Documentary-Collection Books

The book I ordered was as advertised and arrived in perfect condition. I have made four book purchases through Amazon and have been pleased each time.

definitely worth the price tag. Book is packed with period medical photographs, which while grotesque are also very artistically framed. All of the pictures are together, a page per picture so you can flip though the images without text interrupting the artistic presentation. The back of the book is devoted to thorough captions for each photo. Some of the photos look staged but this too fits the period represented.

This collection of photographs and plates are some of the most concise findings on the medical world I have ever seen. It has opened my eyes to these people and has given me something new and interesting to learn about. I really enjoy seeing how far we have come in the field of medicine but also the advancement has diminished the frequency of medical oddities that are found in this book. I really recomend this to anyone who has an interest in the medical field and all of its mishaps.

Stanley Burns is a physician and a collector of medical history photographs. You may remember his previous book of mortuary photographs entitled "Sleeping Beauty" which is long out of print and fetches incredible sums among used book dealers. (Fortunately, a sequel - "Sleeping Beauty II" is more readily available.) "A Morning's Work" is a collection of 127 vintage medical photographs from 1843 to 1939 along with a helpful narrative explanation of the photographs and their cultural significance. Although some of the pictures are more historically significant than interesting, the bulk of the images are of medical curiosities - and some of them are absolutely head-scratchingly bizarre. Among the images featured are mortuary photographs, images of amputations, surgical procedures, disfigurement, and a wide assortment of congenital and acquired diseases. The title "A Morning's Work" is taken from an image of a pile of amputated limbs taken during the Civil War, when the horrific wounds inflicted by the large leadshots used at the time resulted in amputations for even the most minor of injuries. Many of the photographs take us back to the Dark Days of medicine, before antiseptic procedures were implemented, and when a small wound could result in a deadly infection in a matter of days.

The narrative explanations of the photographs add a special poignance to them. For example, a photograph of a dead man would not be nearly so interesting were it not for Burns' explanation that the man was Dr. James Howe who contracted Cholera while treating patients during the St. Louis epidemic of 1849 and was fatally afflicted. That one sombre portrait seems to symbolize the bravery and sacrifice of physicians the world over during times of pestilence, and if there's anything that you come away with after viewing this book, it's a newfound appreciation for modern medicine. All told, "A Morning's Work" is a fascinating book - and a must for enthusiasts of the bizarre and medical historians alike.

This book is very harsh, unpleasant, but impressive. Not at all for anybody because you need to have the guts to keep your glance at the pictures mirroring the abnormal, the illnesses, the horror of nature, the facts of the old times of surgery. As Bacon's paintings these pictures have a very sui-generis aesthetics, based upon the ugly and the deformity.

This is a collection of black and white photographs mostly taken during the Prohibition and Depression eras for the tabloid "The Daily News". Most of what could be said about this book is already here in the reviews listed, nevertheless, it is worth repeating that "New York Noir" is an important addition to any collection of books on photography, and essential for anyone with an interest in the history of photojournalism. It would also be useful for anyone with an interest in social history; particularly of big city life during the American 1930s, 40s & 50s.

Most of the photos here are of crime scenes, and a few suicides thrown in. Crime scenes are mysteries; we all sense there is a story there. But the real mystery in this book is who were the guys who took these photographs? Whoever they were, they had no idea they were setting down an arena for further developments in creativity - in film, in fiction and in graphic design. This was working class photography and these guys were simply on the job, trying to outdo each other in the quest for a better shot in time for the next issue, sparing little thought over notions of higher-order art. Except perhaps for Arthur Fellig (aka Weegee), who was apparently more astute when it came to ensuring acknowledgement for his work, most of the guys who worked for the newspapers were largely unheralded. They are now just names, long dead and forgotten. Many of the shots reproduced in this book are only credited with a surname, or are simply credited as "Daily News" photos - nobody can work out now who took the shot.

[...]The conditions under which these guys were working forged a new creative genre, now commonly known as `NOIR'. It was an oppressive era, politically and socially, equipment was still heavy and unwieldy, they had to contend with light (additional lighting was used where it was deemed necessary to illuminate, not for artistic effect) and weather variables and while access to crime scenes were not yet barred to newspaper folks, access was sometimes restricted for other reasons. Check "The Trigger's Squeezed" and "Empire State Suicide"; both demonstrate how restricted access forced the photographers to use unusual camera angles, resulting in distant shots with long lines and deep, extended shadows which, together with the subject matter concerned, creates a sense of oppressiveness, of callous unconcern, of cold doom, and of finality (this can be keenly sensed in "Killer's End"); these are what are now regarded as the essential ingredients of good, classic noir film and associated imagery.

