Legendary designer and artist Vera Neumann (1907-1993) believed in art's ability to inspire and enrich lives. An innovator and one of the most successful female entrepreneurs of her time, Vera built her company on a radical philosophy: fine art should be accessible to everyone, not just a select few. Known for her iconic images of cheerful flowers, trendy geometrics, and vibrant ladybugs, she believed people should surround themselves with beauty. For the first time, "Vera: The Art and Life of an Icon," tells her inspiring story through the art and designs she created. In this volume, richly illustrated with Vera's original sketches, paintings, and photographs of her worldwide travels, readers are introduced to the amazing woman behind the dynamic designs that continue to inspire and influence art, design, and fashion.

Aimed at the popular audience by experienced astronomy author Patricia and highlighted by 160 photographs, diagrams and maps, this guide explores every corner of Earth's planetary neighborhood, from the fiery sun at its center to the dark, icy realm where interstellar space begins. It's a state-of-the-art observation of the solar system as we know it today and a knowledgeable forecast of what to expect in the future, from Pluto's demotion to plutoid to the upcoming Moon mission, the likelihood of a manned expedition to Mars, and much more. From breathtaking photographs to detailed explanatory diagrams to expert essays, fascinating sidebars, and informative fact boxes, this is not just an easy-to-use reference, but also a visually stunning volume to fire the imagination of even the most casual reader.--From publisher description.