5 comments about Things I have learned in my life so far.

1. Like his first book, this one is filled with clever design details and insights into his process. Unlike the typical designer, Sagmeister speaks of his process in terms that more are akin to self-improvement and self-analysis and than technique, giving us plebians insight into how the master works. A must for any design oficionado.



2. I'm sorry I've bought it for myself and opened - it would have been a nice present. As much as I like this work, it's nothing more but a good stylish present, it's not enriching in any way.



3. After attending his lecture on the same topic, this book left me with a somewhat dissatisfied feeling. I am very excited that Sagmeister, my all-time favorite designer, has attempted to say something worthwhile with the tools of the trade, but it seemed like nothing much was said. The design of the book was flawless, but didn't have the power of his book lecture. He was not "selling out" with this book, he was really trying to say something and this seems to be a good first try at doing something other than selling out, which is what we designers are famous for. Overall, it was average. Not bad, but not great. It left me wanting a little more meat with the sayings.



4. Stefan Sagmeister is a legend of design and I actually have no regrets with the purchase, but I was disappointed when I received my pre-ordered copy. I opened the box with youthful enthusiasm, removed the outer cover and out spilled numerous booklets. It was not what I was expecting. It was immediately clear, however, that the booklets could be made to interact with the cover box and create a nice tabletop display. It is not a book in the traditional linear fashion, which should come as no surprise, however, it seems like it is trying to hard to be different. You can be the judge as to whether or not it succeeded. Designers will enjoy it and it is a pretty neat little book - it will look on your desk and cover swapping can give you something to do when you need a break.



5. This isn't a book, but a series of mini books in a cool package.
   
   Design - dozen or so mini books, the outside is cut to show the textures on the cover of each through the holes. Each one of the covers are really cool an visually interesting.
   
   Books - The mini books each have a typographical experiment in them and usually a page or two, explaining the sentence his experiments make (sometimes more).
   
   This is not a how to, a our company had this project, or philosophy of book (books?). It is what he did while he took a year off, and did whatever he wanted basically.
   
   Cool for sure, I enjoyed it a lot.

5 comments about Fingerprint: The Art of Using Hand-Made Elements in Graphic Design.

1. To tell you the truth, I bought this item on a whim. I was much more satisfied with this graphic design book than others I have purchased recently. It is excellent if you are a visual consumer like I am. I would highly recommend the seller. It was promptly sent and received. Thanks a million for this jewel!



2. This book is beautifully printed and bound. The work chosen covers a much broader range of techniques and visual styles than I'd anticipated when placing my order. It's a fantastic source of inspiration for graphic designers and artists of all disciplines. I wholeheartedly recommend it, especially at such an excellent price for a relatively large, hard cover book.



3. I bought this book as a gift for someone else, but after seeing it in person I'm thinking of buying it for myself! It is a beautiful book!



4. When relying on a computer all day, this book lets you return to how it all began. Get creative! Draw, doodle, color, cut, create and interpret this into your latest computer-aided design.



5. This is a fantastic resource filled with great examples of handmade design masterpieces. There are a few sections of illustrations that are already starting to look very dated, but a lot of the featured designs are timeless in their inginuity and beauty.
   
   Whether you are already using hand-made techniques in your work, or you are searching for some inspiration on how you can get a more hands-on tactile feel with your designs in this age of InDesign, Photoshop and stock graphics, this book is great.

5 comments about The Marvel Encyclopedia.

1. I got this book for my birthday and I'm really, really glad that I got it. Want to get that out of the way first. As a basic reference source it's excellent as a geeky coffee table book it's pretty much without peer. It's on my desk at work and at least once a day I get into a vigorous debate or pleasant conversation about Marvel and Marveldom. On a personal level, as the only guy in my neighbourhood who collect all of OHOTMUDE (seriously, the comic guy got one copy of each issue and kept it behind the counter for me), it's just a fun read.
   
   Unfortunately, while it could have been much more than that, it's really just a fun read.
   
   There are numerous typographical errors, about one every two pages or so. Either the origin issue is wrong, a word is badly misspelled or, as is the case with the entry for the Soviet Super Soldiers, the majority of the illustrated heroes are labelled as "Undefined" when even this casual comic book fan can remember most of the names. It just didn't go through a final editing spit-and-polish and it shows.
   
   Definitely a book that belongs in the collection of your average comic book geek, but it could have been quite a bit better.



2. The Marvel Encyclopedia is a fantastic compilation of the characters inhabiting the Marvel universe. It was interesting reading the backgrounds on the wide array of characters as well as where they first appeared (what issue, year, etc.). The more popular characters (Wolverine, Venom, Spiderman, etc.) are usually given one to two pages for their own history and rightly so. There's more of a following and interest in someone like Venom's history as opposed to a lesser known villain that lasted 3 issues in 1974 (and thus is given a postage stamp-sized blurb). Also, I would have to say the deal on Amazon was great. It was $26 here versus a $40 price tag I saw at a local chain book store.



