Book Description
Real self-defense is not a movie, game, or sport. While martial arts may teach disciplined thoughts and movements, most come up short when it comes to self-defense and survival in brutal, real-world attacks. Patterned, choreographed techniques are often useless amid the chaos and random dynamics that characterize life-and-death fights.
Attack Proof presents a proven personal protection system for anticipating and fending off even the most brutal assaults. It's based on the insights, real-world experiences, and forensic research of a New York cop who is a teacher of hand-to-hand combat instructors in the military and police forces and who survived over 100 violent armed and unarmed encounters. Attack Proof trains you to become a martial "realist" by abandoning all forms and techniques in favor of principles that teach "guided chaos". Attack Proof is the next best thing to having your own personal bodyguard.
Customer Reviews:
Very Different Than Most.......2007-08-17
I own numerous books on self-defense and I must say this is very different. I think I will have to practice the exercises to make use of the information contained here (as opposed to remembering the "dirty dozen"). However, I must say that in my younger days a I had a lot of fights, and the one or two times I instinctively did some of what is in this book I came out a lot better (less bloodied) than the times I tried to duke it out. At the very least, yielding can lessen the damage done. But if you think you are just going to read this and be able to defend yourself guess again. It requires some time and practice.
good internal stuff.......2007-04-05
I was suprised by what this book contained. I was expecting a, do step 1, then do step 2, then 3, etc. kind of book. This book is an internal martial arts book. I had been trying to do research on internal arts to combine with my external styles. I had come up with some pretty good stuff i thought. I tried to eliminate all the unpractical stuff and come up with a foundation that would work well. This book has done that. It has also helped me fill in some of the gaps I was missing in my attempts. This book is more of a "way" of doing things rather than a step by step manual.
If you combine the stuff in this book with other styles or techniques you may know, it can be vishious.
Great Methods.......2007-01-31
This is a real world approach to self defense.
It is a great book for martial artists who want to improve their training with a reality approach. The methodology here is based upon principles, rather than focusing on techniques. That makes it much more valuable in a bad encounter where violence is not scripted and does not follow rules.
Even though it is based upon principles, the authors do a great job of highlighting effective techniques and critiquing those that are ineffective and even dangerous (e.g. closed fist punches to the head).
Although I think that this is a great book, I don't know that it would be the best for those without a great deal of training. I think that the learning curve might be too great. For those who are seasoned martial artists though, this is great stuff.
Regardless of one's experience level, this is not the kind of book that is just read. It has numerous drills that require practice to become effective.
Excellent view of reality.......2007-01-11
Forget the review by the grappler guy...that stuff will get you killed in a real fight when the homies are stomping your head like grapes. During a real fight anyone who tries to "wrestle" will give you plenty of opportunities to take out his eyes or windpipe. UFC is not fighting, it is sport, and so is Brazilian jiu-jutsu. Good luck with that when the other guy has a knife. This stuff is some of the only "real world" advice out there.
Almost Attack Proof .......2007-01-04
I bought book sight unseen. I thought it was a tactical firearm book with ideas on how to attack proof your home. It was not that at all. It was an interesting book on self-defense using various martial art techniques. Very good book if that is what you are interested in.
Book Description
Leaving Concord, Massachusetts, for a six-week sabbatical in Venice, Professor Homer Kelly finds bliss at a rare-books conference while his wife, Mary, sets out to photograph the magnificent churches, palaces, squares, and waterways of the city. Elsewhere, golden treasures, hidden for half a century, lead to a vicious killing. During one of her tourist excursions, Mary snaps a picture of the extremely handsome murderer who befriends and then seduces her. Soon, holy artifacts begin to disappear as the acqua alta rises with the body count. When the streets are flooded and the moon is full, temptation overwhelms, bullets fly, and Homer and Mary learn that even their closest friends are hiding secrets that could end in death. In a city of legendary wonders, the Kellys will need nothing less than a miracle to survive.
