Master Pieces: The Curator's Game

Book Description

A stunning visual game that helps readers enjoy, appreciate, and identify great works of art.

As director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for a decade, Thomas Hoving brought art to a new level of public awareness by pioneering such blockbuster shows as the King Tut exhibit. Early in his career, Hoving was introduced to the "curator's game." Each week, he and his contemporaries met to examine details of larger museum masterpieces. Whoever correctly identified the detail in context won free coffee: the losers paid.

In an imaginative adaptation of this exercise, Hoving introduces us to the challenge and the fun of identifying art, and to the rewards of familiarity with the great works. A section of paintings accompanied by brief essays introduces a range of artists, themes, techniques, and styles, while progressively demanding "clues" are provided to help identify visual details in context. No experience is necessary to play this game. Readers at all levels will discover the fun of identifying and remembering great art. 250 color illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

Master Pieces: the Curator's Game.......2007-06-27

Stimulating book - took me back to days as an art student. Enjoyed very much.Purchased as a result of borrowing the book from the local library.
Excellent.

Lovely Book for Historians and Novices Alike.......2006-08-31

Thomas Hoving was the director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for a decade (1967-77). He presents the humble public with this shining book/game with obvious love and appreciation of its contents.

He starts off by recounting how every week during the long coffee breaks at the MET, a select person would bring in photographs taken of certain details from various famous (and not-so famous) works of art. It was then the pleasure of the art buffs in the room to discern just where it was they'd seen those images. There were easy details, there were mind-bending details. They came to call this the "Curator's Game."

Equally as entertaining are Hoving's assorted thoughts and interesting side-notes on the works. He never shies away from providing his own opinions. For instance the clue from a Renaissance piece on pg.28 reads that the artist's women "had a softness that his rival Michelangelo never achieved."

The first half of the book has all of the details along with their respective clues. You'll find angels and men, dogs and instruments as it winds down to incredibly difficult background images. The second half houses all of the paintings from which the details were taken along with a brief description and examination of them. And don't fret, if you fear you won't be able to find them all, Mr. Hoving has been kind enough to provide us with an answer key.

As has been written by others, this would make a wonderful gift. It also proved a great way to pass the time on a rainy day. Recommended for my part.

Fun way to test your knowledge.......2006-04-21

Former curator of the MET introduces us to the "classic" curator game of showing small samples (pieces) from famous works of art and trying to determine the artist and name of the piece. The curator who won (the master of the days pieces) would get a free cup of coffe for the week. We only get the satisfaction of knowing our art. Along with the satisfaction though is the honing of your art identity skills and an overall increase in your awareness of art. From Giotto to Hockney the 'test' covers 57 masterpieces from 700 years of western art. The pictures are used more then once so you really need to know your art to get them all right. The end of the book has a quick bio and review of the masterpiece.

My only complaint would be the book is a little small, Hoving talks about using the book to study the details of the pieces yet some of the pictures are only 2x3 inches, makes seeing the detail tough.

Strongly recommended for anyone interested in western art. As this book assumes a basic knowledge of art, I would not recommend for an art novice looking for an intro to art.

Sharpen your eye for art-- and have fun doing it!.......2006-01-17

This is a wonderful book for art buffs and and novices alike. As Hoving says in the introduction, it's based off of a game that curators often played together at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Each identification "challenge" comes with a brief biography of the artist and unusual fact/perspective on the piece or its depiction, and the book's unique format helps me remember (and want to share) everything I learn. It's great for dinner parties, long car-rides, or just curling up with on your own to sharpen your eye for art. It makes the perfect gift-- I'd recommend it to anyone!

A new way to look at art.......2005-12-20

Pick up this book for fifteen seconds and you won't put it down. It immediately got me involved with its "curator's game" of showing small details of great art-and then challenging me to match the details to a famous artist and the complete painting. Where had I seen those haunting eyes before? What story is being told by the reflections in the small mirror? When you turn to the complete paintings in the back of the book, and see how the piece fits into the masterpiece, you learn a lesson that will stay with you for a long time. The lesson: Look carefully at all parts of a painting instead of just standing back and admiring the work as a whole. It's true that "God is in the details," so this book encourages you to relish and delight in those details.

