Koncocoo

Best European Art History

The Lost Painting: The Quest for a Caravaggio Masterpiece
An Italian village on a hilltop near the Adriatic coast, a decaying palazzo facing the sea, and in the basement, cobwebbed and dusty, lit by a single bulb, an archive unknown to scholars. Here, a young graduate student from Rome, Francesca Cappelletti, makes a discovery that inspires a search for a work of art of incalculable value, a painting lost for almost two centuries. Four hundred years ago, he drank and brawled in the taverns and streets of Rome, moving from one rooming house to another, constantly in and out of jail, all the while painting works of transcendent emotional and visual power. Prizewinning author Jonathan Harr embarks on an spellbinding journey to discover the long-lost painting known as The Taking of Christ–its mysterious fate and the circumstances of its disappearance have captivated Caravaggio devotees for years. Told with consummate skill by the writer of the bestselling, award-winning A Civil Action , The Lost Painting is a remarkable synthesis of history and detective story. [you'll] enjoy Harr's more clearly reported details about life in the city, as when--one of my favorite moments in the whole book--Francesca and another young colleague try to calm their nerves before a crucial meeting with a forbidding professor by eating gelato. "Jonathan Harr has taken the story of the lost painting, and woven from it a deeply moving narrative about history, art and taste--and about the greed, envy, covetousness and professional jealousy of people who fall prey to obsession. In 1992 a young art student uncovered a clue in an obscure Italian archive that led to the discovery of Caravaggio's original The Taking of the Christ , a painting that had been presumed lost for over 200 years. Broken into short, succinct chapters, the narrative unfolds at a brisk pace, skipping quickly from the perspective of 91-year-old Caravaggio scholar Sir Denis Mahon to that of young, enterprising Francesca Cappelletti, a graduate student at the University of Rome researching the disappearance of The Taking of Christ . But while adept at coordinating dates and analyzing hairline fractures in aged paint, Harr often seems overly concerned with the step-by-step process of tracking down The Taking of the Christ , as if the specific artist who created it were irrelevant.
Reviews
"A refreshing non-fiction book on the discovery of a Caravaggio masterpiece, the story flowed like a mystery."
"Reads like a spy novel."
"Wonderful non-fiction."
"Insightful plotting renders this exhaustively researched saga a page-turner with its heart in art history."
"I am a great fan of the artist."
"Not the kind of book I would usually read."
"If you are into Italian art history you will appreciate this thoughtfully researched and enjoyable nonfiction story."
"Slow Going."
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Leonardo's Notebooks: Writing and Art of the Great Master
The book organizes his wide range of interests into subjects such as human figures, light and shade, perspective and visual perception, anatomy, botany and landscape, geography, the physical sciences and astronomy, architecture, sculpture, and inventions. She was on the curatorial staff of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and has worked on projects for scholarly publications at the Met, New York University's Institute of Fine Arts, the Princeton University Art Museum, and Harvard University.
Reviews
"Great info for my wife the artist in the family."
"I think it is a very good read."
"I originally bought this book for a friend but had to buy another one for myself."
"Bought this book twice because I loved it so much."
"Very interesting reading."
"What an interesting and informative book where I can see and read Leonardo's ideas and inventions."
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Mad Enchantment: Claude Monet and the Painting of the Water Lilies
From bestselling author Ross King, a brilliant portrait of the legendary artist and the story of his most memorable achievement. Claude Monet is perhaps the world's most beloved artist, and among all his creations, the paintings of the water lilies in his garden at Giverny are most famous. National BestsellerWinner of the 2017 RBC Taylor Prize for Literary Non-fictionFinalist for the 2016 Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for NonfictionLonglisted for the 2017 BC National Award for Canadian NonfictionAn Observer (UK) Best Art BookA Boston Globe Best BookA National Post Best BookA Kirkus Reviews Best BookA CBC Best Book "An engaging and authoritative portrait of the aged artist and his travails. The Monet who emerges from King's pages is a sympathetic and vivid character." Readers will come away with an enhanced understanding of Monet's art, about which King is insightful and articulate. And when King animates the colorful politics of Monet's France, the book sparkles." "King, an exhaustive researcher and a pleasing writer, has produced a perceptive chronicle of war and friendship, shifting tastes and lasting art—and of the painted reflections of a pond that became a mirror." — The Wall Street Journal "King consummately meshes biography with art history as he turns the creation of one resounding masterpiece into a portal onto the artist's life. "King elegantly reveals the soul of a great artist, the last Impressionist standing at the end of one of history’s most remarkable art movements.” — Kirkus Reviews , starred review. "Canadian art historian and two-time Governor General's Literary Award winner Ross King turns his finely honed gaze to . "This book, subtitled Claude Monet and the Painting of the Water Lilies , deserves a place of pride beside Margaret MacMillan's Paris 1919 for its engrossing depiction of the Great War era. With impressive deft, King weaves into his narrative the story of the rise, fall, then rise again of Impressionism's reputation, as well as the fate of the Orangerie, the final resting place of Monet's Grande Décoration in Paris." [King] does full justice to the artist's evolution from the pure light of his earlier poplars and wheat-stacks to the brooding, unsettling Monet who became a forerunner of Abstract Expressionism; but it is in the period detail and character portraits that Mad Enchantment really comes to life." "In this enlightening look at Monet's most famous works, King not only illuminates their beauty but examines the harsh realities during which they were created, from the artist's excruciating eye troubles to the devastation of war." — The Boston Globe "An exhaustive researcher and a pleasing writer, [King] has produced a perceptive chronicle of war and friendship, shifting tastes and lasting art." "Readers interested in the bustling Paris art world of the early 20th century will savour King's glance-back not only at a lost time, but at an extraordinary friendship.
Reviews
"If, however, you're interested in a detailed, comprehensive and incisive account of Monet the man and the circumstances that led him to create his water lily paintings, or Grande Decoration, as he envisioned them, you'll find that in spades. And Monet's beloved home in Giverny is as much a character as his close friend, the statesman and journalist Georges Clemenceau and his family members, especially his stepdaughter, daughter-in-law and helpmate, Blanche. In the end, this is a detailed snapshot of a period in the life of one of the world's greatest and most beloved artists, made possible through King's exhaustive research and skillful writing."
"Extraordinary research and detail on Monet by Ross King."
"The serendipity of notoriety and fame are well told in this biography, as is the nature of devotion and friendship."
"Ross King does not know how to write a bad book."
"Perfect for our person who loves Paris and visit the "Waterlilies" museum every chance she gets!"
"Learned more about him and the time and events that formed him!"
"Fast and high quality."
"Fascinating...I could not put Ross King's newest book down."
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Best Private Museums & Collections

