2 comments about Standard Catalog of American Muscle Cars 1960-1972 (Gunner's Guide).

1. This is a great overall, but at the same time very detailed, guide to the Muscle Car era. Never saw before an all-in-one book where you can browse each major model and year. Great book for the colletion of car fanatics and amateurs.



2. I find myself being "out classed" by my friends and acquaintances that know eveything there is to know about 'muscle cars'. Although my personal interest lies in the antique automobile hobby
   (that means automobiles from before WWII)
   no matter where I go (whether it is a car show, a car auction or a car museum) the current craze and fascination in with the big engine cars of the late 60's and 70's. Well this is the Bible when it comes to a treasure trove of important detailed and comprehensively presented information. You might find it handy and useful to have this authoritative book at you finger tips when the argument comes up as to what size engine was in a thus and such or how many hardtops were manufactured in a certain year. Moreover, if you have a bucket full of cash and you find yourself seated at one of them fancy televised auto auctions bidding on a million dollar muscle car, this would be a fine book to research as to the details and specifics of the make and model in question. It has great color photographs and I have yet to be disappointed in failing to find an American made muscle car presented in its pages. This book is a sure fire way to "win a bet" if you've got the Bible tucked under your car seat while the work bench "experts" argue the finer points of muscle car power, style and history. You'll need to store it under the car seat...I just won't fit in the glove compartment. My only complaint...(what would a book criticism be without at least one complaint...) the editor and the publisher mite hav benifited from a secund or thud proff reed befour they wint to printt!

1 comments about Fireworks: A Gunsite Anthology.

1. Fireworks is Cooper at his best; with tales ranging from battles and hunts to tequila making and returning home from war. Cooper knows how to tell a story right; leaving in the details that breath life into every sentence. Whether making a carbine exciting or describing some of the best history of the twentieth century, Cooper draws the reader in with his masterful use of the English language. Originally purchased for my husband, now one of my favorites!

5 comments about Lethal Elegance.

1. THIS BOOK IS A MUST HAVE,IF YOU LOVE THE JAPANESE SWORD AND THE SAMURAI.TONS OF BEAUTIFUL PICTURES ALL IN COLOR.TSUBA AND FITTINGS.



2. Being relativelly new to the subject of Japanese swords and fittings I was quite impresse by two things:
   - Quality of the pictures
   - Description of the items
   I think this is worht having for anyone that trully appreciates the japanese swordmanship and art itself.



3. Very amazing photos, and quality information on each photo and sword. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.



4. This review is a joint effort with Laerte E. Ottaiano
   The book is very good . It has a few annoying errors. I give example of two of them: On page 171 there is a tsuba described as "Design of Egret and Crab" . However the Crab is not there . It is on the back of the Tsuba and is relatively ugly in our opinion . On page 193 there is a tsuba described as "Design of deer and the moon". Again the moon can not be seem. It is on the back of the tsuba and is very,very, beautifull. You can check what we told in the book by Ogawa Morihiro on the Boston Collection. The great thing of this book is that it presents a new way to way to apreciate Tsubas.Kinko( as oposed to steel , sukashi tsubas) were underrated in the USA and Canada. Only steel tsubas were considered old and of true use by Samurai.As this book teaches us this is not so. Kinko Tsubas were used by Samurai and Sukashi Steel ( or Iron ) Tsubas are not usualy so old . This came as a great relief for us . We always thought that Kinko tsubas were works of art. It is a grest relieve to find this in this book



5. On top on anything else, this book has the best pictures of japanese sword fittings that I've had the chance to see so far. There are many good close-ups that show well the work done by the craftmen.
   Earle goes through explaining the evolution of sword fittings by presenting the influence of History upon the samurai, and their needs.
   He also exposes techniques, although not in depth - it is not the purpose of this book - and materials used in the making of the tsuba and other fittings.
   I believe he succeeds in bringing the reader to understand the how and the why behind those very impressive works of art.
   The works chosen - among the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston; probably the greatest collection of japanese swords and sword fittings outside Japan - are just plain divine. The pictures were all taken using digital technology, and -as a photographer - I must say it is above anything I'd have expected from any technology and any subject. A must have for any japanese art/craft/design/sword lover.

