Search

Shopping cart

Saved articles

You have not yet added any article to your bookmarks!

Browse articles
Newsletter image

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Join 10k+ people to get notified about new posts, news and tips.

Do not worry we don't spam!

GDPR Compliance

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service.

Arts & Entertainment Books

Star Wars Dawn of Rebellion The Visual Guide - DK

Star Wars Dawn of Rebellion The Visual Guide

Take a deep dive into a turbulent era of the Star Wars galaxy and chart the rise of the Rebellion from the prequel trilogy through Star Wars: Obi-Wan , Star Wars: Andor , and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story to the original trilogy. For many years, the state of the galaxy between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope was a mystery to Star Wars fans. With the release of Star Wars Rebels and Rogue One , and more recently, Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi and Star Wars: Andor, an exciting new era has begun to emerge – the Dawn of Rebellion. Before Luke Skywalker ever picked up a lightsaber, the rebels were scattered and desperate bands of idealists, fighting their own battles against the might of the Empire. Victories were few, losses high, and danger ever-present. This Visual Guide charts this darkest of times, revealing all of the key characters, locations, vehicles, and weapons from the hit Disney+ series, with supporting material from the Skywalker saga. Includes exclusive new cross-section artwork of the Fondor haulcraft.

The Storyteller - Dave Grohl

The Storyteller

The #1 New York Times Bestseller * Named one of Variety's Best Music Books of 2021 * Included in Audible's Best of The Year list * A Business Insider Best Memoirs of 2021 * One of NME's Best Music Books of 2021 So, I've written a book. Having entertained the idea for years, and even offered a few questionable opportunities ("It's a piece of cake! Just do 4 hours of interviews, find someone else to write it, put your face on the cover, and voila!") I have decided to write these stories just as I have always done, in my own hand. The joy that I have felt from chronicling these tales is not unlike listening back to a song that I've recorded and can't wait to share with the world, or reading a primitive journal entry from a stained notebook, or even hearing my voice bounce between the Kiss posters on my wall as a child.  This certainly doesn't mean that I'm quitting my day job, but it does give me a place to shed a little light on what it's like to be a kid from Springfield, Virginia, walking through life while living out the crazy dreams I had as young musician. From hitting the road with Scream at 18 years old, to my time in Nirvana and the Foo Fighters, jamming with Iggy Pop or playing at the Academy Awards or dancing with AC/DC and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, drumming for Tom Petty or meeting Sir Paul McCartney at Royal Albert Hall, bedtime stories with Joan Jett or a chance meeting with Little Richard, to flying halfway around the world for one epic night with my daughters…the list goes on. I look forward to focusing the lens through which I see these memories a little sharper for you with much excitement. 

Star Wars Timelines - Kristin Baver, Jason Fry, Cole Horton, Amy Richau & Clayton Sandell

Star Wars Timelines

Chart the history of Star Wars in this stunning guide, from the time before the High Republic to the First Order. An indispensable companion for all Star Wars fans, this premium quality ebook displays visual timelines that chronologically map key events, characters, and developments and mark their significance. Track crucial conflicts across the years that affect the galaxy in profound ways. Follow the Skywalker lightsaber as it passes through the generations and witness the evolution of the iconic TIE fighter across different eras. Trace the movement of the Death Star plans over the years and uncover multiple branching timelines that break down important battles. See essential events at a glance arranged by era and drill down into details to discover major and minor events, key dates, and fascinating insights all chronologically arranged. Pore over intricate timelines on nearly every page. © & ™ 2022 Lucasfilm Ltd.

The Tao of Wu - RZA

The Tao of Wu

From the founder of the Wu-Tang Clan, an inspirational book for the hip-hop fan. The RZA, founder of the Wu-Tang Clan, imparts the lessons he’s learned on his journey from the Staten Island projects to international superstardom. A devout student of knowledge in every form in which he’s found it, he distills here the wisdom he’s acquired into seven “pillars,” each based on a formative event in his life—from the moment he first heard the call of hip-hop to the death of his cousin and Clan-mate, Russell Jones, aka ODB. Delivered in RZA’s unmistakable style, at once surprising, profound, and provocative, The Tao of Wu is a spiritual memoir the world has never seen before, and will never see again. A nonfiction Siddhartha for the hip-hop generation from the author of The Wu-Tang Manual , it will enlighten, entertain, and inspire.

Fahrenheit-182 - Mark Hoppus & Dan Ozzi

Fahrenheit-182

***The Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller!*** A smart, funny, and refreshing memoir from Mark Hoppus, the vocalist, bassist, and founding member of pop-punk band blink-182. This is the story of an angst-filled kid from the desert, navigating the chaos of his parents' bitter divorce and searching for his place in the world. Each move across the country was a chance to reinvent himself, switching identities from dork to goth to skate punk, and eventually meeting his best friend who just so happens to be his musical soulmate.  With sharp humor and raw honesty, Fahrenheit-182 takes readers through Mark's formative years as a latchkey kid in the 1980s, hooked on punk rock, skateboards, and MTV. Along the way, Mark reflects on his lifelong battle with anxiety, his celebrated career with blink-182, and his public fight with cancer, in a voice that’s both relatable and unmistakably his own. Threaded with sharp humor and heartfelt grit, Fahrenheit-182 is more than just a memoir for blink-182 fans. It’s a funny, smart, and deeply human story for anyone who’s struggled, reinvented themselves, wanted to quit but kept going.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two: The Official Playscript of the Original West End Production - J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany & Jack Thorne

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two: The Official Playscript of the Original West End Production

The official playscript of the original West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn't much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband, and father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places. The playscript for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was originally released as a 'special rehearsal edition' alongside the opening of Jack Thorne's play in London's West End in summer 2016. Based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne, the play opened to rapturous reviews from theatregoers and critics alike, while the official playscript became an immediate global bestseller. This definitive and final playscript updates the 'special rehearsal edition' with the conclusive and final dialogue from the play, which has subtly changed since its rehearsals, as well as a conversation piece between director John Tiffany and writer Jack Thorne, who share stories and insights about reading playscripts. This edition also includes useful background information including the Potter family tree and a timeline of events from the Wizarding World prior to the beginning of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Star Wars 100 Objects - Kristin Baver

Star Wars 100 Objects

100 objects that capture the excitement, mystery, and mythology of Star War s. See how these artefacts, and many more, impacted key characters and events. From revered heirlooms such as Darth Vader's mask and the Skywalker lightsaber to a Tusken gaderffii stick and a clone trooper's helmet, each carefully chosen object has its own compelling story to tell. Presented chronologically, full-color images illustrate every entry, while the accompanying essay explores the background and resonance of each piece. Star Wars: 100 Objects provides an exclusive glimpse at props from the Lucasfilm Archives and is a unique, wonderful way to experience the richness of the timeless Star Wars saga. © & ™ 2022 Lucasfilm Ltd.

Modern Poker Theory - Michael Acevedo

Modern Poker Theory

Modern Poker Theory is a comprehensive, rigorous guide to the most important aspects of No-Limit Hold’em. It is based around an in-depth examination of what is meant by game theory optimal play (GTO) and how it can be applied at the table. Understanding GTO is fundamental to being able to make accurate poker decisions and being able to exploit players who don’t. Modern Poker Theory uses modern poker tools to develop a systematic approach to the analysis of GTO. It organizes the ideas and concepts in an intuitive manner that is totally focused to practical applications. Next time you are at a table some of the players will have studied Modern Poker Theory and some won’t. The players who have studied Modern Poker Theory will, without doubt, have a better theoretical and practical understanding of No-Limit Hold’em. They will be the favourites in the game. Make sure you are one of them. Michael Acevedo, one of the world’s leading poker theorists, is a game theory expert who is renowned for creating cutting-edge content for the world’s leading players. The production of Modern Poker Theory is the culmination of many thousands of hours of his research work with the most advanced poker software tools available. It is poker theory for the 21st century.

