Koncocoo

Best Photo Essays

Eyewitness to World War II: Unforgettable Stories and Photographs From History's Greatest Conflict
Personal writings create a dramatic tapestry of wartime experience, and recollections of Roosevelt, Hitler, and Patton, as well as letters composed by soldiers at battle and diaries of women serving in the military at home, present an absorbing narrative that tells the entire history of the war from several perspectives. In this third volume of the Eyewitness series, following installments on the Civil War and WWI, an exhaustive look at the Second World War is presented in the form of letters, memoirs, diaries, and official reports. The book opens with “A World Gone Mad,” a detailed look at the causes of the war that places the reader back in time with large period photographs accompanied by brief explanations of world events that contributed to the outbreak of the conflict.
Reviews
"I know he is going to love it and I'm grateful for the person who took good care of it previous to my purchase."
"I bought this for my adult grandson and he was thrilled."
"My son loves the book."
"What a great World War II book!"
"great book my dad loved it."
"Both my husband and son are also history buffs,so it's a contest to see who gets to the book first."
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Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience
Colorfully illustrated with photographs, portraits, and relevant artworks, this handsome hardcover is a visual treat too, making Letters of Note an utterly distinctive gift, and an instant classic. "While some might argue that the art of correspondence died with the advent of the internet, it was Letters of Note-a popular website sharing correspondence across history and spheres-that paved the way for the exceptional hardcover of the same name. The book's introduction aptly describes itself as "a museum of letters" that are as addictive as they are enlightening; featuring letters from Ernest Hemingway, Fidel Castro, Nick Cave, Elvis and more than a few world leaders. London-based author Shaun Usher compiled the collection of over 125 letters over the course of four years and the subjects span both private and public theatrics. In Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience (brought to you by the creator of the blog by the same name) you'll read letters spanning across centuries, from influential political leaders, authors, actors, murderers, and more. "This new book beautifully highlights fascinating letters ...The hardcover demands prime space on the coffee table." "Someone should write a love letter to a new book called Letters of Note . It's a splendid collection of all kinds of correspondence through the ages: Elvis Presley fans writing to the president, children making suggestions to famous cartoonists, a scientist's poignant love letter to his late wife."
Reviews
"There could have been a thousand letters here and I still would not have tired of reading. In the meantime, I will peruse his website, Letters of Note, to see if I can find more wonderful letters from personalities famous and obscure."
"Letters of Note by Shaun Usher. NOVEMBER 7, 2017 ~ LEAVE A COMMENT ~ EDIT. Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider AudienceLetters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience by Shaun Usher. My rating: 5 of 5 stars. It was from “A Way with Words” a public radio show about the English language, including the origins of words, the usages, and good books that I came to know this lovely book. Of all the letters in the book, the following three letters resonate in my mind: (1) E. B. White’s letter to his gentleman acquaintance regarding the importance of having hope for humanity; (2) Anaïs Nin’s rebuking letter to a faceless collector of her co-authored “Erotica” for his demand of more prevalent racy contents; and (3) a nameless German’s woman’s letter to her husband asking him to take her back home from a dreadful mental hospital she was in."
"True to its title, this master piece contained missives that communicated a myriad of emotions, raised pertinent questions and advised the ones in need. The typography lends a rich grandeur which these letters of note truly deserve and needless to say, it evoke the emotions that come with holding a hard cover. Upon reading this work, one cannot help but think even though we as humanity have progressed in leaps and bounds in terms of technology and life style, have lost out a lot in the art of truly communicating and asking questions that makes us think long, hard, deep and all other attributes alike."
"This is a wonderful book that I will re-read many times."
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The Americans
And it was not just Frank's subject matter--cars, jukeboxes and even the road itself―that redefined the icons of America; it was also his seemingly intuitive, immediate, off-kilter style, as well as his method of brilliantly linking his photographs together thematically, conceptually, formally and linguistically, that made The Americans so innovative. Funeral-goers lean against a shiny sedan, lovers kiss on a beach blanket in front of their parked car, young boys perch in the back seat at a drive-in movie. Jack Kerouac 's original introduction, commissioned when the photographer showed the writer his work while sitting on a sidewalk one night outside of a party, provides the only accompanying text.
Reviews
"these pictures really speak to me."
"This is the America that my parents lived, worked and dreamed in, the one that they promised would be better for me."
"I bought this for a friend and am excited to give it to him."
"Lovely book."
"This book has a place of influence in the history of photography, especially street/straight/American photography."
"My wife owns this book and it does not leave our coffee table. We have had even the least emotional people grow goosebumps as they looked through the book."
"Classic book that had a big impact on photography today."
"Robert Frank is an important person in the history of photography."
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Best Photo Essays