"A book that offers love, murder, and miracles"--Chicago Tribune
Customer Reviews:
different . . ........2004-08-17
I've always liked the civility and intelligence of the Homer Kelly series. I'm not happy with Ms. Langton's use of "f-bombs". Also, Mary's infidelity is not in keeping with the tone of this series.
These simply do not fit in with the rest of the series.
Quite A Bit Different.......2002-01-26
Having read almost all of the Homer Kelly mysteries by Jane Langton, I was surprised by this one. Not only does it take place outside the normal venue, but as well, Homer plays a very small part in the book, with Mary doing most of the detecting. As usual, Ms. Langton does an excellent job of wrapping up several seemingly disparate plotlines into one tidy ending. The descriptions of Venice are interesting, although at times are rather more like a list of attractions rather than true descriptions. All in all, not the best of the series; but even when not the best, a Jane Langton book is better than most in the genre.
Not the best to Start with, but...........2000-02-06
This might not be the best Homer Kelly mystery to start with, but it is definitely worth reading if you like the series. Most of the Homer Kelly books take place in Boston; occassionally on another site, such as Florence (the Dante Game) and Oxford (the Longest Day). Unlike the previous reviewer, I did not find ANY of the Boston books boring. This one, that takes place in Venice, is a great introduction to the city. And Mary Kelly is more of the main character than Homer. But for those of us who have READ EVERY ONE, it was interesting to see Mary in a foreign city and the danger she finds herself in. Perhaps not the best, but a very good look at Venice and to an extent, Medieval art.
Forget Homer - it's a Mary Kelly Mystery.......1999-09-16
I began to think that Langton sat with a map of Venice to write her story and name-drop places. I really think this book was not well written, badly proofread and why was it necessary to use all that profanity? If it weren't for the Venice setting it would be as dull as her Boston books.
O.......1999-07-24
This book is quite interesting. The descriptions of the city are Even better than any guide book i have every read. Although the descriptions are marvellousthe book does not score as many points.
The romance between Lucia and Samule makes you tingly inside. bottom line:ON A WHOLE DISAPPOINTING AND dRAGGING. THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE CITY MAKE IT A LOT EAISER TO SWALLOW.
Customer Reviews:
Super Reader.......2007-08-30
This book is also known as The Vanishing Tower/Sleeping Sorceress. Elric is not a fan of the sorcerer Theleb K'aarna. In fact he is so much not a fan he would like to introduce him to the Black Blade, in an up close, personal, and body cavity penetrating kind of manner.
He is having a lot of problems getting to him though, until he gets help from The Sleeping Sorceress.
4 of 6: Really, it's not as obtuse as it sounds........2003-01-28
Michael Moorcock, The Vanishing Tower (DAW, 1970)
Some wag is bound to notice the odd release dates on the DAW definitive editions of the six "classic" Elric novels and ask "what's up?" It only starts making sense when you pair the books with the events therein; Moorcock makes mention of the events in The Vanishing Tower, for example, in The Sailor on the Seas of Fate (q.v.). Those events hadn't yet taken place in Elric's time, as Elric notes in The Sailor on the Seas of Fate; however, they had already taken place in Corum's time. And so yes, it does make some semblance of sense that the definitive Vanishing Tower was released four years before the definitive Sailor on the Seas of Fate. If that sounds confusing, well, it is. Trust me when I tell you that Moorock makes the whole thing as clear as possible. And it does make sense, in the greater scheme of the story.
The Vanishing Tower is where the divergent pieces of Elric's saga are weaved into a single tale; the saga of Elric's dealings with Melnibonë, his homeland, related in books one and three, and the saga of his journeys through the Young Kingdoms (as Melnibonëans call the rest of the world), related in book two, come together in book four.
