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  <title><![CDATA[History of Beauty]]></title>
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  <description><![CDATA[What is beauty?  What is art?  What is taste and fashion?  Is beauty something to be observed coolly and rationally or is it something dangerously involving?  So begins Umberto Eco's intriguing journey into the aesthetics of beauty, in which he explores the ever-changing concept of the beautiful from the ancient Greeks to today.  While closely examining the development of the visual arts and drawing on works of literature from each era, Eco broadens his enquiries to consider a range of concepts, including the idea of love, the unattainable woman, natural inspiration versus numeric formulas, and the continuing importance of ugliness, cruelty, and even the demonic. <br/> <br/>Professor Eco takes us from classical antiquity to the present day, dispelling many preconceptions along the way and concluding that the relevance of his research is urgent because we live in an age of great reverence for beauty, &quot;an orgy of tolerance, the total syncretism and the absolute and unstoppable polytheism of Beauty.&quot; <br/> <br/>In this, his first illustrated book, Professor Eco offers a layered approach that includes a running narrative, abundant examples of painting and sculpture, and excerpts from writers and philosophers of each age, plus comparative tables.  A true road map to the idea of beauty for any reader who wishes to journey into this wonderful realm with Eco's nimble mind as guide.<br/>]]></description>
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        <name><![CDATA[Umberto Eco]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[La Historia de la Belleza]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.67</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Umberto Eco nos comenta la Historia de la Belleza, en un libro profusamente ilustrado, desde la noche de los tiempos hasta nuestros días.<br/><br/>¿Qué es la belleza? ¿cómo nació ese concepto? ¿cómo ha evolucionado a lo largo de los siglos? ¿quiénes fueron sus inventores?. A estas y otras muchas preguntas contesta Umberto Eco con su habitual erudición, pero también en un tono didáctico y ameno, asequible a todos los lectores. El libro, además, va acompañado de extraordinarias ilustraciones que dan luz a las palabras de Eco: reproducciones de pinturas y esculturas, el testimonio de la evolución de la belleza a través de los siglos. Eco escribe además según las teorías comparatistas y sugiere concomitancias entre los grandes maestros de distintas épocas, así Piero dell Francesca con Paul Klee. Este libro, de formato especial, es una verdadera joya, un texto imprescindible en cualquier biblioteca.<em><br/></em></p>]]>
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  <published>2004</published>
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    <rating>2</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri May 25 07:34:24 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri May 25 13:38:07 -0700 2007</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[Compré La Historia de la Belleza para mi tesis sobre estética. Estudio Filosofía y al momento de hacer una tesis sobre estética creo que ya tengo algo de información al respecto, &quot;por este motivo y sólo por este&quot; no recomiendo el libro; es decir no lo recomiendo si lo buscas con fine...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1437044">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[History of Beauty]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.92</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[What is beauty?  What is art?  What is taste and fashion?  Is beauty something to be observed coolly and rationally or is it something dangerously involving?  So begins Umberto Eco's intriguing journey into the aesthetics of beauty, in which he explores the ever-changing concept of the beautiful from the ancient Greeks to today.  While closely examining the development of the visual arts and drawing on works of literature from each era, Eco broadens his enquiries to consider a range of concepts, including the idea of love, the unattainable woman, natural inspiration versus numeric formulas, and the continuing importance of ugliness, cruelty, and even the demonic. <br/> <br/>Professor Eco takes us from classical antiquity to the present day, dispelling many preconceptions along the way and concluding that the relevance of his research is urgent because we live in an age of great reverence for beauty, &quot;an orgy of tolerance, the total syncretism and the absolute and unstoppable polytheism of Beauty.&quot; <br/> <br/>In this, his first illustrated book, Professor Eco offers a layered approach that includes a running narrative, abundant examples of painting and sculpture, and excerpts from writers and philosophers of each age, plus comparative tables.  A true road map to the idea of beauty for any reader who wishes to journey into this wonderful realm with Eco's nimble mind as guide.<br/>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2004</published>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at>Thu May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Mar 14 03:54:57 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu May 15 11:04:20 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[The book originally was presented as a CD-Rom. Although I like books, I think the idea of the writer would be better experienced in an interactive webpage or digital media. Because a page limits you to what is in it or its neighbours, or a shorter or longer search for a glimpsed idea. Hyperlink and ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/17727361">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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</review>
