Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy

Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy
Average customer rating:

Life minus dance equals zero

ecstasy is innate

A compelling read

SAVE THE WORLD......DANCE!

an invitation to think, not a history of dance

Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy
Barbara Ehrenreich
Manufacturer: Metropolitan Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | World | History | Subjects | Books
Social History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books
Customs & Traditions | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0805057234
Release Date: 2007-01-09

Book Description

From the bestselling social commentator and cultural historian, a fascinating exploration of one of humanity’s oldest traditions: the celebration of communal joy

In the acclaimed Blood Rites, Barbara Ehrenreich delved into the origins of our species’ attraction to war. Here, she explores the opposite impulse, one that has been so effectively suppressed that we lack even a term for it: the desire for collective joy, historically expressed in ecstatic revels of feasting, costuming, and dancing.

Ehrenreich uncovers the origins of communal celebration in human biology and culture. Although sixteenth-century Europeans viewed mass festivities as foreign and “savage,” Ehrenreich shows that they were indigenous to the West, from the ancient Greeks’ worship of Dionysus to the medieval practice of Christianity as a “danced religion.” Ultimately, church officials drove the festivities into the streets, the prelude to widespread reformation: Protestants criminalized carnival, Wahhabist Muslims battled ecstatic Sufism, European colonizers wiped out native dance rites. The elites’ fear that such gatherings would undermine social hierarchies was justified: the festive tradition inspired French revolutionary crowds and uprisings from the Caribbean to the American plains. Yet outbreaks of group revelry persist, as Ehrenreich shows, pointing to the 1960s rock-and-roll rebellion and the more recent “carnivalization” of sports.

Original, exhilarating, and deeply optimistic, Dancing in the Streets concludes that we are innately social beings, impelled to share our joy and therefore able to envision, even create, a more peaceable future.

Customer Reviews:

Life minus dance equals zero.......2007-09-29

What is it about the human psyche that almost demands that one take off the social mask, shed inhibition, and engage in behavior requiring sizable kinetic energy, behavior of which is sometimes totally beyond the pale of acceptable standards of conduct? Is this behavior an intrinsic human need, or maladjustment that requires tuning or even rescuing by those cultures that do not stoop to the writhing and bodily contortions of the primitive, backward cultures that do? Is stillness, is the sterile boardroom composure that appears settled and refined, an acid test for rationality? Can one indeed be rational and still indulge periodically in the drunken-Mount-of-Ephesus-like ecstasy of the ancient Greeks? Is dance a sign of social decadence or proof of social health, and if the former why do so many people throughout history risk reprisal by authorities by joining their friends, neighbors, and strangers to "dance in the streets?"

This book provides an excellent context to begin to answer these questions. Although the book is short, and frequently provides only anecdotal evidence for its assertions, both its statements and conclusions are plausible, and the author exhibits an intellectual honesty that is becoming rare in today's intellectual circles. She is very aware, and admits so throughout the book, that much more evidence is needed to conclude some of the claims that are made between its pages. It is a book that puts human movement on a pedestal, as an object or worship and as an activity that respects tradition as well as rebels against it. When one reaches its final pages, one becomes more convinced that dance, that is, dance with no inhibitions or restraints, or "dancing in the streets", is part of being human, a necessity like air, food, and water. A culture that has it is a vibrant and confident one. A culture where it is absent is a dysfunctional one.

But as the author details in the book, many attempts are made to suppress the out-of-equilibrium ethos of dance, sometimes by persuasion or intimidation, but most often by force. And most of the world's major religions have been all too happy to assist with this. They demand stillness in their subjects: movements resembling even in the slightest the ignorant savages of tribal cultures are an anathema. One must not be too elemental-to close to the jungle, if one is to have a higher, organized, rational culture. But even the most zealous of efforts fails to rid the world of the pestilence of dance. It reappears, as the author shows, in the sports stadiums throughout the civilized world, and in the high fidelity, high-decibel, trance-inducing rock concerts of the same.

