Light Hardcover (1 lb or less)

New Jersey

Italian American Writers on the Real Italian American Experience

Twenty-three Italian American writers explore the deeper cultural heritage of Italians beneath the stereotypes and the way their ethnicity has influenced their writing; analyze Italian American literature; and recount the political battles of Italian Americans. UP.

Beyond the Godfather

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What Data and Economics Tell Us about the Future of Popular Culture

How digital technology is upending the traditional creative industries--and why that might be a good thing

The digital revolution poses a mortal threat to the major creative industries--music, publishing, television, and the movies. The ease with which digital files can be copied and distributed has unleashed a wave of piracy with disastrous effects on revenue. Cheap, easy self-publishing is eroding the position of these gatekeepers and guardians of culture. Does this revolution herald the collapse of culture, as some commentators claim? Far from it. In Digital Renaissance, Joel Waldfogel argues that digital technology is enabling a new golden age of popular culture, a veritable digital renaissance.

By reducing the costs of production, distribution, and promotion, digital technology is democratizing access to the cultural marketplace. More books, songs, television shows, and movies are being produced than ever before. Nor does this mean a tidal wave of derivative, poorly produced kitsch; analyzing decades of production and sales data, as well as bestseller and best-of lists, Waldfogel finds that the new digital model is just as successful at producing high-quality, successful work as the old industry model, and in many cases more so. The vaunted gatekeeper role of the creative industries proves to have been largely mythical. The high costs of production have stifled creativity in industries that require ever-bigger blockbusters to cover the losses on ever-more-expensive failures.

Are we drowning in a tide of cultural silt, or living in a golden age for culture? The answers in Digital Renaissance may surprise you.

Digital Renaissance

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Jennifer Grace

Makes a great gift!  Think St, Patrick’s Day!!

What’s the traditional Irish cure for a hangover? What do Irish men and women hope to ward off by wearing an iron ring on the fourth finger? Which daughter of the Emerald Isle was hanged in Boston on accusations of being a witch? Think you know the answers to these tough questions? It’s time to test your IQ (Irish Quotient, that is) and find out.
More fun than a U2 concert on St. Patrick’s Day, Irish Trivia on Tap is packed with over 600 questions that are guaranteed to help you get your Éire on and test your Celtic qualifications. This delightful book covers all aspects of Irish culture including arts and entertainment, food and drink, history and language, and superstitions and folklore. With special sections devoted to the natives of Dublin as well as the Irish in America, its quizzes leave no stone—Blarney or otherwise—unturned. In addition, this volume offers fascinating anecdotes about famous Irish authors, the custom of the Claddagh Ring, the history of Guinness, the origins of Halloween, and even a few recipes for delicious Irish fare.

Whether you’re Irish by blood or only in spirit, you’ll find plenty here to enjoy. So grab your lucky shamrock, draw yourself a dram of Irish Trivia on Tap, and get ready for a craic-ing good time.

Maryland

600 Questions to Measure Your IQ (Irish Quotient)

Irish Trivia on Tap

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Robert Christopher

Hardcover (1 to 2 lbs)

Oregon

The Goliath Explained

Somewhat a bit dated, yet a this book is considered to be a classic. The author brings three decades of travel, research and understanding of this ancient tribe. An entertaining and thorough introduction to all things Japanese. Much has been written about Japanese management. But this is the first book to explain the people, the life, and the culture of that fascinating nation.

The Japanese Mind

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Primitive Worlds: People Lost in Time 

In Search of What’s Japanese About Japan 

Secrets 

Jill Dubois

Mair Rosh

Revised/2nd Edition, Library Binding. Ex-library copy with torn out front page and other typical internal markings/stamps.

Explores the geography, history, government, economy, people, and culture of Israel.

Israel (Cultures of the World)

7965b71f-0a7a-44fd-a42f-b3bd7249b456-1

Foods of the World: Latin American Cooking 

World Library: Ireland 

Light Paperback (1 lb or less)

Florida

Hispanic Art And Culture Come To Life With Rich Illustrations.

