Nonfiction Book Reviews

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Perspective Pack by the DK Art School
DK Publishing, September 1998.
Trade paperback with materials.
ISBN: 0789435101.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.

Perspective Pack
by the DK Art School

An Introduction to PERSPECTIVE by Ray Smith is more than a book on how to look at art; it is actually a kit that includes a book on perspective in all its aspects, hinged rulers, L-shaped framing cards, an acetate drawing frame, "two draftsman's nets, paper, and a model of Escher's "impossible" triangle which demonstrates how perspective can confuse the eye and brain into seeing a triangle with inside and outside surfaces. If you never realized that these things existed, this kit will involve you in using and understanding them.

This book will be excellent not only for the Sunday painter or photographer, but it would also be a cherished possession for any young person who constantly sketches. For the artistically shy who claim that they cannot draw anything more difficult than a smiling "have a nice day" face this kit might bring out some confidence and at least produce some interesting doodling. Perspective will also delight the art lover who can think of few things more relaxing than a stroll through a favorite museum. If it has been too long since your last attendance at an art appreciation or history of art course, here is a definitely "hands on" experience. Since many of us learn and experience through touching and doing, this kit should provide the basis for much future pleasure in the visual world of art.

--Sarah Reaves White

Ultimate Visual Dictionary of Science
DK Publishing, August 1998.
Hardcover, 448 pages.
ISBN: 0789435128.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.

Ultimate
Visual Dictionary of Science

This visual science reference provides scientific concepts and definitions in incredible detail made possible by the book's superb full-color photographs. The book contains over 1,600 color photographs and over 15,000 terms for a a variety of science topics including: physics, chemistry, life sciences, ecology, human anatomy, medical science, Earth sciences, astronomy, astrophysics, electronics, computer science and mathematics. In addition to being able to visualize the scientific concept described, another benefit of the illustrations is the labeled diagrams. The labeled diagrams allow the reader to obtain a visual memory of a scientific definition such as a layer of the earth or a part of the body. For example, diagrams are used to effectively illustrate the rocky layers of a canyon, the stars visible in the Northern sky, the heart and blood vessels, flowering-plant reproduction and plate tectonics.

This science dictionary is a blessing for students who will find the concepts easy to assimilate because of the reference's visual nature. A research treasure for students and science-lovers alike.

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Perspective Pack by the DK Art School

Ultimate Visual Dictionary of Science