos al amor y a la intimidad. La joven cantante también se atreve por primera vez a confesar otro gran secreto que llegó incluso a ocultarle a su madre en vida. Estas páginas también plasman la conversación que quedó pendiente entre Jenni y Chiquis, después de que se distanciaran. En Perdón salen a la luz verdades desgarradoras entre madre e hija que ya nunca podrán contarse frente a frente. A dos años de la muerte de su madre, Chiquis contesta las preguntas más difíciles: ¿Pudieron madre e hija hacer las paces? ¿Quién ha perdonado a quién en esta historia de grandes éxitos y de grandes tropiezos?
Peregrinaciones profanas
by Fernando NoyElegido Reina del célebre carnaval de Salvador Bahía, personaje central de la vida cultural argentina y animador gay inigualable de la escena under desde hace cuatro décadas, Fernando Noy cuenta todo en un libro imperdible donde conviven lo más granado de los habitués de los bares porteños de los 60 a las leyendas del tropicalismo. De Pizarnik a Caetano Veloso, de Mercedes Sosa a Tanguito, de Sumo a María Luisa Bemberg, Noy se ha convertido en el cronista más desenfadado de una historia que pedía a gritos su Homero. «¿Quién nos quita lo brillado?, se pregunta Fernando Noy y sigue el consejo de su amigo Pedro Lemebel que solía decirle, con sabiduría de Machi: 'No hables más, Noy: escríbelo'. Y finalmente lo hizo. Aquí están sus memorias, estas Peregrinaciones profanas, puro vértigo de purpurina, cemento y rincones donde el desamparo se convierte en jardín secreto. El propio nacimiento anunciado por la caída de un jinete mapuche; una cartografía del deseo suburbano con las locas del Oeste en los años 60; los náufragos hippies en flor; las temporadas en París o Bahía. Y, por supuesto, las amistades sagradas de Alejandra Pizarnik, Marosa Di Giorgio, María Luisa Bemberg, Batato Barea, Paco Jamandreu, Alejandro Urdapilleta y tantos más. Entre carnavales, lisergia y poetas, desfilan las deidades de Noy y él nos bendice con su misticismo afro-celta, sus túnicas y collares, su inefable paso andrógino que es maravilla, desafío y carcajada.»Mariana Enríquez «Cuando no existía la palabra queer la poeta, la vedette, la actriz, nuestro Fernando Noy, la estaba inventando. Lean estas memorias danzantes de la reina de la fiesta de la libertad y el arte.»Gabriela Cabezón Cámara «Sabíamos que Noy, poeta 24 horas, tenía el don de adelantarse al futuro. Ahora sabemos que es capaz de atravesar la memoria de su tiempo y recuperar un pasado por venir, impredecible, lleno de promesas.»Liliana Viola Noy va narrando un laberinto de encuentros increíbles, pero siempre reales. De la niñez patagónica a la adolescencia del yire hermafrodita con las locas del Oeste en los 60, a la fugaz militancia frustrada por su homosexualidad. El nacimiento alucinógeno y anfetamínico de venta libre en farmacias del hippismo se sobrexpone con el descubrimiento de la bohemia del Di Tella. La crónica de sus amistades son el índice onomástico de la Historia de la Cultura y el Espectáculo de la Argentina de la segunda mitad del siglo XX. Cuando la Junta Militar prohibía los carnavales, Noy se coronaba reina en Bahía, donde se había exiliado. Trepado al árbol de un neuropsiquiátrico parisino donde había sido internado por tratar de recuperar "sus" joyas de faraona en medio de un viaje con drogas, ve llegar a Jackie O. y María Callas al hospital donde acababa de morir Aristóteles Onassis... Quien se anime a seguir, en estas páginas plagiadas a sí mismo, su incesante deambular, encontrará un mundo fantástico, sobreimpreso con purpurina, visible de noche. Y también para quienes buscan las claves de una fiesta eterna y compartida.
The Perfect Amount of Wrong: The Rise of Alt Comedy on Chicago's North Side (The History Press)
by Mike BridenstineIn just over a decade, a tiny, do-it-yourself stand-up scene on the North Side of Chicago produced some of the most successful and influential stand-up comedians of their generation. Hannibal Buress, T.J. Miller, Kyle Kinane, Cameron Esposito, Pete Holmes, Beth Stelling, Matt Braunger and Kumail Nanjiani make up a partial list of names of comics who emerged from a scene that had very little industry attention--or even a home club. It was also a scene that took a backseat to the city's vaunted improv institution, and if we're being completely honest, it was a scene where comics mostly performed to drunks in the backs of dingy bars on their off nights. None of it was glamorous. None of it should have worked at all. But somehow, some way, the comedians from this scene have managed to etch their own names into the Chicago comedy pantheon. The Perfect Amount of Wrong is the story of that scene, as told by its veterans.
