This work on Cornell is one of the best out there. The author gives a thorough history on the artist and delves into his motivations for making art. The works selected are comprehensive. Quite impressive are the quality of the photos, very clear and detailed.

While having a cohesive collection of photographs of Cornell's multiform works is a plus for any book, Hauptman gets out her microscope and unscrews his shadow boxes, exposing the seam attached to feminist and psychoanalytical critiques. In the process of her research, she delves into Cornell's research as obsession; obsession as research, illuminating his aesthetic and politicizing his seemingly-anti political sexuality. The photographs in this substantial book are excellent and well-chosen and the stills from Cornell's films add a cinematic dimension, often over-looked by Cornell scholars. This book, through close readings of many of Cornell's works, examines his obsession with childhood (& that great goddess of time), Lauren Bacall, Jennifer Jones, and the elusive Garbo (whose disapproval of one of Cornell's boxes, inspired him to destroy it [lucky for you a photo of it is included in this book]). Hauptman avoids the pitfall of falling into an oppositional critique along the lines of gender, yet brightens the sexual politics blurred in the shadow of the boxes. By the final chapter (dealing with Cornell's dedication to Marilyn Monroe (a most-unlikely sensual/sexual subject for a Cornell project), in which Hauptman very astutely identifies the problematics of Cornell's desire to be both master and guardian, I was watery in the eyes. This is a touching critique and underscoring of Cornell, who, for many reasons, some addressed in this book and some not, was both a failed and successful master and guardian--an artist collapsed in a paradox.

It's a lovely book. Through his steps, we can really appreciate and feel the real nature, no matter when we are with trees, river, mountains... In addition to that, there are several beautiful poems in it, you can't miss it!

This is a wonderful book which reveals how to get in touch with yourself through your natural surroundings.It teaches silent meditation and how to become one with all you see. This is a great book for children.Observing children observing nature is a thrill in itself.

Joseph Cornell is the author of Sharing Nature With Children (1883220734, $9.95) and Sharing Nature With Children II (1883220874, $9.95). This two volume set showcase nature studies and appreciation activities that any parent, teacher, or child care provider can readily engage in with children. Ann appreciation for the complex and interrelated life forms that comprise the exosphere of their environments is a solid basis to establish a life-long enthusiasm for nature and the out-of-doors, as well as a lasting commitment to environmental issues and concerns. Each volume is available independently, but school and community libraries are urged to acquire them both for the nature activities and environmental reference collections.

This is a good book to have around when looking for ideas on how to increase our enjoyment and appreciation of nature. While the title says the book is for Sharing Nature with _Children_, the ideas are fun for adults too.

I like how the author provides a four-part framework for the activities described in the book, classifying them as awakening enthusiasm, focusing attention, directing experience, or sharing inspiration.

I also like the stories the author tells about his experiences in environmental education. I could feel his enthusiasm coming through in the stories. Plus, the quotations that open various sections of the book added to my enjoyment.

I found the directions for each activity to be adequate, with a nice range of activities to suit different people and interests. The original Sharing Nature with Children provides more of the same, and the revised edition of the original book incorporates the four-part framework.

I hope you enjoy the book and will use it to not only spend more time enjoying nature but also will be inspired by it to spend more time protecting nature so that future generations can share in this enjoyment.

This beautiful book offers large, generous reproductions, many in color, and expert commentary on an impressive surrealist art collection. It has the best presentation of Joseph Cornell's work among art books I have seen-- even among those devoted entirely to the artist. Of course, several other greats are featured, including Miro, Dali, Brauner, Ernst, Magritte, Breton, Lam.... If you like this kind of art, do yourself a favor: buy the book and take a trip to downtown Chicago and the Art Institute.

This wonderful book showcases one of the world's best collections of 20th. century art. Of special fascination are the works of American artist Joseph Cornell. The Bergmans are the pre-eminent Cornell collectors as the breadth and unsurpassed quality of his work showcased herein demonstrates. The photographs are exquisitely rendered and Ades' commentary is incisive. This book stands as a worthy complement to the collection housed in the Art Institute of Chicago

Reading Dime-Store Alchemy is a fine way to get to know Joseph Cornell's work (and of course Charles Simic's). Simic uses a writing style which pieces together different elements of Cornell's favorite authors and poets, beautifully reflecting the montage operation created by Cornell himself. As Simic ambiguously reveals aspects of Cornell's life in New York City, the reader finds him/herself on the same search for an understanding of beauty that the artist spent his entire life investigating. Don't miss it!

John Muir: My Life With Nature is one of the best introductory biographies into the life of this great and influential American naturalist available to young readers today. Told in his own words, the text was compiled and aptly presented by naturalist Joseph Cornell who does full and complete justice in presenting the reader with an accurate and revealing presentation of John Muir's personality, life, thought, and accomplishment. Although designed specifically for young readers, John Muir: My Life With Nature will also be appreciated by adults with an interest in this unique and impressive man and his contributions to public awareness of the need for conservation and wildlife preservation.