Letters of Note: Volume 1: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience
This spectacular collection of more than 125 letters offers a never-before-seen glimpse of the events and people of history—the brightest and best, the most notorious, and the endearingly everyday. "While some might argue that the art of correspondence died with the advent of the internet, it was Letters of Note-a popular website sharing correspondence across history and spheres-that paved the way for the exceptional hardcover of the same name. The book's introduction aptly describes itself as "a museum of letters" that are as addictive as they are enlightening; featuring letters from Ernest Hemingway, Fidel Castro, Nick Cave, Elvis and more than a few world leaders. London-based author Shaun Usher compiled the collection of over 125 letters over the course of four years and the subjects span both private and public theatrics. In Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience (brought to you by the creator of the blog by the same name) you'll read letters spanning across centuries, from influential political leaders, authors, actors, murderers, and more. "This new book beautifully highlights fascinating letters ...The hardcover demands prime space on the coffee table." "Someone should write a love letter to a new book called Letters of Note . It's a splendid collection of all kinds of correspondence through the ages: Elvis Presley fans writing to the president, children making suggestions to famous cartoonists, a scientist's poignant love letter to his late wife."
Reviews
"There could have been a thousand letters here and I still would not have tired of reading. In the meantime, I will peruse his website, Letters of Note, to see if I can find more wonderful letters from personalities famous and obscure."
"Letters of Note by Shaun Usher. NOVEMBER 7, 2017 ~ LEAVE A COMMENT ~ EDIT. Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider AudienceLetters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience by Shaun Usher. My rating: 5 of 5 stars. It was from “A Way with Words” a public radio show about the English language, including the origins of words, the usages, and good books that I came to know this lovely book. Of all the letters in the book, the following three letters resonate in my mind: (1) E. B. White’s letter to his gentleman acquaintance regarding the importance of having hope for humanity; (2) Anaïs Nin’s rebuking letter to a faceless collector of her co-authored “Erotica” for his demand of more prevalent racy contents; and (3) a nameless German’s woman’s letter to her husband asking him to take her back home from a dreadful mental hospital she was in."
"True to its title, this master piece contained missives that communicated a myriad of emotions, raised pertinent questions and advised the ones in need. The typography lends a rich grandeur which these letters of note truly deserve and needless to say, it evoke the emotions that come with holding a hard cover. Upon reading this work, one cannot help but think even though we as humanity have progressed in leaps and bounds in terms of technology and life style, have lost out a lot in the art of truly communicating and asking questions that makes us think long, hard, deep and all other attributes alike."
"This is a wonderful book that I will re-read many times."
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Best Puerto Rico Travel Guides

Fodor's Puerto Rico (Full-color Travel Guide)
Puerto Rico is one of the Caribbean's most exciting destinations, and with many nonstop flights from major East Coast cities, it's one of the easiest islands to reach. Every year our local experts give you the inside track, showing you all the things to see and do -- from must-see sights to off-the-beaten-path adventures, from shopping to outdoor fun. Hundreds of hotel and restaurant choices in all price ranges -- from budget-friendly B&Bs to luxury hotels, from casual eateries to the hottest new restaurants, complete with thorough reviews showing what makes each place special.
Reviews
"Even with all the info available online--you can't beat a Fodors!"
"Just as a big plus if you can use an at&t phone with a good data plan you can use the GPS function on about 95% of the island with little issue."
"We finally did our trip to Puerto Rico and this book was a great reference."
"Found this book very helpful as we research and plan our trip to Puerto Rico."
"Trendier restaurants and clubs were often rated based as much on the scene as on the actual quality of the food."
"I did not like the structure at all-I cannot really tell what is is, there are chapters and headlines but somehow I get lost as soon as I start lookibg thibgs up.However, a pro is def."
"If you must, get this guide from the library to get a sense of the layout of Puerto Rico and the main suggestions, and don't bother taking this with you."
"One beach the book suggested as a great beach was ok but a 15 minute hike down the beach thru a trail led us to a gorgeous hidden gem of a beach."
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Best Documentary Movies

