Book Description
Al-Kimia - The Mystical Islamic Essence of the Sacred Art Of Alchemy by John Eberly presents a condensed history of Alchemy told through concise biographies of early Sufi Masters. Chapters examine occult areas of alchemical and spiritual interest such as jafr, an exegetical Qur'anic science akin to Hebrew Qabala; the Qiyamat or 'Great Resurrection', of the heretical Ismaili sect; the contrary path of the saintly Malamatiyya or 'blameworthy ones'; Hermetic color theory, and 'hidden' art history. A glossary of transliterated terms is appended that will greatly help the beginner as well as the advanced student of these subjects.
Customer Reviews:
Golden.......2004-11-09
Responding to the ignorance too common in the United States, Eberly excavates the extravagant beauty of the sacred art of transformation. Alchemy, he explains, "accelerates the natural evolutionary process in order to accomplish, the spirtualization of matter and the materialization of the Holy Spirit." Al-Kimia is a golden read. Highly recommended.
Book Description
A beautifully illustrated introduction to Sufism, the mystic tradition of Islam.
Sufism is the inner dimension of Islam, expressing hidden archetypes in concrete symbols. To the Sufi, both the ritual of the worshipper and the work of the craftsman evoke the life that resides within all things: the preparedness of matter to answer the call of God. The basis of Sufism, as of all Islam, lies in the twin doctrines of the Unity of Being ("There is no god but God") and the Universal Prototype ("Muhammad is the Prophet of God").
Through the Sufi themes of the descending arc of Creation, the foundation of the human soul, and its return through the ascending arc of the Quest, Laleh Bakhtiar brings to light the spiritual reality that underlies the forms and rhythms of the Islamic tradition. Her introduction is suitable for both novice and experienced readers. 137 Illustrations, 30 in color.
Customer Reviews:
Tasawwuf al-Irani.......2004-01-27
Bismillah! Even after years of reading Sufi material, this book retains a special place in my memory for the beautiful introduction it provided to the Way of Return. This book is esentially the most inspired best coffee-table book I've ever come across, combining luxuriously illustrated design with lucid essays on the sacred quest, the relationship of shaykh and disciple, and various doctrines such as expansion and contraction in creation and consciousness. All of this places the Sufi way firmly in the unveiling of the last Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and the world of Islam. Culturally, this book favors the Iranian (and therefore Turkish and central Asian as well) tradition and neglects aspects of the Arab and Indian Sufi expressions.
Beautiful Introduction to Sufism.......2000-08-11
This book is a wonderful introduction to Sufism, the mystical tradition of Islam. The first part of the book is a lucid essay about the origins and basic outlook of the Sufis; Bakhtiar contrasts Creation ("the arc of descent") with the mystical quest ("the arc of the ascent"). The second part of the book is an exquisitely beautiful collection of photographs and reproductions of traditional Sufi illuminated manuscripts; the colors are strikingly clear. The third part of the book highlights particular themes in Sufism, including the Sufi understanding of geometry, architecture, music, poetry, and dreams. This book is a must for anyone who intuitively understands the connection between spirituality and the visual arts.
Product Description
For the Muslim faithful, the familiar sound of the Qur'anic recitation is the predominant and most immediate means of contact with the Word of God. Heard day and night, on the street, in taxis, in shops, in mosques, and in homes, the sound of recitation is far more than the pervasive background music of daily life in the Arab world. It is the core of religious devotion, the sanctioning spirit of much cultural and social life, and a valued art form in its own right. Participation in recitation, as reciter or listener, is itself an act of worship, for the sound is basic to a Muslim's sense of religion and invokes a set of meanings transcending the particular occasion. For the most part, Westerners have approached the Qur'an much as scriptural scholars have studied the Bible, as a collection of written texts. The Art of Reciting the Qur'an aims at redirecting that focus toward a deeper understanding of the Qur'an as a fundamentally oral phenomenon. Focusing on the Egyptian context, and examining Muslim attitudes toward the Qur'an, the institutions that regulate its recitation, and performer-audience expectations and interaction. Kristina Nelson, a trained Arabist and musicologist, casts new light on the significance of Qur'anic recitation within the world of Islam today. This new edition of a landmark study, with a new postscript, will be welcomed by all scholars and students of the modern Middle East, as well as by ethnomusicologists, anthropologists, linguists, folklorists, and religious scholars.
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Allah le conquerant (Beautes du monde)
Eve Mercier , and
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Customer Reviews:
A study of art as it is understood in the Islamic world.......2007-03-30
Little is discussed regarding 'Islamic art' its meaning and message other than in the works of this author, F Schuon and Titus Burckhard. There are plenty of books regarding the tools that were used, the colours and shapes but little on what actually motivated those who designed the great Mosques in Iran, Turkey and other parts of the world, who composed works of literature and works of art.
