Within the Frame or Small Place

Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision (Voices That Matter Series)

Author: David DuChemin

Within the Frame is a book about finding and expressing your photographic vision, specifically where people, places, and cultures are concerned. A personal book full of real-world wisdom and incredible images, author David duChemin (of pixelatedimage.com) shows you both the how and the why of finding, chasing, and expressing your vision with a camera to your eye. Vision leads to passion, and passion is a cornerstone of great photography. With it, photographs draw the eye in and create an emotional experience. Without it, a photograph is often not worth—and can’t capture—a viewer’s attention.

Both instructional and inspirational, Within the Frame helps you on your photographic journey to make better images of the places and people you love, whether they are around the world or in your own backyard. duChemin covers how to tell stories, and the technology and tools we have at our disposal in order to tell those narratives. Most importantly, he stresses the crucial theme of vision when it comes to photographing people, places, and cultures—and he helps you cultivate and find your own vision, and then fit it within the frame.

What People Are Saying

Joe McNally
"If the book simply stayed right there in the realm of how-to, go-to advice, it would be a wonderful book indeed. But it crosses the line from useful to inspire because David opens up much more than his camera bag. He opens his considerable heart and mind, both of which belong to a masterful storyteller driven by an acute sympathy for the human condition, coupled with an intense curiosity and respect for both the differences and the sameness of the world."--(Joe McNally, photographer, author of The Hot Shoe Diaries and The Moment It Clicks)

Scott Kelby
"David does something here that few have ever done-he not only shows his absolutely captivating images, he shows the thought process behind those images, as well as how to start capturing the types of images we all long to take. People will be talking about this book for years to come. It's that good!"--(Scott Kelby, photographer, author, President of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals)

Small Place

Author: Jamaica Kincaid

A brilliant look at colonialism and its effects in Antigua--by the author of Annie John

"If you go to Antigua as a tourist, this is what you will see. If you come by aeroplane, you will land at the V. C. Bird International Airport. Vere Cornwall (V. C.) Bird is the Prime Minister of Antigua. You may be the sort of tourist who would wonder why a Prime Minister would want an airport named after him--why not a school, why not a hospital, why not some great public monument. You are a tourist and you have not yet seen . . ."

So begins Jamaica Kincaid's expansive essay, which shows us what we have not yet seen of the ten-by-twelve-mile island in the British West Indies where she grew up.

Lyrical, sardonic, and forthright by turns, in a Swiftian mode, A Small Place cannot help but amplify our vision of one small place and all that it signifies.

Library Journal

Kincaid here examines the geography and history of Antigua, where she was raised. We first see the island through the eyes of the typical North American tourist, who aims to exchange his or her own ``everydayness'' for that of someone without the same privilege. But rather than interpret Antiguan experience for outsiders, Kincaid lays bare the limits of her own understanding. She asks us to grasp the crime of empire in a new way, stressing that it can be understood only from a post-colonial point of view: surveying 20 years of a corrupt ``free'' government, she finds the inheritance of colonialism to be a commercial and governmental enterprise that serves individual interests. Antiguans, she effectively demonstrates, are ordinary people saddled with an unthinkable but unbreachable past. Mollie Brodsky, Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

What People Are Saying

Jamaica Kincaid
"How do I write? Why do I write? What do I write? This is what I am writing: I am writing "Mr Potter." It begins in this way; this is its first sentence: "Mr. Potter was my father, my father's name was Mr. Potter." So much went into that one sentence; much happened before I settled on those 11 words....And then? I grew tired of that sentence and those 11 words just sitting there all alone followed by all that blank space. I grew sad at seeing that sentence and those 11 words just sitting there followed by nothing, nothing and nothing again. After many days it frightened me to see nothing but that one sentence and those 11 words and nothing, nothing and nothing again came after them. "Say something," I said to Mr. Potter."
— Writers on Writing, The New York Times, June 7, 1999

Israel Is Real or Walt Disney World for Kids 2009

Israel Is Real

Author: Rich Cohen

“It’s a great irony that Israel was more secure as an idea than it’s ever been as a nation with an army.”

