ALAMEDA, CA and NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - June 17, 2010) - Vook, the company that pioneered the integration of text and video into an innovative new mixed-media experience, today announced the release of its newest vook, "A Compassionate Life in 12 Steps" from Karen Armstrong, a religious scholar, TED Prize winner and founder of the Charter for Compassion.
Blending 13 compelling videos, shot by filmmaker John Palacio of And Now Media, with Armstrong's original text, "A Compassionate Life in 12 Steps" outlines a practical how-to guide for readers to start living more compassionately every day. Steps include concern for others, action, being compassionate with yourself, recognition and knowledge, among others. The content complements Armstrong's worldwide Charter for Compassion, founded on a belief that the principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions.
A vook is a digital mixed-media form that blends video, text, images and social streams into a single, integrated experience. Vooks are available on the Web-based Vook Reader and also on-the-go as a unique mobile application for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch through the Apple iTunes App Store.
"This vook provides people of all ideologies with an easy-to-use digital format that will make them aware of the immense challenges and rewards of the compassionate lifestyle," said Karen Armstrong. "We urgently need to counter the voices of extremism and hatred in our dangerously polarized world. The vook does a marvelous job in showing how people have already been impacted by the compassionate ideal and how anybody can make compassion a vibrant and healing force in their everyday lives."
"'A Compassionate Life in 12 Steps' is a great example of how the Vook format offers new opportunities for artists and thought leaders like Karen Armstrong to engage with captive audiences," said Bradley Inman, CEO and founder of Vook. "The ability of this vook to teach the ways of compassion in multiple, rich content mediums is strong validation for the Vook vision."
Since the company's formal launch in the fall of 2009, Vook has experienced impressive momentum, forming strategic publishing relationships with Simon & Schuster, HarperStudio, Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. and Janklow & Nesbit Associates. The company recently published mixed-media titles by bestselling authors Deepak Chopra, Seth Godin and Anne Rice, as well as a retrospective about landmark rock band Guns N' Roses.
"A Compassionate Life in 12 Steps" is available now for all Vook formats, including iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Please visit www.vook.com to get your copy today.
About Vook
Vook is a digital publisher that mixes media including text, video, pictures, social media and links to create new experiences of the books and authors that readers love. Vook's publishing tool, MotherVook, provides publishers with the ability to quickly and cost-effectively produce high quality mixed media e-book titles. Vooks are streamed to the browser-based Vook Reader and are also available on-the-go as a unique mobile application. Vook is based in Alameda, CA with offices in New York. For more information about vooks, visit www.vook.com.
About the Charter for Compassion
Karen Armstrong had a desire to impact the violence attributed to religion around the world and wanted to remind people of the core similarity that lies at the heart of all religions -- the Golden Rule. Karen won the TED Prize in 2008 and the Charter for Compassion was her wish. Global participation in an open writing process was the critical starting point for the creation of the Charter for Compassion. charterforcompassion.org was launched in Fall 2008 to allow people of all nations, all backgrounds, and all faiths to contribute to the Charter. The submissions shared began a conversation that will continue as the Charter is finalized and launched: http://www.charterforcompassion.org. People from all over the world have contributed to this Charter; it transcends religious, ideological and national difference; it has been composed by leading thinkers from many traditions with passion, insight, intellectual conviction and hope.
A Project of the TED Prize
TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It is an annual conference which brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes). TED.com makes the best talks and performances, the ideas worth spreading, from TED available to the public, for free.
The TED Prize is designed to leverage the TED Community's exceptional array of talent and resources. It is awarded annually to three exceptional individuals who each receive $100,000 and, much more important, the granting of "One Wish to Change the World."
Contact Information:
Media Contact
Jesse Odell or Chris Schreiber
Launch Squad
415-625-8555
Vook(at)launchsquad.com