Cool isn't just a state of mind, a celebrity fad, or an American obsession -- it's a business. In boardrooms across America, product managers are examining vodka bottles and candy bars, tissue boxes and hamburgers, wondering how do we make this thing cool? How do we make this gadget into the iPod of our industry? How do we do what Nike did? How do we get what Target got? How do we infuse this product with that very desirable, nearly unattainable it factor? In this wide-ranging exploration the authors Noah Kerner, a celebrated marketing maverick, and Gene Pressman, legendary creative visionary and former co-CEO of Barneys New York, have uncovered surprising and universal patterns and trends. They systematically parse the successes and failures of the last few decades -- in music and fashion, magazines and food, spirits and hip-hop culture. Their discoveries are pulled together in this definitive book on the commerce of cool. Nike and Target endure as relevant brands not because of a shortsighted and gimmicky campaign. A dash of bling and a viral website don't amass long-term value. Brands are effectively developed when companies take substantial risk -- and face the possibility of real failure -- in order to open up the opportunity for real success. Chasing Cool includes interviews with more than seventy of today's most respected innovators from Tom Ford and Russell Simmons to Ian Schrager and Christina Aguilera. And through this accomplished assemblage, Pressman and Kerner dig beneath the surface and reveal how emphasizing long-lasting relevance trumps a fleeting preoccupation with what's hot and what's not. In a multidimensional, entertaining, and eminently readable book that redefines how to appeal to today's savvy consumer, Kerner and Pressman explore the lessons to be learned by America's ongoing search for the ever-changing concept of cool. Readers will learn how to apply these lessons to their own businesses and creative projects in order to stand out in today's cluttered marketplace. "Simply chasing cool is really a bad idea; inspired by cool is a great idea. Walk the street, see what's going on, and spit it out in your own way. Don't do it because you research it, do it because you breathe it." -- Russell Simmons, chairman and CEO of Rush Communications "I can't imagine having to hire a so-called Cool Hunter. If I had to go to someone else to be cool, I'd just pack up my bags and find a new profession." -- Tony Hawk, professional skateboarder "It's possible to be both mainstream and edgy. You can be the Goliath but you always have to think and behave like the David." -- Scott Bedbury, former Nike and Starbucks marketing executive "I love looking at trend reports because then I know exactly what I shouldn't be doing." -- John Demsey, group president, Estée Lauder, MAC Cosmetics, Prescriptives, Sean John, and Tom Ford Beauty "I don't believe in creation by committee. I think it's impossible." -- Bonnie Fuller, chief editorial director and executive vice president of American Media Inc. "We had to make a big decision at MTV when I was there. Do we grow old with our audience or are we going to be the voice of young America? We made the decision to be the voice of young America, which meant we had to let people grow out of MTV." -- Bob Pittman, cofounder of MTV, former president of AOL

This volume was first published by Inter-Disciplinary Press in 2013. Fashion-Wise offers an interdisciplinary and transcultural approach to the phenomenon of fashion, investigating its historical, socio-political and artistic aspects. The chapters collected in the volume discuss fashion in the contexts of personal and national identity, gender politics, phenomenology, psychoanalysis, history, consumer culture, ethics, education, performance studies, authenticity, disability studies, sport and celebrity culture. The authors included in this seven-part volume not only comment on the ways in which we have been ‘consuming’ fashion across centuries and cultures but also explore its relevance as a critical subject in cultural studies.

From #1 Amazon, New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Gemma Halliday comes an average day in an average high school that suddenly turns deadly... When Hartley Grace Featherstone heard the rumor that her boyfriend, Josh, was playing "hide the pom-poms" with the president of the Herbert Hoover High Chastity Club, she was crushed. When she found proof of his cheating, she was downright angry. But when she found the dead body of Miss Chastity herself, Courtney Cline, shoved into her boyfriend's closet, Hartley was something else altogether... scared for her life. Now Hartley's boyfriend Josh—scratch that, ex-boyfriend—is the #1 suspect in a murder, the police are watching Hartley's every move, and the only thing spreading faster than the gossip about Hartley is the fear that someone else at school may be next. Along with her faithful best friend and an unlikely ally in the bad-boy editor of the school paper, it's up to Hartley to find out who really offed her school's queen of mean. Before Hartley becomes the killer's next victim. Hartley Grace Featherstone Mysteries: Deadly Cool – book #1 Killer Looks – book #2 Wicked Games – book #3 "Irreverently funny voice... wicked pace... explosive conclusion!" ~ Booklist "Halliday balances the comedy and suspense notes well, keeping her characters intriguing and her narrative bright. Suspenseful fun." ~ Kirkus Reviews "This fun and outrageous mystery is a perfect mix of humor and horror that will have readers laughing while they try to figure out 'whodunit.'" ~ School Library Journal "I absolutely adore this series and these characters... it's smart, funny and full of heart." ~ The Book Life Rating: This book does not contain any scenes with graphic gore, violence, or sexual content. Its rating would be similar to a PG13 movie or Hallmark Channel mystery. Themes encountered by real teens are explored (including teen sex vs. abstinence), while keeping the overall rating and content appropriate for younger- and pre-teens. Consequences are shown for behaviors, and negative actions are not glorified.