      <review>
  <id>40943830</id>
    <user>
    <id>1083595</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Kathryn]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Merrimac, WI]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1083595-kathryn]]></link>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[History of Beauty]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166253876m/10505.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.91</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>304</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[What is beauty?  What is art?  What is taste and fashion?  Is beauty something to be observed coolly and rationally or is it something dangerously involving?  So begins Umberto Eco's intriguing journey into the aesthetics of beauty, in which he explores the ever-changing concept of the beautiful from the ancient Greeks to today.  While closely examining the development of the visual arts and drawing on works of literature from each era, Eco broadens his enquiries to consider a range of concepts, including the idea of love, the unattainable woman, natural inspiration versus numeric formulas, and the continuing importance of ugliness, cruelty, and even the demonic. <br/> <br/>Professor Eco takes us from classical antiquity to the present day, dispelling many preconceptions along the way and concluding that the relevance of his research is urgent because we live in an age of great reverence for beauty, &quot;an orgy of tolerance, the total syncretism and the absolute and unstoppable polytheism of Beauty.&quot; <br/> <br/>In this, his first illustrated book, Professor Eco offers a layered approach that includes a running narrative, abundant examples of painting and sculpture, and excerpts from writers and philosophers of each age, plus comparative tables.  A true road map to the idea of beauty for any reader who wishes to journey into this wonderful realm with Eco's nimble mind as guide.<br/>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2004</published>
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    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <read_at>Sat Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Dec 26 12:09:24 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Dec 27 17:03:59 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I loved this book.  It is basically an art book that looks at beauty (human, architecture, machines, scenes) throughout history.  It was very interesting comparing the concepts of beauty over time.  I found the book quite intriguing, intellectual, and enjoyable.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/40943830]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/40943830]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>80110225</id>
    <user>
    <id>1883731</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Canary]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">23</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[History of Beauty]]>
  </title>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10505.History_of_Beauty</link>
  <average_rating>3.91</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>304</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[What is beauty?  What is art?  What is taste and fashion?  Is beauty something to be observed coolly and rationally or is it something dangerously involving?  So begins Umberto Eco's intriguing journey into the aesthetics of beauty, in which he explores the ever-changing concept of the beautiful from the ancient Greeks to today.  While closely examining the development of the visual arts and drawing on works of literature from each era, Eco broadens his enquiries to consider a range of concepts, including the idea of love, the unattainable woman, natural inspiration versus numeric formulas, and the continuing importance of ugliness, cruelty, and even the demonic. <br/> <br/>Professor Eco takes us from classical antiquity to the present day, dispelling many preconceptions along the way and concluding that the relevance of his research is urgent because we live in an age of great reverence for beauty, &quot;an orgy of tolerance, the total syncretism and the absolute and unstoppable polytheism of Beauty.&quot; <br/> <br/>In this, his first illustrated book, Professor Eco offers a layered approach that includes a running narrative, abundant examples of painting and sculpture, and excerpts from writers and philosophers of each age, plus comparative tables.  A true road map to the idea of beauty for any reader who wishes to journey into this wonderful realm with Eco's nimble mind as guide.<br/>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2004</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <read_at>Sun Nov 29 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Dec 06 16:50:38 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Dec 09 16:08:56 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[On this one I recommend skimming to chapter six where it gets really &quot;meaty&quot; and from there you will want to read carefully.  I was sad not to be online and create a few questions for this one but maybe I will go back.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/80110225]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/80110225]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>52248382</id>
