Diamonds: Their History, Sources, Qualities and Benefits

Diamonds: Their History, Sources, Qualities and Benefits 

by Renée Newman 

Language: English 

Buffalo, New York: Firefly Books, 2021. 

272 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), color maps ; 29 cm.

ISBN: 9780228103318, 0228103312 

Summary: "The beauty and sparkle and mystique of diamonds is unmatched by that of any other gem in the world. Since early times, diamonds have been treasured as good luck charms, remarkable tools and status symbols and have been worn, collected and presented as lavish gifts. Today, diamonds remain among the most sought-after gemstones and continue to hold their value through good times and bad. In Diamonds, author Renée Newman, a graduate gemologist and author of many trade-level handbooks on gemstones, invites the reader on a journey into the fascinating world of diamonds. This lavishly illustrated guide -- which features hundreds of photos, maps and diagrams -- covers everything from mining, cutting and evaluating diamonds to the romantic histories of some of the world's most valuable stones. Diamonds includes chapters on: What a diamond is -- its significance from antiquity to the present day and what it represents from different perspectives The process and history of mining diamonds -- the locations (both modern and historical) as well as the techniques used to mine diamonds The evolution of diamond cutting -- how a diamond is processed and what are the key cuts and shapes to know Diamond jewelry through the ages -- how diamonds have been used in jewelry from pre-Georgian times to today Evaluating and pricing diamonds -- how diamonds are priced based on their many value factors, such as color, carat weight, cut, clarity, and so on Man-made diamonds The remarkable benefits of diamonds. As beautiful as they are precious and as useful as they are decorative, diamonds continue to fascinate and allure. Diamonds will be a welcome guide for anyone who has felt the romance and power of these fascinating gems. It will also be a useful resource for professionals in the jewelry trade."-- Provided by publisher

Reviews: Library Journal; Rocks & Minerals

My Beautiful Black Hair

My Beautiful Black Hair: 101 Natural Hair Stories from the Sisterhood 

by St. Clair Detrick-Jules 

Language: English 

San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2021. 

255 pages : color illustrations ; 25 cm. 

ISBN: 9781797212197, 1797212192 

Summary: "My Beautiful Black Hair celebrates the beauty of Black natural hairstyles through personal stories of joy, compassion, affirmation, and collective wisdom"-- Provided by publisher

1000 record covers

1000 record covers 

by Michael Ochs 

Language: English 

Köln: Taschen, 2021. 

573 pages : color illustrations ; 21 cm. 

ISBN: 9783836550581, 383655058X 

Summary: "Record covers are a sign of our life and times. Like the music on the discs, they address such issues as love, life, death, fashion, and rebellion. For music fans the covers are the expression of a period, of a particular time in their lives. Many are works of art and have become as famous as the music they stand for--Andy Warhol's covers, for example, including the banana he designed for The Velvet Underground. This edition of Record covers presents a selection of the best '60s to '90s rock album covers from music archivist, disc jockey, journalist, and former record-publicity executive Michael Ochs's enormous private collection. Both a trip down memory lane and a study in the evolution of cover art, this is a sweeping look at an underappreciated art form."--Publisher description

Reviews: Rolling Stone

Art in the Streets

Art in the Streets 

by Jeffrey Deitch

Language: English 

New York: Rizzoli Electa, 2021. 

319 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 29 cm. 

ISBN: 9780847869756, 9780847836178, 9780847836482, 084786975X, 0847836177, 0847836487 

Summary: A catalog of an exhibition that surveys the history of international graffiti and street art.

Reviews: Library Journal

The Travel Book: A Complete Guide to Every Country in the World

The Travel Book: A Complete Guide to Every Country in the World

Language: English 

[Carlton, Victoria, Australia]: Lonely Planet, 2021. 

407 pages : color illustrations, maps ; 35 cm. 

ISBN: 9781838694593, 1838694595 

Summary: Get ready for a journey through every country in the world. In this fourth edition of The Travel Book each country features an all-new profile that includes details of when to visit, what to see and do, and how to learn more about the country's culture from its film, music, food and drink. All brand new, incredible photography illustrates each country, depicting what life is like in each nation from photographic portraits of people, to beautiful landscapes and vibrant scenes of street life. Supported by colourful and detailed mapping, this title will bring the world to life for a new generation of travellers.

The Skateboard: The Good, the Rad, and the Gnarly: An Illustrated History

The Skateboard: The Good, the Rad, and the Gnarly: An Illustrated History 

by Ben Marcus, Lucia Daniella Griggi 

Language: English 

Minneapolis: MVP Books, 2021. 

255 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 29 cm. 

