Product Description
In one of the most imaginative books you'll pick up this year, photographic artist Glen Wexler fuses reality and fantasy to create an alternative world where cows can do just about anything. Awards and recognition for Wexler’s work come from such prestigious sources as Communication Arts, ZOOM, French PHOTO, Creativity, Graphis, Photo District News, New York Art Directors’ Club, Beldings, NPPA, and Key Art Awards. Wexler's digitally enhanced photo-illustrations are paired with udderly funny musings from the likes of Dave Barry, Ogden Nash, and Eric Idle, who authors the book's foreword and happens to "know a bit about cows in comedy." Wexler put more than 75 days of photography and over 600 post-production hours into this book, working with EmmyAward-winning production designer Anthony Tremblay, Muppet wardrobe designer James Hayes and pyrotechnic expert Joe Viskocil, among others. No detail or pixel has been overlooked in the creation of this "mooving" photographic exposÉ. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Eat More Chickin
Filled with an eclectic collection of cows posing in unimaginable situations interrupted with terse spots of text, this may be the ideal book for a potato brained one like myself. I first learned of Glen Wexler's book while flipping through a photography magazine offering a few nuggets of the book as appetizers. Impressed by the imagination and creativity shown in the sample photos, I determined to obtain my own copy of this remarkable book. Having dabbled in digital transformations myself for years, I wanted to see the work of a master. This book does not disappoint.

At book's end are several pages of text explaining how this book came to be. Glen Wexler has created album covers and been part of multimillion-dollar advertising campaigns. The Secret Life of Cows evolved from his work for Chick-fil-A's ads promoting the consumption of chicken, not cows. The amusing ads featuring cows spawned a calendar of fantastic cow images. These creations are the meat of this book.

Wexler and his production designer arranged to have some cow sculptures made to a one third scale. The cow sculptures were dressed in various costumes and tirelessly posed for thirty days of shooting. Special effects were also photographed to blend with the cow images. The final product came about after more than 600 hours of post-production editing and the collaboration of assistants.

The 94-page book contains 24 full page, full color plates of cows in poses that are superhuman, suave, athletic, adventurous and feisty. Preceding the plates of superhero cows are a few bonus photographs, a full page portrait shot of a handsome black and white cow, a full two-page spread of cows descending from a flying saucer above a corn field, one of a cow about to be launched over a castle wall via trebuchet (catapult), and a gripping depiction of eight cows posing in tandem in striking superhero outfits beneath a dark, ominous sky.

Each plate is replete with detail, color, clarity, cow-risma and is suitable for framing or just sharing. As one turns the pages, he/she is struck by the limitless imagination of the creator of these scenes. A cow in purple, full body costume, yellow boots and yellow cape, bellows forcefully enough to shatter the windows of the Keller Beef Bros. Building in front of which she stands. Shards of glass are frozen in midair in juxtaposition to the cow's wide-open mouth and corrugated steel building.
On another plate we see a nearly all white cow with Ð%" emblazoned on her side. She stands in a puddle of white that might be milk or part of the melting white cow.

I particularly like the depictions of the secret agent cows. It's quite uncommon to see cows dressed elegantly in tuxedos, typing on laptops, or flying through the air propelled by a rocket pack. A cow gambling in a fancy casino and wearing an obvious human mask is hysterically funny. Also delightful are the tuxedoed cow parachuting into a speed boat, and the two cows on a motorcycle (most likely a Cowasaki) with a sidecar racing away from the circus burger tractor trailer.

As surreal as the photographs are, the cows, backgrounds and props are melded seamlessly and appear as natural and uncontrived as such pictures can look.

In the last "chapter" the full size plates are reproduced in miniature with titles, many with funny penmanship. Titles like Decibell, Gristle Missile, Kowrate, Divine Bovine, Leatherneck, Cowborg, Cowmeleon, and Holstoy, can best be appreciated when associated with the target photograph.

Like cows? Like digital transformations? Like looking at the silly, the absurd, the impossible? If so, you're bound to enjoy Glen Wexler's "The Secret Life of Cows."