Elric and his surviving countrymen are stateless wanderers, mercenaries hated and feared by those in the Young Kingdoms whom they dominated for ten thousand years. Elric is apart from the others (a rogue mercenary band led by Elric's childhood friend, Dyvim Tvar); he and his companion Moonglum are occupied by their own problems, most of the time. One of those problems is the desire if the rest of the surviving Melnibonëans to see Elric's head on a spear. But aside from that, Elric's patron deity, Arioch, is becoming more and more loath to help Elric, his actorios ring, his last link to the ancient dynasty of Melnibonë, has been stolen by the king of Nadsokor, city of beggars, and Elric, unused to life as a regular wanderer, has no concept of fiduciary responsibility. (That one tends to be a minor worry, as Moonglum is quite an accomplished thief, and there are no lack of people willing to employ the most powerful sorceror on the planet as a mercenary.) All of these factors weave in and out of the fourth book in the novel, coupled with all the usual strengths and weaknesses of Moorcock's writing in this series, culminating in Elric finally getting to the tower of the title and discovering yet another piece of his fate. It is here that Moorcock throws the series' most intriguing twist into play, but to mention the nature of that twist would be quite the spoiler; you'll just have to read the series for yourself. ****
Doom-driven albino and new hatred, love and mysticism.......2002-10-11
This fourth novel of the Elric saga is epic in every sense of the way. One reviewer claims that it was bad. He gave as example that it was unlogical that Theleb K'aarna didn't kill Elric when his sword was flying to him. But this was because Theleb K'aarna wants to torture Elric for months on end and does not want to grant a quick dead to the albino.
In this fourth novel we follow the milkwhite albino on his quest to take revenge upon Theleb K'aarna, with Moonglum as his companion.
Again driven by hatred he hunts down the Pang Tangian sorcerer Theleb K'aarna. But also driven by love, love for Myshella, Empress of the Dawn. And driven by the black runeblade, Stormbringer, by his side.
Moorcock continues to write in his typical style, like only the master himself can do it. With beautiful discriptions luring around every verbal corner, and the action which is never far away. We find in "The Vanishing Tower" no seemingly endless discriptions like in the Tolkien books. With always new intrigue and hazards to overcome, which shows us that Moorcock's mind must've been full of incredible ideas. He guides us through the psychological maze of Elric's mind. Though the Prince of ruïned Meliniboné is an anti-hero, he is limitlessly fascinating too me, because his character is so paradoxally.Moorcock tells us how Elric sees the first pieces of the puzzle, which is his doomed destiny, being laid.
just awesome.......2001-12-18
1 main guy is sorcerer
2 main guy has soul-eating sword
3 main guy worships the knight of the swords, the 3rd most powerful chaos lord/demon
4 main guy is from long line of tall-elf creatures
5 brit logic even when arguing with demons
6 demons are locked into weapons
7 multiverse 1million "spheres" conjunction, this is one plane
8 main guy one of the "eternal champoins" serving the "cosmic balance"
9 "D&D" action
10 3 incarnations of the eternal champoin meet at once!
11 Law v Chaos!
12 (...)
13 closest thing to Robert E. Hoard the British have produced.
Deeper and deeper!.......2001-10-25
I have been rereading the Elric series in chronological order since I read The Dreamthief's Daughter this year. What is extraordinary is that there is no 'thinning' of the series over the years. In fact all the additional books serve to deepen and strengthen the saga, drawing it to its extraordinary, strongly mythic ending. It is the nearest thing to a mythological cycle that I know and makes almost all other fantasy series seem like children's fairy stories. Either Michael Moorcock himself or that other consummate fantasy writer M. John Harrison said that for readers who use fantasy fiction only as escapism Elric is a
'failed escape plan' and it is worth warning those who like the usual crop of 'fat fantasy' sequences that Moorcock's imagination does not lead him or you away from reality. He has a habit of confronting you with it unexpectedly and that is most clearly seen in the latest Dreamthief's Daughter. But it is here, too. Those who expect Elric to behave like the average fantasy hero
(all of whom owe something to Moorcock anyway, including McAffrey's dragons and bits of Star Wars, even -- this guy was
publishing before Lord of the Rings appeared!) will probably hate this stuff. Those of us who like to escape AND think -- to have the fun of the fantasy with the contemplative quality of literary fiction -- love it to death. And death is a subject Moorcock doesn't avoid. 'He uses fiction as the divining rod of his age's concerns' said Peter Ackroyd (I think). You get full strength fiction with Moorcock. If you like watery chainstore latte to a good honest cup of java, then you probably won't like Elric.
