An eloquent, wise, and witty account of how one man's six-month, end-to-end hike of the Appalachian Trail led him back home.

Now in paperback, an "insightful" (San Francisco Bay Guardian) look at tourism and nostalgia from the bestselling author and art critic. In Lucy R. Lippard's On the Beaten Track, essays on cultural criticism, anthropology, and community activism are interwoven to examine how tourism sites are conceived and represented, and how they transform their surroundings. Called "stimulating" and "valuable" by Newsday, On the Beaten Track is now available in paperback for the first time. With her characteristic breadth of insight and critical eye, Lippard explores the act of being a tourist in one's own home, the role of advertising and photography in defining place, antique shops as populist museums, and the commodification of indigenous cultures. She discusses the political economies of leisure spaces; the tourist's fascination with tragic destinations such as the sites of massacres, nuclear weapons tests, and Holocaust memorials; and our willingness to let national parks and heritage sites define nature and history. Finally, the author that critic Andrew Ross calls "the most sure-footed tour guide you could hope for" surveys how artists are responding to the environmental, cultural, and political issues surrounding contemporary tourism.

In an America obsessed with quickie enlightenment and wisdom-acquisition, Ptolemy Tompkins is a seeker who has been there and done that. From Black Elk to the Dalai Lama -- from Hun Tun and mescaline to motorcycle Zen and mind at large -- the acclaimed author of Paradise Fever has followed many roads in pursuit of a universal truth. And he has survived to tell the tale. The Beaten Path Ptolemy Tompkins came of age in the '70s -- before Americans began spending uplifting Tuesdays with Morrie or perusing Little Instruction Books. In the wake of a quintessentially New Age childhood as the son of the radical freethinker Peter Tompkins, author of the bestselling The Secret Life of Plants, Ptolemy began a personal quest for enlightenment decades before it became trendy to do so. He gained much valuable insight as he careened from Buddha to the Bhagavad-Gita, from Krishna to Carlos Castaneda. But how much actual "wisdom" he accrued is a matter the author himself admits is up for debate. The Beaten Path is a work of great intelligence that is profound, moving, and hilariously entertaining. In his funny and touching account of a spiritual journey that went wildly off course, the author bares his soul even as he knocks down the gaudy signposts that guide eager pilgrims through today's pop-wisdom landscape. Yet he never loses sight of what is valuable and true in the literature of the spirit. Part gripping personal memoir, part merciless-yet-affectionate critique, and part genuine prescription for the good life, The Beaten Path is a provocative gift from a man who left no page unturned, no odyssey uncompleted, in his determination to find direction and meaning in the cosmos. In exploring what it is that makes so many of his contemporaries actively seek the light of peace and transformation in its most convenient and palatable form, he offers readers a unique, idiosyncratic insight into our modern world. And he has great fun while doing so.

Learn to play the most legendary drum beats and solos ever recorded! This book is your essential guide to the biggest & best drummers to ever grace the instrument, the music they played, the gear they used, and the drummers that influenced them. Pick up your copy today! Includes: * Authentic transcriptions and easy-to-follow lessons for 85 of the most legendary beats and solos ever recorded * Insight into the history and development of Funk, Alternative/Punk Rock, Metal, Progressive Rock, Classic Rock, Jam Band, Fusion, Jazz, and Reggaeplus a listing of essential recordings for each genre * An audio CD containing all the beats and solos presented in the book * Dozens of amazing photos * 250 pages! *****Drummers include: * Travis Barker * Carlton Barrett * Carter Beauford * Jason Bittner * John Bonham * Danny Carey * Billy Cobham * Tr Cool * Stewart Copeland * Lowell "Sly" Dunbar * Jon Fish

Publisher Description

This must-have guide for drummers provides insight into the history and development of the progressive rock genre, and explores a dozen legendary drummers that had the most impact on the style. The book will lead you through the beats, licks, solos, and grooves that made each artist famous, with insight into their approaches, the gear they used, the bands they played in, and the drummers who influenced them. The easy-to-follow lessons delve into authentic transcriptions of 36 famous beats and solos from songs by Porcupine Tree, The Mars Volta, Tool, Dream Theater, Rush, Frank Zappa, Yes, King Crimson, Jethro Tull, and others. Amazing photos are included, as well as a listing of essential recordings. All the beats and solos in the book are performed on the accompanying CD. *****Drummers: * Barriemore Barlow * Terry Bozzio * Bill Bruford * Danny Carey * Vinnie Colaiuta * Phil Collins * Michael Giles * Gavin Harrison * Carl Palmer * Neil Peart * Mike Portnoy * Jon Theodore * . . . and more! On the Beaten Path: Progressive Rock is a much-anticipated extension to the highly acclaimed, award-winning book On the Beaten Path: The Drummer's Guide to Musical Styles and the Legends Who Defined Them, voted No. 1 Educational Book in the 2008 Modern Drummer Reader's Poll!, and voted No. 1 Book in the 2008 DRUM! Reader's Poll! Capturing the essence of prog drumming in an educational book isn't easy, but Lackowski does a fine job. Lackowski proves himself a true aficionado and a trusted source. Four stars!" - Modern Drummer magazine "This is where Lackowski shines! He has a gift that enables him to break down the core elements of a musical piece and translate those ideas into easily understandable written notation. On the Beaten Path: Progressive Rock is a must for anybody who wants to get on the inside track to understanding their heroes." - Drum.com"