    <user>
    <id>1317086</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Jeanette]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Chicago, IL]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[History of Beauty]]>
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  <average_rating>3.91</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>304</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[What is beauty?  What is art?  What is taste and fashion?  Is beauty something to be observed coolly and rationally or is it something dangerously involving?  So begins Umberto Eco's intriguing journey into the aesthetics of beauty, in which he explores the ever-changing concept of the beautiful from the ancient Greeks to today.  While closely examining the development of the visual arts and drawing on works of literature from each era, Eco broadens his enquiries to consider a range of concepts, including the idea of love, the unattainable woman, natural inspiration versus numeric formulas, and the continuing importance of ugliness, cruelty, and even the demonic. <br/> <br/>Professor Eco takes us from classical antiquity to the present day, dispelling many preconceptions along the way and concluding that the relevance of his research is urgent because we live in an age of great reverence for beauty, &quot;an orgy of tolerance, the total syncretism and the absolute and unstoppable polytheism of Beauty.&quot; <br/> <br/>In this, his first illustrated book, Professor Eco offers a layered approach that includes a running narrative, abundant examples of painting and sculpture, and excerpts from writers and philosophers of each age, plus comparative tables.  A true road map to the idea of beauty for any reader who wishes to journey into this wonderful realm with Eco's nimble mind as guide.<br/>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2004</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <date_added>Fri Apr 10 18:45:21 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Apr 10 18:46:17 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I loved this book from start to finish! Beautiful pictures of art throughout the ages.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/52248382]]></url>
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      <review>
  <id>74567494</id>
    <user>
    <id>2365317</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Quinn]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[History of Beauty]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.91</average_rating>
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  <description>
    <![CDATA[What is beauty?  What is art?  What is taste and fashion?  Is beauty something to be observed coolly and rationally or is it something dangerously involving?  So begins Umberto Eco's intriguing journey into the aesthetics of beauty, in which he explores the ever-changing concept of the beautiful from the ancient Greeks to today.  While closely examining the development of the visual arts and drawing on works of literature from each era, Eco broadens his enquiries to consider a range of concepts, including the idea of love, the unattainable woman, natural inspiration versus numeric formulas, and the continuing importance of ugliness, cruelty, and even the demonic. <br/> <br/>Professor Eco takes us from classical antiquity to the present day, dispelling many preconceptions along the way and concluding that the relevance of his research is urgent because we live in an age of great reverence for beauty, &quot;an orgy of tolerance, the total syncretism and the absolute and unstoppable polytheism of Beauty.&quot; <br/> <br/>In this, his first illustrated book, Professor Eco offers a layered approach that includes a running narrative, abundant examples of painting and sculpture, and excerpts from writers and philosophers of each age, plus comparative tables.  A true road map to the idea of beauty for any reader who wishes to journey into this wonderful realm with Eco's nimble mind as guide.<br/>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2004</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <read_at>Mon Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Oct 14 18:24:56 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Nov 09 20:33:19 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Really wonderful survey about how we arrived at current notions of beauty and the different ways the idea of beauty is interpreted and displayed. Contains tons of images, wonderful essays by Eco as well as writing contemporary to the images in the book. A must read for art enthusiasts.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74567494]]></url>
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      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Karen]]></name>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">23</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[History of Beauty]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.91</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>304</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[What is beauty?  What is art?  What is taste and fashion?  Is beauty something to be observed coolly and rationally or is it something dangerously involving?  So begins Umberto Eco's intriguing journey into the aesthetics of beauty, in which he explores the ever-changing concept of the beautiful from the ancient Greeks to today.  