Book Description
Paleolithic sites from one million years ago, Neolithic sites with extraordinary jade and ceramic artifacts, excavated tombs and palaces of the Shang and Zhou dynasties—all these are part of the archaeological riches of China. This magnificent book surveys China’s archaeological remains and in the process rewrites the early history of the world’s most enduring civilization.
Eminent scholars from China and America show how archaeological evidence establishes that Chinese culture did not spread from a single central area, as was long assumed, but emerged out of geographically diverse, interacting Neolithic cultures. Taking us to the great archaeological finds of the past hundred years—tombs, temples, palaces, cities—they shed new light on many aspects of Chinese life. With a wealth of fascinating detail and hundreds of reproductions of archaeological discoveries, including very recent ones, this book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in Chinese antiquity and Chinese views on the formation of their own civilization.
Customer Reviews:
A Comprehensive Review .......2007-09-10
"The Formation of Chinese Civilization" reviews the archaeology of early China, from the earliest appearance of humans in the Paleolithic era, to the unification of the Chinese state in the Qin and Western Han dynasties. It is one of the volumes in Yale's China series. Organization is chronological, and each chapter is written by a different author. The book is beautifully illustrated, although the photos of museum objects are mostly "window dressing:" this is a book about archaeology, not art history.
Since the authors are all senior Chinese archaeologists, the reader will find authoritative commentary and an orthodox viewpoint throughout the book. Orthodoxy in this case means that the authors all subscribe to the idea that humans originated independently in China, and followed a civilizational development through progressive stages of matriarchy, patriarchy, slave society, etc., per standard Marxist theory. In practice, however, the authors' wide experience and knowledge more than compensate for any lingering ideological difficulties.
Although no one could accuse this book of being undersized, I found that many important topics were only touched on very briefly. Sanxingdui is given only one and one-half columns; only two columns for the Great Wall; the whole discussion of final Qin-Han unification is disappointingly short. In compensation, at least brief mention is made of numerous recent excavations that bear on the questions - of state formation and the development of Chinese civilization - addressed in this book. Some major conclusions are: the multi-regional nature of early China; cultural continuity from earliest times; the importance of religion (shamanism) in culture and politics; and the interplay between lineage (family) and territory in the formation of the Chinese state.
Although hardly for beginners, most serious students of Chinese archaeology will want to read through this volume.
Average customer rating:
- Serves a specific purpose well, as titled
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First Impressions: Sketching Nature in Watercolor
Edward Norton Ward
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Watercolor, You Can Do It!
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Making Color Sing
ASIN: 0823018202 |
Customer Reviews:
Serves a specific purpose well, as titled.......2006-11-30
If you want to loosen up your work and/or paint outdoors efficiently and effectively, then this book will be a big help--as it has been for me. Even if you want to paint in a more representational, detailed style, than is represented here, getting the basics first as this book presents them could still greatly simplify things to make your process easier.
Edward Norton Ward's watercolor "sketches" (They are signed, so I assume he considers them completed paintings.), which are abundant throughout the book, at first might appear more simplistic than they are. In other words, there is experience and knowledge behind creating an effective, yet simple, watercolor. Mr. Ward has been generous in sharing this knowledge and the thoughts that are behind each painting. His discussions about simplifying the subject and the effects of light on color are particularly good. He also explains his painting process.
This book is useful in any case, but more useful if you paint outdoors, as that is its focus. His tips on traveling lightly and the materials he uses/prepares, has a couple valuable tips that I will use, even though after painting for a number of years I have already gone over the endless supplies combinations for painting outdoors.
The painting on the cover is a good representation of Ward's work and one that I like (although not my favorite). I admit that some of the paintings in this book do not appeal to me as the parts seem too detached and there are too many isolated dabs of paint. Others, however, elicit a sigh of appreciation, because they represent what I would like to be able to do: paint directly from nature in a very direct(impressionistic)style that doesn't involve a lot of fussing in the studio later--if I do not wish to do that--and still end up with a painterly thing of beauty. This book shows me how to achieve that goal more than any others I have studied.
