No comments about Alexander Calder: The Paris Years, 1926-1933 (Whitney Museum of American Art).

5 comments about The Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker.

1. How many times have I looked at a New Yorker cartoon and burst out laughing, and then thinking about this understood that the cartoon perfectly embodies a current mood, or social fashion or foible. Witty, sophisticated, insightful. But the laughter given in a moment does not lend itself to unending, endless repetition. Reading through Cartoons like this cover to cover is a different experience from catching one rare one at a time.
   A good chunk of American social history is in these cartoons, but perhaps most importantly many are miniature pieces of brilliance , and delight.
   Thus the recommendation. Dip in and dip out, enjoy here and there what happens to catch the eye. Forget the misses, and there are misses, whether through being made stale by Time or not. There is enough really good stuff here not to be disappointed.



2. I am really happy that I purchased this "Collectible" for myself. My friends go through it whenever they visit me. Excellent humor and I just ordered the "Reject" version. Cartoons go back to the 1920s. Wonderful book for many ages.



3. I just bought this book(the hard cover version) and think it's brilliant. The book itself is quite large but it's packed with cartoons from 8 decades. I like the fact that you have a real solid book. I've read some of the reviews about people complaining about the size of the book but unless you don't intend to read it while you're on the toilet, it is perfect for reading on a table or even your lap.
   The quality of the CDs are good as well. I don't know what everybody is complaining about. The book WITHOUT the CDs is worth much more than what I paid for. Having 2 CDs with over 68000(!!!) additional cartoons included make it the best book I ever bought.



4. I bought this book because last year I bought a New Yorker cartoons page-a-day calendar and enjoyed all 365 days of thought-provoking, timely humor. When my book arrived, I decided to savor the humor by reading four pages of cartoons every night before bed; sometimes, my husband thinks I'm going to bust a gut laughing.
   
   The included CD is fabulous, and allows you to search for cartoons by topic and keyword. Type in "therapist," and you'll find some of the wittiest commentary you'll ever see on the topic. Cartoons on the disc are printable, and as a result, may result in my office needing a much bulletin board.
   
   This book is a gem and a chronicle--in humor--of the American Zeitgeist of the last 80 years.



5. Pleased with the book, but not with two having been sent to my California son rather than just the one I gifted. As well, having two charges for the one ordered book on my Visa card. Kindly help to remove one of themn. Thank you

5 comments about Bob Dylan: The Drawn Blank Series.

1. I bought this book for my friend's birthday. The art is amazing. Bob Dylan can do anything. I almost kept the book for myself. Get your copy before it's too late.



2. Enjoyed both the original drawings & the new colorized interpretations. Always interesting to share a glimpse inside the mind of a genius.



3. Bob Dylan has been painting for decades and his abstract post-modern folk art style does him well. He shows us a seemingly unsophisticated yet highly evocative presence in his images with the door wide open to interpretation, like much of his poetic lyric. These often haunting pieces speak to me as the will not to you and vice versa - as well they should. Understand however, like his music, Dylan's art is an acquired taste and definitely not for everyone. I paid half the price the museums are charging for this book and I am sure have gotten twice the value from it.



4. What an incredible artist he is...in so many ways. A poet, musician, philosopher, artist, humanitarian. I'm looking for a book of photography yet so I may also experience his vision in that medium. BTW....great seller. Shipped fast and packed well. 5 STAR*****



5. I was lucky enough to be in Germany during this exhibit and see it live. I also purchased the book there and have reviewed it several times. It includes the 170 works displayed at the Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz from October 2007 to March 2008 and three thoughtful essays that examine the works from several perspectives.
   
   Ninety-two of the works were based on drawings published in 1994 as Drawn Blank. The museum director, Ingrid Mossinger, saw some of his drawings in the fall of 2006 at New York's Morgan Library (Bob Dylan's American Journey, 1956-1966) and was so captivated that she sought out a copy of the out-of-print book. In the book, Dylan said that one day he wanted to turn these into larger color paintings. So, she made contact and asked if he'd like to exhibit them.
   