Hispanic Culture

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Reflections on Patriotism

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “I find myself thinking deeply about what it means to love America, as I surely do.” —Dan Rather At a moment of crisis over our national identity, venerated journalist Dan Rather has emerged as a voice of reason and integrity, reflecting on—and writing passionately about—what it means to be an American. Now, with this collection of original essays, he reminds us of the principles upon which the United States was founded. Looking at the freedoms that define us, from the vote to the press; the values that have transformed us, from empathy to inclusion to service; the institutions that sustain us, such as public education; and the traits that helped form our young country, such as the audacity to take on daunting challenges in science and medicine, Rather brings to bear his decades of experience on the frontlines of the world’s biggest stories. As a living witness to historical change, he offers up an intimate view of history, tracing where we have been in order to help us chart a way forward and heal our bitter divisions. With a fundamental sense of hope, What Unites Us is the book to inspire conversation and listening, and to remind us all how we are, finally, one.

What Unites Us

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Common Sense from America's Number One Gay Radio Talk Show Host

Bouley is known to millions as the brash, outspoken, hilarious and unafraid-to-tackle-any- subject radio talk-show phenomenon. He is now prepared to take over the world via his first book, which will infuriate everyone from George W. Bush to Elizabeth Birch but is guaranteed to make you think, really think, about the state of the world. Gathering the best of his writings on everything from the myth of unity in the gay community to the ultimate hate crime perpetrated against all Americans on September 11, 2001, this book is sharp, funny and politically-incorrect.

You Can't Say That

e7925dfb-e7fc-49c7-8d43-88e7f06c571b-1

Candy Gibbs

Jimmy Evans

Texas

Raising Teens in a Drowning Culture

Rescue

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William Boyd

Address label andstain on cover page, see photo

Alabama

And Other Stories

This new collection of eleven stories by the author of The Blue Afternoon takes readers back in time from a contemporary Hollywood film shoot to World War I in Vienna, introducing an unforgettable cast of characters. Artful, witty, moving, The Destiny of Nathalie X is a confirmation of Boyd's standing as a master storyteller. 208 pp. Author tour. 15,000 print.

The Destiny of Nathalie

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Bro. Andrew

With the book of Nehemiah as background, the author studies the ways of God with man.

Building in a Broken World

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Joan Fudala

Just a century ago, the now-tony tourist destination of Scottsdale was a tiny farming village in the pristine desert east of Phoenix. Named for its 1888 homesteaders--U.S. Army chaplain Winfield Scott and his wife, Helen--Scottsdale remained a farming and ranching community through World War II. After the war, businesses and families flocked to Scottsdale for its climate and unlimited opportunities--creating a place they branded "The West's Most Western Town." Throughout the decades, residents and visitors alike have enjoyed adventures in the desert; a thriving arts, crafts, and cultural community; a healthful climate and healthcare industry; and fun-packed events and outdoor sports. Residents have had the additional benefits of living and working in a great hometown, with excelling schools, an international reputation for environmental preservation, and a diverse economy that boasts an eclectic array of businesses.

Images of America: Scottsdale

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find the places and activities that you would enjoy the most before going on vacation so that you don’t miss a thing! #Greece #GreekIsles #Greek #vacation #culture #travel #Mediteranean #islandhop #Fodors #guidebook


+Description=P>Praise for Fodor's Exploring Guides"Astonishingly hip."  -- New York Daily News"Handsomely designed...Fun to leaf through...Conveys a sense of what each destination is like."  -- The Los Angeles Times"Authoritatively written and superbly presented...Worthy reading before, during, or after a trip."  -- Philadelphia Inquirer"Concise, comprehensive, and colorful."  --  Washington PostFodor's Exploring Guides are the most up-to-date, full-color guidebooks available.  Covering destinations around the world, these guides are loaded with photos, essays on culture and history, descriptions of sights, and practical information.  Full-color photos make this a great guide to buy if you're still planning your itinerary (let the photos help you choose!) and it's a perfect companion to a general guidebook, like a Fodor's Gold Guide.All the great sights plus the history and anecdotes that bring them to lifeExtraordinary coverage of history and cultureItineraries, walks and excursions, on and off the beaten pathArchitecture and artPractical tips and full-color maps and photosGetting there and getting aroundWhen to go and what to packQuick tips on where to sleep in every price rangeSavvy restaurant picks for all budgets

Exploring the Greek Islands

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#Europe #vacation #travel #travelguide #history #art #culture

History and Art for the Traveler

Travel guru Rick Steves' unique guide to European culture is aimed at travellers who want to understand the history and art of Europe whilst enjoying the places they visit and engaging with the cultures they encounter on the way.