While closely examining the development of the visual arts and drawing on works of literature from each era, Eco broadens his enquiries to consider a range of concepts, including the idea of love, the unattainable woman, natural inspiration versus numeric formulas, and the continuing importance of ugliness, cruelty, and even the demonic. <br/> <br/>Professor Eco takes us from classical antiquity to the present day, dispelling many preconceptions along the way and concluding that the relevance of his research is urgent because we live in an age of great reverence for beauty, &quot;an orgy of tolerance, the total syncretism and the absolute and unstoppable polytheism of Beauty.&quot; <br/> <br/>In this, his first illustrated book, Professor Eco offers a layered approach that includes a running narrative, abundant examples of painting and sculpture, and excerpts from writers and philosophers of each age, plus comparative tables.  A true road map to the idea of beauty for any reader who wishes to journey into this wonderful realm with Eco's nimble mind as guide.<br/>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2004</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at>Sat Dec 25 00:00:00 -0800 2004</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Feb 13 18:40:32 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Feb 13 18:53:59 -0800 2008</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[A gift from friends, I might not have picked this up myself in a bookstore to look at because of the title even though the author is Umberto Eco.  However, it is sumptuous in both visual images and written imagery.  You can feast on it or pick it up now and again for a tasty tidbit.  Perhaps most in...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/15370853">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/15370853]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
  <id>22688660</id>
    <user>
    <id>1175796</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Marcelo]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">23</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[History of Beauty]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166253876m/10505.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.91</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>304</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[What is beauty?  What is art?  What is taste and fashion?  Is beauty something to be observed coolly and rationally or is it something dangerously involving?  So begins Umberto Eco's intriguing journey into the aesthetics of beauty, in which he explores the ever-changing concept of the beautiful from the ancient Greeks to today.  While closely examining the development of the visual arts and drawing on works of literature from each era, Eco broadens his enquiries to consider a range of concepts, including the idea of love, the unattainable woman, natural inspiration versus numeric formulas, and the continuing importance of ugliness, cruelty, and even the demonic. <br/> <br/>Professor Eco takes us from classical antiquity to the present day, dispelling many preconceptions along the way and concluding that the relevance of his research is urgent because we live in an age of great reverence for beauty, &quot;an orgy of tolerance, the total syncretism and the absolute and unstoppable polytheism of Beauty.&quot; <br/> <br/>In this, his first illustrated book, Professor Eco offers a layered approach that includes a running narrative, abundant examples of painting and sculpture, and excerpts from writers and philosophers of each age, plus comparative tables.  A true road map to the idea of beauty for any reader who wishes to journey into this wonderful realm with Eco's nimble mind as guide.<br/>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2004</published>
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    <rating>3</rating>
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  <read_at>Tue Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
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  <date_updated>Tue Jul 15 20:42:35 -0700 2008</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[Interesting book but somewhat dissapointing for me. Of course it is an unlimited subject with so many possible approaches. The approach of this book is to detail the different beauty concepts along the times based mainly on art works.<br/><br/>The reflection is up to the reader. If you look help a...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/22688660">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[History of Beauty]]>
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  <average_rating>3.91</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[What is beauty?  What is art?  What is taste and fashion?  Is beauty something to be observed coolly and rationally or is it something dangerously involving?  So begins Umberto Eco's intriguing journey into the aesthetics of beauty, in which he explores the ever-changing concept of the beautiful from the ancient Greeks to today.  While closely examining the development of the visual arts and drawing on works of literature from each era, Eco broadens his enquiries to consider a range of concepts, including the idea of love, the unattainable woman, natural inspiration versus numeric formulas, and the continuing importance of ugliness, cruelty, and even the demonic. <br/> <br/>Professor Eco takes us from classical antiquity to the present day, dispelling many preconceptions along the way and concluding that the relevance of his research is urgent because we live in an age of great reverence for beauty, &quot;an orgy of tolerance, the total syncretism and the absolute and unstoppable polytheism of Beauty.&quot; <br/> <br/>In this, his first illustrated book, Professor Eco offers a layered approach that includes a running narrative, abundant examples of painting and sculpture, and excerpts from writers and philosophers of each age, plus comparative tables.  A true road map to the idea of beauty for any reader who wishes to journey into this wonderful realm with Eco's nimble mind as guide.<br/>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2004</published>