   Somehow Dylan managed to have the drawings transferred to deckle-edged paper and paint them using watercolor and goaches. The result was 322 paintings produced in just eight months - eight months during which he also was touring! From these, 170 were selected for the exhibit.
   The works include interiors (dressing rooms, hotel rooms, etc.), cityscapes, landscapes, still lifes, and portraits - all captured in drawings he made between 1989 and 1992 as he toured the world performing. For many of the drawings, there are multiple versions using different colors that give you varied impressions of the scene. Much like Dylan's reinterpretations of his songs, these alternative versions reflect different ways of viewing the work.
   
   The essays also provoke different ways of thinking about the works. Frank Zollner, focusing on the cityscapes as seen through a window or door, suggests that these works indicate a "certain restlessness, as the simulated gaze is that of a seeker." He draws on Chronicles to illustrate how Dylan thinks of art and how his words often create word pictures. In his view the pictures reflect an internal restlessness and a calm outside world.
   
   Diane Widmaier Picasso (granddaughter of Pablo Picasso) traces the influence of Norman Raeben, one of Dylan's art teachers, as well as the Cubists and German Expressionists known as The Bridge. She notes that, "Just as the meaning of certain Dylan songs is sometimes obscure, since his texts seek not to have a fixed sense but rather to describe sentiments, to develop impressions beyond words (acquiring, like an abstract painting, meanings which vary with the mood of the recipient, yet still preserving a strong identity), so too his drawings can be similarly understood as they also reflect work which purposely refuses to be 'honed'."
   
   Jens Rosteck, focusing on Dylan as a "multi-talent," examines the stylistic turns Dylan has taken with his music and his artistic endeavors into literature, film, and painting. He describes him as a rare "universal artist" capable of synthesizing diverse art genres, comparing his approach to da Vinci, Goethe, and others.
   
   I was struck by a sense of detachment, even isolation or loneliness, as I viewed the exhibit. Dylan, the most sensitive and keen observer of life I know, once again in another medium, challenges me to think about how we live in this world.
   
   If the exhibit ever comes near you, I encourage you to see it. In the meantime, this book is a wonderful catalogue of the works of this great artist.

5 comments about 500 Tattoo Designs.

1. I must not have read the review on this book before I purchased it. I usually do when I shop so I'm beginning to wonder if I intentionally meant to order this at all. I truly must have clicked the wrong button somewhere.
   
   With the promise of 256 pages of tattoo design, I can see why people may buy this item. To tell you the truth, I have never been so disappointed by a book in my life. I can say that without exaggerating. A couple of the Asian line art images were ok, just to give it some slack, but basically all I'm left with here is a collection of primitive and child-like drawings.
   
   The number of pages might be correct, but the book is teeny tiny; only 14 x 17 centimeters, so the butter is spread thin. Furthermore the biggest flaw is the shameful lack of explanatory text to these doodles (which I would hardly call 'designs'). Ultimately you don't get very much content at all.
   
   I was planning my next tattoo and needed a little input; needless to say; this book certainly did no such thing.
   It's a waste of good paper and money.



2. i regret purchasing this product; it is worthless! there is not a single usable or decent tattoo design in this crappy book- there are however; 500 tiny pictures of the most badly drawn and unoriginal clip art i have ever seen. i wouldn't wish any of those sorry excuses for artwork tattooed on anyone. the picture on the cover is far better than anything you will actually find inside... if u r looking for real ideas for tattoo design- for the love of God look elsewhere.



3. This book is just bad the designs are childish, and undeveloped. I give it a two only because I have used a couple of the images but only after alot of altering.



4. this book was very helpful in designing tatt's for my friends and none the less myself. It has everything from culture to animals, even plants. i recomend this to anyone who is into designs the simplest or even detailed tatt's. Just because of it's such a simple design to base off of.