Joseph Cornell has become a favorite of many art-lovers. His assemblage boxes of materials on topics ranging from rabbits to Lauren Bacall to the ornaments and symbols of childhood make for fascinating viewing. Cornell is a curious personality. On the one hand, he self-documented to a far greater extent than many artists, so that a relatively rich record of "what the artist was thinking" exists. On the other hand, he lived his life in a reclusive, introspective, elusive way, so that the viewer never quite feels that s/he has "gotten one's arms" around his perspective.

Lindsay Blair's "Joseph's Cornell's Vision of Spiritual Order" uses as its critical basis the foundations of Cornell's beliefs and influences, in an effort to help make the more elusive aspects of his work a bit clearer. She writes excellent passages about the way in which Cornell was influenced by, but certainly not at all co-opted by, the surrealist artists. She adroitly uses passages from Cornell's own writings, as well as analogies from his personal history, to provide cogent criticism which is less "art critic projection" and more a sincere, highly readable attempt to "get into" the mind of a man whose mind assiduously resisted such invasions.

Ms. Blair recognizes that Christian Science, Mr. Cornell's faith, has an impact on his work. In this respect, her writing is less revelatory, as her summation of the new thought ideas of Christian Science are a bit reductive. Mr. Cornell's work obviously has strong religious roots. Although Ms. Blair seems to have read up on some basic ideals of the faith, the passages in which she discusses Mr. Cornell's faith's influence on his work seem much less insightful than her discussion of the effects of other aspects of his personal life upon his work. One wonders if Mr. Cornell had been from a more "mainstream" faith if the explicitly religious motivation for some of his work (as revealed in his own writings) might have gotten a more comprehensive and detailed treatment than Ms. Blair accords here.
This is a very fine book, certainly one worth owing, but ironically, the reader is left wanting a bit more discussion of the actual "vision of a spiritual order" and perhaps a bit less traditional art criticism.

This book has wonderful photographs of Cornell's work, and functions well as criticism, as biography, and as a thought-provoking piece on Cornell's curious place in the art world. If one is familiar with Cornell's work, this is a fascinating inroad further into its meaning. If one is, as I am, less a hard-core Cornell devotee than one who has encountered his work relatively recently, this is a well-done introduction to his art and thinking. The book is relatively free of that self-serving "look how smart the critic is" art talk that besieges so much of this genre. Despite my quibbles about its "flaws", I highly recommend this book.

Finally, a beautiful, comprehensive book about Joseph Cornell and his work. Diane Waldman knew Cornell intimately ever since she was an art student (and through doing gallery shows for him), and this affinity shows; this is ultimately a book of love and tribute to a friend.

The biographical material is excellent. Most fascinating segments deal with Cornell's stranger sides, such as when at his brother Robert's funeral, Joseph put a sheet over his head and laughed, creeping everyone out, and explained it was only a side joke that Robert would have understood. Cornell was terribly timid in front of women (particularly the ones he fancied) and had a complete dependence on his mother (he died months after she did). Waldman probes these and other significant personal issues (such as his association with Surrealism, and how the younger artists that have passed through him have influenced his work) and examines how they factored in Cornell's art. The book is generous with illustrations - Waldman supports her points with not only Cornell's work, but with other artists that were influential to him.

However, it is the lonely and telling poetry of Cornell's work that is the heart of this book. The boxes that Waldman chooses to include are presented intelligently, and beautifully. The innocence and nostalgia of each box is lovingly portrayed. The Medici series - Cornell's especially heartbreakingly beautiful and mysteriously passionate work - is presented perfectly by Waldman with thoughtful commentary and context, capturing in full its yearning and ardor. Waldman has given us a book that speaks eloquently about why Cornell is an artists people will remember for generations hereafter.

This postcard type book of Joseph Cornell's work is
wonderful. It is a treat to look at the magnificent
box assemblages. If this is a favorite art medium,
then this will be a favorite little book!

I have worked in outdoor environmental education, so many of the activities suggested in this book were known to me prior to reading it. Therefore, I was a little disappointed in the book b/c I had hoped to get fresh ideas. I would reccommend this book to any and all parents/teachers who have not worked in EE. These activities are the standard in teaching kids/adults about nature. I look forward to reading Sharing Nature with Children II, which I have also purchased. I feel it will have new activities to inspire me and many others who love nature.

Joseph Cornell is the author of Sharing Nature With Children and Sharing Nature With Children II . This two volume set showcase nature studies and appreciation activities that any parent, teacher, or child care provider can readily engage in with children. Ann appreciation for the complex and interrelated life forms that comprise the exosphere of their environments is a solid basis to establish a life-long enthusiasm for nature and the out-of-doors, as well as a lasting commitment to environmental issues and concerns. Each volume is available independently, but school and community libraries are urged to acquire them both for the nature activities and environmental reference collections.

I had no idea that Joseph Cornell had written a book for children. This is a rare find. (It ranks up there with Robert Walser's little-known treatise on horse-grooming, or Arthur Brand's book of stock quotes.) There are stories here of hope and joy. You really get a sense of Cornell's engagement with a visionary romanticism when he encourages the reader to "let the child see into the world of nature, for there they will find a balm for their sorrows, a calm for their heart, and a palm against time." Cornell filled his boxes with the doodads of youth, and it's wonderful to find him speaking to children without any form of mediation. A must.