Tom Wolfe

Of all the things that Tom Wolfe carves, none is more popular among collectors and students than his canes and walking sticks. Following the success of his fancy cane book last season, Tom is sharing some of his techniques for creating a fancy walking stick. The difference is in the size and shape of the creature. A walking stick is usually longer to provide more support for the hiker, and has a knob at the top rather than a handle. This knob provides the carver with many possibilities. In this book Tom carves a woodsman's head. He takes the reader through the process from the beginning of the carving to the attachment of the head to the shaft and the decoration of the shaft. Each step is illustrated with a color photograph and a clear explanation. The gallery give other ideas for carving the knob, and patterns are provided for several of them. A great book for new carvers and old pros.

The setting is Atlanta, Georgia a racially mixed, late-century boomtown full of fresh wealth and wily politicians. The protagonist is Charles Croker, once a college football star, now a late-middle-aged Atlanta conglomerate king whose outsize ego has at last hit up against reality. Charlie has a 29,000 acre quail-shooting plantation, a young and demanding second wife, and a half-empty office complex with a staggering load of debt. Meanwhile, Conrad Hensley, idealistic young father of two, is laid off from his job at the Croker Global Foods warehouse near Oakland and finds himself spiraling into the lower depths of the American legal system. And back in Atlanta, when star Georgia Tech running back Fareek the Canon Fanon, a homegrown product of the city s slums, is accused of date-raping the daughter of a pillar of the white establishment, upscale black lawyer Roger White II is asked to represent Fanon and help keep the city s delicate racial balance from blowing sky-high. Networks of illegal Asian immigrants crisscrossing the continent, daily life behind bars, shady real estate syndicates Wolfe shows us contemporary America with all the verve, wit, and insight that have made him our most admired novelist. Charlie Croker s deliverance from his tribulations provides an unforgettable denouement to the most widely awaited, hilarious and telling novel America has seen in ages Tom Wolfe s most outstanding achievement to date."

In "Hooking Up," Tom Wolfe ranges from coast to coast observing 'the lurid carnival actually taking place in the mightiest country on earth in the year 2000.' From teenage sexual manners and mores to fundamental changes in the way human beings now regard themselves thanks to the hot new fields of genetics and neuroscience; from his legendary profile of William Shawn, editor of "The New Yorker "(first published in 1965), to a remarkable portrait of Bob Noyce, the man who invented Silicon Valley, Tom Wolfe the master of reportage and satire returns in vintage form.

Only yesterday boys and girls spoke of embracing and kissing (necking) as getting to first base. Second base was deep kissing, plus groping and fondling this and that. Third base was oral sex. Home plate was going all the way. That was yesterday. Here in the Year 2000 we can forget about necking. Today's girls and boys have never heard of anything that dainty. Today first base is deep kissing, now known as tonsil hockey, plus groping and fondling this and that. Second base is oral sex. Third base is going all the way. Home plate is being introduced by name. And how rarely our hooked-up boys and girls are introduced by name -as Tom Wolfe has discovered from a survey of girls' File-o-Fax diaries, to cite but one of Hooking Up's displays of his famed reporting prowess. Wolfe ranges from coast to coast chronicling everything from the sexual manners and mores of teenagers... to fundamental changes in the way human beings now regard themselves thanks to the hot new field of genetics and neuroscience. . . to the inner workings of television's magazine-show sting operations. Printed here in its entirety is "Ambush at Fort Bragg," a novella about sting TV in which Wolfe prefigured with eerie accuracy three cases of scandal and betrayal that would soon explode in the press. A second piece of fiction, "U. R. Here," the story of a New York artist who triumphs precisely because of his total lack of talent, gives us a case history preparing us for Wolfe's forecast ("My Three Stooges," "The Invisible Artist") of radical changes about to sweep the arts in America. As an espresso after so much full-bodied twenty-first-century fare, we get a trip to Memory Mall. Reprinted here for the first time are Wolfe's two articles about The New Yorker magazine and its editor, William Shawn, which ignited one of the great firestorms of twentieth-century journalism. Wolfe's afterword about it all is in itself a delicious draught of an intoxicating era, the Twistin' Sixties. In sum, here is Tom Wolfe at the height of his powers as reporter, novelist, sociologist, memoirist, and-to paraphrase what Balzac called himself-the very secretary of American society in the 21st century.

Big men. Big money. Big games. Big libidos. Big trouble. A decade ago, "The Bonfire of the Vanities" defined an era--and established Tom Wolfe as our prime fictional chronicler of America at its most outrageous and alive. This time the setting is Atlanta, Georgia--a racially mixed late-century boomtown full of fresh wealth, avid speculators, and worldly-wise politicians. The protagonist is Charles Croker, once a college football star, now a late-middle-aged Atlanta real-estate entrepreneur turned conglomerate king, whose expansionist ambitions and outsize ego have at last hit up against reality. Charlie has a 28,000-acre quail-shooting plantation, a young and demanding second wife--and a half-empty office tower with a staggering load of debt. When star running back Fareek Fanon--the pride of one of Atlanta's grimmest slums--is accused of raping an Atlanta blueblood's daughter, the city's delicate racial balance is shattered overnight. Networks of illegal Asian immigrants crisscrossing the continent, daily life behind bars, shady real-estate syndicates, cast-off first wives of the corporate elite, the racially charged politics of college sports--Wolfe shows us the disparate worlds of contemporary America with all the verve, wit, and insight that have made him our most phenomenal, most admired contemporary novelist. "A Man in Full "is a 1998 National Book Award Finalist for Fiction.

