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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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  • Save 26%
    by Hazrat Inayat Khan
    £19.99

  • Save 21%
    by Brian C. Muraresku
    £14.99

    THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER As seen on The Joe Rogan Experience!A groundbreaking dive into the role psychedelics have played in the origins of Western civilization, and a real-life quest for the Holy Grail.The most influential religious historian of the twentieth century, Huston Smith, once referred to it as the "best-kept secret" in history. Did the Ancient Greeks use drugs to find God? And did the earliest Christians inherit the same, secret tradition? A profound knowledge of visionary plants, herbs and fungi passed from one generation to the next, ever since the Stone Age?There is zero archaeological evidence for the original Eucharist - the sacred wine said to guarantee life after death for those who drink the blood of Jesus. The Holy Grail and its miraculous contents have never been found. In the absence of any hard data, whatever happened at the Last Supper remains an article of faith for today's 2.5 billion Christians. In an unprecedented search for real answers, The Immortality Key examines the archaic roots of the ritual that is performed every Sunday for nearly one third of the planet. Religion and science converge to paint a radical picture of Christianity's founding event...and, after centuries of debate, to solve history's greatest puzzle once and for all.Before the birth of Jesus, the Ancient Greeks found salvation in their own sacraments. Sacred beverages were routinely consumed as part of the so-called Ancient Mysteries - elaborate rites that led initiates to the brink of death. The best and brightest from Athens and Rome flocked to the spiritual capital of Eleusis, where a holy beer unleashed heavenly visions for two thousand years. Others drank the holy wine of Dionysus to become one with the god. In the 1970s, renegade scholars claimed this beer and wine - the original sacraments of Western civilization - were spiked with mind-altering drugs. In recent years, vindication for the disgraced theory has been quietly mounting in the laboratory. The constantly advancing fields of archaeobotany and archaeochemistry have hinted at the enduring use of hallucinogenic drinks in antiquity. And with a single dose of psilocybin, the psychopharmacologists at Johns Hopkins and NYU are now turning self-proclaimed atheists into instant believers. But the smoking gun remains elusive.If these sacraments survived for thousands of years in our remote prehistory, from the Stone Age to the Ancient Greeks, did they also survive into the age of Jesus? Was the Eucharist of the earliest Christians, in fact, a psychedelic Eucharist?With an unquenchable thirst for evidence, Brian C. Muraresku takes the reader on his twelve-year global hunt for proof. He tours the ruins of Greece with its government archaeologists. He gains access to the hidden collections of the Louvre Museum to show the continuity from pagan to Christian wine. He unravels the Ancient Greek of the New Testament with a Catholic priest. He spelunks into the catacombs under the streets of Rome to decipher the lost symbols of Christianity's oldest monuments. He breaches the secret archives of the Vatican to unearth manuscripts never before translated into English. And with leads from the archaeological chemists at the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he unveils the first scientific data for the ritual use of psychedelic drugs in classical antiquity.The Immortality Key reconstructs the suppressed history of women consecrating a forbidden, drugged Eucharist that was later banned by the Church Fathers. Women who were then targeted as witches during the Inquisition, when Europe's sacred pharmacology largely disappeared. Have the scientists of today resurrected this lost technology? Is Christianity capable of returning to its roots?Featuring a Foreword by Graham Hancock, the New York Times bestselling author of America Before: The Key to Earth's Lost Civilization.

  • Save 13%
    by Ramit Sethi
    £12.99

    A guided journal from the bestselling author of I Will Teach You to Be Rich, with inspiring questions and thought-provoking exercises to help you understand your own money behavior and create your vision of a Rich Life.

  • Save 10%
    by Tricia Levenseller
    £8.99

    The defiant, fierce heroine of Daughter of the Pirate King returns in this rip-roaring high-seas adventure 'This lady Jack Sparrow is back, and she's fiercer and wittier than ever!' Elly Blake, author of FrostbloodAlosa's mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ship. First mate Riden, still unfairly attractive and unexpectedly loyal, is a constant distraction, but now he's under her orders. And she takes great comfort in knowing that the villainous Vordan will soon be facing her father's justice.When Vordan exposes a secret her father has kept for years, Alosa and her crew find themselves in a deadly race with the feared Pirate King. Despite the danger, Alosa knows they will recover the treasure first...After all, she is the daughter of the Siren Queen.