What makes a photograph (and for that matter, any piece of good art) a `classic' is that it alludes to a story, or it at least contains something that will intrigue viewers through the ages. While much of the information for the shots in this book, including the names of the persons involved could be traced (the corresponding synopses are listed at the back), there remain unanswered questions. How was it that the two ladies could tolerate each other's presence at the grave of their man in "A Bigamist Mourned"? What was it that a pretty doll such as Anna Downey saw in John Collins, a hardened killer? ("Until Death Do Us Part"). Why did the gangsters have such flippant attitudes? Check the aspect of Louis Capone on his way to Sing Sing in "En Route To The Chair".

There are other questions for which answers could have been provided in the book somewhere, after some further research. It would have been helpful to know the process and exactly why some of the photos were "touched-up" to ensure they were fit for publication. And who were some of these photographers? And what was the system for acknowledgement and payment? Something could have been said about the cops; perhaps some reasoning for their attitudes and conduct with the public. [...]

Regardless of all of this, the book is very exciting. The images reflect the developments in technology, particularly with the flash; first the bar flash, then the bulb, and then finally the `flash gun'. The sharper and clearer shots, including those taken under brilliant light are perhaps the most striking, and what are most easily recognized as `noir' imagery. All together, these are shots of a period in history which will never return. The assemblage of ephemera of that age; the hats, the shoes and clothing styles, the hair styles, the cars, the buildings and everything else can never be reproduced. And there is something very sexy about it all.

For a further exploration in this photography genre, I strongly recommend "City of Shadows: Sydney Police Photographs 1912-1948"; with shots of folks who were colder, cheaper and meaner, and where things seem even more surreal. To see how such newspaper shots influenced photography in a creative sense, see if you can find "Retail Fictions: The Commercial Photography of Ralph Bartholomew Jr." - still around in some `seconds' bookshops.

I got this for my sister-in-law and was afraid it might be too graphic for her (she's a bit squeamish about blood). It's not nearly as explicit as I feared. Unfortunately, it's not as interesting as I'd hoped, either. Lots of pictures of rather anonymous people in very sharp clothing. I think she'll like it, but if you're already fairly used to postmortem or morgue photos, you won't be very impressed.

If you are a fan of photography, this book is definately for you. NEW YORK NOIR is chock full of amazing photographs that were the staple of the "New York Daily News." In this book, you get to see some of the poignant images that help define the term noir, and its connection to the silver screen industry, not to mention its effects on tabloid journalism. Many of these same black and white photogrpahs were often used as references to assist in making modern day motion pictures, helping to give a look into the past. From the days of "Three-Gun" Turner to the electrocution of Ruth Snyder, this book captures New York's horrid crime life in a candid, in-your-face style. There is nothing but unhidden truth in each and every photograph. NEW YORK NOIR is a well designed book loaded with powerful images and somewhat detailed descriptions. It is fascinating, riveting, and gives you a decent look at the roots of photojournalism. You can't help but be intrigued by the gritty, graphic photos that once graced the pages of a daily newspaper. It is one amazingly good book.

Warning: don't expect this book to be easy on the eyes, it is far from that. This is not for children, weak stomaches, or people with heart conditions. The shock is enough to make your heart race when viewing some of these photos. Yet you find yourself staring, sometimes maybe wondering what the photographer was thinking as he took these shots. The book is well done, but you have to be interested in true crime to, if you will, appreciate this collection of photos. It also helps if you appreciate life, then these photos will really have an effect on you, but it also shows you that society really did not change that much since these photos were taken. NOT a good coffee table book, though.

The "Daily News" debuted in New York City in 1919. It was to be a newspaper for the common man, which meant not especially literate and frequently immigrant. Its currency was images, the more sensational the better. Nothing sold like sex, murder, and mayhem, graphically illustrated. By 1925, the "Daily News" was the best-selling newspaper in the nation. By 1930, twenty-three per cent of its pages were devoted to crime.