The Art of Acquiring: A Portrait of Etta and Claribel Cone
For four and a half decades, Etta and Claribel Cone roamed artists’ studios and art galleries in Europe, building one of the largest, most important art collections in the world. At one time, these two independently wealthy Jewish women from Baltimore received offers from virtually every prominent art museum in the world, all anxious to house their hitherto private assemblage of modern art. Though it intimately portrays two powerful, influential, ahead-of-their-time women, The Art of Acquiring is more than a tale of two sisters, more than an important addition to art history, and more than a major contribution to the study of women's history. Because it reproduces some of the more famous and important art of Matisse, Picasso, Cézanne, Dégas, and others, The Art of Acquiring enables readers to practically step through the canvas and live in the shocking paintings these two unsung sisters purchased, then gave to the world-at-large. But here Gabriel (Notorious Victoria: The Rise and Fall of Victoria Woodhull) focuses on "the barely recognized link" between modernist masters such as C?zanne, Degas, Picasso and Matisse, and the largely forgotten art collectors Etta and Claribel Cone, wealthyAand stolidly VictorianABaltimore sisters who, starting around the turn of the century, devoted their lives to amassing one of the largest and most remarkable collections of modern art in the world. (June). Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. Heiresses to a family fortune, Etta and Claribel Cone, Jewish sisters from Baltimore, amassed a major collection of modern French artworks.
Reviews
"Recommended for art lovers and those who simply enjoy a good read, The Art of Acquiring tells the fascinating story of two sisters who are unknown by many."
"The story seems like a fantasy that the Cone sisters were able to buy Matisse, Picasso, Degas and many other famous painters work for just pennies."
"This book, which covers the collecting years of the Cone sisters, breathes life into the time period interweaving the stories of Gertrude and Leo Stein, Alice Tolkas, Matisse, & Picasso."
"The book is well written and well researched and really brings to life these two amazing women and the lives they led."
"Did not know anything about the Cone sisters."
"Became interested in the Cone sisters when attending an exhibit of their collection."
"To have read this book after twice visiting the Cone Wing @ BMA makes me desire to return and give a blessed thanks to these incredible collectors."
"This is a thorough and entertaining history of two Amèrican art collectors."
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Best African Art History

