Run To Thee Bookstore

Peter Singer, the philospher and author of “Animal Liberation,” widely considered to be one of the foundational works of the animal rights movement, here turns his attention to the question of global poverty, and how it might be alleviated. His seven-point plan endorses a mix of personal philanthropy, local activism, and political awareness. Singer argues that there are no excuses for citizens not to give, and makes the possibilities of aid vivid by showing how assistance has already saved the lives of countlss people.

Peter Singer takes on the ethical responsibility individuals have in reducing world poverty in THE LIFE YOU CAN SAVE. Philosopher Singer has been credited with sparking the animal liberation movement and is known for his controversial stands on abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia. This book is not an abstract treatise on ethics nor is it an antipoverty policy proposal based on economics or on theories of development; rather it outlines a seven-point plan that incorporates how to decide the amount and direction of one’s charitable giving, activism, and political awareness that continues Singer’s commitment to bring considered ethics into contemporary life.

Available at STRANDS on March 16

Price: 17.60

- Courtesy of Strands Bookstore

The Piecebook

Before pulling on that mask and shaking the spray can in preparation for greatness, before gracing the walls of countless buildings in efforts to share your vision and voice with the public, before any work of art there is a beginning. But there is rarely any documentation of these beginning stages and the intricate processes of the influential Graffiti genre.

Seeking to correct this are Sacha Jenkins — creator of Ego Trip Magazine and the White Rapper Show — and David Villorente, who have compiled Piecebook: Secret Drawings of Graff Writers, a book of sketches and rough drafts done by graffiti artists such as Dondi, Lee, T Kid, Lady Pink, IZ The Wiz, Kel 1st, Seen UA, Ali, Daze, Skeme, Noc 167, Cey, Part TDS, Don 1,West, Caine One, Mare, and many others.

On June 12th, Sacha Jenkins in collaboration with acclaimed artist Chino BYI and 10 Deep will put the book on display in a gallery reception for its release. The event takes place at Reed Space in New York City from 8-10pm.

For more information on how you can attend click here.

NO #$%*ING REGRETS

“Remember that time you were wasted and thought it would be a good idea to get a tattoo on your leg of Maury Povich shaking hands with Sasquatch, but your friends talked you out of it at the last second? Well, some people don’t have friends.”
– No Regrets: The Best, Worst, & Most #$%*ing Ridiculous Tattoos Ever

Traditionally, people use tattoos as a means of self-expression. Most times, this self-expression comes off as artistic and thoughtful. However, others just get way out of hand and come across strange as hell. Aviva Yael & P.M. Chen went on a year long crusade scoping out tattoo conventions and studios throughout the country in order to find the most random, comical, strange, terrifying, and downright out of this world tattoos.

What they found helped to create the gem that is No Regrets: The Best, Worst, & Most #$%*ing Ridiculous Tattoos Ever. The book contains countless images of all sorts of tattoos accompanied by hilarious captions. Each page makes for a laugh out loud moment, and solidifies itself as a must read.

Check it out here.

Thank You Kanye

Professor Cornel West is producing hip hop albums and rapper/producer Kanye West is writing books. Kanye is making a literary debut professing life learned lessons in his book, Thank You and You’re Welcome, scheduled for release in January 2008. The first 500 copies will be autographed by Mr. West himself. Co-authored with motivational speaker and writer J. Sakiya Sandifer, the good book of Kanye is meant to be an exclusively uncensored dialogue between the reader and rapper that highlights his miseducations in his life and career. For all of those rubbed the wrong way by West’s cocky disposition, Kanye hopes this literature will paint a better picture of this son of a former Blank Panther and college professor, who after escaping death, has nothing else to fear. Using the same clever and comical scatting innate in all his rap lyrics and media interviews, West has blessed his fans with celebrity status commandments for all of those whose money is almost right. Read on people! Kanye is just a soul whose intentions are good. Please lord, for all of us, let him finally be understood.

Ghana, Revisited

In the midst of a rebirth of this nation’s love affair with the noose, this is perhaps no better a time to be reeducated and reacquainted with the beauty of Africans and their descendants. In 1963, photographer Paul Strand traveled to the West African country of Ghana during the height of racial and civil turmoil to document an original people and culture on film. More than 40 years later, six photographers traveled back to get a revitalized look at the first sub-Saharan colony to gain independence. Ghana: An African Portrait Revisited, sustains Strand’s initial visionary concept through an updated variety of styles and viewpoints of Ghana at the brink of the country’s 50th anniversary. Printed completely in vibrant full color, the collection was edited and shot in 2006 by Peter E. Randall and five photojournalist: Barbara Bickford, Tim Gaudreau, Nancy Grace Horton, Gary Samson, and Charter Weeks. The 168 page photo essay was recently presented during New York City’s inaugural celebration of “Africa Week” (October 14 – October 21), co-sponsored by the African Studies Association, also celebrating its 50^th anniversary. Represent!