Customer Reviews:

SKleefeld's Assesment.......1997-05-13

This volume reprints Fantastic Four #s 11 - 20 in a high quality, hardcover format. This provides an excellent opportunity to examine Jack Kirby's great artwork without worrying about damaging the rare comics this reproduces. Stan Lee's introduction boats nothing very insightful and is written in Lee's usually commercial format

Book Description

This book takes place from pregnancy, through birth, until three months old. I have so much more to learn and experience as the baby grows. The whole Daddy-hood experience was an adventure for me and I'd do it again in an instant. What do you say, honey? I'm thinking the second time around may not be so full of surprises or exciting, but it will definitely be as fulfilling….—P.S. DelCol

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Franchising World, published by Thomson Gale on March 1, 2007. The length of the article is 2997 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Creating an effective operations manual: a "how-to" guide: the franchise operations manual documents the business model and the business model institutionalizes the buying experience and removes the element of surprise from the many customer experiences occurring every day in multiple locations.(FW FOCUS: MANAGEMENT & OPERATIONS)
Author: Robert Gappa
Publication: Franchising World (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 39 Issue: 3 Page: 91(5)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Effective writing for the business world

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Effective writing for the business world
Thelma D Kantorowitz
Manufacturer: Little, Brown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0316482617

www.layout: Effective Design and Layout for the World Wide Web.: An article from: Technical Communication

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www.layout: Effective Design and Layout for the World Wide Web.: An article from: Technical Communication
Tracey N. Wofford
Manufacturer: Society for Technical Communication
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Technical Communication, published by Society for Technical Communication on November 1, 2003. The length of the article is 691 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: www.layout: Effective Design and Layout for the World Wide Web.
Author: Tracey N. Wofford
Publication: Technical Communication (Refereed)
Date: November 1, 2003
Publisher: Society for Technical Communication
Volume: 50 Issue: 4 Page: 638(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

While there are many analyses of capital-labor relations in oligopoly industries, such as auto and steel, very little work has been written on competitive-sector industries, such as textiles. Truchil has written the only systematic case study in book form on the textile industry covering the post-World War II era. This book reveals the profound transformations the textile industry has undergone.

Capital-Labor Relations in the U.S. Textile Industry

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Capital-Labor Relations in the U.S. Textile Industry
Barry E. Truchil
Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OQN03O

Amazon.com

Without the invention of radar, Europe--and possibly even the world--might today be under Fascist rule. This well-written, technically accurate, and even exciting account captures the urgency of the race to win World War II, the people behind the magnetrons, screens and antennae, and the use of radar in the cold war. Another extraordinary volume from the Sloan Foundation Technology Series, and Highly Recommended.

Customer Reviews:

radar.......2007-07-24

The first half of this book concentrates on the initial idea and realization of radar as a concept and it's a fascinating one.

In the 1930's, Britain, sensing a threat from Hitler's Germany, began researching ways to bolster its defenses. It was found that when ships or planes passed by radio towers, the signals were diffused and broken. Individuals associated with the government and military began investigating this odd phenomenon.

And so, the development of radar began, with the biggest help from William "Taffy" Bowen, a Welsh engineer who developed the cavity magnetron which was the principal component of the radar package. In the early phase of the war, Bowen, took the magnetron to America under the greatest secrecy.

Reading the first half of this story, I found a familiar and contemporary ring to the elements: namely, that when a technological breakthrough is made, the easy part is tweaking it until it becomes more useful in more ways - thus the magnetron went from lab component to RAF planes in just a few years.

Buderi doesn't give us the thriller treatment; that's for guys like Tom Clancy and Clive Cussler. But, the story of radar's role in WWII is riveting enough. The rest of the book is devoted to the peacetime uses of radar - weather forecasting, plane guidance, even astronomy.

Excellent history, a bit light on the technology.......2006-12-14

In spite of its shortcomings as a technical book, which it is not, this is an excellent read, for the engineer as well as the historian. I enjoyed it and have reread it a couple of times. Towards the end it is a bit weak as the maser and microwave excitement pales alongside the war accomplishements, on both sides of the pond. I was dissapointed to visit MIT and find the Rad Lab building gone, but alas, time marches on. Read it and enjoy!

Great story but, a little bit too complex.......2004-02-03

This kind of books is the one that is capable of make you stop and think of the world history and what happens behind our backs. It is a splendid book, with a great story and very good technical details. However, the author losts itself among complex scientific data (especially about quantum theory) that is not available to everyone, including myself (so I merelly skip those parts). It was very interesting.

Really Two Books - The First Great, The Second Lacking.......2000-12-04

This book is really two books in one, the first being an outline of the development of radar immediately prior to and during World War II. This part takes up the first 245 pages of the book, is extremely well organized and plays out the complete development and deployment of radar during World War II. This early part takes you through the people and organizations that were behind radar's development, as well as a very top level view of the technology used to create the device. The author walks you through a very good description of radar's development on a global scale, outlining how the US and UK led the development, why Germany was only slightly further behind, and why Japan was so lagging. Mr. Buderi takes several major battles, including the Battle of Britain, the Battle of the Bulge and the Battle of Midway, and outlines the significance of radar in those battles and how it truly was the winning weapon of the war. This part of the book clearly rates 5 stars, and makes the whole text worth purchasing.