  • by Sam Marshall
    £18.99

    Linocut, a masterpiece by Sam Marshall, is a must-read for all art enthusiasts. Published in 2023, this book takes you on a journey through the intriguing world of linocut printmaking. The genre of this book is art, specifically printmaking, and it's a treasure trove of knowledge, techniques, and inspiration for both beginners and experienced artists. Marshall's expertise and passion for the subject are evident throughout the book, making it an engaging and informative read. The book is published by the renowned Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, known for their commitment to high-quality publications. Written in English, 'Linocut' by Sam Marshall is a valuable addition to any art lover's collection.

  • Save 30%
    by Norm Architects
    £38.49

    Die Räume von Norm Architects aus Dänemark fühlen sich so gut an, wie sie aussehen. Von den Machern von The Touch.Norm Architects aus Dänemark lassen sich vom menschlichen Wohlbefinden leiten. Ihr Stil ist ausgeglichen: schlicht und doch warm, komplex und dennoch geordnet, reichhaltig und trotzdem zurückhaltend. Jedes Element ist durchdacht. Mit ihrem einzigartigen sanften Minimalismus schaffen Norm Architects Räume, Interior und Möbel für Körper und Geist. Soft Minimal ist Norm Architects' erstes Buch. Es stellt die Arbeiten vor, die sie zu Schlüsselfiguren des Nordischen Designs gemacht haben. Anhand von Wohn- und Gewerbebauten in Skandinavien, Italien und Japan legen Norm Architects ihren Ansatz offen, der nordische Tradition, Prinzipien der Moderne und natürliche Baustoffe vereint. Ihr Buch ist gleichermaßen informativ wie poetisch - in einer visuellen Sprache, die alle Sinne anspricht.

  • Save 15%
    by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike
    £10.99

    A ROUGH TRADE, MOJO, UNCUT & LOUDER THAN WAR BOOK OF THE YEARA redemptive, myth-shattering biography of one of the twentieth century's most underestimated creative and artistic forces.'Here is the Odyssey of Nico . . . a scholarly and detailed chronicle of this brilliant artist, who was spurned and tortured for her trouble.'IGGY POP'At last, a comprehensive and compelling book about Nico.'VIV ALBERTINE'Absorbs from start to finish.'OBSERVERThe real story of Nico is one of determination, self-destruction and belief in one's artistic vision, at any cost . . .You Are Beautiful and You Are Alone is an empowering reappraisal of an underappreciated icon. Drawing upon new interviews and rare archival material Bickerdike defies the sexist casting of Nico's life as the tragedy of a beautiful woman losing her youth and fame, and instead cements her legacy as one of the most vital artists of her generation.'Gripping.' THE TIMES'[This] book gets closer to understanding Nico than most.' GUARDIAN'Deserves to sit with the great biographies.' RECORD COLLECTOR'A compassionate portrait of a musician whose artistry has often been overlooked.' MOJO'Valuable . . . Bickerdike gives Nico her due as an artist.' THE SPECTATOR'Entertainingly written and insightful.' INDEPENDENT'The best music book you will read this year.' LOUDER THAN WAR

  • Save 24%
    by Ms Patti Smith
    £18.99

    **THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER**A deeply moving and brilliantly idiosyncratic visual book of days by the National Book Award-winning author of Just Kids and M Train. More than 365 images chart Smith's singular aesthetic - inspired by her wildly popular InstagramIn 2018, without any plan or agenda for what might happen next, Patti Smith posted her first Instagram photo: her hand with the simple message "Hello Everybody!" Known for shooting with her beloved Land Camera 250, Smith started posting images from her phone including portraits of her kids, her radiator, her boots, and her Abyssinian cat, Cairo. Followers felt an immediate affinity with these miniature windows into Smith's world, photographs of her daily coffee, the books she's reading, the graves of beloved heroes - William Blake, Dylan Thomas, Sylvia Plath, Simone Weil, Albert Camus. Over time, a coherent story of a life devoted to art took shape, and more than a million followers responded to Smith's unique aesthetic in images that chart her passions, devotions, obsessions, and whims. Original to this book are vintage photographs: anniversary pearls, a mother's keychain, and a husband's Mosrite guitar. Here, too, are never-before-seen photos of life on and off the road, train stations, obscure cafés, a notebook always nearby. In wide-ranging yet intimate daily notations, Smith shares dispatches from her travels around the world.With 365 photographs, taking you through a single year, A Book of Days is a new way to experience the expansive mind of the visionary poet, writer, and performer. Hopeful, elegiac, playful - and complete with an introduction by Smith that explores her documentary process - A Book of Days is a timeless offering for deeply uncertain times, an inspirational map of an artist's life.