3 comments about Paper Dolls of the 1960S, 1970S, and 1980s: Identification & Value Guide (Identification & Values (Collector Books)).

1. If you grew up as a girle-girl who just adored spending hours with your collection of paper dolls, you will recognize many of the sets of dolls presented in this wonderful collector guide.
   
   The information and pictures are wonderful, and you will long for the dolls you played with as a kid. How I wish these collections would be reprinted today!
   
   This is an excellent gift for yourself or a friend who shares your passion for paper doll fashion!



2. The book is a history of paper dolls during the period indicated in the title. The paper dolls are of tv and movie stars. There are paper dolls of familiar dolls like Barbie and kewpies. The book consists of pictures of various paper dolls, some are no longer being printed. The book is colorful and interesting. It is a treasure for paper doll collectors and anyone interested in paper dolls.



3. Very nice paper doll book. I wish someone would do some reproductions. I would like to have them in my collection.

5 comments about Navajo Rugs: The Essential Guide.

1. Excellent Book on Navajo Rugs. Great for the collector, giving some history and what to look for, as well as for the Navajo Rug Weaver. Good, basic information to help you make sure you're buying a genuine rug woven in the Navajo way. I enjoy reading about the history as I do weave Navajo Rugs and find everything I can read of interest. This is not a how to weave a Navajo Rug Book. There are many other weaving books out there on How to Weave Navajo Rugs. The Navajo Rug Collector/Historian would enjoy adding this book to their library.



2. Pretty much useless - unless you literally have never laid your eyes on a Navajo rug before. I needed values and how to tell the difference between Zapotec and Navajo, I got neither.



3. This book is a direct to the point, easy to understand guide on Navajo rugs. Works like a practical handbook, and a must own for connoisseurs and enthusiasts of Navajo rugs.



4. I have recently started to purchase different types of Native American rugs and blankets. This guide has been a tremendous help in identifing Navajo rugs.



5. This is a must have book if you are interested in collecting and purchasing Navajo rugs as well as learning about the history of these items. Easy to read and full of essential facts. I plan to order 2 more copies for friends who are very interested in the Navajo weavings.

5 comments about Tansu: Traditional Japanese Cabinetry.

1. An informative, interesting book on Japanese tansu at a price thats more affordable than some of the other out-of-print or premium reference books available on the market. Pictures show excellent examples. A good book for any tansu fan, beginner, expert. Recommended to any one interested in tansu's.



2. Informational book on tansu, which is collectively a variety of Japanese cabinets. The book describes the different types of cabinets, their uses, and also historical information by period, along with detailed structural notes (ie. cabinets being made from certain types of woods to accomodate changing humidity during the season, flexibility to withstand earthquakes and typhoons, etc.) Black and white photos and diagrams included.



3. This book was exactly the information I needed to help design a new stair step tansu cabinet that was both historically accurate, and modernized for today's homeowners. The history of the cabinet style, the construction, the joinery, the hardware, and the finishes used were well laid out in the book and easy to read and understand.



4. Found this book very interesting with its description of differing tansu from different regions in Japan. Great for collecters of tansu who wish to know meanings/locations of their tansu as well as the era from which it was constructed.



5. If you're thinking of purchasing a tansu or already own one and want to know more about it, this is the book to have. It covers everything from the history of these unique pieces of furniture, to the materials used in their construction, as well as providing tips of how to select, refinish, and care for them. Truly a scholarly work. But perhaps the best part of all is the book's exquisite photographs showing outstanding examples of tansu from all regions of Japan. You can't help but drool when seeing them.

3 comments about Hats: A History of Fashion in Headwear.

1. This book may give some overwiev of the history of hats but it is not to be recomended for serious studies of costume history.
   The illustrations are drawn after works of art and other sources. In the cases where I'm quite certain which work of art it is drawn from I must say that the drawings are often more or less inaccurate. As for the text, I'm from Scandinavia and familliar with the custom "Lucia" on the 13th of december. Reading Amphletts explanation accompanying the illustration of a Lucia crown from Norway I'm amased as it's total nonsense! Belive me, fertility rituals and witches was not the explanation given when i read cultural history at university! [It is a mix of seweral older customs among them serwing an extra breakfast as this was belived to bee the longest and darkest night of the year,and youngsters dressing up and going around singing and begging for food contributions to either their studies or a party. One of the dress up costumes being the christ child with a halo of candlelight around the head. Nowadays (and since about a 100 years ago) the lucia crown on a girl or woman serving ginger snaps and saffron bread together with coffee as she and her followers sings!} If the rest of the text has some more faults as big as this i don't know but it certainly makes me very suspicuios.