In AD 70, when the Second Temple was destroyed, a handful of visionaries saved Judaism by reinventing it—by taking what had been a national religion, identified with a particular place, and turning it into an idea. Jews no longer needed Jerusalem to be Jews. Whenever a Jew studied—wherever he was—he would be in the holy city. In this way, a few rabbis turned a real city into a city of the mind; in this way, they turned the Temple into a book and preserved their faith. Though you can burn a city, you cannot sack an idea or kill a book. But in our own time, Zionists have turned the book back into a

temple. And unlike an idea, a temple can be destroyed. The creation of Israel has made Jews vulnerable in a way they have not been for two thousand years.

In Israel Is Real, Rich Cohen’s superb new history of the Zionist idea and the Jewish state—the history of a nation chronicled as if it were the biography of a person—he brings to life dozens of fascinating figures, each driven by the same impulse: to reach Jerusalem. From false messiahs such as David Alroy (Cohen calls him the first superhero, with his tallis as a cape) and Sabbatai Zevi, who led thousands on a mad spiritual journey, to the early Zionists (many of them failed journalists), to the iconic figures of modern Jewish Sparta, David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin, and Ariel Sharon, Cohen shows how all these lives together form a single story, a single life. In this unique book, Cohen examines the myth of the wandering Jew, the paradox ofJewish power (how can you be both holy and nuclear?), and the triumph and tragedy of the Jewish state—how the creation of modern Israel has changed what it means to be a Jew anywhere.

The New York Times - Tony Horwitz

Rich Cohen's book accomplished the miraculous. It made a subject that has vexed me since early childhood into a riveting story. Not by breaking new ground or advancing a bold peace plan, but by narrating the oft-told saga of the Jews in a fresh and engaging fashion.

Publishers Weekly

Reading the Bible and Jewish history "both literally and symbolically," this eclectic and passionate, wide-ranging history of Israel and Zionism by the author of Tough Jews decodes the story of Jonah in the whale's belly as the Diaspora Jew in Nazi concentration camps. Cohen catalogues the accomplishments of first-century Jewish scholar Jonathan ben Zakkai in the way Willie Dixon catalogues a man's deeds in a blues song, and summons Kierkegaard and Allen Ginsberg as he muses about Abraham, a crazy old man willing to murder his son to earn God's blessing: "Everything in Judaism is a repetition of this scene," Cohen asserts. Of Herzl, he says it was his career writing whimsical newspaper essays that made his mind fluid and open to the vision of Zionism. He sees Ariel Sharon as a tragic Shakespearean character who was driven to dismantle the settlements in Gaza out of a great love for Israel. Finally, Cohen does not believe that the Holocaust justifies the state of Israel-or that Israel needs to be justified. Cohen's idiosyncratic yet often lyrical take on Israel is sometimes exasperating but always deeply felt and refreshing. (Aug.)

Library Journal

Cohen (contributing editor, Rolling Stone) produces journalism on many subjects, but his books are all about Jews: Jewish gangsters (Tough Jews); Holocaust survivors taking revenge on Nazis (The Avengers); his own family (Sweet and Low); and now the entire Jewish nation. He does a marvelous job of getting the highlights of the actions of dozens of characters over a few thousand years of Jewish and Zionist history into a few hundred pages, while exposing the reader to points of view other than those of the author. More than a hundred books and articles are cited in footnotes or listed in the bibliography. VERDICT While Cohen clearly identifies with "the Jewish Nation," this is not just a defense of Israel like Alan Dershowitz's The Case for Israel and other books that set out to answer Israel's many critics. In a very personal effort to understand the how and why of Israel's history, Cohen helps the reader toward that understanding. Recommended for all interested readers.—Joel Neuberg, Santa Rosa Junior Coll., CA

