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Art & Culture

Culture and art is many things and at Tales you find a wide selection of art and culture books. If you enjoy a trip to the museum or an evening at the theatre this is the place for you. If you are more into architecture or a well written song, fear not you also find books about that. Lastly design and fashion is also part of our art and culture selection, so what are you waiting for? Set your inner creativity free and get inspired by some of the world’s best artists, musicians, designers or architects.
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  • by Tui T. Sutherland
    £9.49

    "Peace has come to Pyrrhia... for now. The war between the tribes is finally over, and now the dragonets of the prophecy have a plan for lasting peace: Jade Mountain Academy, a school that will gather dragonets from all the tribes and teach them to live together, perhaps even as friends. Moonwatcher isn't sure how she feels about school, however. Hidden in the rainforest for most of her life, the young NightWing has an awful secret. She can read minds, and even see the future. Living in a cave with dozens of other dragons is noisy, exhausting--and dangerous. In just a few days, Moon finds herself overwhelmed by her secret powers and bombarded by strange thoughts, including those of a mysterious dragon who might be a terrible enemy. And when someone starts attacking dragons within the academy, Moon has a choice to make: Stay hidden and safe? Or risk everything to save her new friends?"--Provided by publisher.

  • by Gideon Schwartz
    £56.49

  • by Steven Wilson
    £10.99

    The more I thought about it, the more I realised my career has been unusual. How did I manage to do everything wrong but still end up on the front cover of magazines, headlining world tours and achieving Top 5 albums? How did I attract such obsessive and fanatical fans, many of whom take everything I do or say very personally, which is simultaneously flattering but can also be tremendously frustrating? Even this I somehow cultivated without somehow meaning to. My accidental career.Limited Edition of One is unlike any other music book you will ever have read.Part the long-awaited memoir of Steven Wilson: whose celebrated band Porcupine Tree began as teenage fiction before unintentionally evolving into a reality that encompassed Grammy-nominated records and sold-out shows around the world, before he set out for an even more successful solo career.Part the story of a twenty-first century artist who achieved chart-topping mainstream success without ever becoming part of the mainstream. From Abba to Stockhausen, via a collection of conversations and thought pieces on the art of listening, the rules of collaboration, lists of lists, personal stories, professional adventurism (including food, film, TV, modern art), old school rock stardom, how to negotiate an obsessive fanbase and survive on social media, and dream-fever storytelling.

  • by Harry Sword
    £10.99

    In Search of Sonic Oblivion. 'Monolithic Undertow' alights a crooked path across musical, religious and subcultural frontiers. It traces the line from ancient traditions to the modern underground, navigating archaeoacoustics, ringing feedback, chest plate sub-bass, avant-garde eccentricity, sound weaponry and fervent spiritualism.

  • - The Ultimate Guide to Writing and Performing Stand-Up Comedy
    by Judy Carter
    £15.49

  • - Making and assembling furniture designs inspired by Enzo Mari
    by Erik Eje Almqvist
    £16.99

    Erik Eje Almqvist unpacks the practical aspects of the Autoprogettazione? theory, offering simple designs for handbuilt, beautiful furniture. Using just a hammer, nails and boards plus easy-to-follow instructions with diagrams, Hammer & Nail explores only a few techniques but arms the reader with skills and inspiration for life.

  • by Michael Bierut
    £28.49

    A revised and expanded edition of Michael Bierut's classic monograph, featuring six new projects and using examples from a portfolio spanning his full career to date.

  • by Vashti Bunyan
    £8.99 - 16.49

  • - The definitive guide to colour in art and design
    by Laura Perryman
    £19.49

    The Colour Bible, penned by Laura Perryman, is a mesmerizing exploration of hues and shades that has taken the literary world by storm. Published in 2021 by the renowned Octopus Publishing Group, this book delves into the significance and symbolism of different colours in an engaging and insightful manner. Perryman, known for her eloquent writing style, expertly weaves facts and anecdotes, creating a narrative that is both educational and entertaining. Regardless of the genre you usually prefer, this unique book promises to captivate your interest and broaden your understanding of colours. So, if you're looking for a fresh and fascinating read, The Colour Bible by Laura Perryman is the perfect choice for you.

  • - Professional Practice for the Early Career Artist
    by Delphian
    £9.99

    The process of entering the art world and forging a career can be fraught with obstacles to overcome, and so we have written this guide to make the journey as stress-free as possible. Navigating The Art World consists of a mix of advice and tips from ourselves, as well as gallerists, curators, artists, collectors, and other industry experts to give some insight on various ways to enhance your art career. Contributors include Maureen Paley, Jake Chapman, Andy Dixon, Kristin Hjellegjerde, Claus Busch Risvig, and many others.