Customer Reviews:
Super Reader.......2007-08-30
The second of the Doubleday editions, this contains The Vanishing Tower, The Bane of the Black Sword and Stormbringer.
The Vanishing Tower
This book is also known as The Vanishing Tower. Elric is not a fan of the sorcerer Theleb K'aarna. In fact he is so much not a fan he would like to introduce him to the Black Blade, in an up close, personal, and body cavity penetrating kind of manner.
He is having a lot of problems getting to him though, until he gets help from The Sleeping Sorceress.
4 out of 5
The Bane of the Black Sword
The Bane of the Black Sword is also a collection.
The Stealer of Souls
Kings in Darkness
The Flamebringers (also called The Caravan of Forgotten Dreams)
To Rescue Tanelorn
The first three are adventures with Elric and Moonglum, and the latter is actually a story of Rackhir the Red Archer, one of the worthy individuals the Eternal Champion meets from time to time.
4.5 out of 5
Stormbringer
Stormbringer is the end of this Elric cycle. Many times Elric has struggle with his symbiotic relationship with the powerful demonsword Stormbringer. It gives him energy, but has caused him to destroy those close to him, earning him the sobriquets Kinslayer and Womanslayer, at times.
He finally faces the Dukes of Hell, again, and must summon all his creativity, and dig deep into the last of his bag of tricks, not the least of which are the Dragons of Melnibone.
This is the end for this Eternal Champion, as he faces his final destiny, and his place in the multiverse.
5 out of 5
Amazing.......2007-01-22
This book truly does leave you with a feeling of emptiness. But, combined with the 1st saga, it truly has left an impression of beauty entertwined with sadness that has stayed with me for over a decade. I have read this series 3 times now. A masterpiece. Truly one of the greatest fantasy stories ever written.
Add this to your collection.......2004-07-20
I've only read the Elric saga part 2 and that was a few years back, now I'm looking to read the rest of the series. I've read fantasy/sci-fi all my life and I would rate this saga right up there with Terry Brooks, Shannara series, Raymond Feists, Riftwar saga and Jordons, Wheel of Time Saga. If you enjoy any of the above this book is money well spent but good luck even the used bookstores recognize it's popularity and ask above average prices. It's a must have for my collection.
Disappointed.......2004-06-11
After reading Part 1 of this series, I had mixed feelings about the characters and storyline as a whole. Now, having finished the 2nd part I have to say that I am left with a rather disappointed feeling.
Elric is constantly pitying himself and making foolish decisions throughout the story. These are interspersed with noble acts that in themselves are unmoving. The author seems to try so hard to make Elric out to be an anguished hero with a dark side, but the attempts are so obvious and the subplots are so poorly developed that you really begin to not care about any of it.
Midway through the book, the flow of the storyline seems completely broken as Elric moves from one place to the other, encountering random events that seem to have no purpose other than to give him yet another poor excuse to demonstrate how anguished and tormented he is.
I have read a good number of fantasy books before this one, but this is the first where I began to feel so absolutely detached from the hero that I really no longer cared what happend to him.
Average customer rating:
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The Vanishing Tower
Manufacturer: daw
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HYUKLS |
Customer Reviews:
Quality and efficient.......2006-12-24
Sellers description of the product was true and accurate...arriving in excellent condition and sooner than expected. Will not hesitate to purchase from this seller in the future.
hormonal health.......2000-01-29
finaly a book that is dealing with the hormonal diseases on every hormones (for woman, and for man as well), and tells you how to heal it in the nutrition-way,plus suplements.this book is also a book that explaining to you how hormones realy work, why, and what is the nutrition, and nutrients are involved in balancing them, and what is the conection among the complex hormones with the orthomolecular-nutrition therapy,-concerning natural hormone therapy(not replacement).as a therapist i must admit that only after i learned this book, my understanding on the complex hormones cooperation, and how to treat it the right way, became more accurate and more fast resoults with my patients. this book is also for a non proffetional as well as for the proffetional.
revolutionary!.......1999-05-29
Anyone can benefit greatly from this book Powerful knowledge is presented in great form.