  • by Running Press
    £10.99

    Celebrating one of the most beloved holiday films of all time, this mini kit includes a unique collectible figurine of the Griswold station wagon and tree that plays five iconic sound clips from the film-it's sure to be a hit with fans of the Christmas classic.

  • Save 14%
    by Stephen King
    £9.49 - 16.99

  • Save 27%
    by Margit Erb
    £25.49

    The first sightings of newly discovered work from Saul Leiter's abundant archive of colour slides. Now widely acclaimed as one of the world's greatest photographers, Saul Leiter(1923-2013) remained relatively unsung until he was rediscovered by curators andcritics in his early 80s, and his work has been drastically re-evaluated over the last two decades. Leiter's images evoked the flow and rhythm of life on the mid-century streets of New York in luminous colour at a time when his contemporaries were shooting in black and white. His complex and impressionistic photographs are as much about evoking an atmosphere as nailing the decisive moment. Saul Leiter was born in Pittsburgh and moved to New York City in 1946. He pioneered a painterly approach to colour photography starting in the late 1940s and producedcovers for fashion magazines such as Esquire and Harper's Bazaar before largely withdrawing from public attention in the 1980s. The publication in 2006 of his first monograph, Early Color, inspired an avid ?rediscovery' of Leiter's work by contemporary audiences. His studio in New York's East Village, where he lived from 1952 until his death in2013, is now the home of the Saul Leiter Foundation. The Foundation has beguna full-scale survey and organization of his more than 80,000 works, with the aim of compiling the ?complete' archive. This volume contains works discovered through this process, specifically colour slides, never before published or seen by the public. Meticulously curated by Margit Erb and Michael Parillo of the Saul Leiter Foundation and supported by texts that explain how Leiter built the slide archive and how it is now being explored, catalogued and restored, this new monograph, presented in a real cloth binding, will be a must-have for photography fans worldwide.

  • Save 15%
    by Rocky Nook
    £10.99

    Rocky Nook s Pocket Guides are handy, ultra-portable, and quick to reference to help you get the shot when you re out and about.

  • Save 29%
    by Square Enix
    £33.99

    The second volume of the official Final Fantasy XIV lore books, written and compiled by the Final Fantasy XIV development team! Packed with art and information, this full-color, hardcover volume presents a panoramic overview of the world of Eorzea and its inhabitants. (NOTE: E-book edition does not include bonus item code.)The world of Final Fantasy XIV has grown to encompass not only the untraversed corners of Eorzea, but the far-reaching lands of an entire new continent to the east. With new horizons come new discoveries, and so it is with great pleasure that we bring you the second volume of Square Enix’s best-selling Encyclopaedia Eorzea, containing hundreds of pages of newly compiled information on the realms we proudly call our second home.Dedicated to those for whom the pursuit of knowledge is a never-ending journey.Includes an exclusive bonus item code for an in-game item, Matoya’s Hat (head gear)!

  • Save 25%
    - A Practical Guide to Creating Effective Signs, Symbols, and Icons
    by George Bokhua
    £20.99

    From noted graphic designer and logo expert George Bokhua, Principles of Logo Design presents essential techniques and examples for developing and refining logos and other visual marks, including the use of grids and other geometric shapes to achieve classic proportions.

  • Save 30%
    by Gorillaz
    £47.99

    Celebrating 20 years of Gorillaz, this latest Z2 partnership sees Hewlett expand the band’s collaborative vision to fellow visual artists in The Gorillaz Art Book, a stunning visual feast of 306 pages.