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    <rating>4</rating>
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  <read_at>Sat Dec 08 09:50:03 -0800 2007</read_at>
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  <date_updated>Sat Dec 01 06:56:41 -0800 2007</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[I am still making my way through this, but I am giving it an early 4 stars just because it is so dang BEAUTIFUL (not necessarily the writing -- although I think the concept is terrific -- bu I mean the actual book. It's a feast for the eyes, no kidding). I will write more on this when I do not have ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/9797999">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[History of Beauty]]>
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  <average_rating>3.91</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[What is beauty?  What is art?  What is taste and fashion?  Is beauty something to be observed coolly and rationally or is it something dangerously involving?  So begins Umberto Eco's intriguing journey into the aesthetics of beauty, in which he explores the ever-changing concept of the beautiful from the ancient Greeks to today.  While closely examining the development of the visual arts and drawing on works of literature from each era, Eco broadens his enquiries to consider a range of concepts, including the idea of love, the unattainable woman, natural inspiration versus numeric formulas, and the continuing importance of ugliness, cruelty, and even the demonic. <br/> <br/>Professor Eco takes us from classical antiquity to the present day, dispelling many preconceptions along the way and concluding that the relevance of his research is urgent because we live in an age of great reverence for beauty, &quot;an orgy of tolerance, the total syncretism and the absolute and unstoppable polytheism of Beauty.&quot; <br/> <br/>In this, his first illustrated book, Professor Eco offers a layered approach that includes a running narrative, abundant examples of painting and sculpture, and excerpts from writers and philosophers of each age, plus comparative tables.  A true road map to the idea of beauty for any reader who wishes to journey into this wonderful realm with Eco's nimble mind as guide.<br/>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2004</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[Art history enthusiasts, Eco fans]]></recommended_for>
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  <date_added>Tue Aug 12 13:07:25 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Aug 12 13:13:08 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I have to admit that I have not read this cover to cover.  This is a great book to just pick up, open to a random page and read a little bit at a time.  This and Eco's On Ugliness are just beautifully produced books.  If you appreciate art and/or the musings of Eco, then your library is incomplete w...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/29962198">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/29962198]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[History of Beauty]]>
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  <average_rating>3.91</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[What is beauty?  What is art?  What is taste and fashion?  Is beauty something to be observed coolly and rationally or is it something dangerously involving?  So begins Umberto Eco's intriguing journey into the aesthetics of beauty, in which he explores the ever-changing concept of the beautiful from the ancient Greeks to today.  While closely examining the development of the visual arts and drawing on works of literature from each era, Eco broadens his enquiries to consider a range of concepts, including the idea of love, the unattainable woman, natural inspiration versus numeric formulas, and the continuing importance of ugliness, cruelty, and even the demonic. <br/> <br/>Professor Eco takes us from classical antiquity to the present day, dispelling many preconceptions along the way and concluding that the relevance of his research is urgent because we live in an age of great reverence for beauty, &quot;an orgy of tolerance, the total syncretism and the absolute and unstoppable polytheism of Beauty.&quot; <br/> <br/>In this, his first illustrated book, Professor Eco offers a layered approach that includes a running narrative, abundant examples of painting and sculpture, and excerpts from writers and philosophers of each age, plus comparative tables.  A true road map to the idea of beauty for any reader who wishes to journey into this wonderful realm with Eco's nimble mind as guide.<br/>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2004</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
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  <read_at>Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
