Documentary-Collection Books

No creo que exista otro escritor colombiano o extranjero capaz de plasmar en un libro la esencia de un pueblo tan diverso, complicado y rico, tanto espiritualmente como materialmente. Cada vez que lo leo me duele el corazon y me conmueve hasta las lagrimas, pues Gabriel Garcia Marquez describe con palabras lo que en realidad somos y sentimos.

Henry Horenstein, who teaches photography at the Rhode Island School of Design and who has authored books on everything from color theory to horse-racing, offers us a wordless 80-page portfolio that will simply take your breath away. These are black and white "portraits of all manner of living things, made in zoos, aquaria and in the wild, shot on Agfa's wonderfully lush Scala black and white slide film, then translated into equally lush Ilfochrome, or on occasion, platinum prints. These, in turn, were printed in tritone to maintain the wide range of tone in the originals. You never have seen creatures portrayed like this, or in such wonderful juxtaposition: the graceful feathers of a flamingo in close-up on the left; a seemingly identical image on the right--only it is an overhead view of a school of carp. If Horenstein had relied only on closeups of hides or feathers, or on tortured abstracts, I would not be so ecstatic about this work. But he manages to capture the "animalness" of each creature while bringing a fresh perspective to it. Only the wildlife photographs of Frans Lanting have affected me as much. --Frank Van Riper, photography columnist, the Washington Post

This book shows Florida at its natural best, with an insider's look at some of the state's most beautiful waterways. As a Florida native, I found the book especially enjoyable - as it shows images of things that are disappearing all too fast. Even those who have never seen sights such as those Bertolaet reveals will enjoy the beauty of his photographs. The images draw the viewer into each scene, and it's easy to imagine the call of birds, whisper of the wind through branches or the murmur of water moving swiftly past. The writing is entertaining and easy to read, while also offering food for thought about the natural world and man's relationship to it.

Catalan photographer Pere Formiguera's stunning Cronos isn't about sex. And it's a good thing, too, because otherwise this hefty photographic study might not have, as it has seemed to, flown under Western censors' radar screens.

Formiguera's repeated photographs of family and friends, many nude, chronicle his subjects in the same pose and setting over ten years-- showing, variously, the blooms of pubescence, adulthood, and the gentler transformations of middle and old age.

But on another level, sex is the only topic of this book, which contains exquisite images of the adolescent male, perhaps the human avatar of time's rupture. Birth, puberty, aging, and death are each and together fundamentally sexual: single-celled asexual creatures just divide, never growing, coming of age, declining, or really dying. Being sexual we are "clocks of meat," as poet Allen Ginsberg said famously. Like a strobe, Formiguera's magnificent photos stop the clock precisely to show life's motion.

Klein's eye for beauty and diversity shows through in this eclectic collection of cross-like images from every walk of life. Telephone poles, ornate crucifixes, and yes, human nudes display one of the most profound and most ignored symbols of our century. If you have a spiritual hunger, an interest in art, and a mind open to possibility, get this wonderful collection for your coffee table and prepare for fascinating conversation ahead.

Dating from its beginnings in 1862, the Onondaga historical Association (OHA) is one of the oldest cultural organizations in Central New York. A nonprofit organization, OHA is the primary historical agency for the Greater Syracuse area and has the mission of preserving historical materials and teaching about local area history through exhibits, publications, tours, programs, and educational services at its Museum and its Research Center located in downtown Syracuse. Co-published by the Onondaga Historical Society and the Syracuse University Press, "Crossroads In Time: An Illustrated History Of Syracuse' by local Syracuse historian Dennis J. Connors provides an informed and informative history of this venerable institution, its mission and accomplishments. Highly recommended and profusely illustrated reading, as well as a welcome addition to American History reference collections, "Crossroads In Time" could well serve as a template for other regional and state historical societies seeking to record and publish their own histories.

The Cuban Revolution: Years Of Promise is an insightfully co-authored historical documentation of Cuba's revolutionary strive for independence from an undesired government by Teo A Babùn (frequent guest commentator with CBS, CNN, CNBC, CBN, the BBC, and the German Television Network. National executive director of ECHO-Cuba) & Victor Andrès Triay (Cuban-American Historian at Middlesex Community College and acclaimed author). Delving deep into the previously unseen terrain of the Cuban revolutionaries, The Cuban Revolution reveals sights and insights never before released for an eye-opening and educational affect. The Cuban Revolution is very highly recommended to all non-specialist general readers, particularly though to readers with an interest in the firsthand happenings of the Cuban Revolution.

Great book that looks at all the key players individualy with some biographic material and briefs on the the important accomplisments and great stats of each player in Chicago Cubs history. With awesome individual photography from the early 1906-1908 team when the Cubs were considered winners.. Three Fingers Brown (a great shot of what his hand actually looked like) Tinkers, Evers & Chance, Solly Hofman.. and many more. Has pictures of the great ones that got away. Lou Brock, Joe Carter, Rafael Palmeiro... to some of the present greats Kerry Wood Sammy Sosa. You will not look at this book and think what about this player because he covers every memorable player with a few that you may have forgotten as a bonus. There are over 200 pictures and the book is well made Glossy pages and Hardcover.

This book is one of the most extraordinary documents I have ever seen. Brave and ferocious and tender all at once.

This book takes you around all of Canada and it centers in what Canada is know for "the outdoors". If you are looking for big cities and things, this is not the book for you. But if you are interested is seeing the big outdoors that Canada has to offer then this is the book.

I have this books since 1998 and I am still impress by the great pictures that it has and it makes me want to go and visit Canada, just one more time.