The second part of the book, which takes up the final 233 pages, is less organized and much less linear in its thought development. While this lack of organization does reflect the decentralization of radar development following WWII, it does not make this section any easier to read. While the development or radar as an astronomical tool, its deployment and adoption at civilian airports and the use of its underlying technologies in the development of integrated circuit are all significant, their depiction as essential parts of the story is lacking. The second part ranks 2 stars, and is good reference material, but should be read on a chapter by chapter basis, as that appears to be how they were written.

In summary, the first part is great - 5 stars, the second part was less a book, but more a stringing together of engineering stories and earned only 2 stars. I gave it a weighted average of 4.

Favorite Excerpts:

"I never read books - they interfere with thinking." - Paul Dirac to Robert Oppenheimer (page 48)

"It didn't make me more enemies than I cared about, because the enemies that you have to worry about are smart enemies, and smart people didn't get mad at me unless they had a good reason to." - George Valley Jr. (page 183)

"Some of my friends seemed to know every year model of every car, that seemed to me so temporary and uninteresting. Nature is such a permanent aspect of our universe, and so obviously God-made." -Charles Townes (page 336)

"We had the authority and influence that came from being indispensable." - Jay Forrester (page 397)

Required reading for prospective engineers.......1998-12-01

A superb piece of work. Anyone contemplating a career in physics or engineering should read this book. If Buderi's descriptions of the technical chase don't thrill and inspire you, strongly consider directing your efforts elsewhere.

Book Description

Ideal for families traveling with kids of any age — toddlers to teenagers — Paradise Family Guide Big Island Hawaii offers a blend of travel information unlike any other. With vacation ideas and tropical adventures that are sure to satisfy both action-hungry youngsters and relaxation-seeking parents, this guide meets the specific needs of each and every family member. The author's personal favorites and best bets for a great trip on a moderate budget accompany descriptions of popular island sights and kid-friendly attractions including zoos, aquariums, lei-making and hula-dancing classes, luaus, and children's museums. This book recommends over 160 hotels, condominiums, cottages, and bed-and-breakfast inns. Author Catherine Bridges Tarleton reviews more than 270 restaurants in all price ranges and fully lists menu items so parents can be sure that their children's favorite foods are available. An entire chapter is dedicated to describing every beach on the Big Island and the fun-in-the-sun activities available at each, as well as an extensive chapter on every outdoor activity available, from camping, surfing, and kayaking to scuba, golf, and whale watching. It even provides information on baby-sitting and resort-run kids' camps.

Book Description

In 1860, with North and South about to be divided by war, East and West were united through an extraordinary venture -- the Pony Express. Over the course of ten days in April, eighty riders and five hundred horses delivered mail between California and Missouri -- a mission that took three weeks by stagecoach.

Although it existed for only a year and a half, the Pony Express remains a legendary chapter in American history and a symbol of the bold, adventurous character of the Old West. The spirit of the brave riders and their ponies is captured perfectly in Cheryl Harness's lively, brightly illustrated, and information-filled account.

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They're Off! : The Story of the Pony Express
Illustrator-Cheryl Harness
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MC359E

Book Description

Dress 4 charming little ladies of the Victorian era in wardrobes for every season and all hours of the day. 48 full-color easy-to-apply stickers let paper doll fans clothe the girls in cloaks and shawls for wintry days, perky pinafores for school, ruffled party dresses and much more. Accessories included.

Customer Reviews:

DOG OWNERS-- You MUST HAVE this book.......2003-09-15

This is without a doubt the greatest dog care book I have ever had. After I got my first one, I ordered a dozen more from Alpine Press for friends. People borrow this from me and it takes me WEEKS to get it back. It is now out of print and I wish someone would print it again---PLEASE, PLEASE-- Print this if you can, or if you have one-- Contact me-- janiecubby@webtv.net

If you own a dog, you should own this book!.......2000-05-25

I have raised and trained German Shepherds for the past 25 years, and find The Dog Repair Book to be exceptionally good. I highly recommend it to anyone who owns or breeds dogs. The book is organized so you can find information quickly - - and this can be very important in an emergency. It could even save your dog's life! Everything is explained in clear simple language; you don't have to have a degree in veterinary medicine to understand it. Author James also makes it very clear which conditions you can treat at home and which ones you should see the vet about. It gives you peace of mind, and you can also save a lot of money because you don't have to run to the vet for every little thing you have a question about. If you've never given your own shots, you can easily learn through this book; the procedure is fully illustrated too. (You can save many times the cost of the book just by giving your own shots!) The Dog Repair Book is also helpful because it tells you how to prevent problems and how to treat diseases and injuries before they become major crises. Also, this book is not only a veterinary guide, but a source of useful tips on many different areas of canine management, including feeding, reproduction, behavioral problems, and much more. I've used this book myself for many years with great results, and I always recommend it to people who buy my puppies.

