Book Description
The Velvet Underground is arguably one of the most influential American rock bands ever. Based on interviews with former members Lou Reed, John Cale, and Sterling Morrison, as well as others from Andy Warhol's circle of artisitic collaborators, this book is the definitive oral and visual history of the band and its revolutionary, avant-garde music.
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding photos, inside dirt.......2007-10-10
This book has contributions from several of Warhol's factory insiders (Victor Bockris, Gerard Melanga) who were personally involved with the Velvet Underground's groundbreaking shows in NYC (in addition to their status as card-carrying members of Warhol's film-and-silkscreen juggernaut). Their recollections, letters, and photographs from their time with the band paint a vivid picture of a beautifully chaotic scene peopled by colorful, indulgent artists and hipsters in a shimmering New York. The city is a character in its own right; an actor of nearly perceptible intent.
The photos alone are worth the price of admission. They are beautiful and artful records in black and white of the band and the surrounding Factory maelstrom through the most vivid and productive period of their shared existence. Despite the insider access of the photographers, they do little to deflate the Velvet's dark mythology. Rather, they distill perfectly the self-created mythology of the band as they birthed it.
There are great stories here, too, that could only have been told by firsthand participants. They offer rich portraits of the band and supporting cast, with intimate details of the band throughout their existence. From Lou Reed's early influences, to Warhol's insertion of Nico as the band's icy continental seer of doom, to accounts of their wild psycho-sexual art-rock shows, to their uncomfortable role on the fringes of fame, to the deterioration of the relationship between Reed and Cale, this is an essential text for any serious fan of the Velvet Underground.
As perfect of a document as we are likely to have.......2006-09-21
Some 20 years after it's first publication, UP-TIGHT remains the definitive history of The Velvet Underground, and is also one of the essential glimpses into the social and creative world of Warhol's Factory.
Very well illustrated, with many black and white photos documenting the era, Bockris compiles and edits an oral history of the time, with valuable input from all of the key players.
Highly recommended for those with any interest in the Velvets, or Warhol, and an essential snapshot of America's 60s cultural landscape.
-David Alston
Invaluable sourcebook.......2004-07-26
UP-TIGHT is an invaluable sourcebook for VU fans and those simply curious about the band that inspired their mere 10,000 fans to start 10,000 bands of their own, as the cliche goes. I'm delighted to see that it is back in print.
Bockris wisely lets the participants speak for themselves, for the most part. Since virtually all (save Lou Reed) had retreated from public life (that is, gotten straight jobs) at the time the book was written, they provide a refreshing perspective as compared to what one usually sees in this type of book.
The standard of writing and research here is much higher that your typical 'rock book'. Not only does it give Velvet Underground the serious treatment they deserve, it is also a worthwhile resource for those interested in Andy Warhol.
Intelligent & entertaining approach.......1999-06-17
An intelligent and entertaining approach to one of the most influential (read: they didn't sell a lot of records in their heyday)rock bands ever. Great pix too. The Velvets epitomized a time when artists didn't feel narrowly compelled to practise any ONE discipline, but rather people were less afraid to combine ideas, cross genres and disciplines. The spirit of the time, to me, suggests Possibility. Yes, Warhol et al. could drift into pretention, but that's the price (and it's really not such a costly one) you pay for being daring. You may go too far sometimes, and by today's (stupid?) standards, perhaps some of the VU "happenings" might appear contrived. But I don't think so! Altogether, VU rules. Way ahead of their time, and before it too. And beside it.
Buy this book, but more importantly, buy into the Underground.
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Up-Tight: The Velvet Underground Story
Manufacturer: William Morrow & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0688039065 |
Amazon.com
Thomas Cahill, author of the bestselling How the Irish Saved Civilization, continues his Hinges of History series with The Gifts of the Jews, a light-handed, popular account of ancient Jewish culture, the culture of the Bible. The book is written from a decidedly modern point of view. Cahill notes, for instance, that Abraham moved the Jews from Ur to the land of Canaan "to improve their prospects," and that the leering inhabitants of Sodom surrounded Lot's lodging "like the ghouls in Night of the Living Dead." The Gifts of the Jews nonetheless encourages us to see the Old Testament through ancient eyes--to see its characters not as our contemporaries but as those of Gilgamesh and Amenhotep. Cahill also lingers on often-overlooked books of the Bible, such as Ruth, to discuss changes in ancient sensibility. The result is a fine, speculative, eminently readable work of history.
Book Description
The author of the runaway bestseller How the Irish Saved Civilization has done it again. In The Gifts of the Jews Thomas Cahill takes us on another enchanting journey into history, once again recreating a time when the actions of a small band of people had repercussions that are still felt today.
The Gifts of the Jews reveals the critical change that made western civilization possible. Within the matrix of ancient religions and philosophies, life was seen as part of an endless cycle of birth and death; time was like a wheel, spinning ceaselessly. Yet somehow, the ancient Jews began to see time differently. For them, time had a beginning and an end; it was a narrative, whose triumphant conclusion would come in the future. From this insight came a new conception of men and women as individuals with unique destinies--a conception that would inform the Declaration of Independence--and our hopeful belief in progress and the sense that tomorrow can be better than today. As Thomas Cahill narrates this momentous shift, he also explains the real significance of such Biblical figures as Abraham and Sarah, Moses and the Pharaoh, Joshua, Isaiah, and Jeremiah.