This book goes some way to answer those questions it also includes an exellent study of Rumi based on some traditional sources that are little known in the West. It should be pointed out regarding Rumi that the vast majority of literature published concerning him is not based on original sources but simply re-writes of Nicholson, Arberry or Iqbal. Apart from Nicholsons notes to the Mathnawi wich is based upon the commentary of Ankaravi I am not aware of any available translation of a comentarty of the Mathnawi (something that is badly needed)
Profesor Nasr goes some way in this book to explain the true meaning of Rumi and another great Persian poet and Sufi Farid ud-Din Attar. There is also an exellent chapter on music, the concept of space in Islamic art and the concept and understanding of painting and minitures in Islamic art (a form of art that has been misunderstood in recent years)
An excellent selection and introduction to the subject.......1999-08-20
Professor Nasr's work on Islamic subjects is generally characterised not merely by its academic and still hospitable style but further by an indepth understanding and experience of spirituality as such in its most universal and applicable sense. In the book "Islamic art and Spirituality" he cover the highlight themes of traditional art, architecture, calligraphy, poetry, prose literature, esoterism, piety, etc, as it developed in Islamic lands. Of special interest is the chapter on the Persian poet Jalal al-Din Rumi. I warmly recommend the present work to students of religious studies as well as religios seekers from all traditions.
Book Description
The popularity of digital cameras continues to grow exponentially. They are now more powerful, feature rich, and affordable--turning digital photography into a mainstream interest. And with Photoshop Elements, Adobe has created the most popular photo-editing program on the planet. Learning how to work Photoshop Elements and manage digital photos can be a challenge for anyone just getting started--from the hobbyist to the pro photographer. With the latest Photoshop Elements 4 update, Adobe delivers a powerful new program that provides photo editing and organizing functionality with improved performance. The updated version also includes new, more intuitive features that are streamlined and easier to use--when the photographer has the right learning tool in hand.
With Photoshop Elements 4: The Missing Manual, author Barbara Brundage has written the perfect digital photography guide. In a clear, easy-to-read format, the author provides step-by-step instruction so readers can learn what they need to do to edit their photos successfully and manage their collection. This new edition also includes more than a dozen downloadable images so readers can practice using the editing tools. Readers will master useful editing techniques--from the most common to the advanced:
- Automatically correct red eye and skin tones
- Select and extract complex objects with the Magic Selection Brush and The Magic Extractor
- Create photomontages
- Restore old photographs
- Post photos on the web
- Manage and archive an entire collection
- Design a custom slide show with panning and zooming capabilities
Once photographers learn how to edit their photos successfully, they'll also learn how to post them online or upload them to the Kodak EasyShare Gallery for use in creating personal mailing lists, post cards, calendars, and much more. Photoshop Elements 4: The Missing Manual, is for any photographer interested in learning the right editing techniques for producing and sharing beautiful digital photography.
Photoshop Elements 4: The Missing Manual covers the Windows version of the software only. When we published the book, there was no Mac version of the software (as there is now), and for various reasons, we've been unable to update this edition to include the Mac version. Nonetheless, if you're on a Mac, you can use this book. Just substitute Command for Ctrl, and Option for Alt whenever you see keystroke shortcuts, and about 98 percent of the Editor functions will work the same. The sections on the Organizer only apply to Windows because the Mac version has no Organizer.
Customer Reviews:
Photoshop Elements 5.0 The Missing Manual.......2007-09-29
This is a must have. Covers everything the other manuals miss, and gives pertinent information others miss. Well written, easily followed and understood. Pick a topic and go, or read it from front to back.
Good information, but needs more step by step instructions........2007-09-24
Lots of information but some of it assumes you already know how to use it. Can get to what you want to do with some digging.
Outstanding reference for Elements users.......2007-09-20
I did quite a bit of research on Elements 5.0 books, and I ended up choosing this one because of the great reviews it had gotten. Excellent choice! The book is very easy to understand, and I can't imagine tackling Elements 5.0 without it. It gave me the good start I needed in understanding and effectively using the software. Barbara Brundage is an excellent author. She's great at writing in a way that gives you the info you need while avoiding the techno-speak that many software developers use. If you have Elements 5.0 and need a good reference....or a good way to start using the software...this is your book.
Photoshop elements the lost Manual.......2007-09-05
Ok, I'm not the professional photographer and having said that, I'm not the editing guru either. So, I bought photoshop elements 5.0 for my computer which runs vista, it runs great. I'm sure i have only touched on a small part of the of the software, because it's a bit overwhelming at first, this book helps take care of that feeling. I came across this book and WoW, now i get it. Good luck with the book. I go to the chapter that i need help with during my editing mess. haha... Amazon you rock!!!
Photoshop Elementa 5: The Missing Manual.......2007-09-03
I have read several books on editing photos and I have found that Photoshoshop and the missing maual goes step by step with the software in easy sef ecplainable senteneces tha even a necomer can understand.