Book Description

Stamp collecting's rarest and most beautiful issues in full color. The very special catalogue is bound in a handsome faux leather hardcove. With more then 1,750 new major and lettered minor listings. Expanded listings for many countries distinguishing paper and perforation varieties. New shade varieties for Monaco, New South Wales, Samoa, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. First-time cover listings for Austrian Offices in Crete, Chile, Ecuador, Labuan, Madeira, French New Hebrides, Peru, Tannu Tuva, Transvaal and Zanzibar.

Customer Reviews:

Scott 2004 Classic Stamp Catalogue........2005-10-17

A good looking well illustrated catalogue covering the issues of the golden age of philately from 1840 to 1940. Useful and informative sometimes including prices for sets both mounted and unmounted mint and in a number of cases also values on cover. Also notes those issues which have been especially subject to forgery. A good workaday catalogue. Does not have the enormous level of specialized information that say the Michel Specialized Germany will have on German stamps but that is not the intention of this work nor does it inclued numbers issued. Prices quoted are generally on the low side sometimes too low but perhaps reflect the price you may expect to pay for these issues and may also counterbalance the inflated figures listed in other publications. The introductory notes cover the question of pricing. Overall, a useful working reference.

Customer Reviews:

Buy this one for the pictures.......2003-02-21

If you're in need of ideas on how to design a French style kitchen garden, a potager, this book provides many beautiful color pictures of home and professional gardens, as well as the vegetables, herbs, and flowers typically grown by the French. A helpful encyclopedia of vegatables and herbs is provided along with the author's favorite recipes that highlight the garden's produce, again all beautifully photographs. This title is one in a series by Rosalind Creasy. Others, The Edible Italian Garden and The Edible Heirloom Garden are equally as delightful. Experienced gardeners may find the book geared more to the beginner, but it's a great resource to get those creative gardening ideas flowing.

Excellent book.......2002-05-31

I bought this book for my husband because of the beautiful photos of preciously landscaped French vegetable gardens. But he says this is the most useful garden book we have, with more good, helpful information on the types of vegetables we grow (squash, eggplant, lettuces, etc.) than any other.
Now that I've read it myself, I can see the author offers good advice on growing most types of vegetables, from soil preparation to pest control. I'd highly recommend this book for home vegetable gardeners (even if you don't surround your vegetable beds with clipped boxwood hedges.)

Average customer rating:

Edible French Garden
Rosalind Creasy
Manufacturer: Periplus Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000QHCYL0

Book Description

The struggle between Egypt and Iraq over Arab hegemony constitutes the main theme of this study. Focussing on the struggle over Middle Eastern defense between 1945-58, and culminating in the conflict over the Baghdad Pact (1955-58), it sheds new light on Arab politics during the period under review. This research concentrates predominantly on the regional actors. The underlying assumption is that policies were not necessarily formulated in Washington and London, and that -- often enough -- major decisions taken in Ankara, Cairo, Baghdad, Damascus, Amman and other Arab capitals affected decision-makers in Western capitals. The Quest for Hegemony in the Arab World is based on newly-released British, American and Israeli documents, as well as on all available Arab sources. The study's value rests upon its discussion of the Baghdad Pact, a significant event which was hitherto neglected, yet marked a watershed in modern Arab history. This study's approach offers an analytical framework with which the present struggle for hegemony in the Arab world may be examined.

Book Description

Bill Evans was born in Utah in 1940 and began studying ballet with Willam Christensen at age 15. In 1975 he founded The Bill Evans Dance Company in Seattle. The Legacy is a performance of one of Bill Evans' best known works. Telling the story of the life of a Mormon pioneer and his polygamous marriage, it is a unique aspect of western US cultural history. The performance, rehearsal segments and in-depth analysis of The Legacy explain how formal structure is manipulated by the choreographer to reveal character as well as narrative.
The text accompanying the videotape is a comprehensive overview of Evans' career and a history of his dance company. At the frenetic height of its activity, while based in Seattle, the company toured for 40 weeks out of the year, and was the most-booked dance company in the country. Also includes 32 musical examples.
Jennifer Allen Noyer studied contemporary dance in New York and Colorado Springs with Hanya Holm. She is currently a dance critic for the Albuquerque Journal in

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