Full of compelling stories, insights and humor, The Gifts of the Jews is an irresistible exploration of history as fascinating and fun as How the Irish Saved Civilization.
Download Description
The premise of The Gifts of the Jews is simple but bold: to show how the religious, moral, philosophical, and political systems developed by the Jews -- descendants and followers of Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Saul, and David -- profoundly shaped the world we know today.
Customer Reviews:
Good service.......2007-09-10
Book arrived in great condition. I gave it to my son as a gift. Cahill is great too.
Ugh.......2007-08-29
I found this book to be so biased as to be virtually a tract of propoganda. As someone who is not Jewish or Christian, although familiar with both faith traditions, I found the boundless admiration expressed by Cahill to be shallow, uncritical and unexpected. I have read three of his other books, and enjoyed their mulit-faceted summaries of the cultures involved; in this one, I think Cahill's theological background took precendence over his academic analysis, resulting in a much weaker book.
Kind of a mess.......2007-06-20
Well, this was a change from the other Hinges books, and is definitely my least favorite. The other books are popularized histories: this reads like a long, rambling essay; it's embellished to the point of ridiculousness in places; and the folksy recap of the Bible is not only annoying, but a classic example of a blind man describing an elephant. Cahill doesn't "get it," not at all, not even slightly, and he tries to "take charge" of the Bible with a combination of buzzwords and sly interjections of his own opinions.
It gets a 3 because it was fun light reading. If you're easily offended, look elsewhere; if you know nothing about the Bible, Judaism, Christianity, etc, but would like to, start elsewhere. The subject deserves a more accurate, dignified, and less "state of the question" (as Screwtape so aptly put it) introduction.
Generally good, I thought........2007-05-08
Cahill has a fondness for speaking in hyperbole, I think, which is honestly a bit of a turn-off from his writing. He relies heavily on sweeping generalizations and a very casual way of speaking that would have had my professors going crazy had I employed the same style in my own writing.
However, it DOES make for an enjoyable read, and as long as you can ignore some of the more blatant blanket statements, he brings up some very interesting points. It's indeed true that the Children of Israel had a very profound impact on how much of the world today views time, space, and their relationship with the divine. I am not attempting to say, as Cahill does often, that the Hebrews were the first to think of a lot of these revolutionary ideas, but the fact is that they're the ones who first spread those ideas easily.
I appreciate the amount of effort he went in explaining the Biblical Hebrew's relationship with God and the relationship that their concept of God had with the rest of the local world.
All in all, I found this a very interesting and thought-provoking work, although it's far too casual in style and presentation to be considered a scholarly piece. Still, I think it's well worth a read for anyone who is interested in Judaism and Jewish culture.
Breaking the Cycle and Seeing Progress.......2007-04-15
Dr. Cahill's text serves as a very brief overview of a topic with great depth but does not promise to be anything other than that. It is not written in a style which looks to present a fully academic, detailed historical reprise of Judaism. Instead, it is written with one (blatantly stated) intention: That the Judaism and its concept of God are foundational for the West (and indeed for the world).
In light of this, Cahill explains those Jewish dispositions which grew as they came to realize (and experience) a God who was more than a deity of cyclical immutability. While he presents some of his arguments in terms which are somewhat caustic toward other cultures, he does not stray from this pivotal realization in history. The Jewish experience has influenced Billions of people (through Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and all the societies which they have encountered). Indeed, some scholars like Hans Urs von Balthasar would argue that it is impossible to view post-Christian civilizations as though they were unaffected by the ontological and praxeological reflections of Christianity.
Because of this influence, the Judeo-Christian realization of human dignity in the Image of a freely-loving, creative God is a leaven for the world which was truly a hinge of history. While Cahill sometimes uses imagery which (as he even admits) is somewhat questionable, his central point remains true and is as well defended as it can be in such a short text. While the text is deficient in this as well as by having a somewhat untouched (yet briefly mentioned) understanding of brutality in Scripture, I still give it 3.75/5 stars and suggest it as a quick, but thought-provoking read. If nothing else, it will get you thinking about the world through the light of Jewish revelation.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life, published by Institute on Religion and Public Life on November 1, 1998. The length of the article is 2028 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: The Gifts of the Jews: How a Tribe of Desert Nomads Changed the Way Everyone Thinks and Feels. (book reviews)
Author: Dennis Prager
Publication:
First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life (Refereed)
Date: November 1, 1998
Publisher: Institute on Religion and Public Life
Issue: n87
Page: p42(5)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Product Description
5 Cassettes. In this insightful book, Thomas Cahill, internationally-acclaimed historian and author of the runaway bestseller How the Irish Saved Civilization (RB# 94747), reveals the changes in thinking that made Western civilization possible. A New York Times best-seller, The Gifts of the Jews is his accessible portrait of an ancient society and their vision that would later inspire the concept of individual worth. Until the third millennium, it was a widely-held belief that people were pawns in an endless cycle of birth and death, with no hope of altering their fate. But when Abraham followed Gods command in ancient Sumer to go forth into the wilderness, a remarkable shift in thought emerged. As Abraham led his tribe through strange lands, these people called Jews began to view time as having starting and ending pointsand holding the possibility of a better tomorrow. Through compelling stories, insights, and humor, Thomas Cahill demonstrates how many of your treasured values really are gifts from the Jews. Narrator Richard M. Davidson transports you to the distant past to rub elbows with such renowned biblical characters as Sarah, Moses, Job, and Ruth.