The Juicing and Smoothie Recipe Book: The Complete Guide to Healthy Juices & Smoothies – Easy recipes for Weight Loss & Cleanses – Suitable for the Nutribullet, ... Ninja and Vitamix (Juicing for Beginners)
Salads get boring and can lose health value with calorie laden dressings or toppings. Juicing & Smoothies This method will typically keep the fruits and vegetables raw, free of unhealthy additives, and convenient. Vegetable blends can get you the needed greens for your diet without wading through piles of salad. Each recipe includes ingredients that can be easy to find at your local grocery store or produce stand.
Reviews
"He had a bad cold he just couldn't seem to get rid of, so I made him the ginger tea."
"The ginger tea as milk!"
"There are multiple sections in this recipe book, some for smoothies, some for juices, some for teas, and some for infused water."
"I purchased this book and made the Aloe Vera and Coconut juice recipe for her."
"He likes to eat a lot of carbs and meats but I find it really hard to make him eat more fruits and vegetables."
"I wouldn't recommend drinking this when papaya's aren't ripe though, it's the only thing that makes this shake sweet."
"I’ve been trying to make my child eat more fruits and vegetables."
"I am a big fan of the Apple Honey Green Tea."
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Best Asian Art History

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
This #1 New York Times best-selling guide to decluttering your home from Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes readers step-by-step through her revolutionary KonMari Method for simplifying, organizing, and storing. #1 New York Times Best SellerAmazon's Best Book of 2014 in Crafts, Home & Garden. "Ms. Kondo delivers her tidy manifesto like a kind of Zen nanny, both hortatory and animistic." a literal how-to-heave-ho, and I recommend it for anyone who struggles with the material excess of living in a privileged society. A totally reasonable, scary cult that works, doesn’t kill people (a bonus), but does drastically change your life. the Japanese expert’s ode to decluttering is simple and easy to follow." "Reading it, you glimpse a glittering mental freedom from the unread/uncrafted/unworn, buyer’s remorse, the nervous eyeing of real estate listings. "All hail the new decluttering queen Marie Kondo, whose mess-busting bestseller has prompted a craze for tidying in homes across the world . "How could this pocket-sized book, which has already sold over 2 million copies and sits firmly atop the New York Times Best Seller list, make such a big promise? Marie “KonMari” Kondo runs an acclaimed consulting business in Tokyo helping clients transform their cluttered homes into spaces of serenity and inspiration. With a three-month waiting list, her KonMari Method of decluttering and organizing has become an international phenomenon. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is a best seller in Japan, Germany, and the UK, with more than two million copies sold worldwide, and has been turned into a television drama for Japanese TV. She has been named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time , featured on more than thirty major Japanese television and radio programs, and profiled in the Sunday Times , Red magazine, You magazine, the New York Times , USA Today , NPR's Here & Now , Slate , Family Circle , and the London Times, who has deemed her “Japan’s preeminent guru of tidiness, a warrior princess in the war on clutter.”.
Reviews
"I grew up in a cluttered house and married the King of Clutter (he's the type of person who'll open a credit card bill, pay it online, and then just leave the empty envelope, inserts, and bill itself randomly strewn on whatever surface happens to be nearby). It's a breath of fresh air and positive energy that brings real joy to the process of "tidying up." My clothes are all mine (which also means that they're in nowhere near as terrible a state as other things in my house), so going through them affects only me and involves only my own feelings. Her advice may sound silly at first, but if your belongings inspire feelings of unhappiness, guilt, etc., her anthropomorphism of them can really help you change your viewpoint in a positive direction. That is likely to carry a different level of meaning for someone in Japan than in the U.S. Other references to spiritual practice and feng-shui are not likely to resonate the same way for an American audience. There is a lot of discussion of travel toiletries, but very little about kitchen utensils, toys, or other items found most often in a family home. I'm now a week in, and 6 months seems like hardly enough time to tackle all the junk in my house, but I can fully see how this can be a life-changing process."
"I was browsing Pinterest one day and stumbled upon the "konmari method" and was intrigued, so I bought this book for kindle and read it in about an hour. I always thought I was a very organized person (because everything I owned had a designated, labelled place and my house was always super clean), but after reading this book I realized I was nothing more than a skilled hoarder. I probably discarded well over 100 bags of clutter in that 6 weeks and earned over $400 selling the big-ticket items via social media, which I used to make my house prettier."
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Best African American Art History