"New York Noir" is a selection of about 125 images from the "Daily News" archives, taken from the 1920s through the 1950s. Some are sad, some comical, some grotesque. They're an interesting comment on American urban culture of the time. Many of these photos would spark outrage if any newspaper were to print them today. Their lurid content earned the "Daily News" pointed criticism from many a moralist at the time. But that never hurt business. The style of the photographs had an immistakable influence on cinema and popular culture which continues to this day. The technical limitations that produced starkly flashed foregrounds and pitch-black backgrounds are instantly recognizable in Hollywood films, just as the corruption displayed in the photographs was reflected in popular entertainment. The demeanor of gangsters and thugs -often posed for the photographers- became iconic. Tabloid photojournalists may have wanted only to get the shot that no one else could, but they produced some incredible -and incredibly influential- photographs that have only become more fascinating with time.

Luc Sante introduces "New York Noir" with an essay about the history of tabloid journalism. Editor William Hannigan follows with a history of the "Daily News" and its influence on Film Noir. Both of these essays are very readable and worthwhile. The photographs are mostly one-to-a-page and quite sharp. They are all captioned. There is a section of "Synopses" in the back of the book, which provides further information about the stories behind each photograph, when available. I really appreciate this section, which is conveniently organized by page number. Some of the photos really leave the reader hanging, wondering who those people are and how things turned out. You can find out by turning to the back of the book.

I recommend "New York Noir" to photography and film noir buffs. Some of these evocative photographs are not for the squeamish, but they have made , and continue to make, quite an impression.

I bought this book for my mother for Christmas. We both love it. The pictures are beautiful. Nice cover. It's a little piece of history. Well worth the money.

Anyone looking for pics chronicling the Obama team during the primary season will enjoy this book. It is not the go to book for pics during the general election. It is a great book though, and any fan of Obama will enjoy it.

This is a great collection capturing the entire campaign of Barack Obama. It is an important component of the record of a truly historic event in American political history.

i really want to see photos of the moments leading up to Nov 4th. the people, the places, the emotions that people went through when they found out that this extrodinary man won the presidency. but i will get this book. i love the other two photobooks as well. wonderful collectors items.

The book was well worth the purchase, nice cover and great photos. What I would like more is a book with photos of mainly President Elect Obama and his family but I'll be patient because I know it is forthcoming.

The quality of each and every mosaic in this book is stupendous. Looking at all the pictures is almost therapeutic. With the microscope provided, hours can be spent looking at the tiny pictures that create a beautiful scene from a distance. The amount of effort and time put into this book seems baffling, but the author's effort truly pays off.

just awesome...it was fascinating that something so overwhelming was even attempted. The photos within photos are just mouthwateringly real. Good job.

The photomosaics in this book are the most superb that I have ever seen. The book provides close-ups, so that you may see each individual picture. The book has a wide variety of photomosaics, and the one that touched me the most was the AIDS Memorial quilt one. This is a fabulous for photography busts, and non-photography books alike. This is an amazing collection that can be appreciated by many people.

This is the most inspiring use of photography with computer work I've come across. It sent me out to have a full sixe 20x36 for my Entertainment Room. Can't wait until the entire room is a Photomosaic. Thumbs up for sure to Mr. Silvers

Unfortunately the review form doesn't let me enter a rating above 10!

A Photomosaic is, as the name suggests, a mosaic of photos. Hundreds or thousands of images reduced in size and placed on a grid so as to create an impression of a larger, overall image. The 'tiles' used are selected for their color, shapes and shading within the image so as to most truthfully represent the relevant section of the larger image. What's more, the descriptive content of the 'tiles' is usually relevant to the larger image. Some of the best examples of this are the widescreen stills used from George Lucas's Star Wars in generating larger images of Darth Vader, and Yoda, and civil war photographs used to create an image of Abraham Lincoln.

The book contains 96 pages with 28 full page photomosaics, and in addition often has enlarged sections of each image to show the smaller image content. Interspersed with the images are thought provoking quotes relating to the pictures, and an all too short introduction briefly describes how photomosaics came about. (Not technical enough in my opinion). The images are created in a 6 color printing process for exceptional quality results

This is is one of those ideas where I think to myself - 'I wish I'd been involved in this'. As the artist/creator Robert Silvers says - 'This is for lovers of pictures'. One of my main interests in computing is the generation of images by use of computers, whether it be popular methods such as fractals, ray-tracing or any other form of computer art. Even the 3D Eye auto-stereogram pictures are computer generated. (I assumed the dig on the back cover in respect of the fact that everyone can see photomosaics, was in reference to these auto-stereograms!)