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  <date_updated>Sun Jan 18 15:53:39 -0800 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[A beautifully visual and eclectic guide to beauty through the ages. Hundreds of lovely pictures grouped into themes, which Eco's proves an enlightening guide around, he also includes extracts from the writings on and about beauty from the times he looks at. Illuminating and a very easy read!]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Ariella]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Brooklyn, NY]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[History of Beauty]]>
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  <average_rating>3.91</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>304</ratings_count>
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    <![CDATA[What is beauty?  What is art?  What is taste and fashion?  Is beauty something to be observed coolly and rationally or is it something dangerously involving?  So begins Umberto Eco's intriguing journey into the aesthetics of beauty, in which he explores the ever-changing concept of the beautiful from the ancient Greeks to today.  While closely examining the development of the visual arts and drawing on works of literature from each era, Eco broadens his enquiries to consider a range of concepts, including the idea of love, the unattainable woman, natural inspiration versus numeric formulas, and the continuing importance of ugliness, cruelty, and even the demonic. <br/> <br/>Professor Eco takes us from classical antiquity to the present day, dispelling many preconceptions along the way and concluding that the relevance of his research is urgent because we live in an age of great reverence for beauty, &quot;an orgy of tolerance, the total syncretism and the absolute and unstoppable polytheism of Beauty.&quot; <br/> <br/>In this, his first illustrated book, Professor Eco offers a layered approach that includes a running narrative, abundant examples of painting and sculpture, and excerpts from writers and philosophers of each age, plus comparative tables.  A true road map to the idea of beauty for any reader who wishes to journey into this wonderful realm with Eco's nimble mind as guide.<br/>]]>
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  <published>2004</published>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at>Sat Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
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  <date_updated>Sat Feb 23 16:51:29 -0800 2008</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[This book is amazing. It's a little thin on the 20th century, but the illustrations are beautiful and of high quality, the text is fascinating, and it's accompanied by excerpts from primary sources throughout history of literature, poetry, philosophy, criticism, and more.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5320453]]></url>
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      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Gabriel]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[History of Beauty]]>
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  <average_rating>3.91</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[What is beauty?  What is art?  What is taste and fashion?  Is beauty something to be observed coolly and rationally or is it something dangerously involving?  So begins Umberto Eco's intriguing journey into the aesthetics of beauty, in which he explores the ever-changing concept of the beautiful from the ancient Greeks to today.  While closely examining the development of the visual arts and drawing on works of literature from each era, Eco broadens his enquiries to consider a range of concepts, including the idea of love, the unattainable woman, natural inspiration versus numeric formulas, and the continuing importance of ugliness, cruelty, and even the demonic. <br/> <br/>Professor Eco takes us from classical antiquity to the present day, dispelling many preconceptions along the way and concluding that the relevance of his research is urgent because we live in an age of great reverence for beauty, &quot;an orgy of tolerance, the total syncretism and the absolute and unstoppable polytheism of Beauty.&quot; <br/> <br/>In this, his first illustrated book, Professor Eco offers a layered approach that includes a running narrative, abundant examples of painting and sculpture, and excerpts from writers and philosophers of each age, plus comparative tables.  A true road map to the idea of beauty for any reader who wishes to journey into this wonderful realm with Eco's nimble mind as guide.<br/>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2004</published>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
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  <date_added>Sat Aug 02 12:02:19 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Aug 02 12:03:11 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This is mostly a picture book. I have looked through it, and you do get a sense of the evolution of beauty through the juxtaposition of the various images. It's nice to look at in relation to his other book, on the history of ugliness.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/29061706]]></url>
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[On Beauty]]>
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    <![CDATA[Beauty is neither a history of art, nor a history of aesthetics but Umberto Eco draws on the histories of both these disciplines to define the ideas of beauty that have informed sensibilities from the classical world to modern times. In terms of form and style, Beauty has been conceived for a vast and diversified readership: taking in painting, sculpture, architecture, film, photography, the decorative arts, novels and poems, it offers a rich and intelligent panorama of this huge subject. It traces the philosophy of aesthetics through history and examines some of the many treatises that have sought to define it. Beauty is Umberto Eco at his most captivating and eclectic: we read not only of Botticelli and Michelangelo but of how the fashion of the 1960s owes much to ancient Egyptian dress, and how ancient Roman and eighteenth-century hairstyles have much in common. It makes the familiar new, and sheds a brilliant new light on the unfamiliar. Illustrated in full colour throughout and produced to the highest standards, Beauty is an indispensable book.]]>