Luther: The Life and Longing of Luther Vandross: (Updated and Expanded)
- Michael Eric Dyson. "Craig Seymour paints an intimate portrait of the man behind some of the most beautiful love songs of our time...Full of juicy anecdotes, fast-paced writing, and interesting analysis, the book reveals surprising new dimensions of this much-beloved balladeer." The book details Luther’s triumphs, as well as his struggles: his battle with weight; his feuds with Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, and En Vogue; the 1986 car accident that killed his best friend and nearly destroyed his career; and the rumors about his sexuality that followed him throughout his life. When he opened his eyes from his comatose state almost one month later, Vandross added yet one more page to the many chapters in his life: later in the year, his song "Dance with My Father" won a Grammy. Seymour recounts Vandross's lifelong love of music and the singer's early infatuations with girl groups, particularly Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles and Dionne Warwick. Vandross's fame as a composer and backup singer, which he preferred to the spotlight of a soloist, steadily grew until he was producing such acts as Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker and En Vogue.
Reviews
"The book is in perfect condition."
"I am not impressed with some of the "diva-like" behavior of Luther, but, I had no idea of the contributions he made to music, from his jingles, background singing and the passion that he wanted to express in his music."
"VERY well researched and written!"
"A very revealing look into Luther's life."
"It told a side of Luther Vandross's life that most people including myself would never have imagined."
"I couldn't put it down, so refreshing to read about his longing for Love, Life and Loving."
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Best Native American Art History

First Grade Us History: The First Americans: First Grade Books (Children's American History Books)
Since it is composed of bold images laid out in an easy-to-understand format, it will definitely attract and keep the attention. We continually update our products, ensuring accuracy of information, making sure they are fun and entertaining.
Reviews
"Almost none of the statements have supporting findings or even solid background, but this is a book intended for young readers and as most books are from this publisher, intended to inspire further study. In that one however, he meets up with a female, and from an adult perspective, it’s rather comical, though I’m not sure I would want young boys spending too much time on that page…. Overall, this book will provide a basis for discussion on how Native Americans came to live in the Americas."
"The book has illustrations depicting how these people may have looked and some of the things they would have done, such as hunting mammoths with spears. It describes how they hunted meat and ate it, as well as how they gathered seeds, fruits, and roots to live on as well."
"As a teacher of elementary students, I would love to incorporate this ebook into a small group activity where I present a main idea or topic to the whole class and then they break up in small groups and discover more material on their own."
"I didn't know there was soMA many books I could find that aren't just a ton of reading these books for first grade from baby professor ask have many photos that add to learning about each subject."
"However since they are computer generated (there were no cameras back then) they didn’t capture my kid’s attention. Overall it is worth the read and a good starting point in exploring the pre historic people who inhabited North America. This book starts out letting us know that the name given to them is just a classification for the first people who entered the American continents. The book makes this fact clear by stating that they came at least 13,000 years ago, but perhaps they came much earlier. This book tells how since they were here during the late ice age that climate changes caused them to have to move. The final page of this book gives us a great definition of Paleo."
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Best Middle Eastern Art History