Perfect From Now On: How Indie Rock Saved My Life
by John SellersTOP FIVE MUSICAL THINGS I HOPE HAPPEN NOW THAT THE ORIGINAL LINEUPS OF THE PIXIES AND DINOSAUR JR. HAVE REUNITED1. Ian Curtis is resurrected. 2. The Smiths reunite for a private party at my favorite bar. 3. There is a new My Bloody Valentine album. 4. A new Nirvana comes along to blow away all of those fey Duran Duran emulators. 5. Radiohead stops listening to Pink Floyd and starts listening to Black Sabbath. If you've ever made, or conceived of, a list like this, then look no further for your next book purchase. You have it. In your hands. Please consider it as your next book purchase. In Perfect From Now On, John Sellers has written a fan's memoir overflowing with humor, self-deprecation, encyclopedic knowledge of musical minutiae, and "you should have been there" personal anecdotes. Despite vowing never to get caught up in music due to the nuttiness of a Dylan-obsessed father and playground taunts about his preference for Top 40 trash, he found himself powerless to resist the allure of indie rock, the genre that begat the likes of Sonic Youth, Pavement, Built to Spill, and Modest Mouse. When his favorite band, Guided By Voices, called it quits in 2004, Sellers examined his own listening habits, caught a few mind-blowing shows, got drunk with his heroes, and wrote this book -- one that is sure to resonate with anybody who has ever obsessed over good music.
Perfect Harmony
by Emily AlbrightThis wasn’t in the sheet music. 17-year-old Pippa Wyndham is a top cellist, never settling for second chair. But she faces stiff competition from cocky Declan Brogan, a transfer student who matches her in ambition and talent. Forced together for a duet, the battle gets heated. But as the recital approaches and their rivalry evolves, Pippa finds herself at risk of losing her best friend, her future, and the boy she’s falling for. An orchestral YA romance in the key of Jennifer L. Armentrout and Always and Forever, Lara Jean.boosts#toggleFormOnEscOrEnter" data-boosts-adding-class="boosts--adding" data-boosts-deleting-class="boost--deleting">
The Perfect Man
by Jenny MarkasThe perfect plan for the perfect man . . . Teenager Holly Hamilton is tired of moving every time her single mom, Jean, has another personal meltdown, involving yet another second-rate guy. To distract her mother from her latest bad match, Holly conceives the perfect plan for the perfect man-an imaginary secret admirer who will romance her mom and boost her shaky self-esteem. But when the virtual relationship takes off, Holly finds herself having to produce the suitor, borrowing her friend's charming and handsome uncle Ben as the face behind the e-mails, notes, and gifts. As time passes, Holly must resort to increasingly desperate measures to keep the ruse alive and protect her mom's newfound happiness. But will her dedication to the hoax cause her to miss the real perfect man when he does come along?
The Perfect Plan (7th Heaven)
by Amanda ChristieLucy and Mary are definitely up to something, but the rest of the family is so busy they don't seem to notice--except for sharp-eyed Simon, who's got a big surprise in store for his older sisters!
The Perfect Screenplay: Writing It and Selling It
by Katherine HerbertThey say in L.A. everybody is writing a screenplay. With The Perfect Screenplay, everybody everywhere will be writing well-presented, saleable screenplays. Packed with tips from an insider on how Hollywood operates, testing script ideas, building structure, and marketing the final screenplay, this book is the key to getting work read and sold. A resource list gives Web sites, agents, and more. Writers will be thanking the little people-and The Perfect Screenplay. Written by a top Hollywood script analyst From computer screen to silver screen in clear, easy-to-follow steps
Perfect Sound Whatever: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
by James Acaster*The Sunday Times Bestseller*The brand new memoir from James Acaster: cult comedian, bestselling author of Classic Scrapes, undercover cop, receiver of cabbages.PERFECT SOUND WHATEVER is a love letter to the healing power of music, and how one man's obsessive quest saw him defeat the bullshit of one year with the beauty of another. Because that one man is James Acaster, it also includes tales of befouling himself in a Los Angeles steakhouse, stealing a cookie from Clint Eastwood, and giving drunk, unsolicited pep talks to urinating strangers. January, 2017James Acaster wakes up heartbroken and alone in New York, his relationship over, a day of disastrous meetings leading him to wonder if comedy is really what he wants to be doing any more. A constant comfort in James's life has been music, but he's not listened to anything new for a very long time. Idly browsing 'best of the year' lists, it dawns on him that 2016 may have been a grim year for a lot of reasons, but that it seemed to be an iconic year for music. And so begins a life-changing musical odyssey, as James finds himself desperately seeking solace in the music of 2016, setting himself the task of only listening to music released that year, ending up with 500 albums in his collection. Looking back on this year-long obsession, parallels begin to grow between the music and James's own life: his relationship history, the highs and lows of human connection, residual Christian guilt, and mental health issues that have been bubbling under the surface for years. Some albums are life-changing masterpieces, others are 'Howdilly Doodilly' by Okilly Dokilly, a metalcore album devoted to The Simpsons' character Ned Flanders, but all of them play a part the year that helped James Acaster get his life back on track.