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  <published>2004</published>
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    <body><![CDATA[As other reviewers have observed, This is more of a book to dip into than to read cover-to-cover. The essays on art (only about half are by Eco himself)take second place to the sumptuous illustrations which are a feast for the eyes. ]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/31707880]]></url>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[History of Beauty]]>
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    <![CDATA[What is beauty?  What is art?  What is taste and fashion?  Is beauty something to be observed coolly and rationally or is it something dangerously involving?  So begins Umberto Eco's intriguing journey into the aesthetics of beauty, in which he explores the ever-changing concept of the beautiful from the ancient Greeks to today.  While closely examining the development of the visual arts and drawing on works of literature from each era, Eco broadens his enquiries to consider a range of concepts, including the idea of love, the unattainable woman, natural inspiration versus numeric formulas, and the continuing importance of ugliness, cruelty, and even the demonic. <br/> <br/>Professor Eco takes us from classical antiquity to the present day, dispelling many preconceptions along the way and concluding that the relevance of his research is urgent because we live in an age of great reverence for beauty, &quot;an orgy of tolerance, the total syncretism and the absolute and unstoppable polytheism of Beauty.&quot; <br/> <br/>In this, his first illustrated book, Professor Eco offers a layered approach that includes a running narrative, abundant examples of painting and sculpture, and excerpts from writers and philosophers of each age, plus comparative tables.  A true road map to the idea of beauty for any reader who wishes to journey into this wonderful realm with Eco's nimble mind as guide.<br/>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[Writing a thesis on it, I'd expect to gloss over the fact that Eco only wrote sections of this book, but it was quite seamless and a great introductory read on what the meaning of beauty (not art) came from in the Western world. ]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[History of Beauty]]>
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    <![CDATA[What is beauty?  What is art?  What is taste and fashion?  Is beauty something to be observed coolly and rationally or is it something dangerously involving?  So begins Umberto Eco's intriguing journey into the aesthetics of beauty, in which he explores the ever-changing concept of the beautiful from the ancient Greeks to today.  While closely examining the development of the visual arts and drawing on works of literature from each era, Eco broadens his enquiries to consider a range of concepts, including the idea of love, the unattainable woman, natural inspiration versus numeric formulas, and the continuing importance of ugliness, cruelty, and even the demonic. <br/> <br/>Professor Eco takes us from classical antiquity to the present day, dispelling many preconceptions along the way and concluding that the relevance of his research is urgent because we live in an age of great reverence for beauty, &quot;an orgy of tolerance, the total syncretism and the absolute and unstoppable polytheism of Beauty.&quot; <br/> <br/>In this, his first illustrated book, Professor Eco offers a layered approach that includes a running narrative, abundant examples of painting and sculpture, and excerpts from writers and philosophers of each age, plus comparative tables.  A true road map to the idea of beauty for any reader who wishes to journey into this wonderful realm with Eco's nimble mind as guide.<br/>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[Full of masterpieces of all times, the book brings near different views of beauty (nature, flowers, animals, human body,celestial bodies, God, Devil etc.) since ancient Greece until present days. ]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[History of Beauty]]>
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    <![CDATA[What is beauty?  What is art?  What is taste and fashion?  Is beauty something to be observed coolly and rationally or is it something dangerously involving?  So begins Umberto Eco's intriguing journey into the aesthetics of beauty, in which he explores the ever-changing concept of the beautiful from the ancient Greeks to today.  While closely examining the development of the visual arts and drawing on works of literature from each era, Eco broadens his enquiries to consider a range of concepts, including the idea of love, the unattainable woman, natural inspiration versus numeric formulas, and the continuing importance of ugliness, cruelty, and even the demonic. <br/> <br/>Professor Eco takes us from classical antiquity to the present day, dispelling many preconceptions along the way and concluding that the relevance of his research is urgent because we live in an age of great reverence for beauty, &quot;an orgy of tolerance, the total syncretism and the absolute and unstoppable polytheism of Beauty.&quot; <br/> <br/>In this, his first illustrated book, Professor Eco offers a layered approach that includes a running narrative, abundant examples of painting and sculpture, and excerpts from writers and philosophers of each age, plus comparative tables.  A true road map to the idea of beauty for any reader who wishes to journey into this wonderful realm with Eco's nimble mind as guide.<br/>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[Breathtaking....<br/>This book induces art print lust immediately.  The discussion is also by one of the most erudite and downright fantastic authors today. A wonderous introduction to aesthetics.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/26849138]]></url>