Fabulous for Cow Freaks!!!
Bought this bookas gift for a friend that I have been changing cow
cards withfor at least 15 years. As dyed in the wool cow freaks we were both pleased with the humor and art work in this book. A must for your favorite cow freak.

Any collection specializing in 'alternate reality' color photos will relish THE SECRET LIFE OF COWS
Full-page color photos of cows are anything but your usual field grazers: they present an alternate form of cow reality and depict cows in strange circumstances indeed, from science lab neo-robots and in secret agent dress to cows dressed for construction work and various kinds of jobs. Any collection specializing in 'alternate reality' color photos will relish THE SECRET LIFE OF COWS, with its zany and oddball cow photos and the potentials of truly odd lifestyles.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Love It!
I have been a fan of the California Cheese commerical cows for years and this book was an "added-upon" appreciation for the beautiful cow.The book was so funny and I loved the imagination used to create the photos.A great talent!The new book "The Secret Life of Cows" sits with a place on honor on the coffee table in my living room to share with all that come to visit.

Cowabunga Mooed
Glen Wexler sees things a bit differently than the rest of us....and thank god for that. Glen's work has always been discribed as 'visionary.' As in, have you seen Glen's 'visionary' Van Halen Album cover? In "The Secret Life of Cows" he harnesses his 'visionary' powers to bring out only the very best in bovine humor. If you don't smile, laugh out loud or even snort milk out of your nose when you read this book, you better call 911, because you proably don't have a pulse. And if that wasn't enough to get you to part with ten-dollars-and-seventeen-cents, it turns out that Eric Idle fella is pretty funny, too... ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), published by The Register Guard on December 5, 2003. The length of the article is 1396 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Nudge nudge, wink wink: It's Eric Idle.(Entertainment)(The self-proclaimed `fifth-nicest' Python slinks into town tonight)
Publication: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) (Newspaper)
Date: December 5, 2003
Publisher: The Register Guard
Page: T25

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
Now that he's won the chocolate factory,what's next for Charlie?

Last seen flying through the sky in a giant elevator in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie Bucket is back for another adventure. When the giant elevator picks up speed, Charlie, Willy Wonka, and the gang are sent hurtling through space and time. Visiting the world's first space hotel, battling the dreaded Vermicious Knids, and saving the world are only a few stops along this remarkable, intergalactic joyride. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

More Fun and Adventure
While not as good as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I found this book to be a lot of fun and excitement. It follows Charlie and his family as they travel into space and have some mishaps in the chocolate factory in preparation for the transfer of responsibility to Charlie, and often is very hilarious. Those who liked the first book ought to check this one out.

Hysterical
I get the feeling that the narrator is a bit hyperactive, which is perfect for reading this book.Fun, albeit occasionally inconsistent, voices along with jokes, puns, and quirky plot turns make for a side-splitting listen.

A Masterpiece
I recommend this audio CD 110%, for people of all ages.There is none better than Eric Idle, and he does supremely with this particular item.His voice, his narration, and his actions through words really bring Roald Dahl's book to life.It is highly enjoyable, as well as hilarious. ... Read more

Product Description
Perhaps the ultimate in TV comedy madness and absurdity, this cult series, which began in 1969, was conceived, written and performed by Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, and Terry Jones. Its innovative and ground-breaking comedy inspired many of today's writers and performers. Its sketches, songs, and catchphrases are legendary, and this "best of" disc features: the dead parrot, the Ministry of Silly Walks, The Lumberjack Song, And Now for Something Completely Different, and many more.

Presented on 1 CD, starring Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

And now for something completely different ..........
This is a very funny collection of material from our friends in the UK. I highly recommend that you play this CD on the way to work in the morning, to give you a non-caffeine "lift". ... Read more

Product Description
This book contains the First Draft and Final Draft of the production of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. At end of book there is an acconting statement of costs to produce. ... Read more

Product Description
Two 33 1/3 LPs anda folder with transcripts, tear sheets, log of events and details about the movie, all housed in an illustrated box. ... Read more

