This volume, for the first time, presents the total physical world of the college campus as a bona fide art form. It analyzes the aesthetic elements involved in the spawning and savaging of college grounds. The ideal campus design, once defined, is held up to over 100 campuses throughout the United States, and the relative artistic merit of each evaluated. Both the best and the worst in campus design are critically observed from the standpoint of urban space, architectural quality, landscape, and overall appeal. Variables such as regional differences, historical perspective, expansion, and visual focus also figure in the evaluation. A list of the fifty most artistically successful campuses in the country concludes this highly readable and yet academically valid work exploring a discrete artistic discipline.

The wars of the twentieth century, their losses, and their toll on humanity are a frequent and important theme in the work of Christian Petersen. Though he is often known as "the gentle sculptor," Petersen gave much attention to the subject of warfare. To some extent, his entire life might be said to be based on a reaction to war since it was avoidance of the German military that prompted his family to emigrate from Denmark in 1893. Petersen lived through World War I, and sculpture on this theme constituted some of his earliest and most successful commissions. When World War II erupted, Petersen had been sculptor-in-residence at Iowa State for seven years, and its effect on college-age students was something he felt strongly. His work of the war years expresses the sacrifice and tragedy of the global fight. The theme continued to be important in the post-war years when he designed a number of proposals for war memorials, all of which focused not on victory, but on the sorrow and loss of war. By the late 1940s, his strong sentiments began to combine with his religious life after he joined the Catholic Church. It seems he often portrayed Christ as the victim of mankind's warring ways.This book was published in conjunction with the exhibition All the Evils?Christian Petersen and the Art of War (August 24, 2009 through February 26, 2010), presented by the Christian Petersen Art Museum, University Museums at Iowa State University.

In May 2012, bestselling author Neil Gaiman delivered the commencement address at Philadelphia’s University of the Arts, in which he shared his thoughts about creativity, bravery, and strength. He encouraged the fledgling painters, musicians, writers, and dreamers to break rules and think outside the box. Most of all, he encouraged them to make good art. The book Make Good Art, designed by renowned graphic artist Chip Kidd, contains the full text of Gaiman’s inspiring speech.

For more than 160 years, Moore College of Art & Design, the nation's first and only visual arts college for women, has led the way in educating women for careers in art and design. Moore began in 1848 as the Philadelphia School of Design for Women when philanthropist Sarah Peter founded the school to educate women in the design arts and provide opportunities for employment. The first students worked in the textile, wallpaper, and other factories of Philadelphia's industrial boom. The school's influence on early-American art and design was realized by members of the Red Rose Girls and the Philadelphia Ten. Other Moore graduates include the first women to design a United States postage stamp, to master the art of mezzotype, to serve as art director of an American advertising agency, and to design fabric for an automobile interior. This innovation and influence continues today through Moore's bachelor of fine arts degree for women, graduate and continuing education programs, and the Galleries at Moore.

"Nerves and Common Sense" written by Annie Payson Call is a timeless and insightful exploration of the intricate relationship between mental health, emotional well-being, and the everyday challenges of life. This book is still considered a classic in the field of self-help and personal development. The major focus of Annie Payson Call's work is mental stability. In "Nerves and Common Sense," she provides readers with a step-by-step strategy to understanding and regulating their emotions, fears, and stressors. The book dives into the enormous impact of one's mental state on physical health and daily life, highlighting the significance of keeping a balanced outlook. Call gives readers with essential skills to attain emotional stability and resilience in the face of life's trials with her practical advice and profound insight. She delves into themes including relaxation techniques, the power of positive thinking, and the importance of developing common sense in decision-making. The ageless applicability of "Nerves and Common Sense" distinguishes it. Call's observations are as relevant today as they were a century ago. Her words continue to provide solace, direction, and a road to inner calm for people navigating the challenges of modern life.

The built and landscaped spaces of colleges and universities radiate and absorb the values of the cultures in which they were created. As economic and political forces exert pressure on administrators and as our understanding of higher education shifts, these spaces can transform dramatically. Focusing on the utopian visions and the dystopian realities of American campus life, this collection of new essays examines campus spaces from the perspective of those who live and work there. Topics include disability, sustainability, first-year writing, underrepresented groups on campus, online education, adjunct labor, and the way profit-driven agendas have shaped colleges and universities.