  • Save 23%
  • Save 17%
    - A Memoir
    by Bobby Hall
    £9.99

    An explosive memoir from Bobby Hall, the multiplatinum recording artist known as Logic.

  • Save 18%
    by Rene Stoeltie & Barbara
    £20.49

    Rustic wood, wrought iron, vibrant color, and tantalizing patterns: the homes of Mexico blend native tribal styles and Spanish architecture with warm, textured simplicity. Dive into inspiring and remarkable abodes in this updated, compact portfolio of villas, casitas, haciendas, cabanas, and palapas, featuring many unpublished images that paint...

  • Save 18%
    by Irmgard Musch
    £20.49

    Exotic plants, corals and crocodiles, birds and butterflies. Albertus Seba's extraordinary catalog of natural specimens is not only one of the 18th century's greatest natural history achievements but also one of the most prized natural history books of all time. It is a beautiful tribute to the abundance and diversity of Earth's creatures,...

  • Save 18%
    by Alex Kerr
    £20.49

    Japanese homes are refuges of tranquility, crafted in a unique domestic aesthetic of Eastern minimalism. Traditional architecture features alongside cutting-edge contemporary dwellings in this collection of homes, with many never-before-seen photographs. Turn to the rising sun and discover the fluid simplicity of these spaces where Zen...

  • Save 29%
    by David Lynch
    £33.99

  • Save 27%
    - The Ultimate Illustrated Guide
    by Graham Skipper
    £21.99

    An illustrated reference work to all things Godzilla, from the early days in black and white in Japan to the biggest blockbusters of the 21st century. Includes facts, figures, actors and locations.

  • Save 18%
    by Andreas Marks
    £20.49

    The Japanese woodblock print is a phenomenon with no Western equivalent. Breathtaking landscapes exist alongside blush-inducing erotica, ghosts and demons torment the living, and sumo wrestlers and kabuki actors are rock stars. This condensed edition revisits the most exceptional prints from 1680-1938, presenting the finest impressions in...

  • Save 23%
    by Linka Neumann
    £15.49

    23 knitting patterns for jumpers and cardigans to last a lifetime

  • Save 23%
    by GREGORY CREWDSON CA
    £38.49

    Sales PointsTen years of work by a luminary in contemporary art, gathered for the first time in a single volumeRevelatory contributions by Joyce Carol Oates and Cate Blanchett Includes never-before-published, behind-the-scenes images and commentary from the artistAdditional Comp TitlesGregory Crewdson: An Eclipse of Moths. 9781683952213, $250.00 USD (Aperture, 2020)Beneath the Roses. 9780810993808, $70.00 USD (Abrams, 2008)Todd Hido: House Hunting. 9781590055052, $75.00 USD (Nazraeli Press, 2019)Gregory Crewdson. 9780847840915, $150.00 USD (Rizzoli, 2013)Sanctuary. 9780810991996, $60.00 USD (Abrams, 2010)Twilight. 9780810910034, $50.00 USD (Abrams, 2002)

  • Save 20%
    by Matt Stuart
    £11.99

    Matt Stuart explains his purist and uniquely playful approach to street photography

  • Save 18%
    - Resilient Design and the Art of Sustainable Living
    by Kristine Hornshoj Harper
    £17.99

    Anti-trend humanises the concept of sustainability and offers concrete guidelines on how to design and live sustainably.

  • Save 21%
    - A step-by-step guide to botanical and animal watercolour painting
    by Harriet de Winton
    £14.99

    Create stunning botanical and animal watercolour paintings in a fresh, contemporary style with the expert guidance of award-winning artist Harriet de Winton

  • Save 30%
    - Stories and Photographs
    by Chris Burkard
    £17.49

  • Save 20%
    - Step-by-Step Realistic Line Drawing - A Sourcebook for Aspiring Artists and Designers
    by David Drazil
    £11.99

    Draw Like an Artist: 100 Buildings and Architectural Forms shows readers step by step how to draw a global survey of culturally significant buildings and their details, from ancient to modern.

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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