This concept of using pictures to create pictures seems simple on the surface and sounds like another easy money maker for someone along the line. Maybe it is, but the technology behind creating such pictures is leading edge and was performed by Rob Silvers as part of his Masters at MIT Media Lab. The amount of work involved in collating tens of thousands of images from all sorts of sources, and then analyzing each image as to color and shading content, underlying shapes within the image, and descriptive content of the images is immense. All sorts of tricks were used to speed up and improve the quality of the photomosaics produced.

If I were to have this as a coffee-table book at a party, I would need one per visiting guest, and I would get a quiet thirty seconds whilst people got the gist of the book and then it would be the talk of the evening. (Maybe that's an indication of my guests rather than the book!)

I would dearly have loved to have been involved at that exciting development stage of the (patent pending) technology, but sadly this book is likely to be as near to being involved as I ever get. Mind you it is hard, in any case, not to get involved with this fascinating book. I shall be putting an order in for my 1999 calender as soon as it comes out.

This review comes from somebody who does NOT live in Boston, unlike many other reviewers!!

What a great photo collection. Roffman, a master of his art, has captured the sultry side of Fred...and he sizzzzzles. WOW!

If you like the photo on the cover, you're going to LOVE what's inside. Fred is just beautiful, and Roffman captures him in various moods, settings, and stages of undress. Great for a coffee table in an adult household.

How does Roffman manage to capture so much of his subject's soul in his photographs? That he does so capture it is eveident in this wonderfully rich collection of B&W images.

There are a combination of formally posed and more naturally posed photos, and all seem to connect the reader to the model's core. I feel that B&W is the best medium to capture this aspect of erotic photography as you are not distracted by colour.

Fred, a French gymnast and model, is beautiful. He seems at times both carefree and self-aware. Roffman captures the spark of youth.

You really MUST buy this book; you'lle be pleased that you did.

Howard Roffman is a fine photographer as proved to many, including me, in two of his previous collections, TALES and THREE.

PICTURES OF FRED has, first-rate, candid and more formal portraits of this very young, handsome, French model and gymnast. However, the accompanying text is so precious that it becomes annoying, esp. with several "typos" in only two pages of text. And since this descriptive essay is very brief, appearing at the beginning of the volume with portions reproduced in various other sections of the book, I wondered why it was even included. Why not have a writer as good as Roffman is a photographer write the text and make it much less manipulative? Some of the phrases are actually as melodramatic as the kind found in paperback, romance novels (i.e. "One night I found Fred alone. He seemed sad, withdrawn...The conversation shook me. Fred had kept his wisdom hidden...By the time the sun set, we were both drained. We collapsed on his couch, and he fell asleep in my lap, naked, vulnerable.")

If a picture is worth a thousand words, I'd like some more pictures and alot fewer words, please.

Howard Roffman has managed to capture this soft, breathtakingly beautiful young man in his very unique, sensual way. Not just a smut book, but a small window on someone elses world that leaves you gasping for more, and anxiously wondering where Fred is. You will love him, envy Howard, and move to Paris, France. Possibly the best coffee-table book last/this year.

The art of Pierre et Gilles shows beauty, sensual, intimate, contemporary and quality works made for two individuals that becomes an author in a perfect union. They create fantastic worlds with photography and paint. Their works talks about their dreams, lifes, obsessions, pleasures, pains, loves, friends, interests. They shows a unncommon vision of the contemporary world through topics related to religion, sexuality, mithology, personalities, and their own lifes. This is one of the most beautiful art books ever made, every single detail have been realized carefully.

This is a wonderful book about these brilliant guys.

I found that this book is out of print, but the other day a found a copy at Virgin Store San Francisco. They have two copies left. 6.17.04---selling price $40.00

The art of Pierre et Gilles shows beauty, sensual, intimate, contemporary and quality works made by two individuals that becomes an author in a perfect union. They create fantastic worlds with photography and paint. Their works talks about their dreams, lifes, obsessions, pleasures, pains, loves, friends, interests. They shows a unncommon vision of the contemporary world through topics related to religion, sexuality, mithology, personalities, and their own lifes. Even like an object, this is one of the most beautiful art books ever made, every single detail have been realized carefully.

