2 comments about NEOGEO: A New Edge to Abstraction.

1. This is a really beautiful collection of spectacular work. It's like neon lights and triangles are twirling across the page. A great book to have that you will love forever until lasers aren't cool anymore.



2. This book is pure eye candy. The work inside is a cohesive grouping and does not stray from the purpose of the book, which is to portray the power of geometry in modern graphic design (it is primarily focused on print and illustration). It appears that the editors made a strong effort to include a wide variety of styles, yet their visual tastes are pretty clear. Perhaps this is due to the geometric aspects to the work and/or their contemporary aspects, but the collection had a lot of thought behind it and is simply wonderful. If you're a graphic designer, I would definitely include this in my visual library.

2 comments about It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: The Making of a Television Classic.

1. My wife talked me into this one. Love "Peanuts" and certainly "The Great Pumpkin", just not into reading books about them. Well, I take that back, I enjoyed "Good Grief", the biography on Charles Schulz, as well as a treasury of his works. Anyway, finally sat down to read this one over the holidays, and I was glad she talked me into it. They broke the mould with Schulz, and this was a nice trip down memory lane.



2. If you own the Christmas edition one then the Great Pumpkin one is in the same format. It has interesting facts, two piano score pages,and the colored story of it. It is worth your money and is good for any Peanuts fans collection.

3 comments about Koto Bolofo: Venus Williams.

1. I got this book with only a hint of what was to come. I enjoyed this thoroughly. The images are really outstanding and if you've got an inkling of tennis history and what Wimbledon means to Venus Williams then I think you'll love the Wimbledon section. Koto had an interesting take on Venus and on the surrounding things he shot and I think they fit in quite nicely. I only had one regret and that was that he had only followed her in 2005 and nothing further. I'd love to see another collaboration between these two, maybe even incorporating her sister Serena, or her whole family while Venus is at Grand slams. This was awesome work and you will really see Venus in a different more feminine role. Thanks so much for making such a great book for Venus Williams fans.



2. I just received this book in the mail today from Amazon. Very fast delivery indeed! Let me say this is one that I will treasure! Why? because there is just nothing else like it out on the market today about Venus Williams. Yes, there are other books about Venus and about her sister Serena but nothing like this. It is above and beyond all the rest. The pictures are so personal, so artistic, so original. They go way beyond the tennis court into a time and place that makes you think of Venus in a whole new light. She is seen in a way that is more graceful, beautiful and soulful then in anything I have ever seen before. What Koto Bolofo has captured with his lens here is a joy for any photographer or Venus Williams fan to behold.
   My only criticism of this book is that it did not come with a dust jacket. I thought that was strange.



3. Going beyond "sports action" or "celebrity glamour" photography, this is a book that will appeal to many fans of Venus and/or photography. Koto captures Venus as a whole person (both real and imagined) rather than just a celebrity sports figure or Hardbodied Goddess. The photos are in both color and b&w but mainly b&w. Sometimes she is a mythical 1920's athlete. Other times a streetwise soccer goddess or simply Venus. Funny, goofy, sexy, statuesque Venus.
   
   Many of the pictures exude strength. I don't mean muscle or athleticism. I mean inner human Power for Good. Venus is a magical presence. Beyond hearing/seeing her give interviews on some serious topics myself, if you've ever heard Mary Carillo talk about the speech Venus gave in 2006 I believe it was, it sounds like it was something very special. On the surface the speech was about equal prize money at Wimbledon but I suspect in reality it was for and about women everywhere, and being tired of being asked to wait a little bit longer. It's not universally true (like WNBA and NBA for instance), but if you think about tennis of the past 10 or 15 years, more people know more of the women's names than they do the men's. At this point the women put nearly as many or more rear ends in seats as do the men. The respect and money should be equal.
   
   I've heard Mary and I think it was Billie Jean King say they think Venus is why Wimbledon leveled the paying field. Whatever Venus said in that room was undeniable. She's also one of the rare American-born-and-raised world class athletes who can do interviews in multiple languages, and has been praised by people in the press as being one of the smartest and most intellectually curious world class athletes they've met.
   