Unbelievable!!!.......1999-04-10
I have been studying Human Nutrition for over 14 years and have found no other who understands the intricacies and sheer importance of proper hormonal balance through good nutition. Proper hormonal balance is the single most important aspect to living a healthy mental and physical life. All represented with solid scientific research, Dr. Colgan explains in an easy to read format the simple Do's and Dont's for making your health the best it can be. So don't lose anymore time. Take charge of your health now and experience for yourself the unbelievable feeling from having a hormonally healthy body and mind.
An excellent book!.......1998-07-25
This book is one of the best I have read on improving a person's health, mood and overall sense of well being. It is written in a format that any body can understand. Dr. Colgan does an excellent job in providing scientific proof for his claims. I recommend this book for all age groups.
Customer Reviews:
A must have!.......2001-10-27
With this book, my husband and I are able to plan a great party for our large family. Everyone is always very impressed with and looks forward to the meal that we serve. This is a book that anyone who loves to entertain must have!
Great for "I don't know what to make".......2000-05-27
We have alot of family get togethers and this book has great recipes that look fabulous and are very tasty. A must if you want to impress!
Customer Reviews:
What started it all.......2007-02-16
I was 11 when I was given this book by my parents. That was all it took for me to become completely obsessed with creating these little worlds of tiny people. Granted, this isn't the most sophisticated of all books on the subject, but it is extremely accessible. Now, 14 years later, I still have most, if not all, of the furniture I made by using patterns from this book. The materials are inexpensive and very easy to find - on a child's allowance I was able to do a lot. This is still, hands down, my sentimental favorite.
Quality of projects not too great, but very good photos.......2002-08-16
I was disappointed over the quality of the minatures featured in this book. They seemed way too amateur-ish and uninventive. I feel the author could have tried a little harder in making more creative and sophisticated designs rather than boring, suburban-lazy type she displayed in this book. The designs reminded me of those ugly crocheted blankets you see in the typical housewife or granny's home. It's a great hobby with alot of potential; unfortunately, the only people who take it up have no sense whatsoever of aesthetics.
The up side of this book is that it includes alot of color photos and detailed instructions, if you are inclined to make these dull pieces at home.
a book full of wonderful and creative ideas.......2000-02-10
i found this book by chance in waldens. i have always had a fascination with miniatures and dollhouses, maybe because of my modest childhood. however, my interest in miniatures was sparked by the discovery of this book. boulton does an excellent job with explaining the miniture making process. as always, the DK company provides clear and colorful illustrations on making miniatures. i love this book and would recommend it to anyone who is an advanced miniaturist or novice.
Wonderful book for children and adults. Great How-To !.......1999-03-15
My Mother gave her copy of the book to my granddaughter who is 8 yrs old. Now she can't wait to get home from school to work on her latest project for her dolls or doll house. Sometimes it is a Mother-Daughter project but not always.
Book Description
With nearly 42,000 chapters—that’s more than a million women—the Red Hat phenomenon is unstoppable! And this bold, bright, over-the-top sequel to Designer Scrapbooks the Red Hat Society® Way is made to order for the red-hatted gals’ sense of fun.
Features an introduction by Exalted Queen Mother Sue Ellen Cooper—author of two New York Times’ bestsellers.
Every day, more and more women are joining in and proudly donning their red hats—and this zany, energetic collection gives the ladies what they like: out-of-the-hatbox ideas for creating cards and tags in the RHS’s brilliant red and purple scheme. Not only will the projects satisfy the hatters’ boundless creative urges, but they’ll provide yet one more joyful excuse to come together, craft, and celebrate the landmarks in their lives. Each punningly titled chapter—including “We Have Merry Mirthdays” and “Red Hatters Have Such Happy Hattitude”—introduces a special theme, from tea party paraphernalia to sequined items that glitter and shine. There are invitations and menus, event announcements and business cards, bookmarks and hat bands, all with patterns to copy and sassy commentary from the irrepressible Ruby Red Hat.