The Classical Music Book - DK

The Classical Music Book

Learn about the world's greatest classical compositions and musical traditions in The Classical Music Book. Part of the fascinating Big Ideas series, this book tackles tricky topics and themes in a simple and easy to follow format. Learn about Classic Music in this overview guide to the subject, great for novices looking to find out more and experts wishing to refresh their knowledge alike! The Classical Music Book brings a fresh and vibrant take on the topic through eye-catching graphics and diagrams to immerse yourself in. This captivating book will broaden your understanding of Classical Music, with: - More than 90 pieces of world-famous music - Packed with facts, charts, timelines and graphs to help explain core concepts - A visual approach to big subjects with striking illustrations and graphics throughout - Easy to follow text makes topics accessible for people at any level of understanding The Classical Music Book is a captivating introduction to music theory, crucial composers and the impact of seminal pieces, aimed at adults with an interest in the subject and students wanting to gain more of an overview. Here you'll discover more than 90 works by famous composers from the early period to the modern day, through exciting text and bold graphics. Your Classical Music Questions, Simply Explained From Mozart to Mendelssohn, this fresh new guide goes beyond your typical music books, offering a comprehensive overview to classical music history and biography. If you thought it was difficult to learn about music theory, The Classical Music Book presents key information in a clear layout. Explore the main ideas underpinning the world's greatest compositions and musical traditions, and define their importance to the musical canon and into their wider social, cultural, and historical context. The Big Ideas Series With millions of copies sold worldwide, The Classical Music Book is part of the award-winning Big Ideas series from DK. The series uses striking graphics along with engaging writing, making big topics easy to understand.

The Crucible - Arthur Miller

The Crucible

A haunting examination of groupthink and mass hysteria in a rural community   The place is Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692, an enclave of rigid piety huddled on the edge of a wilderness. Its inhabitants believe unquestioningly in their own sanctity. But in Arthur Miller's edgy masterpiece, that very belief will have poisonous consequences when a vengeful teenager accuses a rival of witchcraft—and then when those accusations multiply to consume the entire village. First produced in 1953, at a time when America was convulsed by a new epidemic of witch-hunting, The Crucible brilliantly explores the threshold between individual guilt and mass hysteria, personal spite and collective evil. It is a play that is not only relentlessly suspenseful and vastly moving but that compels readers to fathom their hearts and consciences in ways that only the greatest theater ever can. "A drama of emotional power and impact" — New York Post

How to Win at Chess - Levy Rozman

How to Win at Chess

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Learn chess from International Master and YouTube’s top chess teacher Levy Rozman (aka GothamChess) in this refreshing and fun guide for beginner and intermediate players. Clever and informative, How to Win at Chess teaches you everything you need to know about the game, including all the important moves and strategies to start off strong and keep you thinking several steps ahead. Full of Levy Rozman's signature charm and humor that have made him beloved by millions of fans, the first half of this unique guide introduces rising players (0-800 Elo rating) to the four key areas to consider when playing chess—openings, endings, tactics, and strategy—and the second half builds upon these core skills for more experienced players (800-1300 Elo rating). Brimming with practical and easy-to-follow tips for improving your game, How to Win at Chess includes over 500 instructional gameplay illustrations to help you better visualize the board, as well as chapter-specific QR codes for exclusive bonus content on Chessly, Rozman’s teaching platform. Whether you want to become a recreational chess player or are training to be a Grandmaster, How to Win at Chess is the perfect interactive introduction to the world of chess!

Star Wars Complete Locations New Edition - Jason Fry, Emily Shkoukani, Kristin Lund, Simon Beecroft, Kerrie Dougherty, James Luceno, Richard Chasemore, Maxim Degtyarev, Hans Jenssen, Sofian Moumene, John Mullaney & Kemp Remillard

Star Wars Complete Locations New Edition

Explore the worlds of a galaxy far, far away with incredible cross-sections. With more than 60 intricate full-color artworks and 3D maps, explore iconic locations that bring the Star Wars saga to life. This updated edition has been comprehensively updated and includes incredible cross-sections from Star Wars: The Last Jedi , Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker , Rogue One: A Star Wars Story , Solo: A Star Wars Story , Star Wars: The Mandalorian, and Star Wars: Andor . Uncover the unspeakable secrets of Darth Vader’s castle. Explore the ancient Jedi ruins on Ahch-To. Discover the unmatched opulence of Canto Bight and the brutal efficiency of the Narkina-5 prison complex. Created in close collaboration with Lucasfilm, this book also contains the official map of the Star Wars galaxy, charting hundreds of planets from Ajan Kloss to Zygerria. This comprehensive book makes the perfect gift for any Star Wars fan. Readers will spend hours studying the fascinating artwork to gain new insights into iconic locations from their favorite saga.

The Complete Book of Drawing - Barrington Barber

The Complete Book of Drawing

What does an artist need to know about drawing? And what has to be mastered in order to achieve the drawings you want? In this book Barrington Barber shows you, offering advice and tips as he takes you through the various stages. From object drawing and still-life composition, the natural world and portraiture, to looking at form and shape, and assessing styles and techniques,  The Complete Book of Drawing  is a distillation of the many skills that the aspiring artist needs to develop. As Barrington Barber knows from his many years of both teaching and practising art, it is crucial for you as an individual to find your own style and way of doing things. And, uniquely among practical art books, this is what The Complete Book of Drawing provides, by revealing new possibilities and enabling you to look at the world around you with fresh eyes. After training as a graphic designer, Barrington Barber went into advertising, working for top agencies such as Ogilvy & Mather, before progressing to freelance design and producing illustrations for a range of books and magazines. He taught art for many years, and now enjoys a successful career as a fine artist. He has written and illustrated a wide range of best-selling instructive art books, which to date have sold 4 million copies around the world.

The Guitarist's Scale Book - Peter Vogl

The Guitarist's Scale Book

The Guitarist’s Scale Book by Peter Vogl is a complete scale encyclopedia for guitar with over 400 scales and modes. It contains scale diagrams with notation and tablature for each scale and tips on how and when to use each scale.  This scale book also contains outside jazz scales, exotic scales, Peter's own Cross-Stringing scales, and easy to understand explanations of scales and modes. This is the only guitar scale book you'll ever need.

Ask the dust - John Fante

Ask the dust

Set in 1930s Los Angeles, Ask the Dust by John Fante tells the story of a young Italian writer by the name of Arturo Bandini who moves to Los Angeles from a small town in Colorado in the hopes of becoming a big-shot writer. Bandini’s life is changes drastically when he meets a young Mexican American waitress and becomes embroiled in an intense love affair that leads him to question his own American identity and the American landscape to which he belongs.

The Beatles Recording Sessions - Mark Lewisohn

The Beatles Recording Sessions

One of the most important and successful rock 'n' roll books ever published is now available in paperback. This is the definitive guide to every recording session done by the Beatles at EMI's Abbey Road recording studio. 150 full-color, 100 duotone, and 100 black-and-white photographs.

Death of a Salesman - Arthur Miller

Death of a Salesman

The Pulitzer Prize-winning tragedy of a salesman’s deferred American dream   Ever since it was first performed in 1949, Death of a Salesman has been recognized as a milestone of the American theater. In the person of Willy Loman, the aging, failing salesman who makes his living riding on a smile and a shoeshine, Arthur Miller redefined the tragic hero as a man whose dreams are at once insupportably vast and dangerously insubstantial. He has given us a figure whose name has become a symbol for a kind of majestic grandiosity—and a play that compresses epic extremes of humor and anguish, promise and loss, between the four walls of an American living room. "By common consent, this is one of the finest dramas in the whole range of the American theater." —Brooks Atkinson, The New York Times "So simple, central, and terrible that the run of playwrights would neither care nor dare to attempt it." — Time

Writing Better Lyrics - Pat Pattison

Writing Better Lyrics

The Must-Have Guide for Songwriters Writing Better Lyrics has been a staple for songwriters for nearly two decades. Now this revised and updated 2nd Edition provides effective tools for everything from generating ideas, to understanding the form and function of a song, to fine-tuning lyrics. Perfect for new and experienced songwriters alike, this time-tested classic covers the basics in addition to more advanced techniques.Songwriters will discover:    • How to use sense-bound imagery to enhance a song's emotional impact on listeners    • Techniques for avoiding clichés and creating imaginative metaphors and similes    • Ways to use repetition as an asset    • How to successfully manipulate meter    • Instruction for matching lyrics with music    • Ways to build on ideas and generate effective titles    • Advice for working with a co-writer    • And much more Featuring updated and expanded chapters, 50 fun songwriting exercises, and examples from more than 20 chart-toppings songs, Writing Better Lyrics gives you all of the professional and creative insight you need to write powerful lyrics and put your songs in the spotlight where they belong.