I have just sorted through my rather extensive library on painting in watercolor with an eye to thinning down the collection to about half--to the ones that I deem most essential. I am keeping this book over several boxes of other watercolor books, a number by better known artists, simply because there is something valuable here that I want to learn, and I feel that I will use it as a reference for some time.
Book Description
The striking images in Extraordinary Chickens showed that "the world of chickens is a world of wonders" (New York Times Book Review). Now, in a follow-up to the extraordinarily successful first book from Stephen Green-Armytage, the photographer presents 61 breeds and 5 species, including 14 breeds not previously included in the first book, a new series of chicken couples, and virtually all new images. Capturing with his camera chickens of all sizes, shapes, and colors, he illuminates gorgeous feather patterns worthy of French fabric designers, as well as elaborate wattles, elegant crests, and many other details. Through his exquisite photographs, he captures the surprising and expressive personality of these amazing creatures. Included are breeds developed in Japan, Malaysia, Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Poland, Australia, South America, Canada, the United States, and elsewhere. For breeders and enthusiasts, this volume will be a treasure they must own; for others it will be a revelation, worth having for the sheer enjoyment of the beautiful photographs and the wonderful birds they portray.
Customer Reviews:
Really fun chicken book, but not a must have.......2007-08-07
This book is full of photographs of chickens. Not your typical chicken pictures mind you. You will see various breeds of chickens (many you have never seen before that are very interesting to look at), and you will also get a brief chicken history in the back of the book. What I especially enjoyed was the fact that the author wrote a small paragraph on each breed (again in the back of the book) featured in the book. I enjoyed the pictures of the various types of jungle fowl (the chickens early ancestor), and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This is not a must have, but it sure is an enjoyable one.
great picture.......2007-07-05
I give this a 5 star just for the pictures. If you want to know about chickens. I highly recommend these 2 books. Living with Chickens and Choosing and keeping Chickens.
Poultry Book Review.......2007-03-31
As a breeder of rare breeds in the Illawara region of Australia, I enjoyed adding to my poultry library a book as unique as this one. If you enjoy chicken breeds & photos of them I would recommend this book. The author has used a photgraphic studio to capture & highlight features of chickens that would never have been appreciated in previous books. I had purchased his original 'Extraordinary Chickens' & was delighted to add this extra book. The text is succinct & correlates well with other chicken information in other books. I recommend this book to all poultry enthusiasts.
A Chicken Lover's Delight.......2007-03-15
My friend Marjorie is a person who is very fond of chickens. She decorated her little rental cottage with a chicken/rooster motif. I sent her this book for her birthday, because I knew she would be the right person to appreciate it. She called and raved about the pictures in the book. She said she did not know there were so many different kinds of chickens. Marjorie was delighted, and I was pleased to have made her so happy. The is not a book for everyone. but in the right hands it is a joy.
beautiful portraits of chickens.......2007-01-09
This is a beautiful book with lots of high quality photos. The chickens are not presented the ordinary way (from one side) but let us see more realistic poses like stretching, crowing or flapping. There is not much information about the species, but you really don't need it in this book. Lots of other books gives you that information, but this is the only choise (as I see it) for this kind of chicken portrait photos. The book is a follow-up to Extraordinary chickens, and I think you should buy them both!
Average customer rating:
- The chicken as art...
- What a colorful book
- beautiful pictures
- Love Chickens!
- Lots of beautifull pics and great info!
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Extraordinary Chickens
Stephen Green-Armytage
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
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Binding: Hardcover
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Extra Extraordinary Chickens
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Hen and the Art of Chicken Maintenance: Reflections on Raising Chickens
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Extraordinary Pigeons
ASIN: 0810933438 |
Book Description
Stephen Green-Armytage, author/photographer of Abrams' enchanting Dudley: The Little Terrier That Could, has now produced a unique adult book, introducing the bizarre and beautiful world of exotic ornamental chickens. His startling pictures present an international selection of breeds ranging from the Bearded Silkie and the crested Polish to the majestic Phoenix, whose tail feathers can exceed 10 feet in length.
