"Great paintings cannot be fully understood in a single encounter... [This book] spotlights the finer points a quick glance will almost certainly fail to reveal. These include subtle internal details, such as hidden symbols. Expert commentary reveals the technical tricks employed by the artist to achieve particular effects... and also looks at the themes and external and personal factors influencing the creation of an artwork..."--Book jacket.

"'How to read Impressionism' is a new, original exploration of the 19th-century movement that changed art forever, and made household names of such painters as Monet, Renoir, Degas, Seurat, Cassatt and others. James Rubin organizes this book by subject matter, rather than by artist or chronologically, looking at urban views and city life, interiors and still life, family and friends, and other common themes. In discussing Impressionism in this manner,...

"A legendary record producer-turned-brain scientist explains why you fall in love with music. This Is What It Sounds Like is a journey into the science and soul of music that reveals the secrets of why your favorite songs move you. But it's also a story of a musical trailblazer who began as a humble audio tech in Los Angeles to became Prince's chief engineer for Purple Rain, and then create other No. 1 hits (including Barenaked Ladies' 'One Week')...

Featuring a diverse range of modern artists and their works, Modern Art Explorer takes young readers on an undercover adventure to discover the stories behind famous works. Witty and brilliantly illustrated, Modern Art Explorer is an approachable introduction to modern art for children. Featuring Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, and many more, this book brings readers the stories behind thirty famous artworks. Young readers will see art...

Real stories of newly converted Muslims from all over the world.

"A collection of playfully elucidating essays to help reluctant poetry readers become well-versed in verse Developed from Adam Sol's popular blog, How a Poem Moves is a collection of 35 short essays that walks readers through an array of contemporary poems. Sol is a dynamic teacher, and in these essays, he has captured the humor and engaging intelligence for which he is known in the classroom. With a breezy style, Sol delivers essays that are perfect...

Harold Bloom is Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale University, Berg Professor of English at New York University, and a former Charles Eliot Norton Professor at Harvard. He has written more than 20 books of literary criticism. From a lifetime of writing and teaching about literature, this great scholar exhorts readers to consider the pleasures and benefits of reading well. Beginning with a basic question, "Why read?" Bloom offers his thoughts...

Welcome to the greatest gallery on Earth. Put yourself in the picture with this incredible visual guide displaying the best artistic works of all time. You're the very special guest with unlimited access to the world's most important art through the ages, from ancient cave paintings to modern-day street art. On your journey through time, you'll see a wealth of valuable art, including Egyptian tomb paintings, Roman frescoes, Byzantine mosaics, and...