Book Description
His name is John Blacksad. He's a private detective who's seen much evil in the past, but never in his long life has he encountered a case as bizarre, as twisted, or as deadly as the one he accepts now. In a town where white supremacists have moved in and are brutally seizing control, Blacksad is asked to find a kidnapped child and bring the kidnappers to justice. As he gets deeper into his investigation, Blacksad discovers a tale of sickening horror involving murder and worse that condemns some of the town's most powerful citizens.
Customer Reviews:
Why haven't you bought it yet?.......2007-03-05
I went to art school, and one of my teachers introduced me to this artist. If an art teacher is showing you something, you tend to pay attention, especially if it has an excellent storyline as well. Its not meant for kids, but it does have sort of a film-noir-esque feel to it. Its not so much animals acting out people roles in a detective story as much as it is people who just happen to look like animals in a detective story. Not one of the people i showed it to could give it a poor review. So its worth it.
The most refreshing comic series in years!!!.......2006-02-22
I found this book at my library. I thought it was Batman on the cover at first, but a closer inspection revealed it to be a cat. I checked it out that very day, and spent all night reading it again...and again...and again.
All I can say is "WOW!" Mr. Canales's story is so engrossing, and Mr. Guarinido's pictures are wonderfully done. I feel a personal connection to Blacksad and his search for Natalia Wilford's killer, but mostly to Blacksad himself. When I showed it to my aunt, she said he looked like Stacy Keach. Thing is, I don't know who that is.
That aside, this is a wonderful book, and I heartily recommend it!!
Mediocre writing but amazing and nuanced art.......2005-10-11
This is the first time I've across Guarnido's art and I'm very impressed. His characters have such mobility of expression, such humanity of every variety, such plain veracity, . . . you forget they're actually animals. The storyline, unfortunately, isn't really anything out of the ordinary. John Blacksad is a black cat private eye (emphasis on "black") hired by a school teacher from the wrong side of town to locate a missing student. This gets him caught up in local race politics and in family secrets, centering on Chief of Police Karup, a very large, very dangerous, very white polar bear with an embarrassing past, and he likes things run his way. Much good it does him, though. Think small-town Alabama in the 1950s. Now I'll have to try to find Book 1 of Blacksad's saga.
A remarkable and odd graphic novel........2005-08-16
I haven't gotten hold of any other Blacksad volumes yet, so this was my introduction to the series; I was very impressed.
The story is about white supremacism and racism, only the characters are all anthropomorphic animals: a brown deer, a crow, a white tiger, a polar bear, and so forth. The title character is a black cat (with a white muzzle). The motif is thoughtfully done, but a bit heavy-handed, and at some points I didn't know whether to find it disturbing or inspired or just cheesy. In any case, it's always engaging and sometimes funny and sad as well.
The full-color art is excellent simply as painting; you'll want to page back through and savor the melancholy, elegantly-composed images. More important, though, it's really top-notch cartoon art. The animal characters' faces are startlingly vivid caricatures of human faces. The expressions are as human and as familiar as the faces you see every day, even as the faces retain the mechanics of foxes' and bears' faces. This actually makes the racial commentary even more disturbing (/cheesy), but it also makes the characters (particularly Blacksad) seem instantly and deeply human. The art lets you get lost in the world of the book, and it's hard to think of a finer triumph for comics art.
Phenomenal work of art and story.......2005-07-15
When readers mention the greatest graphic novels ever made, they often think of "Watchmen" or "Dark Knight Returns" or "Kingdom Come". All three of these are not only superhero tales, but also long, multipart epics. So it's even more amazing how good this book is, as it is neither of those things. This is one of the absolute best books I've ever read period. And I put it up there with the rest of the hallowed graphic novel epics.
Customer Reviews:
Browser's paradise.......2002-03-27
Despite not being a large book, this paperback makes a great "coffee table" book in the sense that it is great to leave laying around to have guests browse through. Flipping it open, one finds such important questions as: who's the best baseball player? which art museum is best? addressed. These are all questions that people have idled away time answering; the value Poundstone adds is having researched them. He provides just enough information--even on topics for which I don't have much expertise I found his commentary interesting. Even for those who don't care about the details the book is worth flipping through to see the comparative charts and conclusions.
Some of his choices of important questions to answer seem a bit odd (what's the most difficult shot in billiards) but even these result in a brief, interesting chapter devoted to some topic I'd never previously pondered.
Books:
- Alois Riegl
- An Introduction to Music and Art in the Western World
- Art: A History of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, Vol.1
- Art Students' Anatomy
- Arts Administration and Management: A Guide for Administrators and Their Staffs
- Barlowe's Guide to Extraterrestrials: Great Aliens from Science Fiction Literature
- Beautiful Death: The Art of the Cemetery (Penguin Studio Books)
- Birthday Wishes (Portraits of Little Women)
- Bob Flanagan: Supermasochist (People Series)
- Canyon Country Prehistoric Rock Art (Canyon Country Series #14) (Canyon Country Series Number 14)
Books Index
Books Home
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