Book Description
Organizing the home is one of those desirable and beneficial activities that remain elusive for many. This practical guide explains the many benefits - physical, emotional, and spiritual - of an organized home and shows how to attain them. Breaking down the process into 50 steps, the author uses her own experiences as a psychologist and professional home organizer to help readers clear away not only the physical clutter but the psychological blocks that encourage it and hinder organization. She tells where to start, encourages small steps, and explores the psychology of organizing. Next she addresses fundamental principles, including keeping tools where they will be used and making the most of active storage space. Finally, she shows how to get rid of excess stuff, including how to attack those never-ending piles and junk drawers, and stem the inflow of junk into the home. These easy exercises, tips, and stories will truly help readers organize their homes for efficiency, peacefulness, and well-being.
Customer Reviews:
Simple, usable ideas-change your mindset on organizing.......2007-06-11
I really appreciate the author's writing style of this book. I like the short, simple chapters that can be refered back to again and again.
This book helped me develope a positive mindset towards organization.
It's helpful to realize the impact organization can have by reducing stress and saving time. This is not a book for someone already organized that's looking for grand innovative ideas. The ideas are pretty basic and simple, but were very useful for me.
Good pointers, but sparsely presented........2007-03-08
While the author certainly gives good pointers on how to order a home, the presentation is just.... barren. No color, nor illustrations, drawings or photograps except on the cover. A thin book on coarse paper.
The text itself is also rather austere: she just tells you, two or three-page chapters, how to manage a certain problem. No anecdotes, no examples, no babbling. What she tells is worthwhile, though.
If you want a short book, that can be read in 2 hours, and are prepared just to do what she tells you, this is a good book. If you need more, this booklet might leave you feel a little light handed.
Superficial Advice and Not So Well Organized, Either!.......2007-01-26
As a born-organized person now facing clutter problems due to homeschooling my young son, I'd purchased this book hoping to find new perspectives on battling paper monsters and the inevitable slew of books, toys and crumbs that kids generate. Sadly, there is nothing new in here.
"Handle paper as it comes in" is something you can read at free websites on home-organization. Ditto for "keep a nice box or bin in each room to stash toys in at the end of the day."
But you'll have to read through various chapters to put that together: the author is continually bringing up a topic (e.g., closet organization) then promising "I'll go into that more in Chapter X." Well, guess what: each 'chapter' is only 2 pages long. How much organizational advice do you REALLY think you're going to get in 2 pages?
This book does not recommend any particular system, does not discuss advantages or disadvantages of the varying home-organization products out there, and doesn't even suggest routines or schedules you can adopt for your day.
What it does do is dispense saccharin, simplistic advice -- spend 15 minutes per day sorting through clutter and discard what's broken beyond repair; what's outdated; what you don't love, use or need; do a little bit every day; keep supplies where you need them; replenish supplies as they're depleted; and don't set your expectations unrealistically high.
There, I saved you money. I wish I'd saved my own, and also wish that the hour I spent reading this slim, trite book had been spent organizing my kitchen cupboards (yet another thing this book does not tell you how to do).
Well done overview.......2006-07-22
My first reaction to this book was one of disappointment. I thought it was too general and too short. However, since I've read it, I keep finding myself referring to it and implementing ideas I found in it. Many of the things I already do and I found this book affirming. I like her phrase 'Start where you are'. After reading her overview, one can always look for more information to cope with specific problem areas, like clutter.
A Well-Ordered Book!.......2006-05-03
Don't let the size of the book fool you - just because it doesn't take an encyclopedia sized book to get her ideas across does not mean they aren't profound, easy to internalize, and life changing.
I recently had the pleasure of taking a seminar on the Well-Ordered Home taught by Ms. Kendall-Tackett at a La Leche League conference and I was so impressed I ordered the book the next day.