ISBN: 9780760338056, 9781299934771, 0760338051, 1299934773 

Summary: The story of the simple skateboard is part thriller, part underground, underdog success tale. It’s chock-full of innovations, far-out graphic artistry, and ever-more-incredible hot-dogging feats. And the story’s told in this book with contributions from the stars themselves—Tony Hawk, Stacey Peralta, Jeff Ho, the Dogtown Z-Boys, and more. Beautifully illustrated with historical posters, ads, and memorabilia along with new action photography, studio skateboard shots, and unique portraits of the stars, this is a fitting tribute to an American classic.

Photo Ark Wonders: Celebrating Diversity in the Animal Kingdom

Photo Ark Wonders: Celebrating Diversity in the Animal Kingdom 

by Joel Sartore 

Language: English 

Washington, DC: National Geographic, 2021. 

399 pages : color illustrations ; 26 cm. 

ISBN: 9781426221910, 1426221916 

Summary: "Joel Sartore, on a mission to photograph all the animal species in human care, now features photographs selected to represent the amazing diversity of the world's animals, highlighting the fascinating shapes, patterns, and expressions of animals both familiar and little known"-- Provided by publisher

Reviews: Library Journal

Street art New York : 2000-2010

Street art New York : 2000-2010 

by Jaime Rojo, Steven P. Harrington

Language: English 

Munich: Prestel, 2021. 

170 pages : chiefly color illustrations ; 25 cm. 

ISBN: 9783791387338, 3791387332 

Summary: "New York is a street art Mecca, boasting a vast outdoor gallery which encompasses walls, fences, sidewalks, and just about any other available surface. Featured in this dynamic collection are approximately 200 images of works by exciting newcomers and old masters, including New Yorkers Swoon, Judith Supine, Dan Witz, Skewville, WK Interact, L.A.'s Shepard Fairey, Brazil's Os Gemeos, Denmark's Armsrock, France's Space Invader, C215, Mr. Brainwash, Germany's Herakut, London's Nick Walker and the infamous Banksy. A foreword by Carolina A. Miranda, author of the blog C-Monster.net, rounds out this compelling portrait of the state of urban art in one of its most important and supportive communities"--Publisher's description

Crayola : a visual biography of the world's most famous crayon

Crayola : a visual biography of the world's most famous crayon 

by Lisa Solomon 

Language: English 

New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, 2021. 

263 pages : color ilustrations ; 25 cm. 

ISBN: 9780762470815, 076247081X 

Summary: "An authorized, illustrated history of Crayola crayons, from the origins of Binney & Smith as the makers of carbon black and red oxide pigment to colorful profiles of sky blue, sea green, and the other 118 Crayola colors in circulation today"-- Provided by publisher

Ants: Workers of the World

Ants: Workers of the World 

by Eleanor Spicer Rice, Eduard Florin Niga 

Language: English 

New York: Abrams, 2021. 

144 pages : color illustrations ; 30 x 29 cm. 

ISBN: 9781419748493, 1419748491 

Summary: Introduces ants, describing their life cycle, complex behavior, adaptations, life in colonies, communication skills, and problem-solving abilites, with photographs of over thirty species.

Underwater Wild: My Octopus Teacher's Extraordinary World

Underwater Wild: My Octopus Teacher's Extraordinary World 

by Craig Foster, Ross Frylinck 

Language: English 

Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2021. 

xix, 320 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), color map ; 32 cm. 

ISBN: 9780358664758, 0358664756 

Summary: "From the creators of the Academy Award-nominated documentary My Octopus Teacher, an immersive journey into the underwater world that inspired it-and holds transformative lessons for us all"-- Provided by publisher

Reviews: Booklist; Publishers Weekly; Kirkus Reviews

Fossils inside out : a global fusion of science, art & culture

Fossils inside out : a global fusion of science, art & culture 

by Thomas A. Wiewandt, Mark Norell 

Language: English 

Tucson, Arizona: Wild Horizons Publishing, 2021. 

200 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), color maps ; 32 cm.

ISBN: 9781879728080, 1879728087 

Summary: "Fossils Inside Out brings fossils, paleoecology, and the fossil industry to life in a beautiful and easy-to-understand format suitable for young adults and older, scientists and non-scientists. This large format book is packed with information connecting the past, present, and future of life on Earth. It also reaches beyond the basics by covering historical perspectives on fossil collecting, laws that can confuse anyone, new imaging technologies, the art of fossil preparation, and how to spot a fake. Most of the imagery (90 percent) has been selected from the author's personal photographic archive, enhanced by some exceptional artwork from outside sources. Paleontologists, collectors, dealers, museums, and artists worldwide have generously helped to make this book possible"--Publisher's description

Reviews: Kirkus Reviews

Weather: Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Ice, Lightning and Other Dramatic Weather Events in Photographs

Weather: Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Ice, Lightning and Other Dramatic Weather Events in Photographs 

by Robert J. Ford 

Language: English 

London: Amber Books Ltd, 2021. 

