From the host of NPRs Morning Edition; a deeply reported portrait of Karachi; Pakistan; a city that illuminates the perils and possibilities of rapidly growing metropolises all around the world. In recent decades; the world has seen an unprecedented shift of people from the countryside into cities. As Steve Inskeep so aptly puts it; we are now living in the age of the "instant city;" when new megacities can emerge practically overnight; creating a host of unique pressures surrounding land use; energy; housing; and the environment. In his first book; the co-host of Morning Edition explores how this epic migration has transformed one of the worlds most intriguing instant cities: Karachi; Pakistan.Karachi has exploded from a colonial port town of 350;000 in 1941 to a sprawling metropolis of at least 13 million today. As the booming commercial center of Pakistan; Karachi is perhaps the largest city whose stability is a vital security concern of the United States; and yet it is a place that Americans have frequently misunderstood.As Inskeep underscores; one of the great ironies of Karachis history is that the decision to divide Pakistan and India along religious lines in 1947 only unleashed deeper divisions within the city-over religious sect; ethnic group; and political party. In Instant City; Inskeep investigates the 2009 bombing of a Shia religious procession that killed dozens of people and led to further acts of terrorism; including widespread arson at a popular market. As he discovers; the bombing is in many ways a microcosm of the numerous conflicts that divide Karachi; because people wondered if the perpetrators were motivated by religious fervor; political revenge; or simply a desire to make way for new real estate in the heart of the city. Despite the violence that frequently consumes Karachi; Inskeep finds remarkable signs of the citys tolerance; vitality; and thriving civil society-from a world-renowned ambulance service to a socially innovative project that helps residents of the vast squatter neighborhoods find their own solutions to sanitation; health care; and education.Drawing on interviews with a broad cross section of Karachi residents; from ER doctors to architects to shopkeepers; Inskeep has created a vibrant and nuanced portrait of the forces competing to shape the future of one of the worlds fastest growing cities.
#1086575 in eBooks 2011-06-08 2011-06-08File Name: B0052Z0M1U
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Attention All ActorsBy A CustomerAt last. A book that actually treats film acting seriously. not just as a poor relation to acting in the theatre. Most Acting Schools devote little or no time to this branch of the acting profession. So where is a rising new professional to learn their craft? Or a wannabe? Or even a seasoned old hand?In Acting for Film. thats where.Mel Churcher brings a wealth of experience on major movie sets to bear on the problem and comes up with a book that is both a practical guide and a good read. She has worked with some of the top directors. many big stars and a host of actors. coaching them in voice and accents as well as acting. In this book she shares the secrets shes discovered in the process. Here youll learn how to trust the camera and how to make the camera love you.Acting For Film has highly practical exercises to hone film acting technique. There are pointers. hints. anecdotes and stories. But theres much. much more besides. Tips on casting and auditions to help land the part. Advice about working on camera to make sure what the actor puts in comes out on the screen. Ideas from other top members of the film crew on how to get the most from a performance. A guide through the jungle of weird language. strange equipment and stranger people that make up a film set.If youre an actor. a director. a film professional or just someone with an interest in the craft of film acting I do urge you to try this book. The truth 24 times a second is Mels subtitle and this book really does explain how the best film actors use the concentration and energy needed to achieve that.3 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Attention actors and directorsBy Klingsor TristanAt last. A book that actually treats film acting seriously. not just as a poor relation to acting in the theatre. Most Acting Schools devote little or no time to this branch of the acting profession. So where is a rising new professional to learn their craft? Or a wannabe? Or even a seasoned old hand?In Acting for Film. thats where.Mel Churcher brings a wealth of experience on major movie sets to bear on the problem and comes up with a book that is both a practical guide and a good read. She has worked with some of the top directors. many big stars and a host of actors. coaching them in voice and accents as well as acting. In this book she shares the secrets shes discovered in the process. Here youll learn how to trust the camera and how to make the camera love you.Acting For Film has highly practical exercises to hone film acting technique. There are pointers. hints. anecdotes and stories. But theres much. much more besides. Tips on casting and auditions to help land the part. Advice about working on camera to make sure what the actor puts in comes out on the screen. Ideas from other top members of the film crew on how to get the most from a performance. A guide through the jungle of weird language. strange equipment and stranger people that make up a film set.If youre an actor. a director. a film professional or just someone with an interest in the craft of film acting I do urge you to try this book. The truth 24 times a second is Mels subtitle and this book really does explain how the best film actors use the concentration and energy needed to achieve that.