Customer Reviews:
In the beginning..........2006-03-23
Thomas Cahill's second outing as author of the hinge-histories is a worthy follow-up, if a bit more simplistic. This book was a very easy read for me, both in content and in style, and I think the general reader will enjoy this book, too. I am used to, in my seminary training, to having weighty tomes to journey through -- this was a refreshing walk in a park.
Unlike his previous subject about the Irish, this book covers a subject on which almost everyone has an opinion, so Cahill's interpretations on the Hebrew Scriptures and history (Old Testament times) will undoubtedly not satisfy everyone. He does a very good job, though, of steering clear of interpretive controversies.
He presents this history as a history of what is important in its legacy for us -- no sense in asking questions such as 'Were these really the first monotheists?' &c., because it is a fact that our cultural tendency toward monotheism in the West derives from this band of people. This is the people from whom much of our Western sensibility is derived.
'This gift of the Commandments allows us to live in the present, in the here and now. What I have done in the past is past mending; what I will do in the future is a worry not worth a candle, for there is no way I can know what will happen next. But in this moment--and only in htis moment--I am in control.'
The very idea of regulations, justice, and communal living (beyond the whims of the powerful), and of self-discipline exerted from within, rather than from without, derives largely in our society from these writings. Again, it is not worth haggling over who had the earliest codification of regulations and civil laws--those did not get handed down to us as a living, working text. These texts were, in many respects, the informing texts behind much of Western civilisation.
He covers the history well, neither discounting the Biblical authority nor assuming that seeming contradictions in archaeological evidence is either right or wrong.
Cahill begins with the pre-history of the Jews, talking about the societal, political and geographic realities that would have influenced the ancient Sumerian named Avram, who set out for the land of Canaan. Cahill examines the period in Egypt as being pivotal for societal development, the era of the judges and kings as experimentations with polity, and the diasporic period as one of deepening identity in the face of massive external pressure and, in the end, threat of extermination.
This book is a good sequel, and an important work for the non-historian and non-theologian into some aspects of the history of the Jews that are otherwise often overlooked.
'The Jews gave us the Outlook and the Inside--our outlook and our inner life. We can hardly get up in the morning or cross the street without being Jewish. We dream Jewish dreams and hope Jewish hopes. Most of our best words, in fact--new, adventure, surprise; unique, individual, person, vocation; time, history, future; freedom, progress, spirit; faith, hope, justice--are the gifts of the Jews.'
Book Description
"The Imagination of the New Left" brings to life the social movements and events of the 1960s that made it a period of world-historical importance: the Prague Spring; the student movements in Mexico, Japan, Sri Lanka, Italy, Yugoslavia, and Spain; the Test Offensive in Vietnam and guerilla movements in Latin America; the Democratic Convention in Chicago; the assassination of Martin Luther King; the near-revolution in France of May 1968; and the May 1970 student strike in the United States. Despite its apparent failure, the New Left represented a global transition to a newly defined cultural and political epoch, and its impact continues to be felt today.
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Invertebrate Surveys for Conservation
T. R. New
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0198500122 |
Book Description
Invertebrates are the major energy conduits and agents of nutrient and material recycling in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems throughout the world, and the sustainability of the earth's life-support systems depends on their well-being. Despite this, conservation managers and
practitioners still know very little about invertebrate biology, or how to study and survey invertebrates adequately in the field. Invertebrate Surveys for Conservation is a comprehensive guide to the ecological methods used to survey invertebrate animals in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine
environments. It describes how to select particular taxonomic groups for study, how to collect and analyze samples, and how to set priorities for protection in the face of limited resources. Line drawings of apparatus, tables of survey examples and methods of specimen treatment and sample analysis
are augmented by a substantial list of references to provide and introduction to practical invertebrate conservation. This book will be an essential tool for anyone involved in conservation biology or ecology, including students and researchers, conservation practitioners, and environmental
consultants.
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- 100 Women Who Shaped World History (100 Series)
- A 20,000% Gain in Real Estate: A True Story About the Ups And Downs from Wall Street to Real Estate Leading Up to Phenomenal Returns
- A Hunger For Learning: A Story About Booker T. Washington (Creative Minds Biographies)
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- A Small Place in Italy
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All Yesterdays' Parties: The Velvet Underground in Print: 1966-1971
Velvet Underground's The Velvet Underground and Nico (Thirty Three and a Third series)
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Factory Made: Warhol and the Sixties