The Hills of California - Jez Butterworth

The Hills of California

'This house. It's called "Sea View". It's just I've looked out of every window, and you can't. You can't see the sea.' Blackpool, 1976. The driest summer in two hundred years. The beaches are packed. The hotels are heaving. In the sweltering backstreets, far from the choc ices and donkey rides, the Webb Sisters are returning to their mother's run-down guest house, as she lies dying upstairs. Jez Butterworth's play The Hills of California was first performed at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London's West End in 2024, directed by Sam Mendes, and produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and Neal Street.

The War for Late Night - Bill Carter

The War for Late Night

Bill Carter, executive producer of CNN’s docuseries The Story of Late Night and host of the  Behind the Desk: Story of Late Night  podcast, details the chaotic transition of The Tonight Show from host Jay Leno to Conan O’Brien—and back again. In 2010, NBC’s CEO Jeff Zucker, had it all worked out when he moved Jay Leno from behind the desk at The Tonight Show , and handed the reins over to Conan O'Brien. But his decision was a spectacular failure. Ratings plummeted, affiliates were enraged—and when Zucker tried to put everything back the way it was, that plan backfired as well. No one is more uniquely suited to document the story of a late-night travesty than veteran media reporter and bestselling author, Bill Carter. In candid detail, he charts the vortex that sucked in not just Leno and O'Brien—but also Letterman, Stewart, Fallon, Kimmel, and Ferguson—as frantic agents and network executives tried to manage a tectonic shift in television’s most beloved institution.

TCM Imports - Alicia Malone

TCM Imports

Whether you’re a longtime film buff or new to foreign movies, TCM Imports is an essential, accessible guide to an absorbing selection of cinema from around the world, curated by Turner Classic Movies host Alicia Malone. International cinema offers a one-of-a-kind window to the world, allowing viewers to experience foreign cultures and unique expressions of cinematic art, but it can feel daunting to approach for newcomers or to expand upon even for seasoned movie buffs. Let TCM Imports be your guide to a wide-ranging and engrossing collection of movies from around the world. Featuring films from every continent, touching on international waves—including, but by no means limited to, those renowned from Europe—and spanning a century of moviemaking, this resource is comprehensive but accessible.   TCM Imports includes an eclectic list of films, including those that have been called high art, low art, or cult classics. There are obvious choices and some weird ones, but all are a good time, and all will inspire you to explore a different side of cinema. Each movie is covered with just enough description to get you excited (no spoilers!); behind-the-scenes stories; background on the filmmakers, stars, genres, and movements the films were a part of; and illustrated by full-color and black-and-white photos. With a thematic organization by seasons and moods inspired by time of year, this guide will set you up to enjoy a movie each week for a full year of foreign treasures, or allow you to dive into a binge-watch. Viewer’s choice! ​ Among the films included: Amelie (2001), Ikiru (1952), Lady Snowblood (1973), The Girls (1968), In the Mood For Love (2000), Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974), Bicycle Thieves (1948), Daisies (1966), Spring in a Small Town (1948), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Late Spring (1949), Went the Day Well? (1942), The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928), Black Girl (1966), The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967), Purple Noon (1960), Cléo From 5 to 7 (1962), Parasite (2019), L’Avventura (1960), Metropolis (1926), The Rules of the Game (1939), Devi (1960), Death of a Cyclist (1955), Pale Flower (1964), Fanny and Alexander (1982), Black Christmas (1974), My Night at Maud’s (1969)

The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling - John Muir Laws

The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling

The ultimate guide to nature drawing and journaling Gold Medal, 2016 Foreword INDIES Book Award. A potent combination of art, science, and boundless enthusiasm, the latest art instruction book from John Muir Laws is a how-to guide for becoming a better artist and a more attentive naturalist. In straightforward text complemented by step-by-step illustrations, dozens of exercises lead the hand and mind through creating accurate reproductions of plants and animals as well as landscapes, skies, and more. Laws provides clear, practical advice for every step of the process for artists at every level, from the basics of choosing supplies to advanced techniques. While the book's advice will improve the skills of already accomplished artists, the emphasis on seeing, learning, and feeling will make this book valuable even revelatory to anyone interested in the natural world, no matter how rudimentary their artistic abilities.

The Winning Horseplayer - Andrew Beyer

The Winning Horseplayer

In The Winning Horseplayer, Andrew Beyer builds on the strategy of speed handicapping that he detailed brilliantly in Picking Winners by introducing the concept of trip handicapping. Through an unbeatable combination of case studies and lively anecdotes, Beyer shows the smart bettor how to combine past performance data with an understanding of trips, track bias, and pace. This advanced guide to handicapping, which includes a new preface by the author, offers a generous dose of the wit and wisdom that have made Beyer a legend in the sport.

Warhammer 40,000 Character Encyclopedia - Wade Pryce

Warhammer 40,000 Character Encyclopedia

Want to dive into the grim darkness of the far future, but don't know where to start? Look no further! From the stalwart commanders of the Space Marines to the mysterious Phoenix Lords of the Aeldari, explore the greatest warriors and leaders of each warring faction. Featuring more than 120 characters from the 41st Millennium, this character encyclopedia is a perfect introduction to the iconic heroes and villains of Warhammer 40,000 . Each page showcases stunning photography of Games Workshop miniatures, epic artwork, and vital stats and facts on each character.

The Hills of California - Jez Butterworth

The Hills of California

'This house. It's called "Sea View". It's just I've looked out of every window, and you can't. You can't see the sea.' Blackpool, 1976. The driest summer in two hundred years. The beaches are packed. The hotels are heaving. In the sweltering backstreets, far from the choc ices and donkey rides, the Webb Sisters are returning to their mother's run-down guest house, as she lies dying upstairs. When memories from their youth come flooding back, the sisters must confront their past and untangle a web of secrets, betrayals and profound emotional bonds. Jez Butterworth's play The Hills of California was first performed at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London's West End in 2024, directed by Sam Mendes, and produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and Neal Street. This edition features the revised and definitive version of the play performed during its acclaimed Broadway transfer later that year.

Sam Hell is inspiring and aglow with the promise of redemption - The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hel̴l a novel

Sam Hell is inspiring and aglow with the promise of redemption

According to Booklist, Robert Dugoni, bestselling author of the Wall Street Journal and New York Times, is a coming-of-age narrative that "nestles in close to the border, if it doesn't cross entirely over into John Irving territory." Sam Hill had a unique perspective on the world at all times. His classmates nicknamed him "Devil Boy" or Sam "Hell" because of his crimson pupils at birth; his mother referred to his ocular albinism as "God's will." Her comments offered little consolation, but Sam persisted because of his father's practical knowledge, his mother's fervent faith, and his two other oddball pals. Sam thought that Ernie Cantwell, the only other African American student in his class, was sent by God to be the companion he much needed. And that Sam's whole worldview of boys and girls was turned upside down when Mickie Kennedy stormed into Our Lady of Mercy like a cyclone, all because it was God's plan. Sam, a small-town eye doctor, is no longer confident that anything was intentional forty years later—especially not the catastrophe that made him leave his friends, his community, and the life he had known all his life. Shutting your eyes and running away from the agony didn't really help. Sam sets off on an adventure that will take him halfway across the globe while he reflects on his life. This time, his eyes are wide open, revealing everything that shaped him, scared him, and altered him before he could finally see what really mattered. Winner of the Crimson Scribe Award from Suspense Magazine. Review A Suspense Magazine Crimson Scribe Award Winner A Goodreads Choice Award Semifinalist, Historical Fiction An Amazon Best Book of the Month: Literature & Fiction Category “This is the bestselling Dugoni’s masterpiece, the book by which his work, and that of others, will be measured for years to come.” —Providence Journal “Dugoni has produced a novel that, if it doesn’t cross entirely over into John Irving territory, certainly nestles in close to the border…Told in two separate time lines (Sam as a boy, and Sam as a man) that eventually come together, and written in a gentle, introspective yet dramatic style that is very different from that of Dugoni’s crime fiction, this is an inspirational story of a man who spends a lifetime getting to know himself.” —Booklist “Sam Hell is inspiring and aglow with the promise of redemption.” —Kirkus Reviews “Robert Dugoni has a rare and brilliant talent for infusing his characters with complex emotions. It is very hard not to ache for young Sam…Frankly, this might be the best book of the year.” —Bookreporter “Distinctly different in style from Dugoni’s typical fare, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, is a captivating and poignant journey of strength and the power of finding your true self. Without a doubt, this is Dugoni’s best yet.” —Suspense Magazine “Dugoni’s writing is compellingly quick, simple, and evocative; readers will immediately empathize with young Sam and will race to discover how his story ends. The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell is a heartwarming novel that celebrates overcoming the unfairnesses of life.” —Seattle Book Review Past Praise for Robert Dugoni: “Dugoni is a superb storyteller…” —Boston Globe “Dugoni has a gift for creating compelling characters and mysteries that seem straightforward, but his stories, like an onion, have many hidden layers.” —Associated Press