Kirkus Reviews

An accessible primer on a complex nation and its faith. Many of the facts about Israel are well-known. It's a Jewish state in the middle of an Islamic region of the world; its enemies question its right to exist; many European Jews have emigrated there in the decades following World War II; and its status in relation to Palestine and the rest of the region is complicated, controversial and often violent. Rolling Stone contributing editor Cohen (Sweet and Low: A Family Story, 2006, etc.) takes a long, idiosyncratic view, explaining the history of a people and its religion from the time Zealots revolted against their Roman occupiers to the rise of the Zionists, who helped build the current republic. "If this book is working the way it's supposed to," writes Cohen, "then each individual story will read like the history of Israel, and the history of Israel will read like the life of a single man." Along the way, the author brilliantly illustrates how Israel, once among the most powerful nations in the world, would likely have been destroyed if not for the efforts of a few forward-looking rabbis. While the smoke still rose from the remains of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, the nation was transformed into an idea, which gave way to a centuries-long diaspora. Cohen soars as a storyteller, using a captivating cast of characters-including Josephus, the traitorous first-century historian; Theodor Herzl, the slightly crazed Zionist visionary; Ariel Sharon, the soldier and statesmen-to explain the mishmash of politics, ideology and psychology that have gone into the reification of Israel. Now, writes the author, Israel is under threat of destruction once again. A must-read for those who want tounderstand the context of the modern Jewish state.

What People Are Saying

Rich Cohen's passionate, engaged, thoroughly modern book is-dare I say -- a revelation. --Jeffrey Toobin, author of The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court

Cohen is a masterful and slyly provocative writer who marches boldly into the most controversial issues posed by the existence of Israel. Blending historical narrative with contemporary reportage, Israel Is Real makes an argument that cannot be ignored. Along the way, Cohen establishes himself as being among the most talented essayists of his generation. --Evan Wright, author of Generation Kill

A fascinating big-picture account of Israel from its distant past to what happened last week. Rich Cohen tells this story central to mankind with skill, passion, common sense, and wit. --Ian Frazier, author of Great Plains

The best book I've ever read about Israel (that troubled state), and the last word on it: all the stories, all the figures, all the fires, all the battles, all the exiles, all the personalities, all the strikes, and all the gutters. Rich Cohen has delivered the full big thing, a monumental book, the best I've read and expect to read for a long time. As the priests in the old city would say, it has hava: it's full of life. --David Lipsky, author of Absolutely American: Four Years at West Point

Nobody has yet written about our Middle East heartbreak with such range and lucidity. Rich Cohen has kept an account of the wanderings; he's kept a record of the tears. Israel Is Real is the definitive book on Israel. --Darin Strauss, author of Chang and Eng

Rich Cohen's book creates a vibrant portrait that offers reasons Israel -- surrounded by those who want to exterminate it -- deserves to survive. --Ron Rosenbaum, author of Explaining Hitler

Walt Disney World for Kids 2009

Author: Birnbaum Travel Guides

Children are perhaps Walt Disney World's biggest fans. On playgrounds and in classrooms, there's always excited talk about who went to Walt Disney World and what they did each day-or minute. It has become almost a rite of passage to visit America's most popular travel destination, and kids can be wonderful sources of information.

Every area and attraction of Walt Disney World is covered, with kids' honest reactions and impressions included. There is a whole chapter devoted to each of the theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Another chapter describes the rest of Walt Disney World, including Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, Fort Wilderness, Downtown Disney, and dining spots with kid appeal.

The book is updated annually, and the 2009 edition features lots of new tips and attraction reviews from young "Disney Experts" around the world. We'll tell kids how to catch "Wildcat fever" at the rollicking new show, "High School Musical 2-School's Out!" And we'll give young readers the inside scoop on the newest WDW attractions, including the thrilling Toy Story Mania!