The author ends the book lamenting the state of the planet and hoping for a revival of the translation of potential to kinetic energy that is the street dance. Her concerns are to be noted but there is really no cause for worry. There is plenty of energy, plenty of activity, plenty of innovation, plenty of action in this ruckus of scientific and technological advancement, in this incredible outpouring of creativity that is stirring up the conceptual dust. In this carnival called the twenty-first century.

ecstasy is innate.......2007-09-22

Dance Anthropologists, Dance Makers, Cultural Anthropologists, those seeking a community to call their own, and those who long to be invited to 'the dance' will all delight in this extraordinary tale, ehemm I mean history. Barbara invites us all back to the dance, our place of connectedness, ecstasy, and pure expression of life (and culture). Try to read this and not feel its truth in your neurological wiring. Read Anya Royce Peterson and then this, or this and then Anya, or Levi Strauss and then this, or this and then Strauss. But whatever you do, don't overlook this book. I haven't yet read Ehrenreich's Blood Rites: the origins and history of the passion of war, but she makes a strong argument that it is the other half of this story, and it will surely be my next read.

A compelling read.......2007-08-30

This is an interesting and compelling book to read. Although, I cannot comment on the accuracy of the historical information, the descriptions of rock concerts and sports events in today's world are consistent with my observations. I would add that political events that involve large numbers of people also share the same attributes: chanting, moving, and collective engagement.

SAVE THE WORLD......DANCE!.......2007-07-18

I totally connect with this book! Ehrenreich has done a brilliant job of:
1)Thinking of the subject in the first place; 2)Knowing how important it is to connect up the lack of Celebration and Joy with the history of Patriarchy; 3)Weaving the quotes of many authors through the historical sequence to demonstrate the vividness of Celebration/Ecstatic experiences. As well as demonstrating the suppression of such.
This book presents a wholy new perspective on the innards and basic instincts that are the invisible pulse of patriarchy. The "head' part of patriarchy, linear analytical thinking, suppressed the "heart" part, the
social/emotional feelings, that are natural to human being-ness.
This book gives much Hope for our ability, innate and alive, to blossom more fully into Joy as we continue our practical and political grassroots growth. We all want Community and, happily, Community and Celebration, work symbiotically to energize the natural pulse of humanity...Joy.
THERE'LL BE DANCIN'....DANCIN' IN THE STREETS!

an invitation to think, not a history of dance.......2007-06-30

Barbara Ehrrenreich is a writer and thinker involved in the exploration of social phenomenon. She is certainly a political thinker and definitely has a point of view about social phenomena as they impact modern life. She is not an historian or an anthropologist. I'm at a loss to understand the criticism of this book based on what it never pretends itself to be, a history of dance or an anthropological study of the ecstatic phenomenon.
Several people have found it necessary to point out that Barbara Ehrenreich is on the left politically and a product of the 1960s with an "ah hah" mentality that seems to indicate she has has somehow tried to hide this, or that it inherently shameful. Social thinkers who propose changes in the way we currently conduct our lives or our society ALWAYS have ideas which they promote (pejoratively described as biases) because they actively advocate for change. It would be dishonest to attempt to hide them behind a false "objectivity."
This kind of false "objectivity" has sapped the life, not only from much that passes for social commentary, but also from investigative journalism, in which the collection of a quote or two from "authorities" on each side of a conflict has replaced the search for the truth about a given situation. It has also lead to the false notion that the truth is always located in the middle of the road.
Bravo to Barbara Ehrenreich who never hides behind this sort of fakery in her search for the truth as she sees it. She invites readers to join the dance of two mindes, the writer's and the reader's, in thinking about topics that engage her own thoughts.
Some critics seem to be attacking the fact that her writing is interesting and fun to read. Never fear! I managed to read the book and enjoy it very much while maintaining my critical faculties and without agreeing with every one of Ehrenreich's conclusions. I did learn a lot AND my mind was engaged to think about dance and the human capacity for collective joy in ways that are new and exciting to me.

From Nyet to Da: Understanding the Russians (Interact Series)

Average customer rating:

Excellent and Concise
Excellent and insightful book
Insightful and Helpful
Short, well written and very insightful
Modern Russian Culture: From Nyet to Da

From Nyet to Da: Understanding the Russians (Interact Series)
Yale Richmond
Manufacturer: Intercultural Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1877864161

Customer Reviews:

Excellent and Concise.......2007-08-11

I began reading this book before leaving on my first mission trip to Russia. I finished it upon my return. The portion I read before the trip was helpful to me in my interaction with the Russian people. The remainder of the book was confirmed by my recent observations and experiences.

This title is very good investment for anyone traveling to Russia or seeking to gain a better understanding of the Russian people.

Excellent and insightful book.......2007-04-19

My wife is Russian and this book really helped me understand the cultural issues that sometimes baffle both of us. It really helped to give me insight into her culture. This is an excellent read. I'd particularly recommend it to anyone that does business with Russians.