3. this book is full of cool things and i really like it and i just love this book . it is so fun to read.



4. My son Jarett is 8 yrs old and very much into marvel super heros and especially the villians!!! This book is so detailed and so wonderfully illustrated. We can't believe you can learn so much about one charater in a paragraph or just one page. You will find out things you did not know. For example, what happened to Mary Jane Watsons mother!!!! But the best part is my son carries this huge book around wherever he goes. He reads in the car back and forth to karate practice and even sits on the couch and reads instead of TV or nintendo DS all the time!!!! He has not put it down since he recieved it. In fact, he put on his Christmas wish list the DC encylopedia next!!!! Thank you marvel for making such a wonderful and interesting book even a mom can enjoy with her son!!!!



5. My kids are young (girl-3 and boy-5) but they love going through the pictures and asking me to read about each superhero's powers. Really feeds their imagination. My daughter favorite super power is strength (like in the Incredible Hulk) and my son's is producing fire. Mine is flying. Wooooosh!

No comments about Fabergé's Eggs: The Extraordinary Story of the Masterpieces That Outlived an Empire.

5 comments about Graphic Design: The New Basics.

1. This book is very helpful. It has a lot to offer to beginning students or just someone trying on their own. Its not so organized as a text book would be which keeps it fresh and fun to still look at. But it definitely has a lot to offer.



2. this is an excellent overview: while I appreciated the new media content, that felt far more like info for those considering an MFA in graphic design and are not what I feel are basic in any way. I am a working graphic artist and using programming languages easy or not to develop visual media is not part of my work or a requirement. Flash animations, web design are, though. I feel other areas could have been better flushed out.



3. Congratulations to Ellen Lupton for her contemporary take on the keystone of our visual culture: Graphic Design. This book is as good of a summary of the necessary skills and practices that are essential to contemporary communication design as I have ever seen. I was educated in graphic design in my undergrad by the legacy of modern design and Bauhaus pedagogy, even in the wake of the sweeping technological change that was occurring all around us. This book finally catches up on a curriculum and approach that would make sense for today. After working professionally as a graphic designer for 5 years, I'm currently enrolled in a graduate program for media design. My studies have shown me that graphic design is just the beginning, but a very necessary foundation for all kinds of design practices that our dynamic world requires. I would also commend her development of the Graphic Design Basics website which features exercises designed to supplement the topics covered in the book. Together the site and book represent a fairly off the shelf curriculum that would serve any designer(beginner to advanced) well to follow. All that would be left is years to practice...



4. When Ellen Lupton released her wonderful book, "Thinking with Type," I adopted as a required text for my college typography course. Not only did I admire the thinking behind the writing and structure, but my students LOVED the book.
   
   When I learned about this new book written with Jennifer Cole Phillips I pre-ordered it immediately. Now that I've read it, I'm thrilled with their effort and am eager to use it as the text in my Graphic Design 1 class.
   
   This book provides current examples that both illustrate classic principles of Graphic Design and explore the edges of current design thinking. I appreciate the use of student examples rather than just using professional, commercial work. There are plenty of annual reviews of commercial work by publishing houses such as Rockport. The student work tends to take more risks and be more provocative. It will provide more room for discussion, debate and inspiration in a classroom setting.
   
   While not extensive, the text in the book is concise and well-written. Paired with the bountiful examples, it makes the subject accessible to graphic design students or to anyone interested in learning more about design on their own.
   
   The book introduces enough about typography to whet one's appetite for more (check out "Thinking with Type" for that) and introduces basics about Motion Graphics ("Moving Type" by Matt Woolman was and still is great for learning more - it is out of print now but still relevant if you can find it.)
   
   Princeton Architectural Press should be commended for producing such a quality book at such and affordable price.



5. THIS iS A VERY INFORMATIVE BOOK FOR ANYONE THAT IS A NOVICE AND WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE THE INS AND OUTS OF GRAPHIC DESIGN!

5 comments about Making and Breaking the Grid: A Graphic Design Layout Workshop.

1. This book excellent for graphic designers and anyone who needs to create professional appealing graphic layouts. As an interior designer, I purchased this book to help me design my portfolio and will continue to resource it for project presentation layouts. The visual breakdowns are inspirational; and the text, informative.



2. It has a lot of examples and explanations of grid and grid-related layouts.
   A good reference guide for designers, whether they are students ore professionals.



3. You may think this book is a little dry, but it is really essential to learn how to use and when you can violate the grid when creating layouts for print or web projects. A must have for any student in graphic design. Also try Kimberly Elam's "Grid Systems" book if you need additional resources.