What do the iPhone, Instagram, and TikTok all have in common? They're fresh, they're sexy, and most importantly -- they're cool. But while many companies embark on the eternal quest for the next big thing, very few know how to actually find it. Coolhunting will take readers into the very heart of the search and show them how to find trendsetters, spot innovations, and turn brilliant ideas into hot new trends. Major companies like Starbucks and Proctor & Gamble have already discovered the power of coolhunting. Now, anyone can learn how to: Tap into the "Tao of Cool" and identify the trends that are truly cutting-edge Cultivate the skills and techniques of highly effective coolhunters Pinpoint developing trends on the Internet by using smartbadges An invaluable tool for businesses of all sizes, Coolhunting will show leaders how to stay ahead of the curve and on the cutting edge of where their customers want to be taken.

You're a meteorology student fascinated by storms. But Mother Nature can be unpredictable. Situations can quickly turn deadly when extreme weather is involved. What do you do when, You're in a van full of people and a tornado suddenly appears to be headed right for you? A hurricane gains strength along the Florida coast but you're unable to convince people to leave their homes? A flash flood suddenly strikes, putting you and your friends and family in mortal danger? Experience the life or death dilemmas that face storm chasers. YOU CHOOSE what you'll do next. The choices you make will either lead you to safety or to doom.

This is the first book in the UK or US to set on record the recent cultural phenomenon of the use of certain dog breeds - both legal and illegal - to 'convey status' upon their owners. Such dogs are easily visible on social housing estates throughout the UK and in projects in the USA and provide acquired authority, respect, power and control. However they are increasingly linked to urban street gangs as 'Weapon Dogs' and present a danger to the ordinary public especially those using parks and open spaces with increased injuries being presented at UK hospitals. Though initially slow to react, local and statutory authorities are now seeking to address the issue through action plans and interventions. Written in a fresh, engaging and accessible style, this unique book contextualizes the phenomenon in terms of sociology, criminology and public policy. It considers a complex mix of urban and social deprivation, social control of public space and the influence of contemporary media imagery and 'gangsta' culture. It will make essential reading for academics and policy makers in criminology and criminal justice and those working with animal rights/animal welfare groups.

From an author the San Francisco Chronicle hails as "daring and splendid" comes an exhilarating novel of passion and ideas that cuts to the heart of one of literature's most fascinating and enduring mysteries: the enigma of Shakespeare. Meet Joe Roper, tough-minded young graduate student, who has been lucky enough to land a job cataloging the famed Kellogg Collection of Elizabethan texts and curiosities. Joe's been passionate about Shakespeare since he read a duct-taped paperback at age nine and found the witches, warriors, murders, and ghosts as much fun as Stephen King, but his working-class roots make him a fish out of water in the academic world. He is seemingly as far from adventure as it's possible to be -- until the delicious Posy Gould enters, stage right. A glamorous rising star at Harvard, she insists that a letter Joe has found, signed by one W. Shakespeare of Stratford, is a career-making discovery for them both -- because the letter says Shakespeare didn't write the plays. To Joe's mind, the letter is a forgery. When Posy insists they test it, the two literary sleuths head for England to prove their clashing theories. But they find themselves in a world where the London Eye looks out over Shakespeare's city, Hollywood producers rub elbows with Elizabethan spies, and mystery shadows the heart of Westminster Abbey and the lanes of rural England. And Joe and Posy find that, when you start chasing Shakespeares, what you find is not only who he was, but who you are, and how far you're willing to go.... A first-rate mystery from one of the masters of the genre, Chasing Shakespeares is also a literary shell game, a love story, and a profound meditation on identity and ownership. Sarah Smith has created a novel that rivals A. S. Byatt's Possession in its rich and fast-moving blend of literary history and page-turning suspense.

Our culture is obsessed with being 'cool.' We strive for the next big thing, the newest look, the most impressive accomplishment; and as a result our lives are overscheduled, overworked, and filled with debt. What is the driving force underneath much of the busyness seen in our lives today? Why have we so easily bought into the importance of being 'cool'?Chasing Cool is a thoughtful, funny, and challenging exploration into the damaging web of self-centeredness and image control. Brett Rickey exposes the attitudes and misconceptions that often cause good people to get caught up in cool by relating the timeless Bible lessons learned by the Israelites to our lives today. He helps readers identify the pursuits of their hearts so they can start chasing what really matters.This resource includes a copy of the book, Chasing Cool: Examining the Pursuits of Your Heart, and a DVD containing six short video lessons, which correspond to the book's various chapters.This unique packing is part of the In Sight Media Series, which combines insightful book content with stimulating visual instruction. This is a great resource for adult Sunday School classes, small-group discussions, and sermon enhancement.As part of the inSIGHTmedia Series, this resource includes:A copy of the featured book, Chasing CoolA DVD containing 10-minute video lessons, which correspond to the book's various chaptersA printable leader's guide- also included on the DVD- which will enhance group discussion and study

Discover the beautiful stories of Michael Morpurgo, author of Warhorse and the nation’s favourite storyteller Michael Morpurgo’s inspiring story of Robbie, a boy in a coma – victim of a car accident. Locked inside his own head, able to hear but not move or speak, Robbie tries to keep himself from slipping ever deeper into unconsciousness.