It's not too simple to be true - this little book can help you get your home in order so you can spend more time enjoying life!
Amazon.com
David Byrne is the only rocker who could have imagined turning Microsoft PowerPoint into an art form. When Time put Byrne on the cover in 1986, the title was aptly, "Rock's Renaissance Man." Indeed, the one-time lead singer/architect of The Talking Heads composes operas, symphonies, and soundtracks, made a film (True Stories), and was a wunderkind video artist and designer (Time even let Byrne create his cover). Byrne's oddly-titled 2003 coffee table book ("epistemological" is a philological look at the origin, methods, and limits of human knowledge) is new version of mixed media, a rough dissertation on a visual, universal language. Bryne mixes the familiar images of a PowerPoint presentation out of the norm, be it a complicated flow chart or altered icons. The message is blurred at times (as with the title, big words prevail), but the project takes a fuller form on the accompanying DVD that's region-free with NTSC and PAL formats, making it playable practically around the world. The five presentations (approximately 25 minutes in all) are accompanied by original musical compositions. Byrne plays the usual patterns of PowerPoint--overlays, swipes, and fades--resulting in an intriguing art exhibition that could even play on a laptop computer with DVD-ROM drive. The least interesting chapter of the book ("Physiognomies") is the most moving piece on the DVD. The final result could be considered art, or just a high-minded swipe at the "Dilbert" office world that uses the program. Regardless, E.E.E.I. is a unique concept one might have to "stop making sense" and just enjoy the experience. --Doug Thomas
Book Description
For more than a year David Byrne has been employing the ubiquitous sales and presentation program PowerPoint as an art medium. E.E.E.I (Envisioning Emotional Epistemological Information) is a book of images and essays, plus a DVD which plays 5 of his PowerPoint presentations accompanied by original music. The book component contains a dozen new exploratory texts and a whole lot of bold, graphic images created with the help of PowerPoint's built-in tools and visuals--not to mention the fun of plastic overlays and nifty foldout pages. And you may ask yourself, what is the meaning of this? And you may ask yourself, what is this about? It is about taking subjective, even emotional, information and presenting it in a familiar audiovisual form--using a medium in a way that is different, and possibly better, than what was intended. It is about appropriating a contemporary, corporate staple and making something critical, beautiful and humorous with it.
Customer Reviews:
Art Can Happen.......2007-08-29
David Byrne's E.E.E.I. is a prime example that art can happen in the most surprising places and with the most surprising tools. It's a delight to see something as ubiquitous and utilitarian as Powerpoint employed as a personal medium. Byrne takes this humble, low level technology and infuses it with wit and sophistication. The short (think haiku) but sweet DVD suite is also surprisingly subtle and intimate when viewed on a desktop monitor. The same can be said of the companion book. It's a work of art, a collector's item, and a clever little meditation on the ambiguities of our culture's evolving soup of language, images, technology, and communication. As with most art, some will love it or hate it, but it's worth the leap and look (and a listen to a little more of Byrne's musical imagination).
silly.......2005-06-13
E.E.E.I. is simply silly - the man is a legend, in person on-stage he can move audiences even when they do not speak english (I saw him in Rio and he lit the place up!)
but he is no philosopher, this book is a read/watch one time and file in the round bin
David Byrne loves PowerPoint.......2005-03-04
....or maybe not...
Less than a week before embarking on a coast to coast dozen or so cities PowerPoint lecture tour, Byrne did three nights of his rock n roll show at the Warfield in SF, which in turn was on the heels of two weeks of the same in Australia. This mind bending energy may be final proof of the rumor that David Byrne is, in fact, a nuclear powered android after all.
The PowerPoint presentation has nothing to do with his rock musician persona. In this role (and there is, indeed a theatrical aspect to it), he plays a much more professorial/academic character, beginning by showing how PowerPoint has all kinds of oddball graphics, etc. pre-loaded into the program("for what???"). During the event, he also discusses that renown PowerPoint critic Edward Tufte makes the argument that the whole thing dumbs down the users and receivers of the program. One of Byrne's messages, to the extent there are any, seems to be that PowerPoint is symptomatic of the superficiality that is passed off as substance in just about every aspect of society today (Ashley Simpson on SNL anyone?).