Directing the Documentary (Portuguese and English Edition)
A two-stage cinematic learning process: camera observation skills, then advanced storytelling Dozens of real-world exercises and case studies to demystify production processes and enhance your skills Easy-to-comprehend guidance in the creative, technical, and artistic aspects of directing Fresh coverage of the latest filmmaking technology Expanded sections on grant writing and fundraising, emphasizing proposal and pitching skills A self-assessment of your interviewing skills and expanded coverage of narration-writing A companion website (www.directingthedocumentary.com) that includes handy production checklists and forms, updated projects, exercises, and video examples. Rabiger has added to his in-depth analysis of the creative and practical implications of documentary production in this latest edition, with new sections on grant writing, technology, and case studies. "This book is a time-proof classic, a one-of-a kind roadmap to reaching excellence in documentary making that reads like good, inspiring literature.
Reviews
"Bought it as a Christmas gift."
"I feel like im in film school, it covers everything from A-Z."
"Excellant."
"This is a great textbook for understanding documentary production."
"Excellent for the practical student of documentary film."
"Best documentary book I know, really helpful and easy to read."
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Best Far East Asia Travel

Without You, There Is No Us: Undercover Among the Sons of North Korea's Elite
A haunting account of teaching English to the sons of North Korea's ruling class during the last six months of Kim Jong-il's reign Every day, three times a day, the students march in two straight lines, singing praises to Kim Jong-il and North Korea: Without you, there is no motherland. It is 2011, and all universities in North Korea have been shut down for an entire year, the students sent to construction fields—except for the 270 students at the all-male Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST), a walled compound where portraits of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il look on impassively from the walls of every room, and where Suki has gone undercover as a missionary and a teacher. "Remarkable…A deeply unsettling book, offering a rare and disturbing inside glimpse into the strangeness, brutality and claustrophobia of North Korea… Kim's book is full of small observations that vividly evoke the paranoia and loneliness of a nation living in fear and in thrall to its 'Great Leaders'…Her portraits of her students are tender and heartbreaking, highlighting the enormity of what is at stake." —O: The Oprah Magazine "A devastatingly vulnerable account... Kim’s stark and delicate language, intertwined with the suspense of being an undercover journalist in a foreign-yet-familiar land, truly humanized North Korea for me." —Foreign Policy "Readers intrigued by Kim Jong Un's recent extended absence from public view can gain insight into the repressive system that shapes North Korea's ruling class from Suki Kim's new memoir." "We in the West know almost nothing about life in North Korea, including even how its elites live (read Suki Kim's terrific Without You, There Is No Us for one of the few accounts)." "Suki Kim’s compelling reports for Harper’s , The New York Review of Books, and others have expanded and deepened our understanding both of life in the North, and the West’s profound misapprehensions about it.…[This book is] a fascinating, if deeply fraught document about the education of the North Korean elite, an aspect of the country that until very recently has been almost completely occluded… Kim’s access to the boys constitutes the unique nature of her book [and] illuminates just how sheltered they are." "A touching portrayal of the student experience in North Korea, which provides readers with a rare glimpse of life in this enigmatic country...Well-written and thoroughly captivating." "Strangely terrifying…A beautifully written book that greatly expands the limited bounds of what we know about North Korea’s ruling class." So skilled is Suki Kim in conveying the eeriness and surreal disconnect of the North Korean landscape that I sometimes felt I was reading a ghost story, one that will haunt me with its silences, with its image of snow falling upon a desolate campus, with the far laughter of her beloved students." — Kiran Desai, author of The Inheritance of Loss "Like an explorer returned from a distant planet or another dimension, Suki Kim has many extraordinary tales to tell, among them how different—and how awful—life is for those who live in North Korea. — Carlos Eire , author of Waiting for Snow in Havana "In language at once stark and delicate, Suki Kim shatters the polemic of North and South Korea. — Monique Truong , author of The Book of Salt "Combining a great novelist's eye for character and a skilled journalist's grasp of politics, Without You, There Is No Us helps us understand North Korea like nothing else I have ever read or watched. "Remarkable…A deeply unsettling book, offering a rare and disturbing inside glimpse into the strangeness, brutality and claustrophobia of North Korea… Kim's book is full of small observations that vividly evoke the paranoia and loneliness of a nation living in fear and in thrall to its 'Great Leaders'…Her portraits of her students are tender and heartbreaking, highlighting the enormity of what is at stake." —O: The Oprah Magazine "A devastatingly vulnerable account... Kim’s stark and delicate language, intertwined with the suspense of being an undercover journalist in a foreign-yet-familiar land, truly humanized North Korea for me." —Foreign Policy "Readers intrigued by Kim Jong Un's recent extended absence from public view can gain insight into the repressive system that shapes North Korea's ruling class from Suki Kim's new memoir." "We in the West know almost nothing about life in North Korea, including even how its elites live (read Suki Kim's terrific Without You, There Is No Us for one of the few accounts)." "Suki Kim’s compelling reports for Harper’s , The New York Review of Books, and others have expanded and deepened our understanding both of life in the North, and the West’s profound misapprehensions about it.…[This book is] a fascinating, if deeply fraught document about the education of the North Korean elite, an aspect of the country that until very recently has been almost completely occluded… Kim’s access to the boys constitutes the unique nature of her book [and] illuminates just how sheltered they are." "Strangely terrifying…A beautifully written book that greatly expands the limited bounds of what we know about North Korea’s ruling class." So skilled is Suki Kim in conveying the eeriness and surreal disconnect of the North Korean landscape that I sometimes felt I was reading a ghost story, one that will haunt me with its silences, with its image of snow falling upon a desolate campus, with the far laughter of her beloved students." — Kiran Desai, author of The Inheritance of Loss "Like an explorer returned from a distant planet or another dimension, Suki Kim has many extraordinary tales to tell, among them how different—and how awful—life is for those who live in North Korea. — Carlos Eire , author of Waiting for Snow in Havana "In language at once stark and delicate, Suki Kim shatters the polemic of North and South Korea. — Monique Truong , author of The Book of Salt "Combining a great novelist's eye for character and a skilled journalist's grasp of politics, Without You, There Is No Us helps us understand North Korea like nothing else I have ever read or watched.
Reviews
"In a lot of ways, she describes how the Kim family implements policies portraying the family as the caretakers of the North Korean people, when in fact they are bloody dictators using their leadership position to enrich themselves."
"Even so, these young men live a totally regimented life, doing menial jobs in addition to studies, subjected to frequent propaganda sessions and hardly ever allowed to see their own families."
"This book is a must read for all people concerned about the regime in North Korea or the tragic situation of the people in North Korea."
"I have visited the DPRK with the State Department and I am very uncomfortable with "visitors" who are under false pretenses."
"This book is a fascinating inside look of the brain washing and institutionalizing that occurs in North Korea."
"I have also read The Orphan Master's Son, another glimpse into the horror of life in North Korea, which was a more brutal and unsettling book in comparison."
"Especially timely, in light of current events, to have this personal insight into life in North Korea."
"These people are in my prayers."
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Best Literary Letters