Insightful and Helpful.......2005-05-23

A client who lived throughout Russia for around ten years and still conducts most of his business with Russians recommended this book to me. This is a good book, but a little too reliant on history in explaining present day Russian culture. The book really shines when talking about the Russians outside Moscow, but more and more the Moscow business elite seem to take their cue more from the New York or London elite than from their peasant ancestors, as this book contends. Overall, however, this book is as good any for gaining a better understanding of Russians and the Russian bureaucracy.

Short, well written and very insightful.......2002-09-07

Having lived and studied in Russia and being married to a Russian I am able to appreciate the tremendous understanding of the Russians by the author. this is a must read book if you intend to travel there, live there or marry someone who lives there; it will save you from making many mistakes or false assumptions. It is well written, concise , easy to read and inexpensive. Essential reading.

Modern Russian Culture: From Nyet to Da.......2001-10-04

This book is very informative and easy to read. My husband and I are traveling to Russia sometime in the next 2 months to adopt 2 children and I feel it is important to understand their culture both for now and for their future. I have recommended this book to others on the adoption related mailing lists I am on and others have also responded favorably.

Sunday: A History of the First Day from Babylonia to the Super Bowl

Average customer rating:

Much detail, little insight
Wonderful read.

Sunday: A History of the First Day from Babylonia to the Super Bowl
Craig Harline
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 038551039X
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Book Description

The mere mention of “Sunday” will immediately conjure up a rich mix of memories, associations, and ideas for most anyone of any age. Whatever we think of—be it attending church, reading a bulky newspaper, eating brunch, or watching football— Sunday occupies a unique place in Western civilization. But how did we come to have a day with such a singular set of traditions?

Here, historian Craig Harline examines Sunday from its ancient beginnings to recent America in a fascinating blend of facts and anecdotes. For early Christians, the first day of the week was a time to celebrate the liturgy and observe the Resurrection. But over time, Sunday in the Western world took on still other meanings and rituals, especially in the addition of both rest and recreation to the day’s activities. Harline illuminates these changes in enlightening profiles of Sunday in medieval Catholic England, Sunday in the Reformation, and Sunday in nineteenth-century France—home of the most envied and sometimes despised Sunday of the modern world. He continues with moving portraits of soldiers and civilians observing Sunday during World War I, examines the quiet Sunday of England in the 1930s, and concludes with the convergence of various European traditions in the American Sunday, which also adds some distinctly original habits of its own, including in the realms of commerce and professional sports.

With engaging prose and scholarly integrity, Sunday is an entertaining and long-overdue look at a significant hallmark of Western culture.

Customer Reviews:

Much detail, little insight.......2007-10-06

This book is filled with detailed descriptions of Sunday observances. However, it was often not clear whether the descriptions reflected journal entries of real people, as they did in some cases, or the imagination of the author. The detailed accounts became repetitious, and did not offer insight. I am clergy, and was hoping for a sense of the evolution of religious feeling about Sundays, or a deeper analysis of the interaction of culture and faith. I found the book quite superficial.

Wonderful read........2007-04-09

This is a really enjoyable journey through history. The author writes with subtle grace and an eye for the interesting details that make for a good story. It initially seemed an unlikely topic but it works quite well as a cultural, religious history of western civilization.

Average customer rating:

* Great Series
Then and Now
SNOBS
A good backstop to any trip to Boston's sites
Boston for the Time-Pressed and Vapid

Boston Then and Now (Then & Now)
Elizabeth McNulty
Manufacturer: Thunder Bay Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1571451773

Book Description

America's oldest major city, Boston has adapted to the modern age while still retaining an old-world charm. With many of her streets tracing original ox-cart paths to historic waterfronts, Boston is "America's Walking City." This volume documents the amazing changes that Boston has undergone during the last 150 years. Seventy modern color photographs are compared side-by-side with seventy archival photographs from the 1850s to the 1950s. While focusing on famous vistas and familiar landmarks, it also explores well-known neighborhoods. The Then and Now series includes: New York, Washington, Boston, and San Francisco.

Customer Reviews:

* Great Series .......2006-12-02

If the reviewer above, Charles Henry Higgensworth III, is the epitome of what a Bostonian is, then I will feel much more satisfaction in reading this book in the comfort of my dilapidated home here in Hickville, Indiana, than actually visiting the city of Boston. If you are not a true Bostonian, and are time-pressed and vapid, like me, this book is probably right up your alley. So us simpletons, who don't like to read, should find this book a real pleasure. This book isn't intended to give an entire account of the history of Boston. Mr. Higgensworth apparently can't see the forrest for the trees. I guess his superior intellect has it's limitations.

