Other books that might interest you

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  Something Wonderful Right Away -...

  Jeffrey Sweet

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  Discover the behind-the-scenes story of how The Second City theater created a generation of world class great actors, directors, and writers. 
   
   
   
  In the late Fifties and Sixties, iconoclastic young rebels in Chicago opened two tiny theaters—The Compass and The Second City—where they satirized politics, religion, and sex. Developing scenes by improvising based on audience suggestions turned out to be a fine way to develop great actors, directors, and writers. Alumni went on to create such groundbreaking works as The Graduate, Groundhog Day, and Don't Look Up. Many of them also became stars on Saturday Night Live. Something Wonderful Right Away features the pioneers who founded the empire that transformed American comedy. 
   
   
    
  This new edition tells even more of the story. Included for the first time is an interview with Viola Spolin, the genius who invented theater games that were the foundation of improvisational theater. Also included are dozens of follow-up stories about Mike Nichols, Barbara Harris, Del Close, Joan Rivers, Alan Arkin, and Gilda Radner, plus "You Only Shoot the Ones You Love," the story of how this book's author, playwright Jeffrey Sweet, ended up being so involved in the community he covered that he was captured by it.

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  Irreplaceable - How to Create...

  Kevin Ervin Kelley

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  Do we still need physical places like grocery stores, restaurants, and office buildings? Or will the "Replacement Economy" led by the tech titans and retail giants wipe out these venues in their rapid ascent to unicorn status? 
   
   
   
  What about museums, universities, and performing arts venues? Considering the power of technology today, can't we replace these relics with faster, cheaper, and more efficient online tools, apps, and AI? 
   
   
   
  Through engaging storytelling, human behavior insights, and proven design techniques, Kevin Kelley—an attention architect and cofounder of Shook Kelley, a strategic design firm that pioneered the field of "convening"—unfolds why physical places are essential to civil society, business, and community. 
   
   
   
  In this book, he reveals what it takes for brick-and-mortar establishments to attract an audience and maintain a competitive edge in our increasingly digital world, whether you're a: 
   
   
   
  ● Retail leader or institutional manager trying to attract people to your offering while keeping the disruptors at bay 
   
   
   
  ● Student of design who values social facilitation over object-oriented design 
   
   
   
  ● Concerned citizen worried about the loss of community and civility

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  Nara Period - Imperial Splendor...

  Rolf Hedger

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  The Nara Period (710–794) marked a transformative era in Japanese history, characterized by the establishment of a centralized government, the increasing influence of Buddhism, and cultural exchanges with China and Korea. It was during this time that Japan’s first permanent capital was established in Nara, shaping the foundations of political and cultural development for centuries to come. 
  Before the Nara Period, Japan’s capitals frequently shifted locations with the death of each emperor, a practice rooted in Shinto beliefs regarding spiritual purity. However, in 710, Emperor Genmei broke this tradition by moving the capital to Heijō-kyō (modern-day Nara), modeling it after the grand Tang dynasty capital of Chang’an. This decision signified Japan’s growing commitment to a stable and sophisticated political structure. Nara’s grid-like city layout, Buddhist temples, and administrative buildings reflected Chinese architectural and governmental influences, showcasing the era’s desire for centralized control and cultural refinement. 
  At the heart of the Nara government was the ritsuryō system, an adaptation of China’s bureaucratic model, which aimed to solidify imperial rule through codified laws, land distribution policies, and taxation systems. The emperor held supreme authority, but powerful aristocratic families, particularly the Fujiwara clan, played a crucial role in court politics. The implementation of the Taihō Code in 701 reinforced these administrative reforms, further consolidating the emperor’s influence while allowing aristocrats to maintain their dominance over court affairs.

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  The Customer Is Always Wrong -...

