A TREASURE in the form of a book.
352087
Beyond my expectations. The fabulous photography is paired with text that does the photos justice. So much to be said about not only chronicaling the transformation, but preserving this American treasure.
4464116
The pictures are graphic, and the text is readily understandable by a 6 yr. old.  It is now a treasured possession. Very Readable
2308211
A beautiful book simply as an object regardless of content, but the content is great. Well written, informative, and entertaining.
672070
This little book is a treasure - poems that tell stories of everyday experiences, and makes them almost magical.
1913912
This edition is just beautiful  the original writing with stunning illustrations by Robert Ingpen  ideal for a gift. This was a joy to read with my son  a literary delight for both adults and children, it really has stood the test of time. I was grateful that it was unabridged, and the paintings are outstanding. A classic to keep and treasure.
2984431
This book is an absolute treasure, I have never seen a book quite like it!! It could appeal to all ages and is easy to read. It's clever and witty! The depth of many of her messages, matched to the interesting photos, makes it very special and unique.
4704440
In this wonderful book, Christopher de Hamel makes the arcana of illuminated manuscripts exciting and accessible.  For each of his twelve studies, de Hamel gives us not just a description of the writing, construction, and illumination of the manuscripts, but also a tour of some of the great libraries where the manuscripts are housed.  Each chapter also serves as a detective story, as de Hamel detects and traces the manuscript origins and journey through time.  Christopher de Hamel is a delightful companion; we get a sense of the love he has for his topic and the immense curiosity he brings to the endeavor.  The book has thick paper, vivid typography, and is beautifully illustrated.  It is a tome to be savored.
3634903
What a great treasure, this book! I feel so grateful to have it. A collection of incredible photos that transports one back to a time and place that, tragically, exists no longer. This book is a deeply loving tribute to the Blessed Memory of all those Yiddish souls captured in its pages. This is a book to be given a place of honour and treasured for generations to come. A Groysn Dank to the remarkable people who created this book!!
1188713
The photos are as relevant today, as they were when taken. The Book, words and photos, is a treasure, a reminder of where we have been and where we need to go.
634238
A few years ago, I attended an exhibition of Chinese sculpture from the Sackler Collection at Columbia University. The carvings on gravestones done from 300 AD to 600 AD fascinated me. I bought the book Treasures Rediscovered by Leopold Swergold. I enjoyed it so much not only because of the knowledge displayed by the author but also because of his passion.

The passion for Chinese Buddhist gilt bronzes from the Wei to the Tang Dynasties (386-907 AD) comes through again in Thoughts on Chinese Gilt Bronzes. The icons in the book which are part of the Winthrop Collection at Harvard University as well as some from the Swergold Collection are lavishly illustrated. There are thirty illustrations.

