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Stoned
Jewelry, Obsession, and How Desire Shapes the World
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Check link for latest rating. ( 3,482 ratings, 548 reviews)
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Stoned
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
An account of how eight jewels shaped the course of history shares insights into the role of precious gemstones in triggering cultural movements, political dynasties, and wars, while exploring how jewels reflect darker aspects of human nature.
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Description
As entertaining as it is incisive, Stoned is a raucous journey through the history of human desire for what is rare, and therefore precious.
What makes a stone a jewel? What makes a jewel priceless? And why do we covet beautiful things? In this brilliant account of how eight jewels shaped the course of history, jeweller and scientist Aja Raden tells an original and often startling story about our unshakeable addiction to beauty and the darker side of human desire.
What moves the world is what moves each of us: desire. Jewellery—which has long served as a stand-in for wealth and power, glamour and success—has birthed cultural movements, launched political dynasties, and started wars. Masterfully weaving together pop science and history, Stoned breaks history into three categories—Want, Take, and Have—and explains what the diamond on your finger has to do with the GI Bill, why green-tinted jewellery has been exalted by so many cultures, why the glass beads that bought Manhattan for the Dutch were initially considered a fair trade, and how the French Revolution started over a coveted necklace.
Studded with lively personalities and fascinating details, Stoned tells the remarkable story of our abiding desire for the rare and extraordinary.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Stoned by Aja Raden is praised for its engaging and lively narrative, with reviewers highlighting its exploration of cultural and social history through the lens of jewel stories. The book's wit and humour are noted, making it both an entertaining and insightful read. Critics commend Raden's storytelling ability and her knack for blending historical analysis with captivating anecdotes, often using humour to enhance reader engagement.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780062334701
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 29 June 2017
Country: United States
Imprint: ECCO Press
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 21.0mm
Width: 135.0mm
Height: 203.0mm
Weight: 290g
Pages: 368
About the Author
Aja Raden studied ancient history and physics at the University of Chicago and, during that time, worked as the head of the auction division at famed House of Kahn Estate Jewelers. For more than seven years, she worked as a senior designer for Los Angeles-based fine jewelry company Tacori. Raden is an experienced jeweler and a trained scientist. She lives in Beverly Hills, California.
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