Sellout - Dan Ozzi

Sellout

NATIONAL BESTSELLER AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR "Ozzi's reporting is strong, balanced and well told...a worthy successor to its obvious inspiration, Michael Azerrad's 2001 examination of the '80s indie underground, 'Our Band Could Be Your Life.'"--New York Times Book Review A raucous history of punk, emo, and hardcore’s growing pains during the commercial boom of the early 90s and mid-aughts, following eleven bands as they “sell out” and find mainstream fame, or break beneath the weight of it all   Punk rock found itself at a crossroads in the mid-90’s. After indie favorite Nirvana catapulted into the mainstream with its unexpected phenomenon, Nevermind, rebellion was suddenly en vogue. Looking to replicate the band’s success, major record labels set their sights on the underground, and began courting punk’s rising stars. But the DIY punk scene, which had long prided itself on its trademark authenticity and anti-establishment ethos, wasn’t quite ready to let their homegrown acts go without a fight. The result was a schism: those who accepted the cash flow of the majors, and those who defiantly clung to their indie cred.   In Sellout, seasoned music writer Dan Ozzi chronicles this embattled era in punk. Focusing on eleven prominent bands who made the jump from indie to major, Sellout charts the twists and turns of the last “gold rush” of the music industry, where some groups “sold out” and rose to surprise super stardom, while others buckled under mounting pressures. Sellout is both a gripping history of the music industry’s evolution, and a punk rock lover’s guide to the chaotic darlings of the post-grunge era, featuring original interviews and personal stories from members of modern punk’s most (in)famous bands: Green DayJawbreakerJimmy Eat WorldBlink-182At the Drive-InThe DonnasThursdayThe DistillersMy Chemical RomanceRise AgainstAgainst Me!

The Artist's Way Workbook - Julia Cameron

The Artist's Way Workbook

“Julia Cameron invented the way people renovate the creative soul.” – The New York Times For the millions of people who have uncovered their creative selves through the Artist's Way program: a workbook and companion to the international bestseller. A life-changing twelve-week program, The Artist's Way has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. Now, for the first time, fans will have this elegantly designed and user-friendly volume for use in tandem with the book. The Artist's Way Workbook includes: - more than 110 Artist's Way tasks; - more than 50 Artist's Way check-ins; - a fascinating introduction to the workbook in which Cameron shares new insights into the creative process that she has culled in the decade since The Artist's Way was originally published; - new and original writings on Morning Page Journaling and the Artist's Date-two of the most vital tools set forth by Cameron in The Artist's Way . The Artist's Way Workbook is an indispensable book for anyone following the spiritual path to higher creativity laid out in The Artist's Way .

Bob Dylan: No Direction Home - Robert Shelton

Bob Dylan: No Direction Home

No Direction Home took 20 years to complete and has received widespread critical acclaim. Robert Shelton met Bob Dylan when the young singer arrived in New York; he became Dylan's friend, champion, and critic, and his book has been hailed as the definitive unauthorised biography of this moody, passionate genius and his world. Of more than a thousand books published about Bob Dylan, i t is the only one that has been written with Dylan's active cooperation . Shelton witnessed Dylan’s crowning moment at Newport in 1963. He was in the audience for the celebrated Philharmonic Hall concert on Halloween 1964. He was in the Newport crowd when Dylan alienated the folk fraternity with his electric guitar. Dylan gave Sheldon access to his parents, Abe and Beatty Zimmerman – whom no other journalist has ever interviewed in depth; his brother, David; childhood friends from Hibbing; fellow students and friends from Minneapolis; and Suze Rotolo, the muse immortalised on the cover of The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan . Adorned with rare and revealing images from throughout Dylan’s whirlwind first decade of music, this a unique and honest insight into a man, who, as his sixth decade of music approaches, is ever harder to separate from the myths he has woven. “I can’t be hurt, man, if the book is honest. No kidding, I can’t be hurt. I want you to write an honest book, Bob, I don’t want you to write a b******t book. Hey, I’m trusting you. The only reason that I am here with you now is that I know that you are the man... I’ll do it with you.” Bob Dylan to Robert Shelton

Lutheran Service Book - LCMS

Lutheran Service Book

Lutheran Service Book  is a hymnal with a rich compilation of Christ-centered services, psalms, hymns, and prayers to nourish the faithful week after week for generations to come. It builds on the riches of the liturgical and hymnic heritage that we, as Lutherans, have received from past generations. It proclaims the Good News of forgiveness, life, and salvation, celebrates Christ and all His benefits, and gives voice to the people’s thanksgiving and praise.   This ebook edition of LSB provides all of the contents of the printed Pew Edition with the convenience of your tablet or ebook reader. The ebook edition provides links to each hymn in the table of contents and indexes, as well as links back to the table of contents from each hymn for easy navigation. The lectionaries provide internet links for each Bible reference. This edition includes all of the printed music found in the Pew Edition as graphics.   Content includes: ·    Five Divine Services ·    Morning Prayer ·    Evening Prayer ·    Matins ·    Vespers ·    Family devotions ·    Luther’s Small Catechism ·    150 psalms ·    636 hymns, songs, and canticles

Minecraft: Guide to Survival (Updated) - Mojang Ab & The Official Minecraft Team

Minecraft: Guide to Survival (Updated)

The definitive, fully illustrated guide to survival in Minecraft is now completely revamped with 100% new information for the latest version of the game . Learn how to survive and thrive in Minecraft’s most popular mode! Stock up your inventory, build a base and get ready to survive the night with Minecraft: Guide to Survival —the only book you’ll need to take your survival skills to the next level. Discover how to find resources, craft equipment, protect yourself from hostile mobs and so much more. Also includes expert tips on how to survive in the Nether and the End.

The Drummer's Toolbox - Brandon Toews

The Drummer's Toolbox

The ultimate guide to drumming styles by the co-author of the best-selling instructional book  The Best Beginner Drum Book . Brandon Toews and Drumeo present... THE DRUMMER'S TOOLBOX! With audio demonstrations! The Drummer's Toolbox  presents drummers of all skill levels with the most comprehensive introduction to 100 different drumming styles from the past century. This ultimate guide includes more than 900 notated groove examples, as well as listening suggestions for 1000 recommended recordings. Throughout the book, drummers will also learn about the history of each drumming style, effective techniques for playing them, and how to break down different grooves limb-by-limb.  The Drummer's Toolbox  is for any drummer who's serious about expanding their musical vocabulary and becoming more versatile behind the drum-set. You will learn how to play: -  Rock : Surf Rock, Progressive Rock, Punk Rock... -  Jazz : 4/4 Swing, Up-Tempo Swing, Contemporary Jazz... -  Blues : Texas Blues, Chicago Blues, Flat Tire Shuffle... -  Country : Train Beat, Two-Step, Rockabilly... -  Soul & Funk : Motown, Neo-Soul, New Orleans Funk... -  Metal : Death Metal, Progressive Metal, Metalcore... -  Electronic : Hip-Hop, Drum and Bass, Trap... -  Afro-Cuban : Mambo, Nanigo, Songo... -  Afro-Brazilian : Samba, Marcha, Bossa Nova... -  Afro-Caribbean : Merengue, Reggae, Zouk... - And many more!