  • - Using Psychology to Design Better Products & Services
    by Jon Yablonski
    £31.99

    An understanding of psychologyspecifically the psychology behind how users behave and interact with digital interfacesis perhaps the single most valuable nondesign skill a designer can have. The most elegant design can fail if it forces users to conform to the design rather than working within the blueprint of how humans perceive and process the world around them. This practical guide explains how you can apply key principles in psychology to build products and experiences that are more intuitive and human-centered. Author Jon Yablonski deconstructs familiar apps and experiences to provide clear examples of how UX designers can build experiences that adapt to how users perceive and process digital interfaces.Youll learn:How aesthetically pleasing design creates positive responsesThe principles from psychology most useful for designersHow these psychology principles relate to UX heuristicsPredictive models including Fittss law, Jakobs law, and Hicks lawEthical implications of using psychology in designA framework for applying these principles

  • by Flea
    £10.99

    Flea, the iconic bassist and co-founder, alongside Anthony Kiedis, of the immortal Red Hot Chili Peppers finally tells his fascinating origin story, complete with all the dizzying highs and the gutter lows you'd expect from an LA street rat turned world-famous rock star. With a foreword by punk rock legend, Patti Smith.

  • - The Definitive Visual History
    by DK
    £21.99

    Helps you to find out all about the design movements of the last 150 years from Arts and Crafts to Bauhaus. This book tells how design has influenced the look and functionality of the objects we use every day from telephones and cameras to toys, furniture and fashion.

  • by Sandra Leitte
    £15.49

    This book showcases inspirational small houses with unique character and style from all around the world.

  • by Andrew Rea
    £13.49

    Many of our favourite movies come with a side of iconic food moments: the comforting frothy butterbeer from Harry Potter, the sumptuous apple strudel from Inglorious Basterds, the delectable deli fare from When Harry Met Sally, or Remy the rat-chef's signature ratatouille in Ratatouille.In this cookbook, author Andrew Rea (of the hit YouTube channel 'Binging with Babish') recreates these iconic food scenes and many more. With recipes from more than 40 classic and cult films, Eat What You Watch is the perfect gift for both movie buffs and cooks who want to add some cinematic flair to their cooking repertoire.

  • - Mythic Structure for Writers. 25th Anniversary Edition
    by Christopher Vogler
    £16.99

    Originally an influential memo Vogler wrote for Walt Disney Animation executives regarding The Lion King, The Writer's Journey details a twelve-stage, myth-inspired method that has galvanized Hollywood's treatment of cinematic storytelling. A format that once seldom deviated beyond a traditional three-act blueprint, Vogler's comprehensive theory of story structure and character development has met with universal acclaim, and is detailed herein using examples from myths, fairy tales, and classic movies. This book has changed the face of screenwriting worldwide over the last 25 years, and continues to do so.

  • - Understanding a Human Obsession
    by Daniel Levitin
    £9.49

  • - Are You Ready to Reinvent Your Organization?
    by Aaron Dignan
    £9.49

  • by Gene Stone & Stephen Pulvirent
    £28.49

    Secondary edition statement from table of contents.

  • by Demi Moore
    £7.99

    A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERFamed American actress Demi Moore at last tells her own story in a surprisingly intimate and emotionally charged memoir.

  • - The Biography of Frida Kahlo
    by Hayden Herrera
    £13.49

    Born and brought up near Mexico City during the Mexican Revolution, painter, Frida Kahlo suffered a devastating accident aged eighteen, which left her crippled and unable to bear children. This book provides an account of this woman.

  • by Ozzy Osbourne
    £10.99

    'Mightily entertaining' - Heat People ask me how come I'm still alive, and I don't know what to say. When I was growing up, if you'd have put me up against a wall with the other kids from my street and asked me which one of us was gonna make it to the 'age of sixty, with five kids and four grandkids and houses in Buckinghamshire and California, I wouldn't have put money on me, no f**king way. But here I am: ready to tell my story, in my own words, for the first time. A lot of it ain't gonna be pretty. I've done some bad things in my time. But I ain't the devil. I'm just John Osbourne: a working class kid from Aston, who quit his job in the factory and went looking for a good time.

  • by Jens Muller
    £41.99

    In this second volume, Jens Muller rounds off the most comprehensive exploration of graphic design to date. With around 3,500 seminal pieces and 78 landmark projects, year-by-year spreads, and profiles of industry leaders, discover how graphic design shaped contemporary society from the 1960s until today, from the hippie movement to new forms...

  • by Hokusai
    £20.99

    A stylish three-volume boxed set of Hokusai's renowned manga drawings.

  • by Julianne Moore & Nicola di Battista
    £35.49

    A new collection of Vincent Van Duysen's work, featuring his most recent projects

  • - Responsible Design for a Better World
    by Seetal Solanki
    £31.99

    This visually stunning investigation of natural and man-made materials will change the way you look at the world around you, while offering hope for the future of our planet.