The art of Pierre et Gilles shows beauty, sensual, intimate, contemporary and quality works made for two individuals that becomes an author in a perfect union. They create fantastic worlds with photography and paint. Their works talks about their dreams, lifes, obsessions, pleasures, pains, loves, friends, interests. They shows a unncommon vision of the contemporary world through topics related to religion, sexuality, mithology, personalities, and their own lifes. This is one of the most beautiful art books ever made, every single detail have been realized carefully.

Pierre et Gilles set a new standard when it comes to their combination of photograpy and painting. No wonder photographers like David La Chappelle try to knock off their style (imitation is the highest form of flattery). I found this massive coffee table book to be thorough, entertaining, titillating, and funny. I would recommend it to anyone interesting in modern "pop" art and portrait photography. The imagination of these two is priceless as is this collection of their work.

Jenny documented the work of artists from all backgrounds and ethnicities. She was one of a handful who documented the early Hollywood punk scene, which was pretty well integrated. Jenny was never afraid of me and that's saying something, because lots of people were. The Vex and the Hollywood scene did not happen at the same time and those who attempt to distort history by lumping them together are making a big mistake.

Punk Pioneers by Jenny Lens is far and away the most awesome coffee table quality book about the early punk scene. It contains an incredible range of artists that were around during punk's conception, birth, and childhood. Its scope is much broader and helps the reader understand where punk was coming from and what was going on in the parallel musical universes of bands like Van Halen and artists like Bob Marley. I think this aspect of Jenny's book is really important, because as I've said time and time again, seeing early punk in isolation does not really convey how far it was from the mainstream nor does it acknowledge the influences of what came before it. Jenny's book acknowledges the New York punk and early glam bands that set the stage for what would become a unique West Coast cultural movement. Punk Pioneers cements Jenny's status as punk photography's Alpha Bitch.

Aside from Frank Grimes cries of racism (yawn - read his other book reviews which contain the same EXACT, ludicrous accusations) ... keep in mind, he's 100% incorrect: Jenny is the least racist person I know, and the other positive reviews regarding her recent book are spot on! Punk Pioneers is a truly fantastic collection of writing and pictures from one of LA punk's greatest artists. Unfortunately, the early LA punk scene always took a back seat to New York and England; which no doubt, is a shame. When one fast forwards to over 3 decades later, it's easy to see LA punk may have actually had a bigger impact on the music scene than its east coast and trans Atlantic counterparts. Jenny's book gives LA its due credit, and captures the essence of this creative, unique, and influential scene. In addition, it includes excellent shots of NY and the UK. I've been waiting for Jenny's book for years; I've always considered her the greatest photographer / punk historian there is. This book validates that view: these amazing photographs breathe life back into the days of old. I put on a compilation of 70's punk, turned the cell phone off, and allowed Jenny to take me on an incredible journey ... what a trip!

I was so Waiting for this Book! It does NOT disappoint!

Not only do you get Jenny's Iconic Pictures, you get some Personal anecdote's of her Insider's time in the scene. I talked once on the phone with her for over Two hours! We talked about it All & the Stories in the Book are the same to what she told me, 3 years earlier! before she could even Think about Making the Book! More is Coming!

Her Genuine Enthusiasm for the Scene & its Music & bands comes Right on through! Just Buy it!

Support the Real Supporter's of the LA punk Rock Scene! Check out [...]

This book is the bomb!I like the book because it shows the musicians (and fans) in impromptu settings,which creates an air of being there.I like the large photo layout and the fact that there is not too much text to distract the reader from focusing on what's going on in the photos.It has become my new "coffee table" book!

Artifix Greg: "I was on Amazon and I saw that your book is finally coming out! Great news there!!!!! You've inspired us at Artifix Records with your work and friendship. You have produced an amazing body of work and you will be remembered forever. I see the name Jenny Lens popping up so much now! In just a few short years, you have really re-established yourself and you are the top dog! Congratulations!" -from an e-mail sent to Jenny Lens from Artifix Records

To anyone who knows the work of photographer Glen E. Friedman, best known for his F-ck You Heroes monograph on 1970s through early '90s punks, rappers and skaters, his latest book, Recognize, will come as a bit of a shocker. Recognize consists of photographs of clouds, mostly taken from the air - at cloud level - that capture in sharp detail the hues and variations of the color white. They re-create the experience of being in an airplane, of seeing amazing clouds just outside the window and feeling the near spiritual beauty of that moment. As a representative of the element air, Recognize fits nicely between Richard Misrach's aerial views of the sea and Luc Delahaye's panoramic land views of war. The approach of these photographers is that of a curious observer who is at once consciously detached and uncontrollably involved. Friedman captures the clouds with a humility and simple wonder. His photos achieve what so many others only aspire to - they show the spiritual within the physical. Thus the book's title makes profound sense. Recognize, it says, in simple, clear letters. Recognize your humility, recognize the power of nature, recognize the beauty of the world. It is rare to find a photography book like this, one that genuinely and with total directness conveys the spiritual qualities of the material world.