In all seriousness, this book is what it is. You take an old or historic photo, then see a contemporary photo taken from about the exact same spot and compare the two. If you don't find that concept interesting, this book probably isn't for you.

* I haven't actually flipped through this particular book, but I have seen at least 7 other books in this series. They were all fantastic and work as a great substitute for actually getting to visit that particular city. I was not disappointed in any of them and have little doubt that this one is of the same caliber.

Then and Now.......2006-09-16

The photographs in this book are good shots - clear, and larger than I had expected. It is very interesting to see how the historical city of Boston was, and how it has changed over the years, most times for the better, though sometimes for the worse.Perhaps I would get more out of this if I knew more about Boston. Unless you are already familiar with this city, then "Boston Then and Now" gives you the feeling of peeping through the windows of a house that's up for rent, rather than being taken on a guided tour. A map certainly would have been helpful, and how about an entire page of background information rather than a footnote? Just an idea, in case someone decides to revise it someday. Nice book. Worth buying.

SNOBS.......2004-06-26

"Boston Then And Now" was reviewed by Charles Higgensworth III. I do hope there won't be a number 4 Higgensworth. This man should drop the attitude. Then people may like him almost as much as this book. What a jerk!

A good backstop to any trip to Boston's sites.......2003-05-28

We purchased this book in Boston and found almost all of the sites we saw in town in this book. In this book, the older, up to 150-year old photo of the original structures on the current site, or older pictures than offered a juxtaposition of the surrounding landscape of buildings present in the past and now around selected sites.

While I was a little disappointed in no picture of Fenway Park, or in a map to help locate where some of these pictures were taken in the city (after all, I'm not a native of Boston), I found the book to very ably support the exhibits we saw on Boston's history, and add greatly to my understanding of the city and the growth of urbanism in general. The architecture depicted is often unique, and the descriptions offer a bit of information on who the architects were, how the areas shown were constructed, and more.

Overall, I came out pretty pleased by what is found in this book.

Boston for the Time-Pressed and Vapid.......2003-01-01

If Boston were a lengthy work of great scholarship, "Boston Then and Now" would be the Cliff Notes. And were you to rely upon them come examination time, you would be failed for having a trite and simplistic understanding of the weighty tome you had been asked to master. This is essentially a series of photos of Boston neighborhoods and vistas taken way back then ... followed by photos of the same neighborhoods and vistas taken now. Get it? Then ... and Now! Photo pairs are accompanied by fortune-cookie length observations that only a primate would find edifying. True Bostonians will find this book every bit as delightful as Game Six of the 1986 World Series.

Thanksgiving on Thursday (Magic Tree House #27)

Average customer rating:

Jennifer's review
MY BOY LOVES READING IT
It's an okay book
Boring, Boring, & Thanksgivingnesh
The Magic Tree house

Thanksgiving on Thursday (Magic Tree House #27)
Mary Pope Osborne
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0375806156
Release Date: 2002-09-24

Book Description

The Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie back to the eve of the first Thanksgiving. There they meet the Pilgrims as well as Squanto, a Native American who helped them. The story offers an age-appropriate, in-depth picture of what life was really like for early settlers, as well as the usual Magic Tree House adventure and excitement.

Customer Reviews:

Jennifer's review.......2007-02-02

Jack and Annie travel back in time to the year of 1621,the time of the Pilgrams.Jack and Annie was sent by Morgan Le Fay to find the art of magic. Jack and Annie were in a forest and spied on the pilgrams when they got there, but Annie saw a dog which scared Jack and alerted the pilgrams. Jack told this fib to Squanto and the pilgrams. After the fib, all of the kids went hunting and gathering while Jack and Annie went into the water, in search for eels and clams in the ocean. After, they went to a house and cooked turkey for the feast. Jack ruined the turkey and felt horrible. It was all right and they had a feast outdoors. Jack and Annie returned home after finding the magic of community.

MY BOY LOVES READING IT.......2007-01-07

My 1st grader hates to put it down, he would rather read Magic Tree House books, than play video games. He even reads them to his class and explains the story for show and tell. In his kindergarten class the teacher would also let him read the Magic Tree House books out loud, not to give her a break, but to promote reading out loud. Great books!

