Review: Kid Artists: True Tales of Childhood from Creative Legends by David Stabler

Title: Kid Artists: True Tales of Childhood from Creative Legends

Author: David Stabler

Illustrator: Doogie Horner

Genre: Children's Lit., Art, Nonfiction

Page Count: 208

Publisher: Quirk Books

Release Date: August 9th 2016

My Rating:★★★★☆

       You know who the greats are but do you know how they got started? This was an enjoyable children's book even for me as an adult. Each chapter dives into the childhood of an artist, and it's not just the artists represented on the cover. "Kid Artists" is art history with guided illustration. You'll learn the culture of some, about language barriers and differences for a few, and how many artists are under dogs who take a risk and run away with ideas.

Highlights and Thoughts:

• Some soup for the soul - From tomato soup made of ketchup, salt, pepper and water, to Campbell's Soup; a luxury and comfort in a can for Andy Warhol.

• Some other artists to list that aren't depicted on the front of this book are Yoko Ono, Jackson Pollock, Vincent Van Gogh, and Dr. Seuss.

• This book would be great for any child aspiring to become an artist.

       I received this book through a giveaway listed by Quirk Books on Goodreads.com, in return this is my honest opinion and review of the reading.

RAD MOUTH

Review: Happiness and Other Small Things of Absolute Importance by Haim Shapira, PhD

Title: Happiness and Other Small Things of Absolute Importance

Author: Haim Shapira, PhD

Genre: Philosophy, Psychology, Self-Help

Cover Artist: Francesca Corsini

Page Count: 192

Publisher: Watkins Publishing

Release Date: August 16th 2016

My Rating: ★★★★☆

       When thinking about the genre of this book I hesitated to put self-help, because it's a lot more than that. This book offers the reader tools through enlightening stories, quotes, questions, and knowledge. There's no steps or rules to gaining happiness , in fact the author Haim Shapira, offers profound truths for the reader to contemplate. The material is presented as if he were speaking directly to you, a "TED talk" so to speak in book format. Given the authors background in academic teaching it's hard to not envision this book being presented in a lecture hall to the masses. This is the college course I wish I had taken.  

Highlights and Thoughts:

• The font in this book is a little smaller than I would prefer when reading.

• He uses controversial writers, philosophers, poets, biblical verse, and psychologists quotes and teachings, to provoke question. Questions that make the mind ponder what happiness means to the reader as an individual. Some of the people you can expect to be quoted and reflected on are William Blake, Albert Einstein, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Oscar Wilde, Plato, and Mark Twain (to name just a few of my favorites who made it into this read).

• I like how when Haim Shapira discusses a topic he comes at it from all angles.

• There's no right or wrong to finding happiness, unless you're a sociopath but this book doesn't talk about that.

 I received this book through a giveaway on Goodreads.com, in return this is my honest opinion and review of the reading.

RAD MOUTH

Review: Bossypants by Tina Fey

Title: Bossypants

Author: Tina Fey

Genre: Biography, Humor, Essay

Page Count: 272

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Release Date: January 29th 2013

My Rating: ★★★★☆

       You don't have to be a big follower of Tina Fey to get into this book. She was very witty and easy to read. I respect her more having shared some of her most intimate thoughts on things such as breastfeeding and just in general her shadowing with her stories. Geared towards a female audience this book is insightful, funny, and rather inspirational.

Highlights and Thoughts:

• Tina Fey is a hard working, driven, individual.

• I've never been able to get into 30 Rock, I think Tina Fey is a great writer but I find more satisfaction in reading her work ( or about it as in Bossypants) than watching it.

• She can play a mean Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live.

• I would personally love to see her write a contemporary fiction or novel.

RAD MOUTH

Review: Burning Cool: Why Doing, Creating and Participating is the New Cool by Elaine Joli

Title: Burning Cool: Why Doing, Creating, and Participating is the New Cool

Author: Elaine Joli

Genre: Non-Classifiable

Page Count: 215

Publisher: Self

Release Date: March 16th 2016

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★


       The message conveyed in "Burning Cool" is excellent. Taking people back to the whole, "it takes a village" mantra. If people work together; influencing, inspiring, and creating - benefiting as a whole, this world would be a much better place. Make something! Do something! Be someone! People need to stop being cookie cutter cut-outs glued to the technology and remember what imagination is all about, what life is all about. This book has some great examples of every day people trying to change this world and make it a more enjoyable place for not just themselves but everyone. 

Highlights and Thoughts:

• I love the idea of profit+purpose, I think that's a very humble way to run a business. 

• This is a great read for any aspiring artist or entrepreneur.

• Very positive, with affirmations and real life examples. 

I received this book through a giveaway listed by the author, Elaine Joli, on Goodreads.com (Thank you for the book and bracelet made out of recycled flip flops!). In return this is my honest review of the reading.

RAD MOUTH

Review: Art in Detroit Public Places (Third Edition) by Dennis Alan Nawrocki, Photographs by David Clements

Title: Art in Detroit Public Places

Author: Dennis Alan Nawrocki

Photographer: David Clements

Genre: Art, History, Guidebook 

Page Count: 234

Publisher: Wayne State University Press

Release Date: August 1st 2008

My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

       This is great if being used as a tour guide; gives a thorough history of the piece and artist. I loved learning new things about art or things I've already seen, and just never understood. One of the problems I had though with reading this, was the black and white photographs. The cover is misleading in that sense, it being in color and the pages to follow in black and white. Maybe that was to preserve the whole feel of the artwork and to get people to go and experience the pieces first hand. But I don't think everyone who reads this book will have the luxury of visiting Detroit. So when you're describing a beautiful piece of art and the magnificent yellows, blues, and reds in the description in the book, I want to be able to see those colors.

Highlights and Thoughts:

• I like how the art is presented (other than the pictures being in black and white); providing maps and locations for each district and respectfully noting precisely where the art is located.

• The history of each piece of art is well described; materials, artist, creation date.

• Would be a great book to have on hand with you if you love art and plan on touring the city of Detroit. 

• Wouldn't mind seeing an edition that focuses on the murals and street art of the city next.

RAD MOUTH