Better yet, the book is organized historically. I came away with an understanding of the place in art history that these beautiful pieces hold. I know that the book will make my visits to museums with Chinese art and my forthcoming trip to China more enriching. The book is small, but mighty. I read it in one day and one morning.
For anyone interested in Chinese sculpture and about to visit China, Swergold's book is an investment that will reap valuable rewards.
2368664
I was expecting a book when I opened package, but I found a treasure. Thanks for passing along such a beautiful story.
1292665
This book is an absolute treasure that everyone deserves a copy of on their bookshelf. The plethora of entries from prominent people are diverse yet eloquently threaded together edited by the author, James. This makes a great gift too.  Furthermore, the profits from this book support the non-profit The World Is Just A Book Away, which supports the development of libraries internationally.
200066
If you love books,a little or a lot,you'll fall in love with this excellent book about books,by an engineer,no less. I have a personal library of over 7,000 books,am also an engineer,and was surprised to find "A Book About Books" written by an engineer. I have quite a number of books on this subject,which I choose to call "Book Books".
These books, all deal with books in one way or another,but this one tends to emphasize the placement of books on some sort of shelf;but the author does not limit himself to that alone. He covers books and the way
and how they have been been constructed over the ages and how they came to be stored,whether it was only a couple of manuscripts by some solitary monk in a monestary,some exclusive collection by a nobelman, libraries where they were chained,huge ancient or modern great world libraries;and even private libraries ,large or small by readers of great wealth or humble means.
 The author shows that there is one thing in common with all collections ,big or small,rare or common;books have to be put somewhere. While the author goes into considerable detail about how books have been constructed and shows how the shelves or whatever they were stored on;he shows how the shelving was adapted to accomodate them. He covers the personal libraries but also covers the engineering and architecture of the shelving and structures built to house the world's massive collections. One should not be scared away from this book,thinking that it is too involved or technical;because it isn't at all. The author covers so much ground ,that rather than overly complicated,it simply becomes interesting.
 One thing for sure is, that after reading this book,one will never  look at books and how they are arranged or stored ,in the same way again. This is the case whether one is enterind a famous library,your local library,a bookstore, small and down some side street,a modern big-box bookstore,an old barn bookstore,a persons library,or one of my favorite things to do which is to get out a magnifying glass and read the titles of the books on bookshelves behind photographs of people in books,magazines or newspapers. Not surprising ,when an article appears on a personality with a photo,they often choose to show that person in their favorite spot, which is often at a desk or chair with books in the background. Just a couple of days ago there was an article about a top Canadian author in the Toronto Star,Peter Newman,in his favorite chair surrounded by books. What fun to see what books he keeps on his bookshelf.
 This book has an extensive appendix "Order,Order" discussing the ways to arrange books on one's shelves,which is very helpful or at least interesting. Personally,of all the wasys covered,I guess I employ most of them to one extent or another. The author also includes an appendix on "Notes" where he gives references to all the quotes in the book,chapter by chapter. An extensive Bibliography and Index makes the book a valuable and useful resource.
 The author has included many of my favorite "Book Books" in his Bibliography, such as "At Home With Books" by Ellis,Seebohm and Sykes ,"A Gentle Madness",by Basbanes,and "The Anatomy of Bibliomania,by Holbrook Jackson (a real classic). However one might enjoy "Writers in Residence",by Glynne Robinson Betts ,and see what books are shown in photographs of many famous writers."Collecting Books" by Catherine Porter,"The Smithonian Book of Books,by Michael Olmert,and "The Library At Night",by Alberto Manguel,will also delight you, if you enjoyed Petroski's wonderful book.
 On the subject of books, another aspect is keeping track of them. Where they were bought,when and for how much,have they been read, what about duplicates(different editions and even titles),where are they now,..but that's a whole other subject...
377677
Once in a great while, a book is written that makes us feel deeply the power, beauty, and majesty of the written word...a story that reminds us of the privilege and great value of sharing a book with each other, with all of humanity.  A CHILD OF BOOKS is such a story.  I had the great privilege of witnessing the creation of this book as it unfurled, along with a number of other librarians.  The awe and raw emotion I felt was echoed by everyone lucky enough to be privy to the inspired mindsets of Jeffers and Winston as they went through their creative process.  To say that this book is a work of heart is an understatement; it is a living, breathing, beautiful representation of the power of so many of the wonderful words that have been written and read in literature through the ages...all shown, and told, through the journey of a young boy who is taken on adventure by a young girl, a child of books.

From the end papers to the epigraphs to the stunning conclusion, the spare and powerful word choices and the glorious art, entirely comprised of words presented in a typographical landscape which builds illustration from the text of master classic literature--this story reaches the hearts, indeed the souls, of readers young and old in a profound, lyrical, even organic, way.

If there is only one book which you give as a gift this year, or buy for yourself, make it  A CHILD OF BOOKS, and relish the gift to literature and humankind which truly is this inspired story.
2609717
This is a really nice book. It's a good size (quite big actually) so the wonderful photo's come across in full splender. It's obvious a lot of work went into putting this book together, both the text and the photo's are of very, very high quality. I think this book makes a wonderful gift for someone's who's been in Angkor and likes to have a momentum of the place. It'll be picked up to browse in again and again.
4080748
Beautiful book, something to keep for kids, grandkids.
1107491
This is a beautifully bound book.  A momento to true art itself, and something to keep in the family for many many years to come.  The book itself is amazing.  Douglas Adams was a genious whose mind is like non-other.  The story of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, truly is a wholly remarkable book.  If only the book were real.