4. What a strange publication. Divided into two sections the first explaining grid formatting with actual printed material and the second revealing how to design print without a grid.
   
   There seems a contradiction here because the grid, used intelligently, will allow a whole range of graphic options to be presented with clarity. Some of the print examples reproduced in the first section do show this with perhaps the most useful item a grid thumbnail for each piece, unfortunately I thought it was rather too small on each spread despite being the key to explaining each format. From past experience, designing magazines, I would start work on a grid by concentrating on the text type size because it is the least flexible of all the elements on the page. This point really wasn't made enough of in the book's chapter: Grid Basics.
   
   The reproductions show a reasonable range of design solutions, essentially print though there is an example of corporate signage. Missing are magazines (consumer or trade) timetables and the like. Without a grid this type of printed matter really wouldn't exist.
   
   The book's contradiction, to my mind, start with the second section: 'Grid Deconstructions and Non-Grid-Based Design Projects'. The forty items shown seem to have a couple of common threads: their design is essentially arbitrary which makes them look very messy and frequently their typography (display and text) is used as a design element which makes the words unreadable. Their design is the opposite of grid stimulated creativity, in other words visual chaos.
   
   Some of the examples are quite amazing. On page 180-181 twelve pages of a calendar are shown, totally useless as its impossible to see the days and dates. Pages 188-189 show eight spreads from a design school journal showing irregular shaped blocks of text creating a sort of collage. I doubt anyone made the effort to read any of it. What is interesting about this second section material is that so much of it comes from educational establishments. In the real world all this designer whimsy would be rejected by the client on sight of the first dummy
   
   'Making and Breaking the Grid' is well printed with 175dpi and the layout is adequate and for a book about grids you would have thought its own grid would have been included but it is strangely missing. Overall I felt that because the contents present two opposite design ideals the book's editorial concept is rather flawed.
   
   From my experience there is only one book that really explains it all: Muller-Brockmann's Grid Systems in Graphic Design published in Switzerland and full of good solid, practical, hands-on information. This book's only purpose is creative clarity.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.



5. I really enjoy this book, though it is not my absolute absolute favorite. It is still a good addition to any designer's collection and it is written by one of the most knowledgeable in grid design.
   
   It is well-thought and very interesting. A bit unlike the other grid books - in a good way.

5 comments about Photography (9th Edition) (MyPhotographyKit Series).

1. This book was really resourseful when i was looking through it. It has alot of pictures, and tells a few things about the picture, and what kind of camera that they used.



2. I've received and read the book, and enjoy the content. However, compared to many other books in the marketplace, I'm having a hard time comprehending where there is over $100 worth of value. It seems that everytime something is written by an academic and presented as a textbook, regardless of the content or quality, that the price is jacked up by 3 to 4 times what it is really worth. I'd suggest looking for a used version of this book unless you really want a pristine copy to show off to others.



3. This book is pretty comprehensive. I am using it for a basic photography class. It covers a lot of subjects, but none in great detail. The newer versions actually covers a bit of digital photography as well.



4. This was a required text for my Photography 101 class and well worth the price ($20 less here than at the college book store). This book covers all the basics of photography tog et you started and the information is clearly illustrated by accompanying photos. This will be one I'll definitely be keeping as a reference.



5. This is the book! If you are studying for the CPP test this is the one. It is comprehensive to a fault. The explanations of photo concepts are complete and easy to understand. The only problem is that the book is so big that it is falling apart. Wish me luck on the test!

5 comments about Bead on a Wire: Making Handcrafted Wire and Beaded Jewelry.

1. When I ordered this book, I was looking mostly for some basic techniques to help me with some beaded browbands (for horse bridles) that I had gotten into making. While it was minimally useful for that, it sure inspired me! I rather promptly ordered some basic wire-working tools and I've spent way to much in the last few months on beads, tools and wire. I have a bunch of new earrings I love to wear, several new necklaces, I have designed pieces for most of my female Xmas giftees and I'm considering starting to sell my work! I honestly have to credit this book for a great deal of that, as the author's rather pure but very approachable perspective appealed greatly to me, and her instructions in the basic techniques were so followable, I jumped right into making my own designs without doing any of the projects verbatim, although I did use them for inspiration and pointers.
   
   My style is not exactly the author's style, I find some of her pieces a bit too visually busy/fussy for my taste, but they are lovely and well made and I could not have asked for a better introduction to this new world of jewelry making. It's a pretty book, too!
   
   If you are at all interested in an artistic approach to wire wrapping and beaded jewelry, I don't think you can go wrong adding this to your library.