We are very pleased that Friedman should turn his attention to photographing our fluffy friends in all their respendent glory.

The shots are, pure and simple, majestic cloudscapes unsullied by any piffling little distractions like the ground.

It is fantastic.

We had not realized it was such a large format - It means that you can really see the detail. Given that clouds have a fractal quality - that's obviously a good thing.

We highly recommend it.

Glen E. Friedman is an artist that keeps us off our heels. In RECOGNIZE, we find ourselves in a familiar place, off the busy streets, and looking head-on at what we often let pass overhead and unnoticed. We all have been there, more concerned with the destination rather than being in the moment and enjoying the window seat. So few of us have really stopped to look. Thankfully, Glen has captured fleeting moments of weightless bliss on film. Paging through RECOGNIZE is like hitting the slow-motion button on a film that we never really understood because it was going by our eyes on fast-forward. After floating through Glen's latest, you'll undoubtedly recall what you saw on your next trip to the sky. Hopefully you'll remember to slow things down and recognize the beauty this time.

I bought this book not as a Glen Friedman fan, but as a confirmed cloudlover; the idea of a large format book dedicated entirely to cloud photography held irresistible appeal, and helped me overcome my initial reluctance given the prohobitive pricetag of this slim volume. The pretentious, arty blurbs mean little to me (apart from making me smile) - in the end this book essentially delivers what I hoped for, large photos of clouds, mostly taken from airplane windows. Quietly thumbing through this book is a peculiar, peaceful experience (much as gazing out of an airplane window can be). Yet I find little in any of the photographs that sets them apart; I would go as far as to say that I shot cloud images myself that, with a little compositional cropping, would not look incongruous in this collection. It is, I suppose, impossible to make something truly personal out of a subject so objective and ubiquitous, which is why the highflying artistic pretentions of 'Recognize' could not but fall flat. That leaves the images themselves, and ultimately I find rather a lot of them somewhat disappointing. For one, I missed the detail other reviewers have commented on; most of the images are coarse-grained, some looking almost like watercolors. Unlike the cover image, half of the photographs are almost abstract, mere grainy washes of color. Then, the quality of the prints is occasionally less than optimal: on this large scale images invite close scrutiny, and the printing blemishes that appear in several of them, how ever small, stand out like sore thumbs. Furthermore, it was particularly galling to find two pages stuck together, and both damaged after I peeled them apart, even though the book came straight from its shrink-wrap. All in all, a mixed bag. This may be of interest for those dedicated to Friedman, but cloudlovers might want to consider John Day's 'Book of Clouds', which at a quarter of the price gives you many more cloud photographs than Friedman, without the artistic pretensions (and on a smaller scale), but often equally compelling (if, unfortunately, as often equally grainy too).

I bought this book based on the reviews, flipped through it once, and though I thought the pictures were good, I didn't at first find them particularly remarkable.

But in the weeks following my purchase of the book, I've changed. I've gone from adding up numbers on license plates while driving to leaning out the window, gawking at clouds. I carry a digital camera with me now. Sometimes I just stand in the driveway capturing shot after shot of the light moving through the clouds. I watch the weather forecast for "Partly Cloudy" days. I surf the 'Net looking for cloud-watching sites.

Before I got this book, I didn't really notice clouds. I've never had a photography book affect me the way this one did.

WHile this is a good book , "Goddesses DOn't Buy Green Bananas" does it better.

sometimes, the reconstruction goes well, the surgeon was kindly and skilled, and the women go on "to live fully"....what is missing everywhere i search, are the stories, the pictures, and the advice for women whose after-reconstruction stories aren't as graceful as what we find inside the covers of this book.....i wanted to write this review, as i am one of the unlucky women...one who suffers, and is fighting the medical and insurance establishments while in pain 24/7, and still waiting for my own healing after the nightmare of a drive-through bilateral mastectomy....i feel like any woman who sees this book should know there is another, darker side to this process....and very little assistance if things go wrong.

kathie larsyn M.Ed., M.C.