5. I was very happy with this book it has a lot of great pictures!

5 comments about Watch It Made in the U.S.A.: A Visitor's Guide to the Best Factory Tours and Company Museums (Watch It Made in the USA).

1. I'm planning to take my two teenagers cross country this summer and this is a GREAT book for finding interesting places to show them. It has excellent maps, clear directions, and well-written descriptions of what you will (and won't) see so I can figure out what sites will best entertain the different family members. I only wish we had time to see more of the places they describe. It even tells you what other nearby attractions there are. Kudos to the authors!



2. My wife and I love to go on factory tours and visit company museums when we travel. It's corny, I know, but fun. This book gives wonderful examples of some of the best tours and museums around. Whenever we're going on a road trip, we always consult Watch It Made in the U.S.A.: A Visitor's Guide to the Best Factory Tours and Company Museums (Watch It Made in the USA) to help us decide where we might like to go. I would very much recommend it for families with young kids who might enjoy such tours, and probably retirees who have the time and interest for them, as well.



3. This is an excellent book for anyone who is interested in things made in the USA. It gives a nice description of the facilities, locations, tour times, cost and lengths, age appropriateness, and phone numbers.
   We like to travel the country and will use the information to plan our trips. The book is well organized and very helpful.



4. This is my first review in Amazon.
   
   I am always curious about how things are made,
   and after watching many episodes of "How do they do it",
   and "How it's made" on discovery Channel.
   I started to look for extra resources for a better understanding on these "behind the scenes" mysteries.
   Then, I found this book.
   And this book is a real treasure!
   The book is well organized,
   It provides many detail information about the factory tours,
   and the brief background of the companies.
   
   Thanks to this book,
   now I have some itineraries in mind.
   I plan to visit KitchenAid's factory in the near future for my mom.
   (My family is in Taiwan)
   She is a big fan of KitchenAid mixer. ha.
   I will also visit Airstream company as well,
   Owning a travel trailer is my dream, and I want to know how it is made,
   And I will be more determined to realize this dream!
   Maybe one day I will write a similar book "Watch it made in Taiwan" in a mobile trailer office. Who knows?!



5. Great book, I did not know that a book like this existed. Will definitly come in handy when planning trips. Checked information on places we have already been and information was accurate.

2 comments about Kirchner and the Berlin Street.

1. Ernst Ludwig Kirchner was a part of the acclaimed German Expressionism whose artistic representations of such urban elements as buildings, sidewalks, shops, and vehicles showcased both the glamour and the tumult of life in the city. Now his work accomplished between 1913 and 1915 has been compiled by Deborah Wye and includes 135 color illustrations of his work. The informed and informative text traces the artist's creative process, examines his sketchbook illustrations, and is supplemented by a chronology of his life and includes a selected bibliography. With its particular focus on Berlin street scenes, "Kirchner And The Berlin Street" is a welcome addition to the growing body of work concerning the German Expressionist movement in general, and the life and work of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner in particular. No academic library Art History collection can be considered complete or comprehensive without the inclusion of "Kirchner And The Berlin Street".



2. The catalogue for a small exhibition at the Moma centered on a famous body of works painted by Kirchner in 1913-1914 depicting street scenes in Berlin, this book is divided into two chapters: chapter one explains the meaning of these scenes (the importance of urban life, the presence of the female figure as the main character - are these women passers-by, shoppers, prostitutes?)and their explicit eroticism, and chapter two dwells on Kirchner's working process through the numerous studies he made for these particular scenes.
   
   Above all, this book is worth it for the high-quality illustrations that grace it. It starts with a genuine firework of masterpieces, showing the seven (out of eleven the artist painted) street scene oil paintings which form the core of the exhibition (noteworthy is a beautiful fold-out with 3 paintings side by side)with absolutely no text next to them, leaving it to the reader (or rather, to the spectator) to appreciate them in their full bloom of garish colors and brisk lines.

5 comments about Mitch O'connell: Tattoos.