Poker For Dummies ®, Mini Edition - Richard D. Harroch & Lou Krieger

Poker For Dummies ®, Mini Edition

Understand the basics of the game! Rake in the chips with this savvy guide Whether you're looking to join a friendly weekly poker game or aiming for the championship in a local tournament, this guide gets you started so you can play your way to the top. Discover how to Understand poker rules Know when to hold and when to fold Play Texas Hold'em

Dylan Goes Electric! - Elijah Wald

Dylan Goes Electric!

THE INSPIRATION FOR THE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE A COMPLETE UNKNOWN. One of the music world’s pre-eminent critics takes a fresh and much-needed look at the day Dylan “went electric” at the Newport Folk Festival. On the evening of July 25, 1965, Bob Dylan took the stage at Newport Folk Festival, backed by an electric band, and roared into his new rock hit, Like a Rolling Stone. The audience of committed folk purists and political activists who had hailed him as their acoustic prophet reacted with a mix of shock, booing, and scattered cheers. It was the shot heard round the world—Dylan’s declaration of musical independence, the end of the folk revival, and the birth of rock as the voice of a generation—and one of the defining moments in twentieth-century music. In Dylan Goes Electric!, Elijah Wald explores the cultural, political and historical context of this seminal event that embodies the transformative decade that was the sixties. Wald delves deep into the folk revival, the rise of rock, and the tensions between traditional and groundbreaking music to provide new insights into Dylan’s artistic evolution, his special affinity to blues, his complex relationship to the folk establishment and his sometime mentor Pete Seeger, and the ways he reshaped popular music forever. Breaking new ground on a story we think we know, Dylan Goes Electric! is a thoughtful, sharp appraisal of the controversial event at Newport and a nuanced, provocative, analysis of why it matters. “In this tour de force, Elijah Wald complicates the stick-figure myth of generational succession at Newport by doing justice to what he rightly calls Bob Dylan’s ‘declaration of independence’ . . . This is one of the very best accounts I’ve read of musicians fighting for their honor.” — Todd Gitlin, author of The Sixties and Occupy Nation

Everybody Loves Our Town - Mark Yarm

Everybody Loves Our Town

Twenty years after the release of Nirvana’s landmark album  Nevermind comes Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge , the definitive word on the grunge era, straight from the mouths of those at the center of it all.   In 1986, fledgling Seattle label C/Z Records released Deep Six , a compilation featuring a half-dozen local bands: Soundgarden, Green River, Melvins, Malfunkshun, the U-Men and Skin Yard. Though it sold miserably, the record made music history by documenting a burgeoning regional sound, the raw fusion of heavy metal and punk rock that we now know as grunge. But it wasn’t until five years later, with the seemingly overnight success of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” that grunge became a household word and Seattle ground zero for the nineties alternative-rock explosion. Everybody Loves Our Town  captures the grunge era in the words of the musicians, producers, managers, record executives, video directors, photographers, journalists, publicists, club owners, roadies, scenesters and hangers-on who lived through it. The book tells the whole story: from the founding of the Deep Six bands to the worldwide success of grunge’s big four (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains); from the rise of Seattle’s cash-poor, hype-rich indie label Sub Pop to the major-label feeding frenzy that overtook the Pacific Northwest; from the simple joys of making noise at basement parties and tiny rock clubs to the tragic, lonely deaths of superstars Kurt Cobain and Layne Staley.   Drawn from more than 250 new interviews—with members of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Screaming Trees, Hole, Melvins, Mudhoney, Green River, Mother Love Bone, Temple of the Dog, Mad Season, L7, Babes in Toyland, 7 Year Bitch, TAD, the U-Men, Candlebox and many more—and featuring previously untold stories and never-before-published photographs, Everybody Loves Our Town is at once a moving, funny, lurid, and hugely insightful portrait of an extraordinary musical era.

Anatomy for Artists: Drawing Form & Pose - 3dtotal Publishing & Tom Fox

Anatomy for Artists: Drawing Form & Pose

Learn how to confidently draw the human form from head to toe with this comprehensive, richly illustrated guide.   Expert drawing instructor and storyboard artist Tom Fox knows exactly how to capture the figure in poses that are both dynamic and true to human anatomy. The book details the central figure-drawing elements and techniques that are essential to every artist of every skill level. From understanding the XYZ axis and basic skeleton, to thinking in 3D space and creating mannequins of all levels of detail, the book deals with everything the reader needs to know before moving on to the figure itself. Tom presents in step-by-step details exactly how to add the muscles and depict truly believable poses.  Every part of the body is presented in detail, with easy-to-follow breakdowns of the torso, arms, and legs, and the often-tricky head, hands, and feet. The author also shares insightful, game-changing anatomy tips, many learned from years of working for major clients in the entertainment industry and teaching others to draw the human figure, both in person and online. This combination of experiences and skills make Tom an outstanding author of this must-have book for artists in all areas of figure drawing.

Hollywood Black - Donald Bogle & Turner Classic Movies

Hollywood Black

The book that inspired the MGM+ docuseries,  Hollywood Black  is a sweeping overview of the Black experience in film from the silent era through Black Panther , with striking photos and an engrossing history by award-winning author Donald Bogle. Filled with photographs and stories of stars and filmmakers on set and off, Hollywood Black tells an enthralling, underappreciated history as it's never before been told. Explore the rise of independent African American filmmakers and the changes in the film industry with the arrival of sound motion pictures and the Great Depression. More often than not, Black performers were saddled with rigidly stereotyped roles, but some gifted performers, most notably Hattie McDaniel in Gone With the Wind (1939), were able to turn in significant performances. Dive deep into how Dorothy Dandridge became the first African American to earn a Best Actress Oscar nomination for Carmen Jones (1954) and how Sidney Poitier broke ground in the industry. Follow the emergence of stars such as Morgan Freeman, Halle Berry, Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Cicely Tyson, Richard Pryor, Angela Bassett, Eddie Murphy, and Whoopi Goldberg, and of directors Spike Lee and John Singleton. The history comes into the new millennium with filmmakers Barry Jenkins ( Moonlight ), Ava Du Vernay ( Selma ), and Ryan Coogler ( Black Panther ) in this enthralling compendium of film.  

Meet Me in the Bathroom - Lizzy Goodman

Meet Me in the Bathroom

Named a Best Book of 2017 by NPR and GQ Joining the ranks of the classics Please Kill Me, Our Band Could Be Your Life, and Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, an intriguing oral history of the post-9/11 decline of the old-guard music industry and rebirth of the New York rock scene, led by a group of iconoclastic rock bands. In the second half of the twentieth-century New York was the source of new sounds, including the Greenwich Village folk scene, punk and new wave, and hip-hop. But as the end of the millennium neared, cutting-edge bands began emerging from Seattle, Austin, and London, pushing New York further from the epicenter. The behemoth music industry, too, found itself in free fall, under siege from technology. Then 9/11/2001 plunged the country into a state of uncertainty and war—and a dozen New York City bands that had been honing their sound and style in relative obscurity suddenly became symbols of glamour for a young, web-savvy, forward-looking generation in need of an anthem. Meet Me in the Bathroom charts the transformation of the New York music scene in the first decade of the 2000s, the bands behind it—including The Strokes, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, LCD Soundsystem, Interpol, and Vampire Weekend—and the cultural forces that shaped it, from the Internet to a booming real estate market that forced artists out of the Lower East Side to Williamsburg. Drawing on 200 original interviews with James Murphy, Julian Casablancas, Karen O, Ezra Koenig, and many others musicians, artists, journalists, bloggers, photographers, managers, music executives, groupies, models, movie stars, and DJs who lived through this explosive time, journalist Lizzy Goodman offers a fascinating portrait of a time and a place that gave birth to a new era in modern rock-and-roll.

