This beautifully illustrated book, with a foreword by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, captures the practice of Tibetan monastic debate, performed by Buddhist monks as a series of dramatic, theatrical gestures. Tibetan debate is a total expression of body, mind and spirit. Its purpose is to establish a viewpoint, conquer misconceptions and understand the nature of reality.
With stunning photographs by American photographer Nancy A. Scherl (born 1955), Challenger Defender is a vibrant tapestry of text and images, exploring the practice of monastic debate and allowing the reader entry into the fragile yet thriving Tibetan Buddhist diaspora. This debate tradition . . . .go to book page >>

Apart from photography, Japanese artist Hiroshi Sugimoto has been working in sculpture, performing arts and architecture for more than 20 years. Since the early 2010s, he has been constructing the Enoura Observatory, and with his singular vision he has brought together ancient and contemporary Japanese traditions in one art and architectural complex. This book provides an account of this stunning multidisciplinary project.
The Observatory, part of the artist's Odawara Art Foundation, is sited on a hilly area covered with citrus trees in Odawara, nestled against the outer rim of the Hakone Mountains and overlooking Sagami Bay. Odawara is home to groups . . . .go to book page >>

American photographer Peter Steinhauer (born 1966), a resident of Asia from 1994 to 2014, here vividly documents the majestic cathedrals of northern Vietnam's Red River Delta. Using local materials such as stone, ironwood and brick, these churches were constructed to withstand the tropical Vietnamese climate and environment, symbolizing the merging of cultures and the growing influence of Catholicism in the region. Over time, the cathedrals transcended their colonial roots, organically embedding themselves in Vietnam's political, cultural and religious landscape. This volume unfolds a dramatic narrative of these historic edifices. Steinhauer documents many significant examples of these cathedrals, which display the . . . .go to book page >>

Through portraits of its residents and glimpses of decaying architecture, photographer Susan B. Anthony documents the decline and rebirth of Troy, New York, once a 19th-century industrial powerhouse before its economy waned in the latter half of the 20th century.

Scouring antique malls, collectible fairs and flea markets across the United States, photographer David Ricci captured odd, humorous or even unsettling juxtapositions of trinkets and knick-knacks that expose deep-rooted conceptions of race, beauty, Christianity, class and objectification.