1. A new real, great jewel in publishing skyline!
   This pocket is perfectly made for people as me, more and more desirous, longing for beauty and exitement!
   This book isn't only for tattoos-fans, the best target for those crazy and genial drawings, this is Art for all.
   Get it! A lot of ideas, an unforgettable moment is waiting for you!
   
   Un nuovo vero, grandioso gioiello nel panorama dell' editoria!
   Questo tascabile è proprio fatto per gente come me, sempre desiderosa e bramosa di bellezza ed eccitazione!
   Questo libro non é fatto solo per i patiti del tatuaggio, il miglior pubblico per quei folli e geniali disegni, questa é Arte per tutti. Procuratevelo! Un sacco di idee, un momento indimenticabile vi aspetta!
   
   Guido Corazziari ( Academy of Fine Arts Teacher - Italy )



2. I was hoping to get some good origonal ideas out of this for my next tattoo. I was disappointed to see what was inside this book. It's just packed full of a bunch of tacky white trash stuff that you see when flipping through one of the millions of floating around all tattoo shops.



3. This book doesn't have any pictures of actual work. Each image looks like a professional cartoon but there are many variations of the same work. For instance he might have 4 pictures of the same woman, with the same face, but wearing different clothes. Almost every image has some cute caption to go along with the picture but I didn't think there was more than a handful someone would want on their body.



4. Very cool book. This book has some really funny artwork in it. Definitely a good one to have in your tattoo shop's collection!



5. Fantastically original style! It is very rare that you come across an artist with a vision who is not afraid to put it out there. Had to get the book to view the entire collection and it definitely hit the mark. You have to check out the dude's website for additional killer works and goodies too ([...] ). Cheers!

5 comments about The Art Book.

1. Be advised that this wonderful book comes in different sized editions. My hardback edition of 1994 measures 10 x 12 inches, and the color quality of the large reproductions and the text size are everything you could wish for.



2. Due to the size of the art prints and the barely visible text,, the book is close to worthless. These paintings were never meant to be shrunken down to this size. The actual book is not much bigger than a paperback. Very disappointing. Very misleading. Total waste of money. I'm surprised Amazon chose to market it.



3. Small compact paperbook can take with me when traveling. Am enjoying the brevity, but not as much the small print type, but still very enjoyable book.



4. I love this book. It shows a beautiful example of the artists work in alphabetical order and a great short history of each artist. I discovered a lot of artists I wasn't familiar with. It's a great quick reference and easy/enjoyable reading. It's more than I expected! A must for anyone interested in art/artists.



5. A bargain at the cover price and even better at the prices listed here at Amazon. I have copies at both my homes and am always referring to it. Would that Phaidon could do the same for music and lovers of great literature.

5 comments about Mutter Museum Historic Medical Photographs.

1. The truth is this books is in between two worlds, that of the scientific and that of the freakshow. I could say I'd prefer the former being a person with a disability myself (some of the photos here of people with "afflictions" like cerebral palsy would today lead normal lives) but also like any human being can understand your Malady of the Month curiousity about the whole thing and for that I'd reccomend the book "Death Scenes" (if you can stomach it and frankly the intro to that book has far more informative analysis of the photos than anything in this book). But the Mutter Museum although a sort of "odditorium" is also a scientific museum to inform people so I want facts. Obviously, the photos taken at the time and their captions don't depict current scientific knowledge. Many say "unknown disease" although a current scientist or medical provider could make a good guesstimate from the photo alone. What was the treatment at the time? What would the people have gone through? What would happen now? One photo particulary striking (among many though I'll choose one) says "meningitis, injected with serum, discharged 5 days later". The photo (striking to me because I have a neurological disability as well and after recovery from this disease people have long term after effects and disabilities that are neurological) unconsciously reminisant of the famous Victorian era photo "Fading Away" shows a girl in what appears to be a coma from that disease and one would assume she died after. But when it says she was "discharged five days later" she recovered, at least enough to be released. What happenend? A good "update" might read "the antitoxin available at the time would stop the progress of the disease and enable people to live though not nearly as effective as antibiotics did save some lives. But with the long term after effects of the disease people would often develop mental retardation or mental illness and in those times eventually end up in institutions which would not occur today". But that infomation (scientifically correct) is missing. The museum promises to be "shockingly informative". Good enough. Shock value I'll grant you but its a little lacking in the "informative" department.