It's an okay book .......2006-11-07

Thanksgiving on Thursday is an okay book because it is about a boy (Jack) and a girl (Annie) that go back in time to the first feast of thanksgiving. They help a woman prepare for the first Thankgiving dinner. They had to gather some of the food for the harvest. Jack gets caught in a snare set for an animal! Read it--it's okay!

Boring, Boring, & Thanksgivingnesh.......2006-10-31

All this book is about how the Indians and Pilgrims started Thanks giving. I read thi book when i was 8. It was alright back then.

BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU READ THIS BOOK !!!!

The Magic Tree house.......2006-06-12

The story startes out when Jack and his little sister Annie are on their way to a place called Plymouth. At first they had no idea where they were until Jack was hung after he accidently steped into a trap; they finally found out where they were.

First, this story takes place during the time of the pilgrims coming to the United States from England on a ship well-known as the Mayflower. The story's sequence startes when Jack and Annie are introduced to all the pilgrims and an indian; his name Squanto. Sooner on in the story Jack and Annie learn how to hunt and fish for there own food. While in a women's house Jack learned how to cook over the fire. But, they run into a problem; they didn't know how things ran around there. But a women nice enough told them just that. Her nam was Prinscilla.

Last in the story they have wonderful and unforgiving diner. Also known as the First Thanksgiving Feast. Jack and Annie enjoyed their time in Plymouth because they have learned as much as I did.

I thought that this book was an awesome experience for me because I have learned alot about the pilgrims and what it was like back in the day.

The Rough Guide to Turkey 6 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)

Average customer rating:

do not rely on this book
Very disappointing - Not Recommended
The last Rough Guide I will buy
The best guide book possible
Comprehensive, opinionated, and sensible

The Rough Guide to Turkey 6 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
Marc S. Dubin , Rosie Ayliffe , John Gawthrop , and Terry Richardson
Manufacturer: Rough Guides
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Turkey | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1843536064

Book Description

This fully revised and thoroughly updated sixth edition of the Rough Guide to Turkey is your ultimate handbook to this fascinating country.A full colour section introduces Turkey''s highlights, from the markets of Istanbul to the rock churches of Cappadocia. There are informed accounts of the country''s wide-ranging sights and incisive reviews of the best places to eat, sleep and drink in every price range. Throughout the guide there is practical advice on everything from bazaar shopping to chartering a yacht. The authors also provide expert background on Turkish history, literature, music and film and the guide comes complete with easy-to-read maps for every region.

The Rough Guide to Turkey is your ultimate handbook to this fascinating country.

Customer Reviews:

do not rely on this book.......2007-08-30

Do not rely on this book. Despite the 2007 copyright, it is way, way out of date and will seriously harm your trip. It certainly harmed out trip.

1) Prices are way off--not just by 10 or 20% but by hundreds of per cent. For example, things listed as $20 sometimes cost $50.

2) The list of hotels is way out of date for every place we went. Some hotels had actually gone out of business years prior to 2007, which is this book's copyright. If you are considering a trip later than 2007, this problem will be still worse. This was true in Marmaris and Bergama and probably many other places.

3) Maps were wrong. Not just inaccurate, but wrong. For example, the location in Marmaris of the ferry to Rhodes was wrong. This was disastrous for us, possibly causing us to miss the ferry. Also, the streets on the map were labelled with names while the actual street signs used numbers instead of names. This may have been due to a renaming of the streets prior to 2007, and the book's map should have reflected the what the signs say.

4) Schedules were wrong. For example, the dolmuses to Troy do NOT leave every 20 minutes as the book says, but every hour, even during peak season.

5) The index is quite incomplete. You should be able to look up a name of a museum, for example in the index and find it in seconds. However, with such an incomplete index, finding information in the book can be a lengthly project--difficult on a busy street corner.

I certainly hope they fix this book, but in its present state it should be avoided--there are other books on travelling in Turkey to use in the meantime.

Very disappointing - Not Recommended.......2007-07-18

This is a review of the latest (2007) edition of this book.