Harley Davidson Ride Atlas of North America or The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2009

Harley Davidson Ride Atlas of North America

Author: Rand McNally

Rand McNally and Harley-Davidson hit the road together with the second-edition Harley-Davidson® Ride Atlas of North America. Designed especially for Harley® riders, the atlas comes loaded with motorcycle-friendly maps, rides, and on-the-road resources. Makes a great gift for any rider!

What's inside:

• Specially-designed maps with an easier-to-identify road hierarchy that helps get riders off the beaten path
• Reliable, detailed Rand McNally maps of each U.S. state, major U.S. cities, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico
• On-page listings and on-map spottings of Harley-Davidson dealerships
• Ride log to record road trips
• 25 new scenic rides (including four legendary rides) across North America including descriptions of each ride, special route maps, full-color photographs, side trips, and thousands of miles of scenic roads
• Riding distances between hundreds of cities
• State and provincial motorcycle laws
• Border crossing information for Mexico and Canada
• Contacts for U.S. state parks and profiles of America's 10 most popular national parks
• Information on Harley-Davidson factory tours, Rider's Edge® - The Harley-Davidson Academy of Motorcycling, Harley-Davidson Authorized Rentals, the Harley Owners Group®, and motorcycle shipping

Details:

• 8.5" x 11"; designed to fit into a saddlebag
• 320 pages (284 pages of maps)
• Tear-resistant, water-resistant cover with more durable pages

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2009 (Unofficial Guides Series)

Author: Bob Sehlinger

More than 4 million copies sold! This series is the only one that offers evaluations based on reader surveys and critiques, compiled by a team of unbiased inspectors.

• Hotels, attractions, and restaurants in all price categories

• Extensive information on shopping, nightlife, and sports

• Easy-to-use, two-color design

• Detailed, 2-color maps

From the publishers of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World

"A Tourist's Best Friend!"
—Chicago Sun-Times

"Indispensable"
—The New York Times

Five Great Features and Benefits offered ONLY by The Unofficial Guide:

1. Exclusively patented, field-tested touring plans that save as much as four hours of standing in line in a single day

2. Tips, advice, and opinions from hundreds of Walt Disney World guests in their own words

3. Almost 250 hotels rated and ranked for quality and value, including the top non-Disney hotels for families

4. A complete Dining Guide with ratings and reviews of all Walt Disney World restaurants, plus extensive alternatives for dining deals outside the World

5. Every attraction rated and ranked for each age group; extensive, objective, head-to-head comparisons of the Disney and Universal theme parks

Susan Belsky - Library Journal

Reading this massive guidebook to Walt Disney World may take as long as actually visiting the theme park. "Your book reads like the operations plan for an amphibious landing," wrote one quoted reader. The highlights of this tome are the touring plans, which are developed by a computer program calculating average waiting times, ride duration, and time of day, among other factors. These plans help to avoid the "joy" of lengthy lines and crowds during the hottest part of the day. There is extremely detailed information on accommodations, including which rooms to avoid. Restaurant reviews include typical menu items and prices and most crowded times. Wondering whether a small child will be frightened by Snow White's Scary Adventures? Will Expedition Everest make Dad wish he had passed on the chili dog? Don't worry; each attraction is analyzed for fright factor and motion sickness potential. "Unofficial" means that the authors can offer critical assessments of ticket plans and attractions and can also include hotels and restaurants outside of Disney property. Sea World and Universal Studios nearby are also reviewed here thoroughly. Recommended for all public libraries.

Table of Contents:

Introduction.

PART ONE Planning before You Leave Home.

PART TWO Making the Most of Your Time and Money.

PART THREE Accommodations.

PART FOUR Serenity Now! A Look at Disney-area Spas.

PART FIVE The Disney Cruise Line.

PART SIX Walt Disney World with Kids.

PART SEVEN Special Tips for Special People.