Perfect Sound Whatever: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
by James Acaster*The Sunday Times Bestseller*The brand new memoir from James Acaster: cult comedian, bestselling author of Classic Scrapes, undercover cop, receiver of cabbages.PERFECT SOUND WHATEVER is a love letter to the healing power of music, and how one man's obsessive quest saw him defeat the bullshit of one year with the beauty of another. Because that one man is James Acaster, it also includes tales of befouling himself in a Los Angeles steakhouse, stealing a cookie from Clint Eastwood, and giving drunk, unsolicited pep talks to urinating strangers. January, 2017James Acaster wakes up heartbroken and alone in New York, his relationship over, a day of disastrous meetings leading him to wonder if comedy is really what he wants to be doing any more. A constant comfort in James's life has been music, but he's not listened to anything new for a very long time. Idly browsing 'best of the year' lists, it dawns on him that 2016 may have been a grim year for a lot of reasons, but that it seemed to be an iconic year for music. And so begins a life-changing musical odyssey, as James finds himself desperately seeking solace in the music of 2016, setting himself the task of only listening to music released that year, ending up with 500 albums in his collection. Looking back on this year-long obsession, parallels begin to grow between the music and James's own life: his relationship history, the highs and lows of human connection, residual Christian guilt, and mental health issues that have been bubbling under the surface for years. Some albums are life-changing masterpieces, others are 'Howdilly Doodilly' by Okilly Dokilly, a metalcore album devoted to The Simpsons' character Ned Flanders, but all of them play a part the year that helped James Acaster get his life back on track.
Perfect Sound Whatever: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
by James AcasterThe brand new memoir from James Acaster: cult comedian, bestselling author of Classic Scrapes, undercover cop, receiver of cabbages.PERFECT SOUND WHATEVER is a love letter to the healing power of music, and how one man's obsessive quest saw him defeat the bullshit of one year with the beauty of another. Because that one man is James Acaster, it also includes tales of befouling himself in a Los Angeles steakhouse, stealing a cookie from Clint Eastwood, and giving drunk, unsolicited pep talks to urinating strangers. January, 2017James Acaster wakes up heartbroken and alone in New York, his relationship over, a day of disastrous meetings leading him to wonder if comedy is really what he wants to be doing any more. A constant comfort in James's life has been music, but he's not listened to anything new for a very long time. Idly browsing 'best of the year' lists, it dawns on him that 2016 may have been a grim year for a lot of reasons, but that it seemed to be an iconic year for music. And so begins a life-changing musical odyssey, as James finds himself desperately seeking solace in the music of 2016, setting himself the task of only listening to music released that year, ending up with 500 albums in his collection. Looking back on this year-long obsession, parallels begin to grow between the music and James's own life: his relationship history, the highs and lows of human connection, residual Christian guilt, and mental health issues that have been bubbling under the surface for years. Some albums are life-changing masterpieces, others are 'Howdilly Doodilly' by Okilly Dokilly, a metalcore album devoted to The Simpsons' character Ned Flanders, but all of them play a part the year that helped James Acaster get his life back on track.
The Perfect Stage Crew: The Complete Technical Guide for High School, College, and Community Theater
by John KalutaHere is a must-have book for anyone producing a stage show without a Broadway-sized budget. Written by a technical theater veteran, The Perfect Stage Crew explains the pitfalls to avoid and provides solutions to the most common-and the most complex-stage performance problems, even for theaters with a lack of resources. An invaluable guide for middle and high school theaters, college theaters, and community theaters, The Perfect Stage Crew teaches readers how to:Stock, organize, and store the essential backstage suppliesConceptualize, design, and build setsManage a stage crew effectivelyPaint scenery and backdropsTest, design, and hang lightingOperate and repair sound equipmentSet cuesPromote your showThis expanded second edition covers up-to-date technology, including for use with recording, sound, and lighting. Chapters also cover such crucial topics as running technical rehearsals, gathering props, and creating and selling tickets. Theater groups that need to learn the nuts and bolts of putting a show together will discover how to turn backstage workers into The Perfect Stage Crew.Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, publishes a broad range of books on the visual and performing arts, with emphasis on the business of art. Our titles cover subjects such as graphic design, theater, branding, fine art, photography, interior design, writing, acting, film, how to start careers, business and legal forms, business practices, and more. While we don't aspire to publish a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are deeply committed to quality books that help creative professionals succeed and thrive. We often publish in areas overlooked by other publishers and welcome the author whose expertise can help our audience of readers.
