A Perfect Day

A modern dystopian classic that stands alongside 1984 and Brave New World, Ira Levin’s This Perfect Day is a stunningly prescient work of science fiction that asks what it means to remain human in a world increasingly governed by technology and AI. “Chip” (born Li RM35M4419) lives in a future controlled by an all-powerful global supercomputer, UniComp. In this seemingly utopian society, free from war and want, every aspect of human existence is meticulously planned and calibrated for efficiency by Uni, which guides the lives of each member of the Family—the eugenically-merged human race, who share a single language and religion, yet live under constant chemical conditioning and behavioral monitoring—long unaware that their sustenance comes at the expense of all individuality and autonomy. When Chip begins to question Uni’s benevolence, he embarks on a perilous journey to reclaim his true self, and challenge Uni’s rule. Its predictions already proving unnervingly on target, This Perfect Day is a thought-provoking exploration of free will, and of who ultimately holds the reins of power. Levin’s masterful storytelling and vividly imagined world make for an epic tale that’s as unsettling as it is unforgettable.)

A perfect day means different things to different animals in Bert's backyard in this droll tale from bestselling, Caldecott Honor-winner Lane Smith.

Astutely observed and deftly witty, One Perfect Day masterfully mixes investigative journalism and social commentary to explore the workings of the wedding industry-an industry that claims to be worth $160 billion to the U.S. economy and which has every interest in ensuring that the American wedding becomes ever more lavish and complex. Taking us inside the workings of the wedding industry-including the swelling ranks of professional event planners, department stores with their online registries, the retailers and manufacturers of bridal gowns, and the Walt Disney Company and its Fairy Tale Weddings program-New Yorker writer Rebecca Mead skillfully holds the mirror up to the bride's deepest hopes and fears about her wedding day, revealing that for better or worse, the way we marry is who we are.

California is called the “Golden State” with good reason, and not simply because it was birthed by the ’49 Gold Rush. From sun-kissed, seaside San Diego and the desert oasis of Palm Springs in the south, to misty redwood forests and snow-capped volcanoes in the north, the state is blessed with shining superlatives. The cities are chockfull of world-class museums, fabulous architectural and historic sites, plus cosmopolitan restaurants and chic rooftop bars. You could spend a lifetime exploring and not discover it all. But what if you only have 24 hours in any one place? California is blessed with so many amazing things to see and do, it’s hard to know what to start. Perfect Day California is your handy guide to honing in on the quintessential experiences. Watch polar bears frolic in the water behind a giant glass screen at San Diego Zoo. Experience the thrill of a VIP behind-the-scenes tour at Paramount Studios. Hear and see firsthand the enthralling inside scoop on space exploration at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Whether your activity of choice is marveling at contemporary art in the Getty Museum or wandering beneath the soaring Coast redwoods, steeping in a hot mud bath spa or panning for gold in the Sierra foothills, California has a perfect day for every taste and desire. Local author Christopher P. Baker knows California like the back of his hand. Here he shares with you his knowledge and insights to make the most of your visits to destinations throughout the state. He provides invaluable and inspirational insider tips that condense 24 hours in each place into the most rewarding experience possible.

This is the story of two mothers, strangers to one another. The first has two children -- twins, a boy and girl, who are seniors in high school. She wants their last Christmas as a family living in the same home to be perfect, but her husband is delayed returning from a business trip abroad. And then there's an accident -- a fatal one involving a drunk driver. Meanwhile, the other mother has a daughter who needs a new heart, and so the loss of one woman becomes the miracle the other has desperately prayed for. While one mother grieves, and pulls away from her family, the other finds that even miracles aren't always easy to receive.

'Hey, you! Beautiful!' The voice was compelling—an order. So I turned around. 'Yeah, you,' he said. 'What are you doing in here? You look normal.' 'I am,' I said. Bettye Kronstad met Lou Reed in 1968 as a nineteen-year-old Columbia University student; they were married, briefly, in 1973. Their relationship spanned some of the most pivotal years of his life and career, from the demise of The Velvet Underground to the writing and recording of his seminal solo masterpieces Transformer, for which Lou wrote ‘Perfect Day’ about an afternoon they spent together in the park, and Berlin, which draws on tales from Bettye’s childhood. In Perfect Day, Bettye looks back on their initially idyllic life together on the Upper East Side; Lou’s struggle to launch a solo career after leaving perhaps the most influential rock band of all time; his work and friendships with fellow stars David Bowie and Iggy Pop; and his descent into drink and drug abuse following the success of Transformer, which sent him spinning out from gentle soul to rock’n’roll animal and brought a swift and calamitous end to their relationship. The result is a powerful and poignant meditation on love, loss, writing, and music.

When the day doesn't go as planned, two friends use positive thinking and creative ideas to make it great anyway. What can you do if your swimming hole dries out? Or a thunderstorm crashes your afternoon? Just ask Mac and Will! When these unlikely friends’ fun plans go awry, they show how a day of unexpected ups and downs can still be a perfect day—all it takes is a little imagination. The stars of Bad Apple, A Tale of Friendship are back, making new friends by looking on the bright side.

It snowed. And snowed. And snowed. After it snowed, everyone bundled up and went outside to play. You come, too! Carin Berger's exquisite collages illuminate, from dawn to dusk, the perfect winter day.