Chickens of all sizes, shapes, and colors parade through these pages, as Green-Armytage captures the surprising and expressive personality of these amazing birds. For breeders, this will be a volume they must own; for everyone else, it will be a revelation, prized for the sheer enjoyment of the striking photographs and the extraordinary animals they portray.
STEPHEN GREEN-ARMYTAGE's photographs have appeared in many books and magazines. Author and photographer of the Abrams book Dudley: The Little Terrier That Could, he lives in New York City.
165 photographs, 160 in full color, 9 x 10"
Customer Reviews:
The chicken as art..........2007-07-05
This hefty little book is a surprise on every page. I've always known chickens were beautiful, as all fowl, poultry and gamebirds are. But these lovely macros of the breed standards are really just incredible, from a fellow writer/photographer's point of view. Whatever your interest in these birds, be it a curiosity or a hobby, you will love this book.
I also like the size. Easy to find on my overloaded bookshelves. So kudos to Mr. Green-Armytage, for a job well done. Chickens aren't the most cooperative subjects for a photo shoot. I just wonder how many hours to photograph plus travel time he has into this!
What a colorful book.......2007-01-04
My dad raised chickens all of his life. He had many breeds and varieties. He no longer has the chickens and when I saw this book I thought he would enjoy it. I gave it to him for Christmas and when he opened it he looked through it right away and said, "Maybe I need to get some chickens again." The pictures are great. Everyone at the party enjoyed the book and I know my dad will enjoy it over and over again.
beautiful pictures.......2006-11-14
Even though it did not have lots and lots of facts, the pictures make this book well worth buying.
Love Chickens!.......2006-08-01
Beautiful photographs and interesting information. Great coffee table book! A book you can enjoy for years to come and a great conversation starter!!!
Lots of beautifull pics and great info!.......2006-07-15
It's really amazing the amount of pictures with full details! I found it lovable! The amount of information it has it IS enough and great! If you don't know anything about chickens or don't know how many diferent kind of breed are in the world, this book it's perfect.It gives you everything you need to know straight to the point! And for those that love chickens it's a perfect addition to their books collection!
Average customer rating:
- Fun and Funny
- Great calendar
- a must for the enthusiast
- I laughed, I cried, then I bought it.
- calendar is a 'hoot'
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Extraordinary Chickens 2007 Wall Calendar
Stephen Green-Armytage
Manufacturer: "Harry N. Abrams, Inc."
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Binding: Calendar
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Extra Extraordinary Chickens
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Hen and the Art of Chicken Maintenance: Reflections on Raising Chickens
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The Fairest Fowl: Portraits of Championship Chickens
ASIN: 0810954621 |
Customer Reviews:
Fun and Funny.......2007-01-15
After purchasing this as a "gag gift" for my mother, I had to get one for myself. This calendar makes me smile everyday simply because it is silly and light. I have mine on my refridgerator and no one walks through my kitchen without commenting on it. You don't have to be a farmer or a collector of chicken memorabilia to enjoy this. You simply have to be willing to step out into the silly side and enjoy it.
Great calendar.......2007-01-10
Great pictures and I love the colorful checker pages with ample space for writing appointments.
a must for the enthusiast.......2007-01-09
I've been using the extra ordinary chicken calendar for three years now. No other calendar is good enough for the REAL chickenenthusiast! Loaded with beautiful chicken portraits of high artistic quality.
I laughed, I cried, then I bought it........2007-01-04
I needed a new calendar for my cube at work and was rummaging through the discount bin, and I found this beauty. What luck! The cover, title and Vegas-style "lights" as edging hooked me. What better way to get a chuckle?
The calendar, despite what I consider ridiculously laughable content, is high-quality. The photos are top notch, the pages have a good weight and a semi-glossy finish. I actually think I can start to appreciate these fowl over the coming year. Who knew?
calendar is a 'hoot'.......2007-01-04
I gave this calendar as a gift to a friend who raises chickens as a hobby, more as pets than livestock. She was thrilled and 'laughs out loud' at the images.