   This is the strength in many of these pictures. She seems to inhabit the space of women far removed from her own life. For the most part, women do the work of the world but they make less and eat last. There are pictures in here where Venus says it with her eyes.
   
   Now I have to say it. Oh my god her cheekbones! If you hadn't noticed yet, she has one of the greatest skulls of all time. I have no other way to say it.
   
   I love that the book has no captions, no "Venus is wearing...". This book isn't a hybrid travel guide, fashionista cross-marketing LOGOs all in your face book. It's the Venus tennis star we know, as well as a Venus in and out of some sort of dreamworld that I suspect was partly Koto's and partly hers. When she is gone from tennis and from life, this book will only grow in stature as a tribute to this woman who has meant so much to so many people.
   
   On the quirky side of things, my binding is backwards. If you see me looking at the pictures in my book you'll be wondering why I am enjoying this big, sturdy, finely crafted book upside down. I haven't seen it in any store yet so I don't know if every book in this 1st edition is like this or if it's just mine. Either way I dig it.

1 comments about Beginnings of Interior Environments (10th Edition).

1. I received the book very fast and in great shape. I recommend buying from this seller!

No comments about Is That So Kid: David Bailey, Angelica Huston.

5 comments about Rapid Viz : A New Method for the Rapid Visualization of Ideas.

1. The book was sent in an orderly amount of time. There was some writing in it, but all in all in good condition.



2. If you feel bad about yourself that you have the inability to draw, then this book is for you. This book will show you that the most stupid doodle that you've ever drawn has meaning and that you can enhance your scribbles to look like graphic design from the year 1979.



3. ...maybe 3-1/2 Stars. The basic principles in this book are pretty solid; it's the basic presentation here that leaves a bit to be desired.
   This is one of several books that I have with this great, sideways physical format & dimensions: Drawing: A Creative Process, and Basic Perspective Drawing: A Visual Guide being 2 others easily worth mentioning. In any case, Rapid Viz helps creative people with getting their ideas onto paper: quickly, clearly, and in a systematic fashion. Quick & accurate sketching in any medium can be the foundation for finished, professional work. In fact, as this book explains, using a systematic process in developing our ideas can save us a great deal of time in the long run. This book details this systematic process. The ideas here aren't completely new: it's the gathering of these ideas into a single book *for the 1st time* that makes this 'a new method' in its presentation. It's split almost evenly into 2 halves: the first explaining the basics of perspective; the second detailing the specific steps in this quick visualization process. Perspective is clearly the foundation here, which leads me to my biggest criticism: if half this book gives us watered-down perspective, why not just get a full-blown perspective book? And some would say the 2nd half of this book is simply common sense. Of course the answer here is equally simple: common sense isn't always that common(!). It really *can* help to have this process clearly stated in a book. But the entire thing has this sort of watered-down, unfinished look, making it seem like maybe a better version could be just around the corner. As it turns out, there *is* a newer, 3rd edition of this book, and it's actually available today. Since I haven't yet bought this newer version I thought I'd detail my current thoughts in this 2nd edition's review. I actually like to think of Rapid Viz and Ching's Drawing: A Creative Process together as being 2 sides of the same coin. Whereas Ching's book isn't clear & concise but has visual detail & depth, Rapid Viz *is* clear & concise but *lacks* visual detail & depth. If these two could be combined, it might make for a really great single book on rapidly visualizing the creative process. Both have their benefits and, in my opinion, are basically worth getting. Yet I'm not exactly confident others will agree. Maybe the new Rapid Viz 3rd Edition has improved on these ideas...
   
   *UPDATE*- I just bought the new 3rd edition, and I'm very sorry I did- it's a smaller-sized version, a completely unnecessary downgrade, and for me a total & complete waste of money- at best. This here 2nd edition is easily the one I recommend!



4. 
   If you are seriously interested in tackling the tougher aspects of drawing: ie, drawing from your imagination, perspective, visualization--this book may be what you are looking for.
   
   I have almost every conceivable how-to drawing book, and while this book seems deceptively simple, it's exercises are profound. He has you learn a visual recognition and intuitive understanding of perspective, and applies it to later studies on form, shading, perspective plans, etc..
   