Oriental Rugs: An Illustrated Lexicon of Motifs, Materials, and Origins
This concise oriental rug reference book is a must-have for scholars and anyone serious about collecting rugs, selling rugs or the rug trade in general. Peter F. Stone is one of the world's foremost scholars regarding oriental rugs, central Asian art, rug art, tribal rugs, and rug repair.
Reviews
"The book is very well researched, but presents as a dictionary of Persian rug terminology in alphabetical order."
"Very good and detailed information."
"I think it will take a lifetime to learn all there is to know about rugs."
"A first-rate reference work for persons seriously interested in Oriental rugs."
"Comprehensive and beautiful."
"Gave as a gift and they loved it."
"I really loved this book so I ordered 8 more for gifts for rug washers personal friends of Barry oconnell."
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Best United States Art History

Mastering Manga with Mark Crilley: 30 drawing lessons from the creator of Akiko
30 step-by-step demonstrations showing how to draw faces and figures for a variety of ages and body types Inspirational galleries featuring 101 eyes, 50 ways to draw hands, 40 hairstyles, 12 common expressions, 30 classic poses and more! Since being selected for Entertainment Weekly 's "It List" in 1998, Crilley has published nearly twenty books across his many popular series and developed a massive internet following for his drawing demonstration videos earning him a spot as one of the top 25 Most Subscribed to Gurus on YouTube.
Reviews
"I've watched lots of Mark Crilley's tutorials, but there's something special about seeing the drawing printed on the page in front of me, there as a reference. The written instructions give tips about showing the gender, age and personality of the characters. There's information about inking drawings, laying out panels and adding speech bubbles and sound effects. Everything included in the book is great and it's absolutely packed with helpful information on every page, but I do think the author has even more to offer and I'd love it if this turned out to be the first part of a series. One final note: There's no nudity in this book; all figures are drawn either fully clothed or wearing simple underclothes."
"My son loves to draw and he uses this for his artwork."
"my daughter and niece draws these even before the book."
"I bought this for my son who loves to draw."
"I'm currently going to University for Art, so I already have a bit of training in drawing, but I don't think this would be very hard for absolute beginners to understand."
"I've been wanting to grab this book for ages, but the paper copy was cost-prohibitive for me at the time."
"but what i think of this book is that the art isn't very "eye-catching"."
"I saw other books with more pages, but this seems to be newer."
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Best Caribbean & Latin American Art History

KETOGENIC DIET FOR BEGINNERS: KETO FOR BEGINNERS, KETO MEAL PLAN COOKBOOK, KETO SLOW COOKER COOKBOOK, KETO DESSERTS RECIPES (Keto Diet)
Pork keto slow cooker recipes Beef and game slow cooker recipes Poultry keto slow cooker recipes Fish & seafood keto slow cooker recipes Soup & other originl dishes keto slow cooker recipes Sweet keto slow cooker recipes ….each recipe is detailed with nutrition values and total and net carb calculation Book 4: KETO DESSERTS RECIPES (with macros and totl/net carb figures). Ketoessentials: the essential equipment to become a real ketochef Getting to know the ingredients of the Keto dessert Chef: Sweeteners Getting to know the ingredients of the Keto dessert chef: Flours Fat bomb recipes Keto cake recipes Keto chocolate recipes Keto mousses & cream recipes Keto ice creams Keto traditional festivity recipes Nutrition facts of the Keto dessert chef’s main ingredients GRAB YOUR COPY NOW!
Reviews
"Very good recipes cook great and since they are in a slow cooker, I can eat when I get home from work and not have to worry about preparing food....."
"KETOGENIC DIET FOR BEGINNERS consists of 4 books on keto diet combined into one."
"Walker incorporates fundamental ketogenic data at the front of the book & tips for consuming from home toward the end."
"The book gives me a real understanding of how our body breaks down fat as opposed to carbs,I was impressed by a short article on ketogenic diet in social media and bought this Kindle edition to understand the concept better.If you are a starter of Ketogenic, I can say that this book is good fit for you."
"Ketogenic diet is well explained.The book also shows how this kind of diet works."
"All recipes are very tasty, healthy, quick and easy to prepare."
"A very comprehensive guide for ketogenic diet enthusiasts as the author explained well what ketogenic is, the foods suitable for this diet, the nutritional value per meal, the 30 day diet plan and the recipes, which for me sounds tempting especially the keto desserts recipes."
"Keto for learners, keto dinner outline cookbook, keto direct cooker cookbook, keto treats recipes, which are clear and take in the wake of, containing unfathomable equations and strong information."
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