Product Description
Last seen flying through the sky in a giant elevator in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie Bucket is back for another adventure. When the giant elevator picks up speed, Charlie, Willy Wonka, and the gang are sent hurtling through space and time. Visiting the world's first space hotel, battling the dreaded Vermicious Knids, and saving the world are only a few stops along this remarkable, intergalactic joyride.Amazon.com Review
Picking right up where Charlie and the ChocolateFactory left off, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevatorcontinues the adventures of Charlie Bucket, his family, and WillyWonka, the eccentric candy maker. As the book begins, our heroes areshooting into the sky in a glass elevator, headed for destinationsunknown. What follows is exactly the kind of high-spirited magicalmadness and mayhem we've all come to expect from Willy Wonka and hiscreator Roald Dahl. The American space race gets a send-up, as doesthe President, and Charlie's family gets a second chance atchildhood. Throw in the Vermicious Knids, Gnoolies, and Minusland andwe once again witness pure genius. (Ages 9 to 12) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (109)

Cruel and offensive
We recently finished "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" as a readaloud to our five year old daughter. What a cruel disappointment to read this book. By chapter three, we were all bored. And as a parent, I thought the characters were unusually mean as they spoke to each other. By chapter four, the "President" was racially stereotyping other cultures. As the parent of a Chinese child, I couldn't even bring myself to read aloud the Chinese Prime Minister's dialogue (for example: "Gleetings, honorable Mr. Plesident" and "Excuse pleese, Mr. Plesident. You make big mistake."

Needless to say, we didn't finish chapter four, and we won't be finishing the book.

it's good
Here's what my 4 and 6yr old have to say about it. We just finished it after reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which they loved. They liked this one less than Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but they still looked forward to reading it every night. It's true that it got boring when the characters floated around in space for so long, but they liked the part when the grandparents ate the pills--it led to a lot of mathematical calculations about how old their parents would be depending on how many pills we ate (each one makes you 20 yrs younger). Recommended!

This is an exciting gleeful story for children and adults
I read this twenty years ago, and about all I remembered was that I loved the Vermicious Knids ("Scram!").When I picked it up again a year ago, I realized that as a child, I missed the glorious absurdity, the joyful gibberish, and the over-the-top satire of U.S. politics (the Vice-President is the President's former nanny, and she basically babysits him and won't let him have too much candy, and his cat Mrs. Taubsypuss is a more important character than just about anyone else in the cabinet).Dahl writes this fast-paced little story with an irresistible mischievous glee, and his excitement is infectious.The story itself is not that weighty (basically, the family and Mr. Wonka go into space, have a quick adventure, come back, have a quick adventure, then it's over), but the style and enthusiasm are the real selling points.I heartily recommend this book to both children and grown-ups.

No New Chocolate!
Barbecued like beefsteak.Cracked as a crawfish.Crazy as a crumpet.Dotty as a dingbat.This is what the Grandmas, Josephine and Georgina, shriek at Mr. Wonka in Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.Let us tell you about one of our favorite books because we want you to enjoy it, too.Mr. Wonka, Charlie, and Charlie's family have an amazing outer space adventure.Once back on earth, Grandma Georgina, Grandma Josephine, and Grandpa George are all persuaded to try Wonka-Vites because Mr. Wonka convinced them that they would feel younger.Unfortunately, Grandpa George and Grandma Josephine turned into babies, and Grandma Georgina visted Minusland.Everything turned out all right and these eight wondrous astronauts are invited to spend a couple of nights at the White House as guests of the President.This book is recommended for adventurers older than eight, who are not afraid of enormous slimy space worms (you'll find out about them).

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
This book is Geart for all of the ages.

Especially your kid should read it.

Creative and Enchanting!!

I'd love to recommende to anyone who wants to read exciting and enjoyable books. ... Read more

Product Description
14 tunes from the TonyAward-winning musical that's "lovingly ripped off from the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Includes: Brave Sir Robin * Find Your Grail * He Is Not Dead Yet * The Song That Goes like This * and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great book
We enjoyed the musical Spamalot so much that my son wanted to get the music for the songs.This was the ideal entry book for him as it contained the melody in the music and wasn't just an accompaniment. ... Read more

Product Description
Monty Python. Monty Python's Flying Circus, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Monty Python's Life of Brian, And Now for Something Completely Different, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl, Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album, Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, Parrot Sketch Not Included - 20 Years of Monty Python, Monty Python Mediagraphy ... Read more