{"product_id":"the-object-at-hand","title":"The Object at Hand - Intriguing and Inspiring Stories from the Smithsonian Collections","description":"\u003cb\u003eFrom Dorothy's ruby slippers to a speech that saved Teddy Roosevelt from assassination, this authoritative guide delivers in-depth reportage on the history of remarkable objects from the Smithsonian's collections\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor American history, pop culture, and museum enthusiasts\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith charm and exuberance, \u003ci\u003eThe Object at Hand\u003c\/i\u003e presents a behind-the-scenes vantage point of the Smithsonian collections. Veteran Smithsonian magazine editor Beth Py-Lieberman weaves together adaptations of the magazine's extensive and compelling coverage and interviews with scholars, curators, and historians to take readers on an unforgettable journey through the Smithsonian museums.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eObjects are grouped into the themes audacity, utopia, fierce, haunting, deception, lost, desire, triumph, scale, optimism, playful, rhythm, and revealing to engage with the emotional dimensions of each object, how they relate to each other, and how they fit into the larger American story. A sampling includes: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eThe Star-Spangled Banner \u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eFrida Kahlo's love letter to Diego Rivera\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAmelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega 5B\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNat Turner's Bible\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn AIDS quilt panel honoring Roger Gail Lyon\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA signpost from the Standing Rock protest \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA glass-plate portrait of Abraham Lincoln \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLife-sized model of a Megalodon\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Hope Diamond\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChuck Berry's Cadillac\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePortrait of Henrietta Lacks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePy-Lieberman reflects on the profound connections between even outwardly dissimilar objects, and offers insight and stories from Smithsonian experts. The book explores artworks, scientific specimens, historical artifacts, airplanes, spacecraft, plants, and so much more, contemplating how each item represents different facets of humanity and resonates with cultural meaning in surprising ways. Whimsical, affecting, and insightful, \u003ci\u003eThe Object at Hand \u003c\/i\u003eoffers an intimate and exclusive tour of the Smithsonian collections.","brand":"Penguin Random House","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50950702432544,"sku":"9781588347497","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0836\/3661\/7504\/files\/9781588347497.jpg?v=1763629495","url":"https:\/\/creativebysanchez.com\/products\/the-object-at-hand","provider":"Creative By Sanchez","version":"1.0","type":"link"}