After the one hour session, he takes audience questions, and delves into some pretty heavy philosophical, and maybe even metaphysical areas. Asked who his target audience was when he came up w/ the idea of doing the PowerPoint thing to begin with, he said "art crowds much like I would expect most of you are, yet, interestingly, it got the unlikely attention of CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Wired magazine, New Yorker, etc. who asked the question 'HE'S DOING WHAT???'"
As to Byrne going around the country showing how he's basically subverted what was intended to be a very linear, business type program, it arguably fits in with his career long insult of, and disdain for, multi national corporations. One thing is for certain: he must truly be laughing all the way to the bank as he undoubtedly pockets a handsome fee per 2 hour session from doing nothing other than playing around with, and poking fun at PowerPoint.
Stay tuned for more irony from David Byrne.
Disappointed.......2004-03-25
Unnecessarily heavy paper and binding. Way overpriced.
The CD/DVD does not run, and there is no way to troubleshoot or replace it.
I was looking forward to seeing this, but now feel like I was sold snake oil.
It's not just for business anymore..........2004-03-22
Ok, first off honesty and self-debasement: I bought this work mostly because it has David Byrne's name on it. Now I feel better, and can continue.
There's obviously more to this book and DVD than simply "David Byrne" - there's a sorely needed look at just how some of the simplest and most seemingly benign aspects of our lives can inculcate us into a certain manner of being or indoctrinate us into a specific world view. We often use tools and or processes as if on auto-pilot and the nuances escape like nibbling gerbils in a shoebox. That is the basic underlying theme of this work, regardless of one's opinion of the artwork or the, what seems to be, over emphasis on a Microsoft product.
Byrne says as much in the book's "exegesis": Microsoft Powerpoint, through the use of such make-it-as-easy-as-possible tools - "wizards" or "auto content managers" - has the ability to sink into our daily lives and affect our behavior and opinions on things if used uncautiously (really, like anything else in the world). On the flip - and far less pernicious - side, such tools can be downright fun to play with if one lets themselves go and thinks of the tool outside of its original purpose. So, again, in the "exegesis", Byrne makes an assumption: Powerpoint is a means of expression much in the way that finger paints, clay, or crayons are. He assumes that Powerpoint can be utilized as an art form. In this way the software takes on a new life, and forces someone to look at it in an entirely new way. It's not just for boring business presentations anymore! Wake up, people, it's fun!!
All of the above is not readily apparent if one dives into the accompanying DVD tabula rasa. At first sight, one is bound to find the work frivolous and maybe even juvenille or pretentious. At the very least these pieces will probably evoke the typical question of "why?" The answer to this useful interrogative word is that these pieces are not meant as ends unto themselves, but as processes, as ways of evoking new ways of thinking about something most of us take for granted. By the very asking a new way of thinking can open up. So, whether or not one appreciates these pieces as works of art is probably not the point of this project. Seeing everyday things in a new and playful way is probably more on cue than any pure aesthetic or artistic endeavors.
I'll admit straight out that this book and DVD has influenced the way I look at Powerpoint. Being one of the few survivors of the recent Information Systems employment slaughter, I use Powerpoint frequently and witness the Powerpoint presentations of others a little too frequently. The other day I actually sat down and played with Powerpoint. It was fun, I almost hate to admit it. I sent my work to some co-workers and asked them to "be ready to present on this 7am Monday morning". Of course it was all nonsense in Spanish, English, French, and Japanese complete with unconnected twirling and dissolving pictures and meaningless pulsating charts and graphs. I'm not sure what my co-workers thought of it, but I had fun.
There's more to this work than a glance can capture. Deep down there's mostly fun and a new perspective that can be applied to all avenues of one's mundane business life and software.
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Alan Jackson: Gone Country
Mark Bego
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