This was a difficult review for me to write since I have been a fan of "Rough Guides" (and before that, "Real Guides") for some time. While it is a so-so catalog of sights, restaurants, and bars (although disorganized, as others have pointed out), the book is listless and oddly detached in its discussion of Turkey. A quick read of the "basics" can easily convince the reader that it is very difficult to obtain a coffee in Istanbul, the tap water is akin to sewage ("orange"), and a glass of wine? Forget it, the fundamentalists have taken over. Sounds like great fun, eh? Of course all the aforementioned observations are totally untrue. I found the book depressing and sour in tone, if not misleading. Indeed, the book addresses the reader as if he or she were planning a trip to a far off prison farm. For alternatives, try A Hedonist's Guide to Istanbul by Nick Hackworth or the Lonely Planet guide. Although not perfect, both will instill you with the excitement and awe that Turkey can (and does) inspire.

The last Rough Guide I will buy.......2007-05-22

I found the Rough Guide to Turkey extremely frustrating. It is the most poorly organized travel book I have used. Even good information, if poorly organized, becomes useless. I found myself frequently having to piece together information from 3 or 4 different sections to decipher anything useful.
Transportation information: useless.
Accommodation listing: mixed. Of two hotels marked with their highest recommendation, one was very good, the other the worst we stayed in. After that we stopped using the book's suggestions, and just asked other travelers.
Historical information: good, concise, interesting.
Site and activity information: incomplete or incorrect.
We were traveling independently by public transportation for 9 days throughout northern and western Turkey. Whenever I saw another traveler with a different guide book, I begged to borrow it. My Rough Guide ended up in the trash can.

The best guide book possible.......2003-05-20

The Rough Guide to Turkey is extremely comprehensive and fun. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in Turkey, not only to those who will be visiting.

Comprehensive, opinionated, and sensible.......2003-02-15

I used this book for a driving trip along the western and southern coasts, beginning in Istanbul, remaining west of Ankara, and concluding in Antalya.

I was impressed with this book. I found its lodging and restaurant recommendations quite useful and reliable, though they are not as low-budget as, say, Let's Go. However, Turkey is so inexpensive that even the budget-conscious need not stay or eat at the cheapest places. I like the fact that lodging recommendations are located on clear maps with numbers keyed to the text--this simple thing is often absent in guides to Turkey, and what a pain when you're constantly in new places! Nightlife is covered, as is the nearest post office and local travel agency for that last-minute flight back to Istanbul that you were sure you wouldn't need because you would be driving back yourself.

Contemporary, historical, and archaelogical information is surprisingly detailed and plentiful. When the authors do not like something, they can be stinging. While some might find this approach annoying (it is very English), I buy a travel book for its opinions, so long as these opinions are based on real knowledge.

In sum, if you were to take only one travel book to Turkey, and if you wanted to cover major parts of the country, this Rough Guide would be ideal. Add a Blue Guide Turkey, a couple of really good atlases, and perhaps a book devoted to Istanbul, and you should be set.

Up & Down New York (New York Bound Books)
Average customer rating:

Delightful

Irresistable

A Jazz Age portfolio of the Big Apple

Classic New York at it's finest

Up & Down New York (New York Bound Books)
Tony Sarg
Manufacturer: Universe
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0789315483
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Book Description

Originally published in 1926, Up & Down New York is an imaginative, charming, quirky, and delightful period piece-but it is also timeless. This facsimile edition of the nostalgic classic reproduces Sarg's delightful illustrations of the dynamic and vibrant streets and famous places in New York. The surprise is in finding how much remains the same in many New York neighborhoods after 80 years, including Grand Central Station, Times Square, The American Museum of Natural History, City Hall, the Stock Exchange, the Great White Way (Broadway), the shuttle in the subway-not to mention the busyness and vibrancy that characterizes the city. The places that do not exist anymore, including the aquarium at the Battery and Washington Market, give us a glimpse of New York in its first heyday. This new edition of Tony Sarg's Up & Down New York will appeal to kids of all ages, to designers, illustrators, and book collectors, as well as anyone interested in New York or 1920s-era drawings.

Customer Reviews:

Delightful.......2007-08-16

I love New York and this amazing collection of late 1920's illustrations reinforces my rapture. Sarg not only captures the architecture of some great landmarks, but also infuses them with vibrancy by populating the scenes with human vignettes out of Breughel, or Where's Waldo if you prefer.

I find the material dazzlingly contemporary, but believe it makes a tremendous gift for parents or grandparents who can use these images to bond with their progeny.

It's fun to view the citizens on the streets in their jackets and ties as a picture of the past; and elders will have a grand time pointing out the way things were (as in "that's the old look of the Museum of Natural History" or "I remember the Metropolitan Museum when the knights in armor were in the main hall."

Get it or give it. It's grand and at a bargain price.