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      <review>
  <id>142018</id>
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    <![CDATA[History of Beauty]]>
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    <![CDATA[What is beauty?  What is art?  What is taste and fashion?  Is beauty something to be observed coolly and rationally or is it something dangerously involving?  So begins Umberto Eco's intriguing journey into the aesthetics of beauty, in which he explores the ever-changing concept of the beautiful from the ancient Greeks to today.  While closely examining the development of the visual arts and drawing on works of literature from each era, Eco broadens his enquiries to consider a range of concepts, including the idea of love, the unattainable woman, natural inspiration versus numeric formulas, and the continuing importance of ugliness, cruelty, and even the demonic. <br/> <br/>Professor Eco takes us from classical antiquity to the present day, dispelling many preconceptions along the way and concluding that the relevance of his research is urgent because we live in an age of great reverence for beauty, &quot;an orgy of tolerance, the total syncretism and the absolute and unstoppable polytheism of Beauty.&quot; <br/> <br/>In this, his first illustrated book, Professor Eco offers a layered approach that includes a running narrative, abundant examples of painting and sculpture, and excerpts from writers and philosophers of each age, plus comparative tables.  A true road map to the idea of beauty for any reader who wishes to journey into this wonderful realm with Eco's nimble mind as guide.<br/>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[Execellent mixture of Eco's thoughts about Beauty thru history and source material, including art, literature, poetry, and so on.]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[On Beauty]]>
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    <![CDATA[Beauty is neither a history of art, nor a history of aesthetics but Umberto Eco draws on the histories of both these disciplines to define the ideas of beauty that have informed sensibilities from the classical world to modern times. In terms of form and style, Beauty has been conceived for a vast and diversified readership: taking in painting, sculpture, architecture, film, photography, the decorative arts, novels and poems, it offers a rich and intelligent panorama of this huge subject. It traces the philosophy of aesthetics through history and examines some of the many treatises that have sought to define it. Beauty is Umberto Eco at his most captivating and eclectic: we read not only of Botticelli and Michelangelo but of how the fashion of the 1960s owes much to ancient Egyptian dress, and how ancient Roman and eighteenth-century hairstyles have much in common. It makes the familiar new, and sheds a brilliant new light on the unfamiliar. Illustrated in full colour throughout and produced to the highest standards, Beauty is an indispensable book.]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[An interesting and philosophical exploration of the concept of beauty and good excuse to for pretty pictures.]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[What is beauty?  What is art?  What is taste and fashion?  Is beauty something to be observed coolly and rationally or is it something dangerously involving?  So begins Umberto Eco's intriguing journey into the aesthetics of beauty, in which he explores the ever-changing concept of the beautiful from the ancient Greeks to today.  While closely examining the development of the visual arts and drawing on works of literature from each era, Eco broadens his enquiries to consider a range of concepts, including the idea of love, the unattainable woman, natural inspiration versus numeric formulas, and the continuing importance of ugliness, cruelty, and even the demonic. <br/> <br/>Professor Eco takes us from classical antiquity to the present day, dispelling many preconceptions along the way and concluding that the relevance of his research is urgent because we live in an age of great reverence for beauty, &quot;an orgy of tolerance, the total syncretism and the absolute and unstoppable polytheism of Beauty.&quot; <br/> <br/>In this, his first illustrated book, Professor Eco offers a layered approach that includes a running narrative, abundant examples of painting and sculpture, and excerpts from writers and philosophers of each age, plus comparative tables.  A true road map to the idea of beauty for any reader who wishes to journey into this wonderful realm with Eco's nimble mind as guide.<br/>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[Did you know that monsters are beautiful too?  This book is, itself, beautiful. ]]></body>
    
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