Rick Steves' Europe 101

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Published 1962, 1st Edition/2nd Printing. Lots of highlights and underlining; pages water-stained and crinkly as a result. ISBN: 9780256004878

Heavy Hardcover (2 to 4 lbs)

 Business, Society, and the Individual

A Novel

The setting is China's Forbidden City in the last days of its imperial glory, a vast complex of palaces and gardens run by thousands of eunuchs and encircled by a wall in the center of Peking. In this highly ordered place -- tradition-bound, ruled by strict etiquette, rife with political and erotic tension -- the Emperor, "the Son of Heaven," performs two duties: he must rule the court and conceive an heir. To achieve the latter, tradition provides a stupendous hierarchy of hundreds of wives and concubines. It is as a minor concubine that the beautiful Tzu Hsi, known as Orchid as a girl, enters the Forbidden City at the age of seventeen.

It is not a good time to enter the city. The Ch'ing Dynasty in 1852 has lost its vitality, and the court has become an insular, xenophobic place. A few short decades earlier, China lost the Opium Wars, and it has done little since to strengthen its defenses or improve diplomatic ties. Instead, the inner circle has turned further inward, naively confident that its troubles are past and the glory of China will keep the "barbarians" -- the outsiders -- at bay.

Within the walls of the Forbidden City the consequences of a misstep are deadly. As one of hundreds of women vying for the attention of the Emperor, Orchid soon discovers that she must take matters into her own hands. After training herself in the art of pleasing a man, she bribes her way into the royal bedchamber and seduces the monarch. A grand love affair ensues; the Emperor is a troubled man, but their love is passionate and genuine. Orchid has the great good fortune to bear him a son. Elevated to the rank of Empress, she still must struggle to maintain her position and the right to raise her own child. With the death of the Emperor comes a palace coup that ultimately thrusts Orchid into power, although only as regent until her son's maturity. Now she must rule China as its walls tumble around her, and she alone seems capable of holding the country together.

This is an epic story firmly in the mold of Anchee Min's Becoming Madame Mao. Like that best-selling historical novel, the heroine of Empress Orchid comes down to us with a diabolical reputation -- a woman who seized power through sexual seduction, murder, and endless intrigue. But reality tells a different story. Based on copious research, this is a vivid portrait of a flawed yet utterly compelling woman who survived in a male world, a woman whose main struggle was not to hold on topower but to her own humanity. Richly detailed and completely gripping, Empress Orchid is a novel of high drama and lyricism and the first volume of a trilogy about the life of one of the most important women in history.

Empress Orchid

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The Mercurial Life of a Legendary Writer and Editor 

In Search of Willie Morris

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Suzanne Chazin

The Fragile Edge

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#hardcover #nonfiction #philosophy #religion #culture #Christianity #Judaism 

New York

A Living Conversation / PBS series

Offers a discussion of the Book of Genesis by more than fifty eminent thinkers and artists

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A. Kenneth Ciongoli (Editor); Jay Parini (Editor)

Beyond the Godfather

Joel Waldfogel

Digital Renaissance

Jennifer Grace

Irish Trivia on Tap

Robert Christopher

The Japanese Mind

National Geographic Society

Primitive Worlds: People Lost in Time

John Condon, Keisuke Kurata

In Search of What’s Japanese About Japan

Paul Tournier

Secrets

Jill Dubois; Mair Rosh

Israel (Cultures of the World)

Time Life Books

Foods of the World: Latin American Cooking

Time Life

World Library: Ireland

Christy Steele

Hispanic Culture

Dan Rather; Elliot Kirschner

What Unites Us

Charles Karel Bouley

You Can't Say That

Candy Gibbs; Jimmy Evans

Rescue

William Boyd

The Destiny of Nathalie

Bro. Andrew

Building in a Broken World

Joan Fudala

Images of America: Scottsdale

Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc. Staff

Exploring the Greek Islands

Rick Steves; Gene Openshaw

Rick Steves' Europe 101

George Albert Smith, Jr.

Business, Society, and the Individual

Anchee Min

Empress Orchid

Larry L. King

In Search of Willie Morris

Suzanne Chazin

The Fragile Edge

Bill Moyers; Joanne Dobson

Genesis