Thomas Heaton is passionate about landscape photography and it shows. The book is stuffed with practical tips and great stories about getting THAT imaThomas Heaton is passionate about landscape photography and it shows. The book is stuffed with practical tips and great stories about getting THAT image. I loved it and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about landscape photography....more
Statements like "because the nature and purpose of art are not of existential concern.." and "the idea of images as metaphor rather than literal depicStatements like "because the nature and purpose of art are not of existential concern.." and "the idea of images as metaphor rather than literal depictions" are why I gave this book a harsh one-star rating.
The entire book is filled with statements that make the pursuit of art sound positively grim. If Mr. Tal had been in the room when I read this book, I'd have thrown it at him and snapped, "get over yourself!" It is possible to capture the beauty of nature (Tal is a nature and landscape photographer)without getting caught up in pedantic behavior.
His photographs are lovely, but I feel like I can't just enjoy them, I have to buy into the philosophies that enabled Tal to create them. No thanks. I want to enjoy the tasty cookie, not have a long discussion about the science of baking.
Tal is welcome to his complex and dark pursuit of photographic art. As for me, I'm gonna grab my camera and go dance in the sunshine.
Merged review:
Statements like "because the nature and purpose of art are not of existential concern.." and "the idea of images as metaphor rather than literal depictions" are why I gave this book a harsh one-star rating.
The entire book is filled with statements that make the pursuit of art sound positively grim. If Mr. Tal had been in the room when I read this book, I'd have thrown it at him and snapped, "get over yourself!" It is possible to capture the beauty of nature (Tal is a nature and landscape photographer)without getting caught up in pedantic behavior.
His photographs are lovely, but I feel like I can't just enjoy them, I have to buy into the philosophies that enabled Tal to create them. No thanks. I want to enjoy the tasty cookie, not have a long discussion about the science of baking.
Tal is welcome to his complex and dark pursuit of photographic art. As for me, I'm gonna grab my camera and go dance in the sunshine....more
The book is a contradiction. The introduction encourages you to use bottled ingredients and do whatever you can to save time. But every single recipe The book is a contradiction. The introduction encourages you to use bottled ingredients and do whatever you can to save time. But every single recipe is at least 12 ingredients long, and some call for ingredients that I will not find at the local grocers. The recipes are interesting and I'd love to try some, but they would work better on a quiet weekend when I have nothing else to do but enjoy myself in the kitchen putting together these detailed recipes....more
Lots of good Texas recipes in here. They aren't complex but they are detailed enough that you are getting a real Texas treat. Soups, snacks, desserts Lots of good Texas recipes in here. They aren't complex but they are detailed enough that you are getting a real Texas treat. Soups, snacks, desserts and more are in here and they are all yummy and fun to make....more
People say they want to eat Mexican food, but what they really want is Tex-Mex. Tex-Mex is NOT genuine Mexican cooking, and this book proves it. You wPeople say they want to eat Mexican food, but what they really want is Tex-Mex. Tex-Mex is NOT genuine Mexican cooking, and this book proves it. You won't find any of these recipes in your local Tex-Mex, not even in the family-run restaurants that are ubiquitous in the American Southwest.
What you WILL find is genuine Mexican food, with lard and pork and all the foods Americans think aren't healthy or easy to cook. The recipes are genuine but accessible. The author urges you to use authentic ingredients from Mexico, especially spices, but honestly, they are available.
I did find the introduction a bit annoying. He goes on and on about growing up as a POC in Austin and the prejudices he faced. Well, duh. Austin has a strong WASP vibe despite its location. He goes on and on and on...enough already. His passion for travel. His affection for his dog. We get it. Recipes, please.
If you are SERIOUS about learning genuine Mexican food, get this book. Just skip the tedious introduction. Four stars for the wonderful recipes, one star off for the introduction and uninteresting travel stories....more
If you like cookbooks with ALOT of background information about family, you will love this book. If you want more recipes and far less chatter, skip tIf you like cookbooks with ALOT of background information about family, you will love this book. If you want more recipes and far less chatter, skip this one. Some basic recipes (potato salad, green bean casserole) but nothing noteworthy....more
There are tons of maps, demographic information, geographic information, and guides to fishing, hunting, hiking, and all sorts of outdoor stuff. PolitThere are tons of maps, demographic information, geographic information, and guides to fishing, hunting, hiking, and all sorts of outdoor stuff. Political information and history, weather stuff, I could go on and on. A must-have if you want to get the most out of your travels in the Lone Star State....more
If you want super easy recipes and don't want to collect cookbooks, just get this cookbook. The recipes are fun and tasty. Cook them and get on with yIf you want super easy recipes and don't want to collect cookbooks, just get this cookbook. The recipes are fun and tasty. Cook them and get on with your life....more
Growing up, I remember books like this one in our house. Hardback, beautifully illustrated and written by passionate and talented cooks. This book wouGrowing up, I remember books like this one in our house. Hardback, beautifully illustrated and written by passionate and talented cooks. This book would be a great gift for a serious cook who loves entertaining.