The John Lennon Letters
A lifetime of letters, collected for the first time, from the legendary musician and songwriter. "[Davies] has done a sensitive and scrupulous job collecting and annotating Lennon's letters, and the book is beautifully designed." "A massive deposit of freshly excavated notes, screeds, asides and howls, each lavishly reproduced and carefully annotated, 'Letters' is the most intimate book ever published about Lennon. "... Lennon's collected letters -- 285 of them, richly contextualized and handsomely presented... -- make for fascinating reading."
Reviews
"John's handwritten letters, reproduced with his little cartoons and all, transcribed with plenty of context."
"They range from 'thank you' notes to relatives for gifts received as a child, to letters dealing with the legal affairs of the Beatles break up and more. The writings are not just limited to letters, there are postcards, drawings, and other assorted bits and pieces of notes that Lennon used."
"Only down-side is it hits you right in the heart what a terrible loss his death is to the world."
"This is a great book that I bought for a Beatles fan as a gift."
"This is a beautiful book, so gorgeous and white you want to wear gloves to turn the pages."
"This collection of writings from John to various people in his life provides a great balance to things I've read about him."
"as long as i have been a BEATLES fan, there have been books , books and books written about them, and John."
"John books are the best inspiration for a boring day , or to share in a circle of friends."
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Best Jazz Dancing

Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop
In the early days of swing dancing, Frankie Manning stood out for his moves and his innovative routines. Bette Midler, student and fan "The first-person accounts of Manning's life capture his vibrancy, humor and charm...this vivid memoir by one of swing dancing's innovators and stars is a must for lovers of dance, jazz and African-American history." "Frankie Manning has now emerged to share the most informative creative insight to date...sensitively co-written by Cynthia Millman, the book throws new light on broad swathes of original jazz dance practices...FRANKIE MANNING chronicles the dedication, rehearsals, and heard-earned technical virtuosity of a dance form often seen as reckless exuberance. -- Dancing Times. "Assembled from interviews Millman conducted with Manning over 13 years, joins Norma Miller's Swingin' at the Savoy, written with Evette Jensen (also published by Temple, 1996), in recounting how some African American social dances gained international renown...Well-chosen photographs evoke the era and confirm the vibrancy of the dance forms. Appendixes providing a Manning time line, biographical sketches of Lindy hoppers, and a listing of swing dance resources greatly enhance the volume... Summing Up: Recommended." "The book serves as an insightful social history of the 20th century and the American vernacular jazz dance - a gem for anyone interested in this history of dance...Manning and Millman's book is not only a gift to the contemporary Lindy Hop scene, but a must-read for all dancers."
Reviews
"I'm a swing dancer (lindy hopper) and this book was so helpful and interesting."
"I was fortunate to have met Frankie twice before I read the book. Thanks for putting Frankie's life into words."
"This is a book every Lindy Swing Dancer should read."
"As a friend of Frankie Manning, this is an excellent book to learn about Lindy Hop from the perspective of someone that helped start it all!"
"it was good, thanks :) enjoying the reading !"
"Frankie is a legendary dancer, an innovator and pioneer in the dance form called "Lindy Hop" that started in the Jazz Age in the streets of Harlem and continues to this day in clubs, schools and dancehalls all over the world."
"Certainly, every Lindy Hopper must read this book."
"Friends and family loved it."
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Best Paper Ephemera & Cards Antiques

Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience
Colorfully illustrated with photographs, portraits, and relevant artworks, this handsome hardcover is a visual treat too, making Letters of Note an utterly distinctive gift, and an instant classic. "While some might argue that the art of correspondence died with the advent of the internet, it was Letters of Note-a popular website sharing correspondence across history and spheres-that paved the way for the exceptional hardcover of the same name. The book's introduction aptly describes itself as "a museum of letters" that are as addictive as they are enlightening; featuring letters from Ernest Hemingway, Fidel Castro, Nick Cave, Elvis and more than a few world leaders. London-based author Shaun Usher compiled the collection of over 125 letters over the course of four years and the subjects span both private and public theatrics. In Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience (brought to you by the creator of the blog by the same name) you'll read letters spanning across centuries, from influential political leaders, authors, actors, murderers, and more. "This new book beautifully highlights fascinating letters ...The hardcover demands prime space on the coffee table." "Someone should write a love letter to a new book called Letters of Note . It's a splendid collection of all kinds of correspondence through the ages: Elvis Presley fans writing to the president, children making suggestions to famous cartoonists, a scientist's poignant love letter to his late wife."
Reviews
"I've been reading eBooks on the main for a while, and everything about these books was enthralling - the library-book smell, the feel of the heavy stock pages, and the gorgeous dust jackets."
"There could have been a thousand letters here and I still would not have tired of reading. In the meantime, I will peruse his website, Letters of Note, to see if I can find more wonderful letters from personalities famous and obscure."
"Letters of Note by Shaun Usher. NOVEMBER 7, 2017 ~ LEAVE A COMMENT ~ EDIT. Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider AudienceLetters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience by Shaun Usher. My rating: 5 of 5 stars. It was from “A Way with Words” a public radio show about the English language, including the origins of words, the usages, and good books that I came to know this lovely book. Of all the letters in the book, the following three letters resonate in my mind: (1) E. B. White’s letter to his gentleman acquaintance regarding the importance of having hope for humanity; (2) Anaïs Nin’s rebuking letter to a faceless collector of her co-authored “Erotica” for his demand of more prevalent racy contents; and (3) a nameless German’s woman’s letter to her husband asking him to take her back home from a dreadful mental hospital she was in."
"True to its title, this master piece contained missives that communicated a myriad of emotions, raised pertinent questions and advised the ones in need. The typography lends a rich grandeur which these letters of note truly deserve and needless to say, it evoke the emotions that come with holding a hard cover. Upon reading this work, one cannot help but think even though we as humanity have progressed in leaps and bounds in terms of technology and life style, have lost out a lot in the art of truly communicating and asking questions that makes us think long, hard, deep and all other attributes alike."
"This is a wonderful book that I will re-read many times."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best General Illinois Travel Guides

Above Chicago
This broad-shouldered metropolis, Carl Sandburg's "Hog butcher of the world," is a city of the plains clutching the lake to its heart. In New York at the International Center of Photography, the New York City Municipal Arts Foundation. In San Francisco at the Vision Gallery, City Hall and the Pacific Center for Photographic Arts.
Reviews
"Purchased for a freind's birthday."
"Lovely photos of many many placees and buildings in Chicago."
"Terrific book !"
"We purchased this book to give to a German exchange student who is about to return home."
"If you love Chicago, as do I, you will love this book.The one thing you should be aware of is that the photos in this book are from the early 1990's, and although the Chicago skyline has changed greatly since then, this book still rocks."
"No satellite photos of Chicago are found in this book, but there is one high-altitude composite U-2 photo of Chicago that is included."
"I recommend this book as I do all of his wonderful books, if you love great photography you will have to have them all, but this is a great place to start."
"I do miss the bit of local color added to volumes on London (Alistair Cook) and San Francisco (Herb Caen), but the star of the show is the quality and expert selection of photographs."
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