224 pages : color illustrations ; 30 cm 

ISBN: 9781838860448, 1838860444 

Summary: "Weather offers a photographic view of some of the most spectacular aspects of the weather, from towering thunderstorms to the intricacy of frost close-up, from lakes and forests wreathed in mist to buildings turned into ice palaces, and from lighting streaking the night sky to blazing bush fires. Ranging from rainbows and moonbows - yes, they do exist - to typhoons as seen from space, from Dubai skyscrapers emerging out of the fog to twisters in Colorado and hail storms in Mexico, from the monsoons of India to the mists of Europe, and from Antarctica's melting glaciers to dust storms in Namibia, this book includes examples from all around the world."--Publisher's website

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Elements: The Powers, Uses, and Histories of Every Atom in the Universe

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Elements: The Powers, Uses, and Histories of Every Atom in the Universe 

by Lisa Congdon 

Language: English 

San Francisco, California: Chronicle Books, LLC, 2021. 

147 pages : color illustrations ; 29 cm. 

ISBN: 9781452161594, 1452161593 

Summary: Takes readers on a rollicking ride through the world of all 118 known elements where they will discover their uses and special properties.

Reviews: Booklist

The Beauty of Chemistry: Art, Wonder, and Science

The Beauty of Chemistry: Art, Wonder, and Science 

by Philip Ball, Wenting Zhu, Yan Liang 

Language: English 

Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press, 2020. 

382 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 24 cm. 

ISBN: 9780262044417, 0262044412 

Summary: "Chemistry is not just about microscopic atoms doing inscrutable things; it is the process that makes flowers and galaxies. We rely on it for bread-baking, vegetable-growing, and producing the materials of daily life. In stunning images and illuminating text, this book captures chemistry as it unfolds. Using such techniques as microphotography, time-lapse photography, and infrared thermal imaging, The Beauty of Chemistry shows us how chemistry underpins the formation of snowflakes, the science of champagne, the colors of flowers, and other wonders of nature and technology. We see the marvelous configurations of chemical gardens; the amazing transformations of evaporation, distillation, and precipitation; heat made visible; and more. The visuals in The Beauty of Chemistry are drawn from the online exhibition Envisioning Chemistry created by Wenting Zhu and Yan Liang in collaboration with the Chinese Chemical Society. These striking images are accompanied by accessible, engaging explanations by award-winning science writer Philip Ball"--from publisher's website

Reviews: Journal of Applied Crystallography; Scientific American

Science of Hope: Eye to Eye with our World's Wildlife

Science of Hope: Eye to Eye with our World's Wildlife

by Wiebke Finkler, Scott Davis 

Language: English 

Dunedin, New Zealand: Exisle Publishing, 2021. 

160 pages : colour illustrations ; 26 cm. 

ISBN: 9781925820645, 1925820645 

Summary: "A breathtaking visual journey exploring why certain animal species capture our attention, and showcasing hopeful conservation efforts around the world. From polar bears to mountain gorillas, penguins to sea otters, certain animals capture our imagination. These are the animals that become mascots for conservation campaigns. By why these creatures instead of other equally endangered animals? The answer lies in their cuteness or charisma! The great white shark fascinates us even as we fear it. The comical waddle of the penguin entrances us. Illustrated with breath-taking images by one of the world's leading wildlife photographers, The Science of Hope informs as it educates, describing the psychology and science behind our desire to connect with these animals while promoting a message of hope by highlighting positive conservation efforts around the world"--Publisher's description

The World Explained in 264 Infographics

The World Explained in 264 Infographics 

by Jan Schwochow 

Language: English 

Munich: Prestel, 2021 

568 pages : color illustrations, color maps ; 34 cm.

ISBN: 9783791387154, 3791387154 

Summary: Take a deep dive into history, economics, art, and culture through fascinating and stunning visuals. We live in a hyper-connected world and are bombarded with news and other information, via our phones, computers, TVs, and radios. People don't have the time or energy to sift through all the data. That's where infographics come in. While the idea of illustrating facts and figures has been around for centuries, it is only recently, with the introduction of the internet, that infographics have really taken off as a medium to convey all types of information. This book shows the versatility of infographics by presenting an amazing compendium of 264 charts. Illustrating topics such as history, economics, sports, music, art, science, and culture, the infographics in this book are all designed to be easy to understand, thought-provoking, and elegant. You can explore the evolution of electric vehicles from a tricycle to a Tesla Model 3, discover how supermarkets trick you into buying more food than you need, and see how much work goes into creating a video game. While you browse the pages, you'll find yourself incidentally learning thousands of new things that will astonish you. By condensing and conveying facts as an illustrated narrative, infographics tell stories that everyone can explore, understand, and enjoy.