2. I read the other reviews and think what else is there to say...but I have to put in my two cents worth anyway. This was my second wire working book in my library (it has since grown to encompass other more advanced aspects of jewelry wire applications, particularly with chains and stone wrapping). And yet it is my FAVORITE to review techniques, practice some aspects that I don't use often, and more. Why? Because the detailed information AND wonderful photographs that go with the descriptions. The statement Miller makes on page 59 - "When it comes to designing and making jewelry, I always keep three principles in mind: creativity, wearability and durability." I now live by these words in my own designs and feel that Miller had and continues to have her finger right on the mark when it comes to jewelry design of the times. She shows us how to make each wire style correctly and strong. Her projects are all doable, utilizing techniques she describes in the first half of the book. The classic and probably timeless beauty of the pieces are first rate. I am thoroughly charmed, pleased with my purchase, and grateful for this reference/idea book that it really should be rated more than 5 stars. If you have to buy only one book on wire use in jewelry design - this is it!!!



3. This book had many pieces of jewelry to make with good directions. Very informative. Jeanne, NJ



4. Really like this book! Has great instructions on wire work. I've only attempted a few things in the book and it didn't turn out as well as theirs. But I think all craft work improves with more practice. A nice book if you want to expand your wire work.



5. Bead on a Wire has tons of great information for a beginning wire jewelry maker as well as detailed projects for the advanced designer. The photographs are clear and the text is easy to understand. I would highly recommend this book.

5 comments about Interaction of Color: Revised and Expanded Edition.

1. Albers provides a series of explorations and experiments for the reader to follow. If you have the resources to perform the experiments as directed, this will probably be a wonderful book. I did not, so I cannot evaluate that aspect.
   
   While not as comprehensive as some other books on color theory, Albers scores points by covering several subjects that are not as well represented in those other books.
   
   Definitely recommended for anyone looking to build a comprehensive library on color theory.



2. This is an incredible resource for people really serious about learning the dynamics of color. You will get the most out of it by actually doing the exercises - it won't help nearly as much if you just read it and look at the examples. I highly recommend it!



3. Key book (with color-aid colored papers) for learning the nuances of color for the artist.



4. This book came in perfect condition and without delay. Thanks for the great service.



5. A chance to read and learn about the early theories in Modern Art. An
   insight into Op art and Albers theories

5 comments about The Forger's Spell: A True Story of Vermeer, Nazis, and the Greatest Art Hoax of the Twentieth Century.

1. Not having read Edward Dolnick's previous book, "The Rescue Artist", I did not come to read "The Forger's Spell" with primed expectations. Mr. Dolnick succeeds in what many writers on this subject fail to do by showing and not telling the finer points of his subject. Far from being pedantic, the author's storyteller's style draws the reader into the world of art connaisseurship,forgers and dupes with ease. The only pan is the author's light treatment of Goerring, Hitler and their Nazi band of thieves. The cover clearly implies that there will be Nazis getting their comeupance as a result of their own greed and stupidity. And they do, but not in a way that satisfies.
   
   Most well done, Forger's Spell leads through the psychological differences between the 17th and 20th century approaches to art. A backdrop is well set for understanding what appeals to the beholder, both expert and amateur. One comes to understand how a past generation could find beauty and authenticity in a fake that looks so ugly and kitschy to us today. "The Forger's Spell" gives us an appreciation we can take with us on our next visit to the art museum.



2. The Forger's Spell is a delightful romp through and around the Han Van Meeregen phenomenon, even if some of the chapters are repetitious. I especially enjoyed the description of the work that went into developing materials to mislead so-called experts and high points of the 1947 trial. It was the best book I have read in this genre since a book I read in the 1980's explaining how forgers build 18th century antique furniture from wood salvaged from old houses on the east coast.
   
   For anyone who has had to listen too much to the fine arts chattering class crowd this book is proof that fine arts are only entertainment, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and, (on the pop psychology level) that while seeing is believing, believing is also seeing.



3. This was a lot of fun and very hard to put down, even though -- Lord! -- so many books and articles have been written about Van Meegeren already! My only quibble was that it dragged a bit in the second half. The author spent WAY too much time rejoicing in the stupidity and self-delusion of the "experts" (especially Abraham Bredius) who never should have been fooled by Van M's ugly fakes -- but who instead spent a huge amount of time celebrating and publicizing paintings like "The Supper at Emmaus." Yes, the art world is full of phonies and the whole system of connoisseurship is fraught with problems, but enough already. On the plus side, though, the author has done copious research, and the technical info on exactly how Van M. accomplished his fakes was very interesting. P.S.: I saw the big retrospective of Van M. years ago at the museum in Rotterdam, and indeed, the fake "Vermeers" were SO ugly, you just can't believe that anyone would have been fooled by them.



4. Interesting, but many parts are boring. Seems to repeat the same things over and over again.



5. My book club read this, and even those who did not expect to enjoy this book found it to be engaging, enjoyable, and well written. Sometimes one thread of the story seemed too dominant, but all in all we recommend it.