Book Description
A classic that keeps us intrigued. New for 2008, we get more of the bestselling extraordinary chickens!
Average customer rating:
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Extraordinary Chickens
Manufacturer: Harry N Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0810991292 |
Product Description
Unique book full of full-color photographs of some of the less know breeds of chickens.
Book Description
Mrs. Brown and her chicken friends are preparing for a visit from the Chief Easter Bunny. Snooty Mrs. Patooty from down the road is certain they are wasting their time.
Each year the Chief Easter Bunny visits hen houses around the countryside choosing the finest eggs to be sent to the Easter Egg Factory. There the eggs are turned into a glittering array of colors to be put into baskets for children everywhere.
But something happens to Mrs. Brown's eggs. Something that delights both Mrs. Brown and the Chief Easter Bunny, and it is sure to delight young children.
Magnificent illustrations by Lynnett Alderson make this book a perfect gift for children or collectors of fine illustrated children's books.
Average customer rating:
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Extraordinary Chickens 2005 Wall Calendar
Stephen Green-Armytage
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Calendar
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ASIN: 0810979543 |
Book Description
This perennial favorite features all new photographs by Stephen Green-Armytage, the photographer of Abrams' best-selling Extraordinary Chickens.
Customer Reviews:
I love this calendar.......2005-01-14
I got this as a Christmas present after raving to everyone about the book, and I love it. It's in my office and make me smile whenever I look at it. In addition to the large photo of the chicken of the month, as it were, there's also a small cutout photo at the bottom of each calendar page showing a second chicken's head, which looks quite hilarious sticking out against the calendar. Great for anyone who has a soft spot in their heart for chickens and/or an appreciation for the absurd.
Average customer rating:
- Learn to read the details!!!
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Extraordinary Chickens Spiral Bound Blank Journal
Stephen Green-Armytage
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
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ASIN: 0810985233 |
Book Description
Everyone will flock to this charming blank journal featuring extraordinary photos of truly extraordinary chickens. This fun and whimsical journal is perfect for home, school, work, backpack, or purse. 144 lined pages, 6 x 8".
Customer Reviews:
Learn to read the details!!!.......2003-01-15
Thinking this was the book Extraodinary Chickens, I was totally taken aback to receive a spiral bound notebook filled with . . .
empty lined pages. Pictures of chickens, yes the front and back cover. I love to learn something new each day, but this was a faux-pas on my part. Read the details carefully.
Average customer rating:
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Extraordinary Chickens
*
Manufacturer: ABRAMS HARRY N (THAM
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K7MJHK |
Book Description
Jennifer Berman's wickedly funny book compares the male of the human species with the canine to come up with some hilarious disparities. Berman's delightful four-color cartoons and witty quips show why some women may prefer the four-legged animal to the two-legged.When it was originally published by Pocket Books in 1993, Jennifer Berman's Why Dogs Are Better Than Men sold more than 80,000 copies. It was also critically praised. "Why Dogs are Better Than Men is charming, funny, and apt," said Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of the New York Times best-seller The Hidden Life of Dogs. "The dogs are portrayed with respect, which is important."Today, Jennifer's humor is just as fresh. Women are still trying to gently train the men in their lives, hoping to bring them up to the canine gold standard. Anyone who loves her pooch will find this book irresistible since it cleverly highlights just how devoted the owner-pet connection can be.
Customer Reviews:
Silly book.......2007-08-05
Pretty dumb, bought this as a gag present for my boss's b-day, as she has 6 dogs and was pretty anti-marriage....
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- The Landmarks of New York: An Illustrated Record of the City's Historic Buildings
- The Landscape Urbanism Reader
- The Main Line: Country Houses of Philadelphia's Storied Suburb (Suburban Domestic Architecture, Vol. 1) (Great American Suburbs) (Great American Suburbs) (Great American Suburbs)
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Books Index
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The Chinese Neolithic: Trajectories to Early States (New Studies in Archaeology)
Art, Myth and Ritual: The Path to Political Authority in Ancient China