I was diagnosed this past May, at age 41, with breast cancer. I had a mastectomy and immediately began the reconstruction process of tissue expander and silicone implant. I saw this book in my reconstructive surgeon's office and it just floored me. The women presented are simply beautiful, and their joy leaps out of each photograph. I'm hoping someone gives me this book for Christmas (hint, hint).

As the interviewer and compiler of the text profiles in Reconstructing Aphrodite, I think often about the work I do and what kind of a difference it makes in the lives of others.
Last night, I attended a spiritual healing ceremony for a friend who was just diagnosed with breast cancer. A small group of us recited and sang prayers for healing, held hands in a circle, and watched our stricken friend gather hope, strength, optimism and faith from our shared energy and love.
The cancer is small, self contained and the prognosis for recovery good. But it's comforting to know that if my friend needs more inspiration and information, this book is available for her and the millions of other women who may need it in the future.

As a woman who has had breast cancer and is looking at bilateral reconstruction, I found "Reconstructing Aphrodite" to be a book of hope, life, and beauty. The beauty is not in reconstruction without scars but is in the very scars themselves, scars that speak of courage, determination and, above all else, the choice to live life to the fullest. The reflections accompanying each photo communicate the pain of living with cancer. But the stories do not stop with pain; they continue with love, laughter, celebration, joy and delight in bodies that have more to say now than when they were flawless. A truly exquisite book in all ways, one that I will share with many other women because it is so real. The scars are not airbrushed; the pain is not denied. I came away from this book uplifted and encouraged by the lived experience of my sisters on the journey with breast cancer. Forget "Playboy"; the women who have lasting beauty are the ones in this book.

Raghubir Singh's River of Colour is a book that beautiful in many ways. Not only was he a very talented photographer, he also brings out a tremendous sense of patriotism with his book. His photographs capture the essence of Indian culture.

I was given this book (softcover edition) by a friend some years ago, and it has resonated with me as one of the finest compilations of documentary photography on India. Raghubir Singh's photograph captures moments in the lives of ordinary Indians, in a way that is without a doubt timeless. This book is a collection of his best works from his many years of photography in India and it's simply a marvel, especially for anyone who has a special interest in India or comes from India, who can really appreciate the imagery.

I hands down recommend this book to anyone and everyone and always show it off to friends. Try and get some of his other works as well - Bombay, The Grand Trunk Road, Kerala, Banares, Kashmir, if you can find them. You will be equally impressed.

Raghubir Singh was born in India and began his photography career in 1965 - but until this collection, very few of his works reached audiences outside the country. RIVER OF COLOUR: THE INDIA OF RAGHUBIR SINGH uses a wide-angle panoramic layout which will prove a shelving challenge to most art library collections - but a delight to any who seek fine display materials. It's the only retrospective of Singh's works and by choosing an elongated, oversized display format, the color photos of Indian topics come to life and nearly spring off the page. RIVER OF COLOUR is recommended not just for art photography libraries, but for any collection strong on India history or culture.

I first bought this book in its paperback edition... I was so taken by the photographs that on learning that Phaidon was re-releasing the book, I gave my pbk copy to an Indian friend of mine (who loves it, as it reminds him of home). Looking forward to the re-release of this book, I was eagerly looking for it to become available.

The re-release arrived just the other day. I can say that the photos are just as moving, heart-melting, and colorful as the original copy. HOWEVER, Amazon's "shrink-wraping process" ruined the cover of the book, and many of the pages of the book.

So, I paid full Amazon price for the book, but were I to try to re-sell it, it would be "damaged."

To say that I'm a little piss#d is an understatement.

It _is_ a beautiful book, with a wonderful overview of Singh's work - my favorites are the boys diving from the tops of submerged temples on a flooded Ganges, and a pic of a muscician from Tamil Nadu...

I just wish the condition of the book were better.

India is a difficult country to understand and even more difficult to explain, in words or pictures! Rughubir Singh has captured the chaos of India which take you right into the bylanes of Varanasi/Banaras. This is my favourite(infact the only picture book) gift to a lot of my western friends, most of whom have visited India before. The pictures are simply too powerful. If you have any facination for that land, you cant afford not to have a look at Mr. Singh's pictures.