Practice your wood carving skills on an unconventional medium: vegetables! This delightful book provides step-by-step instructions for carving potatoes and other vegetables. For the veteran carver or the newest devotee of the hobby, carving vegetables can be educational, fun, and surprising. We're not talking pumpkins here, but real carving, using woodcarving tools and techniques. Sweet potatoes are firm enough to take the knife and inexpensive enough to take a mistake or two. That makes them the perfect medium for new carvers or for experienced carvers learning new techniques. Plus, as the vegetables dry and wizen, they take on wrinkles and twists that give the carvings truly surprising and delightful character. Like woodcarvings, carved vegetables can become a permanent artistic expression. Author and caricature carver Tom Wolfe came upon sweet potatoes as a carving medium when a teacher asked for an alternative to soap for her young carving students. In this book, Tom becomes the teacher, taking the reader step-by-step through the carving of three projects. A gallery of finished works is included, some in both their freshly carved and wizened states. This is the perfect introduction to the great and fun art of woodcarving.

Forever fascinated by canes, the author has always collected them—he even has his grandma's and grandpa’s walking sticks. And, as a professional woodcarver, he knows there’s a good market for them. Walking sticks come in three basic categories: the cane, which is a walking aid or a gentleman’s walking stick; the staff or hiking stick, which is head-high; and the chest-high quarterstaff, which Tom’s grandpa used to call a “thunk stick.” Each of these types is generously represented among the 86 patterns in this book. Their designs include everything from fish to dragons and birds to beavers. This is a valuable reference book for all carvers.

Learn to beautifully carve the Easter Bunny with clear step-by-step, color illustrated instructions. As the days get longer and the sun rises higher and warmer, the signs of Spring begin to appear. One of those signs is the friend of every child, the Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny is the bearer of gifts, fancy eggs, sweet candy, and warm, cuddly stuffed animals, to celebrate the joy of Easter morning. Author Tom Wolfe brings his creativity and skill to this beloved character, and shares it with his readers in clear step-by-step, color illustrated instructions. And, because no bunny is complete without his eggs, Wolfe offers a simple technique for creating beautiful Easter eggs using commercially produced blanks, a woodburner, and paint. Included is a gallery of many bunny "humanimals." These wonderful creations, carry a great deal of the emotion and charm, and will be wonderful additions to the carver's repertoire. This great and delightful resource is for carvers of all skill levels.

Do animals have their own Santa Claus? One look at these creations by Tom Wolfe and you will believe that they do. Santimals capture all the charm of the season in a new and delightful way. Tom takes the reader step-by-step through the carving of the raccoon Santimal, from the pattern to the painting. Each step is clearly illustrated with a full-color photograph and helpful description. In addition there are patterns and multi-angled color gallery photographs for several other Santimals. These include a goose, a hound dog, a duck, a pig, a mouse, and a bear. In addition, the raccoon pattern can be easily converted to a fox. This creative new project is perfect for the holidays and a welcome addition to the carver's repertoire. It is a great book for carvers of all skill levels. Everyone, from the beginner to the veteran, will enjoy its delightful projects.

Following the tremendous success of his first book, Tom Wolfe now offers his most popular wood-carving with step-by-step instructions. Tom attributes the popularity of his Pig Pickin' carving to nostalgia. This work harkens people back to a simpler time, when the hog harvest was a community event. Everyone shared in the festivities...and the food. Tom makes the directions clear and each step is illustrated with a photograph. Because the book starts with the bandsawing of the pattern and continues through the painting, even a novice should be able to complete the project. At the same time, the seasoned carver will benefit from Tom's technique and expertise, and everyone will enjoy Tom's anecdotes about country life.

Beginning with a plain block of bass wood or white pine, leading woodcarver Tom Wolfe shows you how to create bunnies and bears that are the epitome of “cuddly". Tom Wolfe's carved bears, in their original form and as reproductions, have found their way into the hearts of people across the nation. Beginning with a plain block of bass wood or white pine Tom creates a menagerie of bear and bunny characters that are the epitome of "cuddly," and are a favorite of children and adults alike. These projects are perfect for the person who carves for relaxation. After bandsawing the patterns, they can be completed with the simplest of tools-a knife, a gouge, a veiner, and nailset. Tom helps the less experienced reader with the basic skills required for carving. Those who are more experienced will value a few of the secrets and shortcuts he has learned over the years. The projects can be adapted so that your bear or bunny will take on a different character through its size, position, and/or color. Your imagination is all that is necessary to make the changes.