  Scott Seiss

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  Read by the author. 
  Give the gift of funny to anyone in your life (maybe even yourself!) who could use a dose of irreverent humor about why work stinks. 
  Customers want you to magically produce something from the back room. Bosses schedule you on your day off. Corporate policies are mandated that make zero practical sense. Sound familiar? 
  If you've ever worked in customer service (or any job, really), you know that everyone else—the customer, the boss, the company—is always right, and never the employee. Well, lucky for you, the "Angry Retail Guy" is more furious—and funnier—than ever in this hilariously unhinged guide to all the things we wish we could say out loud at work . . . without getting fired. In The Customer Is Always Wrong, you'll laugh (and maybe cry) at this rant-filled, illustrated attack on all the frustrating things that suck about work. 
  Expanding on the ire-filled, laugh-out-loud viral videos that have made him a (whispered) workplace name, Scott Seiss joyfully eviscerates not only overbearing customers but every annoying aspect of work like purposeless job interview questions, debatable brand values, and the walking human trainwrecks that are our bosses. Scott guides you all the way from first applying to the job, to inevitably gritting your teeth and smiling on your last day when that one manager you despise says, “Come back and visit us!” 
  The Customer Is Always Wrong is for anyone who:Is tired of their "raise" being as close as scientifically possible to 0 percentWants to tell their boss that not even the self-checkout machines want to work hereIs prepared to tell the next customer who asks to see the manager that the manager has no idea what's going on eitherCalls in sick whenever their PTO request is deniedBelieves entering a store five minutes before it closes should be illegalExplains, on a weekly basis, why someone can't use a coupon that expired 17 years agoIs physically repulsed by the phrase, "At this company, we're a family. . . ." 
    
  This tongue-in-cheek commiseration for workers will make you laugh out loud at the things that drive you crazy in the workplace. With Scott's signature rants, funny anecdotes, and absurd musings, this book celebrates and empowers underpaid and overworked employees with an uproarious ode to what we really think about our jobs and the customers that come with them (except the ones who read this book, of course). 
  Comics and graphics can be found in the audiobook companion PDF download. 
   

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  Your Design Personality at Home...

  Michelle Armitage

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  Great interiors have the power to enhance our health and happiness. 
  Yet home decor decisions can be tricky. Do you find it difficult to pull a look together? Do you buy things you love then change your mind? Or spend too long procrastinating over paint colours? 
  In this comprehensive book Michelle shares her expertise in psychology and interior design. You will explore your personality taste preferences, tap into ’sweet spots’ from your past, and explore topics like colour families and sensory design; to create an interior that truly reflects who you are. 
  Reading this book will feel like a cosy chat with Michelle. It’s filled with fun quizzes and questions, gorgeous images and real-life examples. 
  It’s time to put an end to copycat interiors! With the help of Your Design Personality at Home you will unlock the secrets of your interior design style and discover how to create your perfect home.

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  Rusty Egan - The Autobiography

  Rusty Egan

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  Rusty Egan, co-founder of Visage and resident DJ at London's iconic Blitz Club, helped define the New Romantic music movement. His autobiography captures the birth of British electronic music, 1980s London nightlife, and collaborations with Midge Ure, Steve Strange, and other pioneers.
  Rusty Egan is one of the most iconic and influential figures in the electronic music industry. His career began in the music industry as a runner at DJM studios, followed by a stint at WEA Records. Rusty collaborated with former Sex Pistols member Glen Matlock, alongside Steve New and Midge Ure, to establish the new wave band Rich Kids. Their debut album, Ghosts of Princes in Towers, released in 1978, achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success. During the Rich Kids tours, Rusty met Steve Strange. This encounter led to Rusty's concept for a club night at Billy's, a Soho venue, catering to fashionable punks and showcasing the music they were passionate about. In 1979, they moved their club night to the Blitz in Covent Garden. As the resident DJ at the Blitz, Rusty played a pivotal role in introducing British, German, and Japanese electronica to the British club scene, essentially curating the soundtrack for the burgeoning New Romantic movement.
  Rusty Egan was instrumental in the formation of the band Visage with Midge Ure. Steve Strange joined them as the frontman (face and voice), and the lineup was completed by Billy Currie on keyboards, along with John McGeoch (guitar), Dave Formula (keyboards), and Barry Adamson (bass), all from the band MAGAZINE.
  Beyond his band work Rusty co-founded the incredibly popular Camden Palace nightclub in London with Steve Strange, where he continued to champion and shape the development of electronica in the UK. He also established Metropolis Music, a publishing and production company, allowing him to create music as well as perform it.
  In more recent news, Rusty released his album Welcome To The Dancefloor in 2017, which featured collaborations with Midge Ure,Tony Hadley, and Peter Hook. Rusty Egan is still regularly DJing and in October 2025 will be releasing his new album Romantic to coincide with this autobiography and the Design Museum's Blitz Club Exhibition centred of course, around Rusty and the Blitz Kids.

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