Drawing People - Lise Herzog

Drawing People

Discover how to draw true-to-life human figures and poses with detailed step-by-step instructions and tips & tricks on the best drawing techniques. Grab your sketchbook, pens, and pencils and follow along as this instructional drawing guide teaches you everything you need to know about creating the most realistic human figures. With more than 150 easy-to-follow illustrations,  Drawing People  is the perfect guide for aspiring artists looking to develop their people-drawing skills. Start off simple with learning how to draw basic body shapes. By the end, you will have gained the anatomical knowledge you need to make your human figures as realistic as possible including learning to draw: ·       Specific muscle groups ·       Artistic body poses ·       Lifelike portraits ·       And much more Whether you’re a beginner or a drawing pro,  Drawing People  is the perfect book for anyone looking to hone their technical drawing skills and take their illustrations to the next level.

Vanessa Bell - Wendy Hitchmough

Vanessa Bell

One of Britain’s most radical and influential artists working in the first decades of the twentieth century, Vanessa Bell was a pioneer for professional women. A leading figure within The Bloomsbury Group and known for her unconventional lifestyle, Vanessa Bell’s work as a painter, designer and decorator has often been overlooked and relegated within the bombastic, male-dominated field of British modernism. With new research including previously unpublished letters, Wendy Hitchmough explores the ways in which Vanessa Bell forged new pathways as a modernist woman. Writing openly about depression and mental health at a time when the subject was stigmatised, as well as challenging taboos surrounding women’s bodies, Vanessa Bell exploited the patriarchal society that oppressed her. She responded to the nudes and pastoral scenes of Cézanne, Gauguin, Picasso and Matisse with themes of miscarriage and motherhood. She co-exhibited with her partner, Duncan Grant, and comparisons between their parallel careers highlight the gender disparities that shaped her life and work. Vanessa Bell: The Life and Art of a Bloomsbury Radical celebrates the artist’s trail-blazing approach to art as well as life, her rejection of conventions and the challenge she posed to the structures of early twentieth-century society.

Music Theory for the Bass Player - Ariane Cap

Music Theory for the Bass Player

Music Theory for the Bass Player is a comprehensive and immediately applicable guide to making you a well-grounded groover, informed bandmate and all-around more creative musician.  Included with this book are 89 videos that are incorporated in this ebook. This is a workbook, so have your bass and a pen ready to fill out the engaging Test Your Understanding questions!  Have you always wanted to learn music theory but felt it was too overwhelming a task? Perhaps all the books seem to be geared toward pianists or classical players?  Do you know lots of songs, but don't know how the chords are put together or how they work with the melody? If so, this is the book for you!  • Starting with intervals as music's basic building blocks, you will explore scales and their modes, chords and the basics of harmony.  • Packed with fretboard diagrams, musical examples and exercises, more than 180 pages of vital information are peppered with mind-bending quizzes, effective mnemonics, and compelling learning approaches.  • Extensive and detailed photo demonstrations show why relaxed posture and optimized fingering are vital for good tone, timing and chops.  • You can even work your way through the book without being able to read music (reading music is of course a vital skill, yet, the author believes it should not be tackled at the same time as the study of music theory, as they are different skills with a different practicing requirement. Reading becomes much easier once theory is mastered and learning theory on the fretboard using diagrams and patterns as illustrations, music theory is very accessible, immediately usable and fun.  This is the definitive resource for the enthusiastic bassist!  This book and the 89 free videos stand on their own and form a thorough source for studying music theory for the bass player. If you'd like to take it a step further, the author also offers a corresponding 20 week course; this online course works with the materials in this book and practices music theory application in grooves, fills and solos. Information is on the author's blog.

The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Anniversary Edition - Latest Updated Game Guide - AMZ Official Strategy Guide

The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Anniversary Edition - Latest Updated Game Guide

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an open-world action role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the fifth main installment in the Elder Scrolls series, following 2006's The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and was released worldwide for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 on November 11, 2011. The game is set 200 years after the events of Oblivion, and takes place in Skyrim, the northernmost province of Tamriel. Its main story focuses on the player's character, the Dragonborn, on their quest to defeat Alduin the World-Eater, a dragon who is prophesied to destroy the world. Over the course of the game, the player completes quests and develops the character by improving skills. The game continues the open-world tradition of its predecessors by allowing the player to travel anywhere in the game world at any time, and to ignore or postpone the main storyline indefinitely.

The Sopranos Sessions - Matt Zoller Seitz, Alan Sepinwall, Laura Lippman & David Chase

The Sopranos Sessions

On January 10, 1999, a mobster walked into a psychiatrist’s office and changed TV history. Celebrating one of the greatest television series of all time, the New York Times bestseller  The Sopranos Sessions is a must-have for any fan of the groundbreaking show. Renowned television critics Matt Zoller Seitz and Alan Sepinwall, who were among the first to write about The Sopranos for New Jersey’s Star-Ledger , reunite to produce this comprehensive collection. The book features detailed recaps, insightful conversations, and critical essays covering every episode of the series. Dive deep into the artistry, themes, and legacy of The Sopranos with long-form interviews with series creator David Chase and highlights from the authors’ writings. Explore the show’s portrayal of Italian Americans, its graphic depictions of violence, and its deep connections to other cinematic and television classics. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the series, The Sopranos Sessions offers a rich, engaging exploration of the show that paved the way for the very best of modern prestige television.   “This amazing book by Alan Sepinwall and Matt Zoller Seitz has bigger twists than anything I could ever come up with.” —Sam Esmail, creator of Mr. Robot

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice is an 1813 romantic novel of manners written by Jane Austen. The novel follows the character development of Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist of the book, who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and eventually comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness. A classic piece filled with comedy, its humour lies in its honest depiction of manners, education, marriage and money during the Regency era in Great Britain. Mr Bennet of Longbourn estate has five daughters, but because his property is entailed it can only be passed from male heir to male heir. Since his wife also lacks an inheritance, Mr Bennet's family will be destitute upon his death. Thus it is imperative that at least one of the girls marry well to support the others, which is a motivation that drives the plot. Jane Austen's opening line--"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife"—is a sentence filled with irony and sets the tone for the book. The novel revolves around the importance of marrying for love, not for money or social prestige, despite the communal pressure to make a good (i.e., wealthy) match. Pride and Prejudice has consistently appeared near the top of lists of "most-loved books" among literary scholars and the reading public. It has become one of the most popular novels in English literature with over 20 million copies sold, and has inspired many derivatives that abound in modern literature. For more than a century, amateur and professional dramatic adaptations, reprints, unofficial sequels, films, and TV versions of Pride and Prejudice have portrayed the memorable characters and themes of the novel, reaching mass audiences. The 2005 film Pride & Prejudice , starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, is the most recent film adaptation that closely represents the book, with the 2016 action, comedy, and horror spin-off Pride and Prejudice and Zombies being the most recent Hollywood film adaptation.