I, however, am a hobbyist. I enjoy learning new recipes but am not passionate about cooking. The recipes are straightforward and all, but I don't share Erin French's zeal for food and entertaining and don't want to explore her recipes. Her energy and dedication make me feel a little defensive. So, if you are serious about this sort of stuff, yeah, go buy the book. As for me, I'm going to go reread the "I hate to cook" book by Peg Bracken. I don't hate to cook but I think her book is more my speed....more
Why can't anybody write a straightforward biography of a famous writer? I put Sylvia Plath on the same planet as Emily Dickinson...writers who attractWhy can't anybody write a straightforward biography of a famous writer? I put Sylvia Plath on the same planet as Emily Dickinson...writers who attract pedantic culture vulture wannabe's. The writing is dull, it skips around in time, and it goes on and on about her writing rather than her life and marriage to Ted Hughes. Bleah....more
An autobiography of a NY Times critic, this book explores her family history via photographs. She was descended from Czech Jews who fled Nazi Germany An autobiography of a NY Times critic, this book explores her family history via photographs. She was descended from Czech Jews who fled Nazi Germany and built a new life in America. It was moderately interesting but I dunno...didn't really pull me in like a good autobiography will....more
The story of the shuttle Columbia is heartbreaking. She broke up while returning to earth and left a vast swath of debris and the bodies of her crew wThe story of the shuttle Columbia is heartbreaking. She broke up while returning to earth and left a vast swath of debris and the bodies of her crew while engineers and scientists grieved and struggled to figure out what happened and why. Thousands of volunteers in East Texas searched through freezing rain to find parts of the shuttle and return them to NASA. Some pieces were the size of a nickel, others far larger. All had to be returned and studied. The families needed closure, and NASA needed answers. It is impossible to read this book without feeling the grief, frustration, and exhaustion of those who fought to make sense of a horrible tragedy and prevent another one. The book is accessible, avoiding technical jargon while making the reader understand what a nightmare the loss of the Columbia was to the space program. You come away from this book with a new respect for NASA and the incredible people who continue to explore space, despite the hardships and very real risks. One of the best books I've read in years....more
Love this book! It's beautifully designed and each page has a recipe, which makes it easy to use. The book is slightly out of date, IP has released a Love this book! It's beautifully designed and each page has a recipe, which makes it easy to use. The book is slightly out of date, IP has released a newer version of it's Instant Pot that has more sophisticated settings. (e.g. it can do both brown and white rice automatically but the cookbook says it'll only do white rice automatically)...more
The recipes are fun and interesting. I will warn you though: the simpler the recipes the more it is going to depend of preprepared foods and those wilThe recipes are fun and interesting. I will warn you though: the simpler the recipes the more it is going to depend of preprepared foods and those will contain a lot of salt and sugar. (Frozen vegetables, canned biscuits, jarred salad dressings) Some of the recipes need editing if you are cautious about salt or sugar. But, having said that, a lot of the recipes are fun and easy to make. There are even color photographs and the book has fun formatting, suggesting what season the recipe will fit e.g. warm stew for fall or a cool treat for summer. The "clever tricks for celebrating every day" however, are irritating and irrelevant. Mostly decorating tips, I thought they were silly and corny.
So, if you are looking for easy recipes for every season of the year, try this one....more
All the recipes in this book are easy to make and totally accessible by home cooks. However, there are some grammar errors and some odd formatting errAll the recipes in this book are easy to make and totally accessible by home cooks. However, there are some grammar errors and some odd formatting errors. For example, one sentence is written: "6.When all the popcorn popped." Another one says, "4.Now add hot dog in the pot. 5.Now add jelly and cocktail sauce."....8.Then quick release steam."
So, I suspect that this was actually a group writing effort, probably written on a computer and English was not the first language of anybody in the group. However, the recipes are easy and interesting.
An entertaining, educational, and accessible guide to what's out there in space. Daily, we are bombarded by images sent back by astronauts, telescopesAn entertaining, educational, and accessible guide to what's out there in space. Daily, we are bombarded by images sent back by astronauts, telescopes, and probes. We must understand what's in the cosmos and understand why we should care. For example, this book explains the search for water under the Moon's surface. That water will prove critical to further space exploration; it may also prove essential to life here on Earth. So, if you are interested in space, give this one a read. It's worth your time....more
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