The Perfect Story: How to Tell Stories that Inform, Influence, and Inspire
by Karen Eber"Come for the engrossing content, and stay for the lessons that might just change how you talk, write, and lead.&” —Adam GrantLearn how to take any story and make it perfect—from storytelling expert Karen Eber, whose popular TED Talk on the subject continues to be a source of inspiration for millions.What makes a story perfect? How do you tell the perfect story for any occasion?We live in a story world. Stories are a memorable and engaging way to differentiate yourself, build connection and trust, create new thinking, bring meaning to data, and even influence decision-making. But how do you turn a good story into a great story that informs, influences, and inspires?In The Perfect Story, Karen Eber—leadership consultant, professional keynote storyteller, and TED speaker—shares the science of storytelling to teach you to:Leverage the Five Factory Settings of the Brain to hack the art of storytellingBuild a toolkit of endless story ideasDefine the audience for your storyApply a memorable story structureEngage senses and emotionsTell stories with dataAvoid common storytelling mistakesUse your body to tell dynamic storiesEnsure your story doesn't manipulateNavigate and embrace the vulnerability of storytellingWithout relying on complicated models or one-size-fits-all prescriptions, this book makes storytelling accessible with practical and impactful steps for anyone to tell the perfect story for any occasion.Through interview vignettes, The Perfect Story also shares approaches from different storytellers, including the Sundance Institute cofounder, an executive producer of The Moth, the former creative director at Pixar, the TED Radio Hour podcast host, and many more.Whether you are leading a team, giving a presentation, hosting a podcast, selling a product or service, interviewing for a job, or giving a toast at a wedding, The Perfect Story will help you take your stories and make them perfect.
Perfect Wave: More Essays on Art and Democracy
by Dave HickeyWhen Dave Hickey was twelve, he rode the surfer’s dream: the perfect wave. And, like so many things in life we long for, it didn’t quite turn out----he shot the pier and dashed himself against the rocks of Sunset Cliffs in Ocean Beach, which just about killed him. Fortunately, for Hickey and for us, he survived, and continues to battle, decades into a career as one of America’s foremost critical iconoclasts, a trusted, even cherished no-nonsense voice commenting on the all-too-often nonsensical worlds of art and culture. Perfect Wave brings together essays on a wide range of subjects from throughout Hickey’s career, displaying his usual breadth of interest and powerful insight into what makes art work, or not, and why we care. With Hickey as our guide, we travel to Disneyland and Vegas, London and Venice. We discover the genius of Karen Carpenter and Waylon Jennings, learn why Robert Mitchum matters more than Jimmy Stewart, and see how the stillness of Antonioni speaks to us today. Never slow to judge—or to surprise us in doing so—Hickey powerfully relates his wincing disappointment in the later career of his early hero Susan Sontag, and shows us the appeal to our commonality that we’ve been missing in Norman Rockwell. With each essay, the doing is as important as what’s done; the pleasure of reading Dave Hickey lies nearly as much in spending time in his company as in being surprised to find yourself agreeing with his conclusions. Bookended by previously unpublished personal essays that offer a new glimpse into Hickey’s own life—including the aforementioned slam-bang conclusion to his youthful surfing career—Perfect Wave is not a perfect book. But it’s a damn good one, and a welcome addition to the Hickey canon.
Perfecting Sound Forever: An Aural History of Recorded Music
by Greg MilnerIN 1915, THOMAS EDISON PROCLAIMED THAT HE COULD RECORD A LIVE PERFORMANCE and reproduce it perfectly, shocking audiences who found themselves unable to tell whether what they were hearing was an Edison Diamond Disc or a flesh-and-blood musician. Today, the equation is reversed. Whereas Edison proposed that a real performance could be rebuilt with absolute perfection, Pro Tools and digital samplers now allow musicians and engineers to create the illusion of performances that never were. In between a century of sonic exploration into the balance between the real and the represented! Tracing the contours of this history,-Greg Milner fakes us through the major breakthroughs and glorious failures in the art and science of recording. An American soldier monitoring Nazi radio transmissions stumbles onto the open yet revolutionary secret of magnetic tape, Japanese and Dutch researchers build a first-generation digital audio format and watch as their "compact disc” is marketed by the music industry as the second coming of Edison yet derided as heretical by analog loyalists. The music world becomes addicted to volume in the nineties and fights a self-defeating "loudness war" to get its fix. From Les Paul to Phil Spector to King Tubby, from vinyl to pirated CDs to iPods, Milner pulls apart musical history to answer a crucial question: Should a recording document reality as faithfully as possible, or should it improve upon or somehow transcend the music it records? The answers he uncovers will change the very way we think about music.