When the well-known wood carver, Tom Wolfe, turns his talents to a new medium the results are wonderful. The almost limitless medium of polymer clay and Tom’s eye for character and caricature combine to produce some endearing and delightful creatures. For years Tom has been using clays as a modeling tool for his wood carving. At the same time, though, he has created some characters in clay that are just meant to stay that way. The polymer clay comes in a variety of colors and can be shaped in almost any way imaginable. For those thousands of hobbyists and artists who use polymer clay, this new book will open new doors of expression. So, for woodcarvers and clay modelers alike, this is a welcome new book. Fully illustrated with beautiful color photographs, it takes the modeler step-by-step through the process of creating a male and a female caricature bust. A gallery will spur the imagination even further.

This dramatic period in American history comes to life in the carvings of Tom Wolfe. Union and Confederate soldiers are featured with step-by-step illustrated instructions for carving. One figure is carved all the way through, and patterns are provided for others.

From the ancient Chinese to St. George to Dungeons and Dragons, these mythical beasts have had a place in the human imagination. Now, with his own imagination running rampant, Tom Wolfe turns his artistry to the dragon. As always, he brings creativity and skill to the task, along with a desire to share the joy of carving with his readers. All steps to carving a dragon are illustrated in color photographs, with concise descriptions of what to do and what effects you are trying to achieve. In addition there is a gallery with patterns and photographs of three other dragons that can be carved using the same techniques. These are dramatic carvings that will challenge the carver and delight those who see the final product. Tom uses both traditional hand carving tools and rotary tools to get the effects that make these dragons so realistic. The carver will find the insights into the techniques for using all these tools quite instructive.

Clowns are the ideal subjects for caricature carvers. They give the carver a limitless variety of faces and situations to create. The only boundaries are the carver’s ability and imagination, and the realities of the human form. Like all of us, clowns are complex figures, happy and sad, comic and tragic, all at the same time. Because they capture both sides of us, the clown has been a powerful figure through many years of human history. One clown is carved from beginning to end, with each step illustrated to help the carver. Most of the figures are in various comic settings and the gallery has several different clowns in various situations. Also included is a brief section on carving the letters used to label the pieces. This book promises hours of enjoyment and challenge for woodcarvers of all abilities.

What carver's Christmas is complete without a nicely carved Santa? In this new book Tom Wolfe leads the carver through the process of creating a beautiful Santa ornament for the tree or to be displayed on a stand. A basic understanding of carving techniques is all that is needed to follow this fully-illustrated step-by-step instructions. As always Tom is happy to offer the tips and wisdom of many years of professional carving. The project covered in the book is a traditional Santa's head along with a sculpted stand from which to hang it. In the back are many other examples, from the saintly Nicholas to a fanciful "Banana Santa." All in all this is book will bring delight to carvers and those who see their work.

When Tom Wolfe published his first book on Woodspirits, Tom Wolfe Carves Woodspirits and Walking Sticks, we had no idea how popular it would become. Thousands of people saw it, bought it, and asked for more. So here it is, a new collection of Woodspirits, this time done in the traditional Bavarian way. Carved from a section of a tree, the branch forms the hat. Of course Tom brings his own inimitable style to the carving, making it lively and creative. As always he takes the carver step-by-step through the carving process. There can be no pattern, because each Woodspirit springs from a unique piece of wood. But the technique and the sequence of carving can be easily learned through the step-by-step color illustrations. A gallery of several Woodspirits will give the carver many ideas about the variety and variations they can obtain when they release the Spirits from the Wood.

Jointed dolls are an ancient concept. As a folk art in the American Appalachians and elsewhere, Dancing Sams have used the jointed idea to create a dancing motion when moved by a vibrating board for hundreds of years. When Tom Wolfe was visiting the British Museum in London, he came upon an Egyptian doll that was constructed just like the Santas in this book. The jointed Santas in this book are delightful. They can be easily posed and made to do a variety of things. And they are easily carved, following the step-by-step color photo illustrations. From the carving to the joint construction to the painting, Tom makes it easy for even the novice to carve these Santas. The more advanced carver will also enjoy the carving. In addition to the Santa carved in the book, there are patterns for 8 other jointed Santas, plus a nice sleigh for Santa to ride in. The gallery photos give perspectives on each of the carvings, an invaluable aid to the carver.

When Tom carved a walking stick in his book, Tom Wolfe Carves Woodspirits and Walking Sticks, it was almost an afterthought. But it was soon followed by a book devoted to them, Carving Canes & Walking Sticks. Now we are pleased to present a brand new book with original patterns and different techniques to produce creative canes and walking sticks. Also included are designs for sword canes. As always each step is clearly illustrated in full color and patterns are presented to aid the carver in his or her own creation. A gallery of 25 canes and 11 patterns make this a most useful aid to carving.

The most ambitious carving Tom has ever presented in a book, this may also be the most charming. Tom leads the carver step-by-step through the process of constructing and carving a “kid’s size” rocking horse. This is the perfect project for a Christmas present that will be cherished generation after generation. And even though it is ambitious, the instructions and illustrations will enable even the novice carver to complete a work of which they can be proud. The book covers every step from cutting the lumber through carving, assembling, and painting. Measured drawings are included as is a pattern for a smaller toy version of the rocking horse.