Gearfuse

I was recently sent a copy of Richard L. Brandt’s “Inside Larry and Sergey’s Brain,” a book which attempts to delve into the inner circle of two of the most hermetic CEOs in tech, exploring the path of Google’s evolution and the company’s meteoric success in the process. The book provides some insight into one of the most close-knit triangles in tech history between Larry Page, Sergey Brin and the slightly more social CEO Eric Schmidt.

Rather than personally analyzing the two men (though there is a fair share of personal analysis,) Brandt delves into the men’s business ethos and the culture built behind the company. Much of the information presented is history which can be read else ware, though Brandt collects a series of public and private accounts into a chronological internet fairy tale. What I found the most interesting were the peeks into the psyche of Larry and Sergey and the view we receive of these two men’s vast influence of the internet. I highly recommend this title to anyone interested in learning more about the culture of Google and how Larry and Sergey’s personalities have come to shape that culture into what we know as Google today.

Buy It

“Medical Oddities, Natural Anamolies and Carnival Gaffs: A Pop-Up Book for Children” probably would have scared the hell out of me when I was a kid. At my current age, this seems like one hell of a cruel joke to play on any unsuspecting child, but would be an awesome addition to my own personal library.

Flickr user Crowolf shows off this awesome anatomical pop-up book from the personal collection of inventor Neville Colmore. I’m jealous! Perfect coffee table fodder.

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Though widely acclaimed and highly anticipated, Amazon’s Kindle 2 isn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination. Much like any awesome gadget, there are tons of ways to improve the user’s experience even further than what is already offered by the gadget alone.

The Periscope Kindle case is a leather-bound case which offers a host of useful little gadgets which will likely improve your e-book experience. For one, there is a neat pop-out book light for illuminating your digital page without causing issues for anyone else who might be trying to sleep. Also included is a pocket for an odd shaped notebook and a pen, just in case you feel like jotting down a note or five.

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When it comes to the ladies, 9-year-old Alec Greven is an expert. This kid gets more ass than a toilet seat and even wrote a book on meeting wome-er, girls. What began as a $3 pamphlet sold at his school book fair has turned in to a published dating primer called “How to Talk to Girls” which hit the shelves nationwide last week.

The fourth-grader from Castle Rock, Colo., advises Lothario wannabes to stop showing off, go easy on the compliments to avoid looking desperate – and be wary of “pretty girls.” “It is easy to spot pretty girls because they have big earrings, fancy dresses and all the jewelry,” he writes in Chapter Three. “Pretty girls are like cars that need a lot of oil.” He advises, “The best choice for most boys is a regular girl. Remember, some pretty girls are cold hearted when it comes to boys. Don’t let them get to you.”

The irony about it is this kid doesn’t date girls. He claims its for older people — the 15 or 16 year old kids who steal his lunch food everyday. Not a problem considering that come high school, little Alec will be stealing all of their girlfriends. Parents, lock up your daughters.

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Kevin Kelly has a great find over on his site Cool Tools. It’s an $11 book from author Norbert E. Yankielun that teaches the art of the igloo and other snow shelters. After reading the 208 page novel, all you’ll need to do is wait for the next Nor’Easter and you’re ready to build a house that isn’t affected by sub-prime mortgages. Suh-weet!

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We aren’t quite sure what robots and doughnuts have to do with one another but these prints of robots by Eric Joyner are very cool. Eric has a book coming out called Robots and Donuts, which is a 175 page collection of his work for $23. Considering his 17″ x 22″ artistical prints of robots can reach prices over half a grand, I’d say the book is fairly priced. I haven’t made up my mind over which one I’d want hanging up in my den, though. Hit the jump to see two of my favorites.
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Shepard is well known for his OBEY campaign and art movement. So it would come as no surprise to most that he’s done two special bookcovers for the next printing of Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm. It really has the commie-style look to it with big, bold graphics that really make a statement. Congratulations to Shepard. Let’s hope he has more covers in the works.

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And by Galactic, I mean Spore: Galactic Edition of course. If you’re a gamer who needs every piece of memorabilia a game has to offer then you won’t mind shelling out $80 for this special edition. Remember Vince’s monstrous pal, Bonerfart? He died. But, that’s only because Vince didn’t reserve his copy of Galactic Edition, guaranteeing him the 100-page galactic handbook which would’ve told him his creature was a vegetarian. The pack includes:

• ‘Making of Spore’ DVD video
• ‘The Human Toolkit’ DVD video, by National Geographic
• ‘The Art of Spore’ hardback mini-book
• Fold-out Spore poster
• Premium 100-page Galactic Handbook

Remember, if you don’t want your monster to suffer the same fate as Bonerfart’s, you’ll wise up and secure your galactic handbook today or the civilization you’ve created in Spore could become extinct quicker than you expected.
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Maggie Macnab is a woman who cares about presentation. Her new book Decoding Design: Understanding and Using Symbols in Visual Communication is a look into common corporate logos and designs that contain hidden meanings. Even the relevance of basic shapes, numbers and symbols in communication is a strong subject matter throughout the book. For designers looking for symbolism around every corner, this is the book for you.

Readers will find an array of deconstructions of famous logos including Aerosmith’s  logo, the yin-yang and even the logo for the retail store Target. Revealing common symbols within everyday design, Macnab portrays deep meaning through an otherwise overlooked logo. It’s available at Amazon.com for only $23.10 – so check it out.
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A publicity stunt celebrating the upcoming Olympic games in Beijing leaves 2008 needles in Dr. Wei Sheng’s head as well as a few hundred in his shoulder (just for kicks).  When you’re already in the Guinness Book of World Records for sticking needles into your head, there is little you can do besides stick more needles in your head to attempt to break your own record. Dr. Wei Sheng, however, has decided to wear lipstick. What a fag.
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