Michael Perry Libros

Another in a series (including From the Top, Roughneck Grace, Million Billion, and Peaceful Persistence) of collected brief essays by New York Times bestselling author and humorist Michael Perry. "Although these pieces were written during times of unrest and pandemic, they drew on human connection," says Perry. "Week after week, slowly at first, and then regularly, I received messages, emails, comments, and sometimes even a handwritten note from readers who weren't looking to me for advice or a 'take' on the latest news blast or controversy or tragedy or variant. Instead they said they were grateful for a brief break from it all. Something to go with their morning coffee. Something to read before bed. Something heartfelt, something goofy. Something that was anything but that other thing. Something to lighten the hunker."

Exploring a wide range of themes, this collection features brief essays that blend humor and introspection, reflecting on everyday life and poignant moments. From the chaos of family life and the quirks of nature to the wisdom gained from road trips and the challenges of parenting, the author shares personal anecdotes and observations. Touching on topics like contentment, hope, and the absurdities of modern life, these columns, drawn from "Roughneck Grace," offer a heartfelt and relatable glimpse into the complexities of human experience.

Pattern can be derived from many sources, if we remember to look closely. While patterns have been around forever, there'sa recent movement, a tendency among designers, to allow patterns to animate their work with colorful and exuberant complexity. Over and Over: A Catalog of Hand-Drawn Patterns collects groundbreaking work from fifty of today's most talented designers who create patterns by hand and use them in their work in inventive and innovative ways. From Deanne Cheuk's patterns that adorn current fashion to those of Robin Cameron that explore her interest in art to Garrett Morin's patterns that arose from an exercise for a character called Eloie, the examples in this book push the boundaries of the traditional concept of what a pattern is. The selected works are often not an end result but the beginning of something else, of something bigger and broader. While the computer is sometimes involved in the production of patterns, the hand-drawn element is always evident in the uniqueness of these works. Featuring more than 250 vibrant and exciting patterns, Over and Over explores this magic on every single page and will inspire designers everywhere.

In this digital age of computer-generated graphics and typography, it's refreshing to find typographers who still believe in working by hand. No longer relegated to designer's sketchbooks, hand-drawn type has emerged from the underground as a dynamic vehicle for visual communicationfrom magazine, book, and album covers to movie credits and NFL advertisements. As the practice and appreciation of hand-drawn type grows, its time to celebrate the work of those typographers whose every letterform is a work of art.Hand Job collects groundbreaking work from fifty of today's most talented typographers who draw by hand. Graphic designer and hand typographer Michael Perry selects work representing the full spectrum of design methods and styles. Each hand-drawn work is entirely shaped by the artist's unique processevery one a carefully executed composition enhanced by unplanned "accidents" of line, color, and craft. Hand Job also includes photographs of found type,artists studios, and the tools that help make typography come to life. Whether you are looking to invigorate your design work or are just in need of a little offbeat inspiration, Hand Job will have you reaching for your favorite pen.

Welcome to New Auburn, Wisconsin (population: 485), where the local vigilante is a farmer's wife armed with a pistol and a Bible, the most senior member of the volunteer fire department is a cross-eyed butcher with one kidney and two ex-wives (both of whom work at the only gas station in town), and the back roads are haunted by the ghosts of children and farmers. Michael Perry loves this place. He grew up here, and now -- after a decade away -- he has returned.Unable to polka or repair his own pickup, his farm-boy hands gone soft after years of writing, Mike figures the best way to regain his credibility is to join the volunteer fire department. Against a backdrop of fires and tangled wrecks, bar fights and smelt feeds, he tells a frequently comic tale leavened with moments of heartbreaking delicacy and searing tragedy. Tracing his calls on a map in the little firehouse, he sees "a dense, benevolent web, spun one frantic zigzag at a time" from which the story of a tiny town emerges, building to a final chapter that is at once devastating and transcendent.

Michael Perry's exploration is sparked by a painful kidney stone, leading him to the essays of Michel de Montaigne. He likens his reading experience to chickens foraging for scraps, capturing the moments of insight and struggle as he navigates Montaigne’s wisdom. Through humor and reflection, Perry delves into the philosopher's thoughts, seeking to uncover valuable lessons about life, blending personal anecdotes with philosophical musings.

The story follows farmer Harold as he grapples with the death of his wife and the impending loss of his farm to harsh winter conditions. Set against a backdrop of stark, wintry beauty, it explores his desperate quest for meaning in a world that feels alien to him. Blending grim humor with profound insights, the narrative delves into themes of accountability and resilience, ultimately suggesting that even in despair, the possibility of hope remains.

Exploring the traditions, achievements and ambitions of the installation artist, this survey documents and illustrates a global range of installations: site works from Christo, James Turrell and Hans Haacke; media pieces by Wolf Vostell, Joseph Kosuth and others; the museum works of Barbara Bloom and Mike Kelley; and architectural works by Rachel Whiteread, Mario Merz and Vong Phaophanit.

Willkommen in der Welt der außergewöhnlichen Pflanzen und Pilze! Michael Perry, auch bekannt als „Mr. Plant Geek“, nimmt Sie mit auf eine Entdeckungstour zu 40 kuriosen Arten. Unterhaltsam erklärt er, was jede dieser Pflanzen und Pilze so besonders macht. Mit detaillierten Illustrationen und spannenden Fakten ist dies ein witziges, informatives Buch für Naturliebhaber*innen und Hobbygärtner*innen. Entdecken Sie die skurrilsten Pflanzen der Erde: von kleinen bis großen, wohlriechenden bis stinkenden, schönen bis hässlichen Exemplaren. Welche Blume sieht aus wie Darth Vader? Warum gilt die Telegrafenpflanze als Dancing Queen? Überraschende Fakten, spannende Pflanzenporträts und witzige Reiseerlebnisse des Autors sorgen für großen Lesespaß. Erfahren Sie mehr über Schurkenpflanzen, die sich kriminell benehmen, und tanzende Superhelden. Dieses Buch bietet außergewöhnliche Informationen, von der Wasserfalle, die ihre Beute in 10–20 Millisekunden schnappt, über die Enten-Orchidee bis zum gruseligen Krakenpilz. Es vermittelt nicht nur die kulturelle Bedeutung und den Lebensraum der Pflanzen und Pilze, sondern zeigt auch, ob und wie Sie sie selbst anbauen können. Seien Sie gespannt auf einen humorvollen Einblick in die faszinierende Welt der skurrilen Pflanzen und Pilze!