  • by Oscar Abolafia
    £27.49 - 52.49

  • - A Handbook for Footwear Designers
    by Fashionary
    £21.99

    Shoe Design by Fashionary Shoe Design by Fashionary is an essential resource for footwear designers, featuring over 300 shoe styles ranging from ancient to contemporary. This comprehensive handbook is designed to accelerate the design process, offering a wealth of information and tools that are both practical and inspiring. The book is divided into three main sections: the Shoe Style Library, the Shoe Encyclopedia, and the Shoe Template Collections. Each section provides extensive and detailed information crucial for anyone involved in shoe design. The Shoe Style Library showcases a vast array of shoe styles, providing a rich source of inspiration and reference. Whether you're looking into historical designs or modern trends, this library has it all. The Shoe Encyclopedia is packed with essential and practical information on shoe design. It covers everything from shoe anatomy and construction to components, care, measurements, manufacturing processes, patterns, materials, labels, and trade fairs. This section is invaluable for understanding the intricate details of shoe design and production. The Shoe Template Collections include multi-angle templates that make drawing shoes from different perspectives much easier. All templates have been professionally modified for the best tracing experience, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in the design process. This section features over 60 common shoe templates, from flats to high heels, presented in various views such as top, side, front and back, and 3/4 view. Additionally, the book includes a special section on shoe last templates, which are crucial for creating different shoe heights and styles. This session features 12 significant shoe lasts, covering various heel heights, toe shapes, and types of footwear, allowing designers to develop precise and diverse designs. Shoe Design by Fashionary stands out as the most practical shoe encyclopedia ever created. It combines an extensive library of styles and templates with in-depth encyclopedic knowledge, making it an indispensable tool for both budding and experienced footwear designers. Whether you are sketching a new collection or refining existing designs, this book provides the resources and inspiration needed to excel in the world of shoe design.

  • by John Harris
    £21.99

    World-renowned visionary artist John Harris' unique concept paintings capture the Universe on a massive scale, from epic landscapes and towering cities to vast alien vistas. This title focuses on his futuristic art as well as his book covers for SF authors, including Arthur C Clarke, Orson Scott Card, John Scalzi, and Ben Bova among others.

Culture
What defines culture you might ask? The answer is culture is what defines you. It is what makes us humans human and differentiate us from all other species on the planet. Art and culture is what we share with others, whether it is so called high culture or pop culture. High culture is typically associated with the ‘finer’, classical art forms such as opera, classical music, visual art, ballet and plays. Works that often have a certain age and artistic acknowledgement begin it, but fine culture is also sometimes seen as “high-brow” and not something everyone can understand and that’s sad, because culture and cultural books are for everyone no matter the kind. On the other end of the spectrum we have pop culture that typically is associated with more modern, popular and mainstream forms of culture. It can be pop music, cartoons or big blockbuster movies. We have cultural books from each side of the spectrum, but the best thing is that a change between the two concepts is coming and people are more open about mixing high culture and pop culture, because they are not that different at all. The most important thing about culture is that it connects us and is part of who we are. It can create communities and friendships, but also let us reflect upon ourselves. You can get wiser on that topic in some of our selection’s culture books. 

Art
In our selection you find some of the finest art books featuring some of the greatest artists in history and now. Art is a very important part of our culture. In art you have the possibility of getting engrossed in a wonderful painting, a provocative sculpture, a brilliant play or a beautiful ballet. 
In art you can get lost in the most wonderful stories and themes and identify yourself with someone who doesn’t necessarily look and act like you. By experiencing that you improve your ability of empathy. At the same time you can learn about yourself through art and art books especially when it comes to feelings that can be difficult to describe. In art the themes and problematics are universal and that’s why we feel recognized when experiencing a play, listening to a symphony, studying a great painting or reading a good art book. The art books are best enjoyed in a relaxed setting giving the art room to speak. 
Another beautiful thing about art is that it needs interpretation. When a person meets a well painted painting, a classical sculpture, or a provocative installation it makes us reflect about what it means, and what the art will tell us about society, life or yourself. Everyone can get something different out of a good artwork, because it speaks directly to you and functions as a dialog, where you will have to finish the sentence with your interpretation taking our own life and experiences into the artwork.
We also have a lot of artist books. One of the most talented and popular artists right now are the world famous Dane Vilhelm Hammershøi. Hammershøi has a very significant way of painting giving voice to the melankolic side of the world and of us humans. The painter is famous for his artworks of especially white doors in his apartment in Copenhagen. In the paintings Hammershøi plays with light and shadow in a brilliant way giving room to both sides, which also could be seen as a reflection of life that contains both. The motive also makes the art watcher wonder what is on the other side of the doors or corridors making them compose a continuation of the painting. You can read about Hammershøi in an European context in the artist book Hammershoi and Europe

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