The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (Enhanced Edition) - J.W. Rinzler

The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (Enhanced Edition)

This enhanced multi-touch eBook made specially for iBooks transforms The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi into an immersive multimedia experience worthy of the original film. It features exclusive content pulled from the Lucasfilm archives by author J. W. Rinzler: – 27 minutes of rare behind-the-scenes video – 20 minutes of rare audio interviews with the cast and crew – New bonus photos and artwork not found in the print edition Just as Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi completed the most successful cinematic trilogy of its generation, perhaps of all time, this splendid thirtieth-anniversary tribute completes New York Times bestselling author J. W. Rinzler’s trio of fascinating behind-the-scenes books celebrating George Lucas’s classic films. Once again, the author’s unprecedented access to the formidable Lucasfilm Archives has yielded a mother lode of extremely informative, vastly entertaining, and often unexpected stories, anecdotes, recollections, and revelations straight from the closely guarded set of a big-screen blockbuster in the making. Brimming with previously unpublished photos, production artwork, script excerpts, exclusive intel, vintage on-set interviews, and present-day commentary, The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi chronicles “how George Lucas and his crew of extroverted artists, misfits, and expert craftspeople roused themselves to great heights for a third time” to create the next unforgettable chapter in one of the most beloved sagas of all time. Get up close to the action and feel like a studio insider as – creator George Lucas, Oscar-nominated screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, and director Richard Marquand huddle in a script conference to debate the destinies of iconic Star Wars characters, as well as plot twists and turns for the epic final showdown between the Rebel Alliance and the Empire – artists and craftspeople at the groundbreaking Industrial Light & Magic facility top their own revolutionary innovations—despite the infamous Black Friday—with boundary-pushing new analog visual effects – a crack team of sculptors, puppeteers, actors, and “monster-makers” bring Jabba the Hutt and his cohorts to startling, slobbering life from the inside out – a who’s who of heavyweight directors—from such films as Superman , Gremlins , Halloween , Dune , Scanners , and Time Bandits—are considered for the coveted job of bringing a new Star Wars adventure to the silver screen – actors and crew race to the finish line at Elstree Studios, in a fiery desert, and beneath the trees of a dense redwood forest—before money runs out—to answer the questions that audiences had waited three years to find out: Is Darth Vader really Luke’s father, who is the “other”—and who or what is the Emperor? Star Wars’ stars from both sides of the camera—including Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse, Alec Guinness, director Richard Marquand, producer Howard Kazanjian, Ralph McQuarrie, Joe Johnston, Dennis Muren, Phil Tippett, and mastermind George Lucas—weigh in with candid insights on everything from technical challenges, character design, Ewoks, the Empire’s galactic city planet, and the ultimate challenge of bringing the phenomenal space fantasy to a dramatic close. The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi gives a spectacular subject its just due, with more than five hundred images and many, many new interviews.

The Glass Menagerie - Tennessee Williams

The Glass Menagerie

No play in the modern theatre has so captured the imagination and heart of the American public as Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie. Menagerie was Williams's first popular success and launched the brilliant, if somewhat controversial, career of our pre-eminent lyric playwright. Since its premiere in Chicago in 1944, with the legendary Laurette Taylor in the role of Amanda, the play has been the bravura piece for great actresses from Jessica Tandy to Joanne Woodward, and is studied and performed in classrooms and theatres around the world. The Glass Menagerie (in the reading text the author preferred) is now available only in its New Directions Paperbook edition. A new introduction by prominent Williams scholar Robert Bray, editor of The Tennessee Williams Annual Review, reappraises the play more than half a century after it won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award: "More than fifty years after telling his story of a family whose lives form a triangle of quiet desperation, Williams's mellifluous voice still resonates deeply and universally." This edition of The Glass Menagerie also includes Williams's essay on the impact of sudden fame on a struggling writer, "The Catastrophe of Success," as well as a short section of Williams's own "Production Notes." The cover features the classic line drawing by Alvin Lustig, originally done for the 1949 New Directions edition.

Burning the Tables in Las Vegas, Second Edition - Ian Andersen

Burning the Tables in Las Vegas, Second Edition

In Burning the Tables in Las Vegas , Ian Andersen, author of the classic Turning the Tables on Las Vegas  and one of the most successful high-stakes blackjack players of all time, shares his personal program for success at blackjack, poker, and life. First published in 1999, this second edition contains three important new chapters: one on the use of the surrender option at blackjack as a camouflage technique, one on green-chip play for medium rollers; and one on understanding casino psychology. The “Crazy Surrender” chapter expands Andersen’s Ultimate Gambit and adds another dimension to his technique of using elements of mathematics and psychology to remain below the casino radar. This new second edition also contains a Foreword by blackjack legend Stanford Wong.

The Rest Is Noise - Alex Ross

The Rest Is Noise

Winner of the 2007 National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism A New York Times Book Review Top Ten Book of the Year Time magazine Top Ten Nonfiction Book of 2007 Newsweek Favorite Books of 2007 A Washington Post Book World Best Book of 2007 In this sweeping and dramatic narrative, Alex Ross, music critic for The New Yorker , weaves together the histories of the twentieth century and its music, from Vienna before the First World War to Paris in the twenties; from Hitler's Germany and Stalin's Russia to downtown New York in the sixties and seventies up to the present. Taking readers into the labyrinth of modern style, Ross draws revelatory connections between the century's most influential composers and the wider culture. The Rest Is Noise is an astonishing history of the twentieth century as told through its music.

Beginner’s Mind - An Introduction to the Game of Go - Brian Johnson

Beginner’s Mind - An Introduction to the Game of Go

Even though it’s close to 4000 years old, Go is arguably the most fascinating and strategically complex board game ever created. This eBook is 132 pages of text along with numerous photo galleries, over 50 videos, and several interactive elements designed to help beginning to lower-level intermediate players gain a comprehensive understanding of the basic concepts and strategies of the game of Go.   Most Go books are just that —books— a collection of static images where as many as twenty plays are displayed at the same time in a single image or across three different pages.  The strategies and sequences of plays involved in studying Go can be hard to decipher in a traditional book, since you have to imagine the sequence in the picture rather than see it take shape as each stone is played.  This can be especially frustrating for beginners who lack the ability to play out longer sequences using only their imagination.  The goal of Beginner’s Mind is not to remove or replace your imagination, as it will still be required, but to clarify certain aspects of the game through image galleries and animations, helping you progress much more quickly.  If you have any questions or suggestions for additional topics you’d like to see covered in future updates, please email them to: beginners.mind.help@gmail.com

How to Rap - Paul Edwards

How to Rap

Examining the dynamics of hip-hop from every region and in every form—mainstream and underground, current and classic—this compelling how-to discusses everything from content and flow to rhythm and delivery in relation to the art and craft of rap. Compiled from the most extensive research on rapping to date, this first-of-its-kind guide delivers countless candid and exclusive insights from more than 100 of the most critically acclaimed artists in hip-hop—including Clipse, Cypress Hill, Nelly, Public Enemy, Remy Ma, Schoolly D, A Tribe Called Quest, and will.i.am—unraveling the stories behind their art and preserving a wealth of the genre’s history through the words of the legends themselves. Exhaustively detailing the many complex aspects of rapping—such as utilizing literary tools and devices to strengthen content, battling, imagery, similes, metaphors, analogies, slang, performing both live and in the studio, word play, controversial content and punchlines, and constructing beats, singles, and freestyling—with emphasis on enunciating and breathing for unique vocal style, this remarkable book will benefit beginners and pros alike with its limitless wealth of rapping lore and insight.

Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli - Mark Seal

Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli

NATIONAL BESTSELLER This “wickedly pacey page-turner” ( Total Film ) unfurls the behind-the-scenes story of the making of The Godfather, fifty years after the classic film’s original release. The story of how The Godfather was made is as dramatic, operatic, and entertaining as the film itself. Over the years, many versions of various aspects of the movie’s fiery creation have been told—sometimes conflicting, but always compelling. Mark Seal sifts through the evidence, has extensive new conversations with director Francis Ford Coppola and several heretofore silent sources, and complements them with colorful interviews with key players including actors Al Pacino, James Caan, Talia Shire, and others to write “the definitive look at the making of an American classic” ( Library Journal , starred review). On top of the usual complications of filmmaking, the creators of The Godfather had to contend with the real-life members of its subject matter: the Mob. During production of the movie, location permits were inexplicably revoked, author Mario Puzo got into a public brawl with an irate Frank Sinatra, producer Al Ruddy’s car was found riddled with bullets, men with “connections” vied to be in the cast, and some were given film roles. As Seal notes, this is the tale of a “movie that revolutionized filmmaking, saved Paramount Pictures, minted a new generation of movie stars, made its struggling author Mario Puzo rich and famous, and sparked a war between two of the mightiest powers in America: the sharks of Hollywood and the highest echelons of the Mob.” “For fans of books about moviemaking, this is a definite must-read” ( Booklist ).