Irresistable.......2007-07-14

Every time I pick this book up I am drawn into a NYC gone-by that feels so much like the NYC of today. I love to get lost in its world.

A Jazz Age portfolio of the Big Apple.......2007-07-05

This attractive book packages a compendium of Tony Sarg's humorous, bird's-eye perspectives of 1920's New York. Each page of the oversized volume yields the Where's Waldo variety of delights for people watching, but also beautiful architectural renderings of the city's most famous historic landmarks.

But how much money do you want to pay for what amounts to 23 full page prints (and a couple of pages of studies)? There's the (charcoal) rub... but I suggest that if you think of this volume as a bound portfolio, it is worth every cent.

Classic New York at it's finest.......2007-05-13

If you love this town, you'll love this book!

The Feasts Of The Lord God's Prophetic Calendar From Calvary To The Kingdom

Average customer rating:

A Treasure Chest of Information
Incredible book
Eye-Opening
The Feasts of the Lord God's Prophetic Calendar From Calvary to the Kingdom
Review of the Lord's feasts

The Feasts Of The Lord God's Prophetic Calendar From Calvary To The Kingdom
Kevin Howard , and Marvin Rosenthal
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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The Tabernacle : Shadows of the Messiah (Its Sacrifices, Services, and Priesthood) (See How the Tabernacle Relates to Jesus)
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God's Appointed Times: A Practical Guide for Understanding and Celebrating the Biblical Holidays
The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church

ASIN: 0785275185

Book Description

Isreal's feasts are infinitely more important than just a series of cultural observances. These feasts are appointed by the Lord, and they are owned by the Lord. He calls them " my feasts." Together they form God's prophetic calendar, outlining the work of history's most important person...Jesus, the Messiah. As such, few themes are more timely or rewarding for God's people today.

The Feasts of the Lord covers all aspects of the biblical feasts...historical background, biblical observance, and prophetic significance. Yet, this book is not just another reference book on the feasts. It is written from the Hebrew Christian viewpoint, helping you to see the feasts through Jewish eyes.

The words of the Savior, His messianic claims, and Bible prophecy will all take on a rich, new relevance for you against the exciting backdrop of The Feasts of the Lord.

Customer Reviews:

A Treasure Chest of Information.......2007-02-16

The pages are falling out of my copy of "The Feasts of the Lord" simply because of how many times I have referred to it while preparing lessons or sermons. I am almost brought to tears every time I read of the literal meaning of the "afikomen" at Passover. I gave a copy of this book to a Jewish friend who helped me in proofing the manuscript of "Maccabee." Though "The Feasts of the Lord" demonstrates unapologetically the New Testament fulfillment of the Old Testament feasts, the book was well received. A big thank you to the authors.

Incredible book.......2007-02-07

This is one of the most beautiful, high-quality books I own. The illustrations are amazing with rich colors and magnificent details. The writing is understandable and gives wonderful insight into Jewish history. This is an incredibly valuable tool for any serious Bible student and a treasure for any serious book collector.

Eye-Opening.......2007-01-13

This is one of my most treasured books. So wonderfully written, I felt like I was literally attending these feasts. Very eye-opening to end time events.

The Feasts of the Lord God's Prophetic Calendar From Calvary to the Kingdom.......2007-01-09

Beautifully put together book! Wonderful illustrations. A wealth of information and insight.

Review of the Lord's feasts.......2006-11-12

This is an excellent source and must reading for understanding God"s purposes im mankind's affairs. Further, it increases the understanding for the Christian in his roots and history. It connects all the dots to bridge, with understanding, the Jewish faith and the Christian faith to give clarity to the Christian belief system.

Encyclopedia of Holidays And Celebrations: A Country-by-country Guide (Three Volume Set)

Average customer rating:

Encyclopedia of Holidays And Celebrations: A Country-by-country Guide (Three Volume Set)

Manufacturer: Facts on File
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0816062358

The Maya, Seventh Edition (Ancient Peoples and Places)

Average customer rating:

An Excellent Inrtoduction to the Maya
Any Author Who Can Make El Mirador Come To Life Deserves Five Stars
A very good introduction to Maya archeology
Introduction to the Mayan culture
The Gold Standard by which to measure all others

The Maya, Seventh Edition (Ancient Peoples and Places)
Michael D. Coe
Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Mexico | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0500285055

Book Description

"A clear and intelligent description of the development and organization of Maya civilization." —Natural History

The Maya has long been established as the best, most readable introduction to the New World's greatest ancient civilization. In these pages Professor Coe distills a lifetime's scholarship for the general reader and student.