2. This is a rather scholarly work on the history of hats covering the past two thousand years. The arrangement is chronological, by century. If one's interest is identifying or organizing headdress by country of origin, this book is particularly useful as the illustrations include the country where the hat was worn along with the drawing. I am always impressed when the same author does a book's text and illustrations, as is the case with this work (see Sibley's bird book if you really want to be blown away).



3. This book has alot of printed information in it. A great deal of history. If you are looking for a book to teach you how to make head wear and hats then this isn't the book you need. However for a historical aspect I reccomend it, as long as you can visualise the written word. Its an ok book, not great but not the worst either. I bought it expecting it to contain more practical information, so from that point of view I was disapointed.

1 comments about Ancient Carpenters' Tools: Illustrated and Explained, Together with the Implements of the Lumberman, Joiner and Cabinet-Maker in Use in the Eighteenth Century.

1. During his lifetime, Henry Mercer was a lawyer, archaeologist, museum curator, promoter of lost crafts, and collector of a museum's worth (literally) of assorted stuff. One of his many interests was early American woodworking tools.

   Ancient Carpenter's Tools is a comprehensive look at 18th and 19th Century American woodworking tools. The book is divided into chapters by function (Measurement, Shaping, etc.) and then by type of tool. As American tools were heavily influenced by their European ancestors, Mercer also includes a history of each tool with references to Medieval and Classical tools. Each tool is illustrated with photographs and drawings.

   While this book was originally published in the 1920's (and occasionally shows its age) it remains useful for any student of tool history.

4 comments about A Pictorial History of Costume From Ancient Times to the Nineteenth Century: With Over 1900 Illustrated Costumes, Including 1000 in Full Color.

1. This book is pretty useless. the drawings are too simple, with few lines with poor quality coloring. I bought this book simply because it was cheap if I buy this with the one I wanted to buy originally. And even if this book cost $5, I wouldn't buy if I knew (and paid more than that, and caanot return since I'm living in overseas and shipping cost would be higher than this)
   I would NOT recomment this book to anyone, unless they want to waste their money.



2. Okay, so I bought this book thinking it would be a useful reference book. It's not. Yes, it has a bunch of illustrations, but it gives no reference information to go with the plates--which, by the way, are simply awful line drawings, some of which are badly colored in to the detriment of the pictures.
   
   Do not buy this book if you want to learn what things are called, the time periods in which they were used, or any specific, detailed information about variations in the general styles for a specific period in time.
   
   On the other hand, if you just want some reference pictures for designign your kid's Halloween costume, then you have plenty to go by.



3. Although the pictures do not go into great detail, this book has a wealth of information for the costume designer. For kid's halloween costumes, school-play costumes, and general information on style and period, this book can be invaluable. Included are full colour and black and white sketches, as well as reproductions of statues and paintings. It is an excellent book for the casual costume designer, though a serious historical re-enactor would need something that provides greater detail.



4. Gives a basic and brief coverage of both male and female costume from different periods and cultures. mixture of both colour and black and white sketches. no great detail but good enough to present a general idea.

1 comments about Great Fashion Designs of the Sixties Paper Dolls in Full Color: 32 Haute Couture Costumes by Courreges, Balmain, Saint-Laurent and Others.

1. This is an interesting review of the fashions of the sixties. The designs are beautifully drawn and the colors are vivid.
   While I like the book, I don't think the costumes selected truly reflect the mood of the decade. There are too many "doll-like" outfits ( ruffles, flowers, etc), and not enough focus on the revolutionary changes in fashion during the period. The last plate representing the end of the decade does not give the sense of the ethnic influence on the late sixties which followed on to the seventies.
   The dolls themselves are gorgeous, with one looking like an East Coast sophisticate while the other looks like a Californian beach baby.