2. This is a good source of interest for human oddities, and of history for conditions that are routinely corrected now.



3. oh my my my... i've seen a few programs on television that spotlighted the mutter museum, and one day i should so love to visit. but this book has given me more insight into the history of medicine and such. i was smitten by the pictures, and it makes me want to visit the museum even more! beautiful photographs. i poured over each one intently before turning the pages.
   i would have liked just a little bit more information about the subjects, otherwise it is a beautifully edited book!



4. This book is very interesting if you are intrigued by medical history. but I wouldn't necessarily call it fascinating, like I was thinking it might be. it does, however, provide an insight to 19th century medicine that I had no idea existed. pioneering lifesaving medical techniques and even astoundingly advanced corrective procedures that I had no idea were even possible during this period are shown.



5. I got this as a gift for my sister and having previously been to the museum, she was thrilled to have a book about it to look at whenever. It is packed with eerie pictures and information and is definitley worth giving it a look. If you or someone you know is interested in strange things, this is a perfect book for you. She said more than once that this was her favorite Christmas gift. Enjoy!

5 comments about The Business Side of Creativity: The Complete Guide to Running a Small Graphic Design or Communications Business, Third Updated Edition.

1. I feel that this book is very benificial to those trying to start a business. I showed this book to an entrepenuer and she even feels that this book gives REAL tips as to how to get your business going. The way the book is written it feels like you have your own personal advisor talking straight to you. I would recommend this to everyone.



2. Having just started a graphic design business, I find this book incredibly helpful. It is detailed but still reader friendly. I did not know much about the business aspect of graphic design and this book helped get me the knowledge I needed quickly. My only criticism is the forms they use for examples are too small. They are difficult to read and I had to enlarge them on a copy machine.



3. The sub-title of this book is "The Complete Guide to RUNNING a Small Graphic Design or Communications Business" and as such I have given it a 2-star rating. If it was re-titled "The Complete Guide to STARTING a Small Graphic Design or Communications Business" then I would probably give it a 5-star rating for readers based in the USA and a 4-star for those elsewhere.
   
   If you are in position where you are considering starting up your own business or going it alone as a freelancer then this book contains a lot of valuable information and good advice and I would highly recommend reading it before you go any further.
   
   Those outside the USA should be aware that some sections of the book will not be relevant (for example those focusing on company registration procedures and tax issues) as they are based on US law and regulations -but there is still a lot of other good advice.
   
   I would estimate that around 3/4ths of the book focuses on pre start-up and start-up issues so, if like me, you are currently running your own business then much of the content is already redundant and, while the remaining content is informative, this does limit the overall usefullness of the book.



4. I just received this book a couple of days ago and it has been the best book I bought rescently. I have only read the first three chapters and I don't seem to be able to drive my eyes off of it. It is clear, organized, straight to the point and well illustrated (good examples). Buy it, together with with "How to be a graphic artist without loosing your soul" by Adrian Shaughnessy and, if you apply the knowledge that these two acquired and dare to share with us, there's no way you should fail in your intent to build your own business in the creative field.
   
   If you are a newby in design bussines or still studying, do yourself a favor, read this book before attemting anything else and you will be better directed in even the task of deciding if you really are going to be a graphic designer for the apropriate reasons or if you should really do something else. If you have been into this for some time already, you will still learn many things that you are still doing wrong and so on...
   
   Listen, go and buy it... Period!



5. Cameron Foote's books and monthly newsletters are truly must-have resources for graphic designers, from the lone freelance to a busy studio. I teach design, and this book is one of about three that I have recommended to every class.