Spectacle: An Optimist's Handbook by Bruce Mau and David Rockwell

Spectacle is a dynamic visual essay that celebrates the phenomenon and history of public performance worldwide -- from the theater to the streets, from religious festivals to political marches, and from permanent spectacles like the city of Las Vegas to ephemeral fireworks displays. Stunning color and archival photographs document 19 events, among them the Olympic Games, Carnival, the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, and the Burning Man festival in the desert of Nevada. The book includes descriptive essays, interviews with noted cultural figures, an essay by critic Herbert Muschamp, and a listing of 40 spectacles around the globe.