Since the publication of the sixth edition of The Maya, new sites have been uncovered and further excavations in old sites have proceeded at an unprecedented pace. Among the many new discoveries is the chance find of extraordinary murals dating to ca. AD 100 at San Bartolo in the Petén. New epigraphic, archaeological, and osteological research has thrown light on the identity of the "founding fathers" of such great sites as Tikal and Copan, and their close affiliation with Teotihuacan in central Mexico. The previously little known center of Ek' Balam in northeastern Yucatan has turned out to be a regional kingdom of major importance, with extraordinary stucco reliefs and a plethora of painted inscriptions.

It has now become apparent that the birth of Maya civilization lies not in the Classic but during the Preclassic period, above all in the Mirador Basin of northern Guatemala, where the builders of gigantic ancient cities (interconnected by causeways) erected the world's largest pyramid as early as 200 BC. All of these finds suggest that we must rethink what we mean by "Classic."

The seventh edition also presents new evidence for the use of wetlands by the Classic Maya, and fresh perspectives on the catastrophic demise of Classic civilization by the close of the ninth century. 175 illustrations, 17 in color.

Customer Reviews:

An Excellent Inrtoduction to the Maya.......2007-08-05

This is an excellent introduction to the Maya. It is well-written and flows nicely. Of particular use are the fine illustrations that accompany the text; as you read the text you are refermed by numbers in the margin to a suitable illustration. One of the strong points of this book is that the author criticizes other works and himself in view of the latest research on the topic. The book also has an excellent bibliography that refers the reader to both scholarly and popular works.
A final strong point of this work is that it is only one-half to one-third the length of other works; better a shorter book that you will read than a longer one that will rest upon a shelf!
My only criticism of this book is the final chapter. Like many academics Prof Coe hates American influence (tourists innundate ruins, evangelical christianity threatens the shamans, and the cattle ranches that produce meat for "American hamburgers") and Republicans (things improved for the Maya with a Democrat in the White House). Also, he accepts the lies in Rigoberta Menchu's book as true.
Yet, overall this is a valuable book.

Any Author Who Can Make El Mirador Come To Life Deserves Five Stars.......2007-06-01

The ruins of the ancient Mayan city of El Mirador are deep in the jungles of northern Guatamala. Once one of the largest cities in North America with 80,000 people, El Mirador today is accessible only by helicopter or by long distance hiking. Before its mysterious abandonment in the third century AD, El Mirador boasted the Danta Pyramid, the largest structure of this type in the world. Michael Coe has written a facinating book about the world of the ancient Maya. His ability to make El Mirador and many similar sites come to life makes this book well worth the purchase price even if Yucatan and vicinity are not in one's travel plans.

Professor Coe traces the rise of Mayan civilization from earliest times, to the splendor of the Late Classic Period when as many as ten million people lived in the lowlands, to the "Mayan Apocalypse"of the eighth century AD when the greatest cities of the New World were abandoned and returned to the jungle. Each of the major sites is described in detail with a complete description of artifacts and numerous photographs and maps. The author concludes with an extended discussion of Mayan thought and culture, and with his personal tribute to "The Enduring Maya". The Mayan population of southern Mexico and Central America has returned to over seven million people despite five hundred years of European diseases and economic oppression.

It is important that we not miss the practical implications of this book. The "Mayan Apocalpse" had ecological roots. The population had increased beyond the carrying capacity of the land, and there was massive deforestation and soil erosion. Years of severe drought followed. There is currently a debate about whether global warming is real, and if so whether it matters. One of the first great civilizations in the New World came to a disastrous end because of its inability or unwillingness to deal with environmental issues. We need to draw proper conclusions from the Mayan experience.

A very good introduction to Maya archeology.......2007-03-29

From one of the most important mayanists, a very good introduction to Maya archeology.

Introduction to the Mayan culture.......2007-01-10

I found this book to be a very good introduction to the Mayan culture, however, introduction may be an understatement. This book is very indepth, and academic in nature which gives it a high level of credibility.

The Gold Standard by which to measure all others.......2006-03-10

Tho' I was "just" wanting to be informed before my brief trip to Mexico, it was a joy to read the Michael Coe book, & immerse myself in this rich history of the Mayan people. It made my visits to the ruins so very much more rewarding than a tour book could ever begin to do!

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