PART EIGHT Arriving and Getting Around.

RENT AT THE AIRPORT OR OFF-SITE?

DOOR-TO-DOOR COMMUTING TIMES TO AND FROM THE DISNEY RESORTS AND PARKS.

PART NINE Bare Necessities.

PART TEN Dining in and around Walt Disney World.

WHERE TO EAT OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD.

WALT DISNEY WORLD BUFFETS AND FAMILY-STYLE RESTAURANTS.

THE BEST (AND WORST) DESSERTS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD.

WALT DISNEY WORLD RESTAURANTS BY CUISINE.

PART ELEVEN The Magic Kingdom.

PART TWELVE Epcot.

PART TH I RTEEN Animal Kingdom.

PART FOURTEEN Behind the Scenes at Walt Disney World.

PART FIFTEEN Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld.

PART SIXTEEN The Water Parks.

PART SEVENTEEN Beyond the Parks.

PART EIGHTEEN Shopping in and out of Walt Disney World.

PART NINETEEN Nightlife in and out of Walt Disney World.

Appendix, Indexes, Touring Plans, and Reader Surveys.

Our Dumb World or A Course Called Ireland

Our Dumb World: The Onion's Atlas of the Planet Earth, 73rd Edition

Author: Scott Dikkers

The world's most definitive fake world atlas: a repository of all known information about the planet Earth (except where covered by clouds).

Our Dumb World: The Onion's Atlas of the Planet Earth, 73rd Edition features incorrect statistics on all of the Earth's 168, 182, or 196 independent nations. It also features maps, including a fold-out world map at actual size. Readers will learn about every country from Afghanistan, "Allah's Cat Box," to the Ukraine, "The Bridebasket of Europe."

Today's news-parody consumer cannot possibly understand made-up current events without the context of fake world history and geography. That is why The Onion is publishing a world atlas: to help us. Our Dumb World is an invaluable tool for any reader interested in overthrowing a weakened government in East Asia, exploiting a developing nation in Africa, or for directions to tonight's party at Erica's. It is a reference guide to 250,000 of the world's most important places, such as North Korea's Trench of Victory, the Great Human Pyramid of Egypt, and Saudi Arabia's superhighway, the Mohammedobahn.

About The Onion
Every week, three million readers turn to the world's most popular news organization for a much-needed dose of Onion news and entertainment coverage. In a history spanning 15 years, six popular books, and 10 Webby Awards, The Onion has attracted legions of loyal fans drawn to its fearless reporting and scathing commentary on world events, human behavior, and journalistic convention.

Publishers Weekly

The first all-new publication from the Onion's stable of mad satirists since 1999's Our Dumb Century, this globe-spanning volume raises the bar for topical humor. Known for their savage, irreverent newspaper parody, the Onionstaff delight in playing up stereotypes and skewering perceptions, and they have picked an enormous playground in which to do so; this skewed world atlas compiles enough fictional facts to tickle-and probably offend-just about everyone. Profiling every country in the world-from the United States ("The Land of Opportunism") to Greenland ("The Largest Land Mass on Earth") to "The Who Cares Islands"-this handsome parody is visually indistinguishable from genuine reference materials, but with jokes crammed into every inch, from topographical maps ("Largest Mayan Casino in Mexico") and tiny vital statistics boxes (Syria's ethnicity: "Anti-Semitic Semites") to historic timelines (Ireland, 1387: "Luck of the Irish runs out") and photo captions ("Emergency shipments of food, water, and Bono reach Sudan"). The group's humor can demand a rarified kind of knowledge-as in the entry for Nicaragua, which revolves entirely around the now-ancient Nintendo game Contra-ensuring that some jokes will fall flat; for anyone with a cultural pulse, however, the hit-to-miss ratio will be high. Eminently browsable and compulsively rereadable, this is an essential book for fans of Stewart, Colbert and (of course) the Onion. (Oct.)