   DO THE EXERCISES, DON'T JUST READ IT.
   
   He tries, in essence, to teach you to apply 3-dimensional thinking to simple shapes at first, and builds on that.
   
   I can't recommend this book more heartily.



5. If you have been sketching for years then read someone else's review for a more accurate portrayal of this book. 3D, Perspective, Techniques, Depth, Light, Shadows: Previously, these were all completely beyond me. Practice is the key; the ability to sketch does not lie in a book, but rather in the pencil you are holding. This book gives you a starting point for practice. I've gone from appalling to amateur in a couple of months.

5 comments about The Best of Brochure Design .07.

1. I bought this book to keep for myself, after borrowing a copy from my local library and exhausting my renewal opportunties. It is basically a gallery of highly professional brochure designs, beautifully presented with a strong emphasis on layout. Of particular value, from my perspective, was the inclusion of software used in producing most of the brochure designs. It is an excellent resource for any one interested in graphic art and digital design and a great book to keep for inspiration and frequent reference.



2. This is an extremely useful design reference for art directors/graphic designers. Although I do have to admit that it isn't as well rounded as I thought it would be. I have to agree with one of the other reviewers about designs that are more organic or traditional being omitted. However, for all those who are need reference for modern and contemporary design for brochures, you need look no further.



3. very good book about graphic design and in particulary about brochure.
   You can find very good and inspiring ideas.



4. This book features virtually no organic styles or traditional layouts. I felt the designs were very corporate, cold and modern Euro-looking, which I find has limited application for inspiring the type of design work I do (luxury goods branding and design). I did go through the book very thoroughly.
   
   If you're looking for a broad range of styles (traditional and organic styles included) this isn't the book for you.
   
   In general, Wilson Harvey books are great, but usually follow the above pattern.



5. If you're expecting the equivalent of a text book telling you how to be a graphic designer, you bought the wrong book. And truthfully, I doubt that book exists. This book is the gorgeous and features the best informative graphic design (brochures) in the world. A must-have for every graphic designer.

3 comments about Holiday Graph Art.

1. Great activity book. Your child/group will get to practice graphing, the book is a very satisfying puzzler (if you keep the picture a mystery until they are done, and finally, your child/group will get to sharpen those skills needed to follow directions.
   
   Here are a couple of tips:
   
   1. Mark off each item as you complete it on the graph to prevent mistakes.
   2. Until you are sure that your child/group has the hang of it do all the artwork in COLORED PENCIL. This way if there are any mistakes they can be erased without messing up the whole picture.
   3. Not all of the books in this series are created equal. Some are harder than others.



2. This is not the same as the original Cartesian Cartoons. Its for much younger students.



3. I am a 5th grade teacher and my students love the graph art books. It's a good way to introduce them to coordinate graphing, too. I keep some copies around for those early finishers or to use on those days when you need a short activity to do. I have Challenging Graph Art and Holiday Graph Art and use them both.

No comments about Che: A Graphic Biography.

2 comments about Heck's Pictorial Archive of Nature and Science (Dover Pictorial Archive Series).

1. This was an OK book...I planned to use it for altered books and art journals, and I'm afraid that the number of images (few) and the types of images (limited) kind of limit this book's usefulness. The thing I didn't like is, there are one, two, even three pages wit hthe same stuff on them. And it's not a bunch of little related images; it's a whole page out of some ancient book that doesn't look like it will lend itself very well to cutting and pasting this or that very particular image out of the whole scene.
   
   If you're looking for many intricate images of the same thing (the human skeleton, for instance, or the mechanical plans of some old-fashioned machine) then this is for you. If you're looking for just 1 or 2 smaller images per topic but with many topics (like most of the other clip art books by this publisher) then you may not find this to be of much use to you.



2. This book was a valuable resource when I designed a Biology-themed project. The images are well-rendered and the book scans well enough. The variety is good enough for the price, but for less desirable subjects such as fungi, ferns, and even some aspects of meteorology the depiction leaves something to be desired. However, (especially) for dicots, astronomy, anthropology, and ornithology, the drawings are superb.