Reasons to Be Pretty - Neil LaBute

Reasons to Be Pretty

In Reasons to Be Pretty , Greg's tight-knit social circle is thrown into turmoil when his offhand remarks about a female coworker's pretty face and his own girlfriend Steph's lack thereof get back to Steph. But that's just the beginning. Greg's best buddy, Kent, and Kent's wife, Carly, also enter into the picture, and the emotional equation becomes exponentially more complicated. As their relationships crumble, the four friends are forced to confront a sea of deceit, infidelity, and betrayed trust in their journey to answer that oh-so-American question: How much is pretty worth? Neil LaBute's bristling new comic drama puts the final ferocious cap on a trilogy of plays that began with The Shape of Things and Fat Pig . America's obsession with physical beauty is confronted headlong in this brutal and exhilarating work.

Beginner's Guide to Digital Painting in Procreate - 3dtotal Publishing

Beginner's Guide to Digital Painting in Procreate

Learn how to paint on your iPad like the professionals in Beginner’s Guide to Procreate, a comprehensive introduction to this industry-standard software. Accessible and versatile, Procreate is an ideal tool for anyone wanting to give digital painting a go. Step-by-step tutorials, quick tips, and inspiring artwork ensure you’ll have all you need to create stunning concept art quickly and easily.

The Screenwriter’s Bible, 7th edition - David Trottier

The Screenwriter’s Bible, 7th edition

The Screenwriter’s Bible ‘s 7th edition marks the 25th anniversary of one of the most popular, authoritative, and useful books on screenwriting. A standard by which other screenwriting books are measured, it has sold over 340,000 copies in its twenty-five-year life. Always up-to-date and reliable, it contains everything that both the budding and working screenwriter need under one cover—five books in one! A Screenwriting Primer —that provides a concise course in screenwriting basics; A Screenwriting Workbook —that walks you through the complete writing process, from nascent ideas through final revisions; A Formatting Guide —that thoroughly covers today’s correct formats for screenplays and TV scripts; A Spec Writing Guide —that demonstrates today’s spec style through sample scenes and analysis, with an emphasis on grabbing the reader’s interest in the first ten pages; A Sales and Marketing Guide —that presents proven strategies to help you create a laser-sharp marketing plan. Among this book’s wealth of practical information are sample query letters, useful worksheets and checklists, hundreds of examples, sample scenes, and straightforward explanations of screenwriting fundamentals. The sixth edition is chock-full of new examples, the latest practices, and new material on non-traditional screenplay outlets.

Hal Leonard Rock Guitar Method (with Audio) - Michael Mueller

Hal Leonard Rock Guitar Method (with Audio)

Learn to play rhythm and lead rock guitar with the step-by-step lessons and 70 great rock songs in this book/audio edition] The Hal Leonard Rock Guitar Method is your complete guide to learning rock guitar. This book uses real rock songs - no corny rock arrangements of nursery rhymes here] - to teach you the basics of rhythm and lead rock guitar in the style of Eric Clapton, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and many others. Lessons include power chords, riffs, scales, licks, string bending, vibrato, hammer-ons and pull-offs, and slides, to name a few. Each chapter concludes with a jam session, which enables you to jam along to such rock classics as Wild Thing, Crossroads, and Takin' Care of Business. Includes standard notation and tablature.

Constellations - Nick Payne

Constellations

"A singular astonishment." —John Lahr, The New Yorker One relationship. Infinite possibilities. In the beginning Marianne and Roland meet at a party. They go for a drink, or perhaps they don't. They fall madly in love and start dating, but eventually they break up. After a chance encounter in a supermarket they get back together, or maybe they run into each other and Marianne reveals that she's now engaged to someone else and that's that. Or perhaps Roland is engaged. Maybe they get married, or maybe their time together will be tragically short. Nick Payne's Constellations is a play about free will and friendship; it's also about quantum multiverse theory, love, and honey.

Antigone (Translated by E. H. Plumptre with an Introduction by J. Churton Collins) - Sophocles

Antigone (Translated by E. H. Plumptre with an Introduction by J. Churton Collins)

“Antigone,” the first Theban play written by Sophocles yet chronologically last in the cycle, is a masterpiece of classical antiquity which examines the conflict between public duty and personal loyalty. Following the banishment of Oedipus, his two sons Eteocles and Polyneices have died leading opposite sides in Thebes’s civil war, fighting each other for the throne. Queen Jocasta’s brother Creon, now the ruler of Thebes, declares that Eteocles will be honored but Polyneices is to be publically shamed by refusing him burial rites. Creon declares that anyone attempting to do so will be put to death. In ancient Greece the refusal of burial rites was one of the most disrespectful acts that could have been shown to a person and their family. Antigone finds herself compelled by familial duty and disregards Creon’s edict by scattering dirt across Polyneices’s corpse. Creon, whose son Haemon is engaged to Antigone, finds himself torn between a personal loyalty to his family and a civic duty to punish Antigone for this crime. One of the greatest dramas from classical antiquity, “Antigone,” along with its Theban counterparts, “Oedipus the King,” and “Oedipus at Colonus,” established Sophocles as one of the most renowned dramatists of his era. This edition follows the translation of E. H. Plumptre and includes an introduction by J. Churton Collins.

The Complete Color Harmony, Pantone Edition - LEATRICE EISEMAN

The Complete Color Harmony, Pantone Edition

The Complete Color Harmony: Pantone Edition is the latest in Rockport Publishers' best-selling color series. Completely revised from start to finish this new edition, is written by Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. And the color "moods" that she writes about in each chapter are based and matched with Pantone colors. The book expands on previous editions for the most comprehensive color reference to date.   This edition includes information on creating special effects, as well as an entirely new section devoted to the psychology of color. Eiseman helps readers determine their best color choices and suggests why some colors may inspire their creativity while others don't. The book includes new color palette sections along with expanded and updated color trends.

Concerning the Spiritual in Art - Wassily Kandinsky

Concerning the Spiritual in Art

A pioneering work in the movement to free art from its traditional bonds to material reality, this book is one of the most important documents in the history of modern art. Written by the famous nonobjective painter Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944), it explains Kandinsky's own theory of painting and crystallizes the ideas that were influencing many other modern artists of the period. Along with his own groundbreaking paintings, this book had a tremendous impact on the development of modern art. Kandinsky's ideas are presented in two parts. The first part, called "About General Aesthetic," issues a call for a spiritual revolution in painting that will let artists express their own inner lives in abstract, non-material terms. Just as musicians do not depend upon the material world for their music, so artists should not have to depend upon the material world for their art. In the second part, "About Painting," Kandinsky discusses the psychology of colors, the language of form and color, and the responsibilities of the artist. An Introduction by the translator, Michael T. H. Sadler, offers additional explanation of Kandinsky's art and theories, while a new Preface by Richard Stratton discusses Kandinsky's career as a whole and the impact of the book. Making the book even more valuable are nine woodcuts by Kandinsky himself that appear at the chapter headings. This English translation of Über das Geistige in der Kunst was a significant contribution to the understanding of nonobjectivism in art. It continues to be a stimulating and necessary reading experience for every artist, art student, and art patron concerned with the direction of 20th-century painting.

Winning American Mah Jongg Strategies - Elaine Sandberg

Winning American Mah Jongg Strategies

Master the fascinating and rewarding game of American Mahjong with this guide for beginners. "Strategies, strategies, strategies! If I only knew more strategies I could win more games!" is the frequent lament of beginning Mahjong players. Following up on the success of her acclaimed book, A Beginner's Guide to American Mah Jongg , bestselling author Elaine Sandberg's new book offers novice players the advice they need to excel at the game of Mahjong. Winning American Mah Jongg Strategies: A Guide for the Novice Player is the strategy guidebook that provides American Mahjongg beginners with the practical information they need to build hands, improve game-play skills, strategize, and win! This easy-to-follow, comprehensive book teaches players how to overcome common difficulties and provides the knowledge to sharpen strategic skills and increase win ratios. By showing beginners how to see and utilize different strategic elements and scenarios, players learn how to elevate their skills. Challenges covered in this Mahjongg book include: Finding the best hand The use of defensive tools To Expose or not to Expose and why Determining an opponent's hand And many more… Winning American Mah Jongg Strategies is a gem of a book that is the perfect gift for Mahjong players of all ages!

Book Genres