Product Description

Identity's Architect is the first comprehensive biography of Erik Erikson, postwar America's most influential psychological thinker, who decisively reshaped our views of human development.

Drawing on private materials and extensive interviews, award-winning historian Lawrence J. Friedman illuminates the relationship between Erikson's personal life and his groundbreaking notion of the life cycle and the identity crisis. A decade in the making, this book is indispensable for anyone who hopes to understand fully the life and intellectual legacy of one of the most significant figures of our time.

Customer Reviews (7)

Mutual Admiration Societies
Mediocre, ladder climbing academics, as opposed to real scholars, sometimes manage to learn over the years how to appear significant. Friedman appears to have mastered the ropes. Get the right publisher, see to it the publisher sends your book to friends for reviews. Arrange for dual hardback and paper back printing. If you read "Identity's Architect" be sure to read the introduction, preface, acknowledgement and such, and jot down the names mentioned. You will have recorded a mediocre mutual admiration society.

Graduate students who truly want to become educated need to learn about mutual admiration societies, campus fads, academic career climbers, mediocre professors who take an early retirement from a lower university and manage to get a paying position at a more significant university by jumping on a new external funding opportunity. I advise too that you read book reviews and keep a keen eye on the names you find mentioned together, reviewers who criticize the book that was not written and who trash a book they did not read. Long is The list of shils. Buy and study a copy of Daniel Boorstin, "The Image" and you too will be pepared for designing your academic career. If you want to become educated and a real scholar, you may want to limit formal schooling to foreign language mastery and train yourself beginning with Mortimer J. Adler's classic "How to Read a Book."

Are you one of those who thinks government corrupt? Our Campus populations consist of plenty who will stab friends in the back over a small grant or accept a large tax payer funded research grant for research they already did with a series of small grants from their university. Then, there are the professors who fake respect for a professor they despise simply because that professor is skilled at the grant writing game. A book should be written, at least one song recorded about the American campus hustle. As one swell put it several years ago: 'government funding may make academics richer but it doesn't make them smarter'

It is a contest who will be forgotten first, Erikson or his official biographer, who got the opportunity to compile the official biography, as no one else more prominent was interested. None of the major biographers saw Erikson important enough to waste several years of work on. Oh, a note about allusions to "book awards." When an academic has real book awards such as a Pulitzer or some other award significant enough to be listed in a World Almanac, they name the award. When they had a few insignificant local awards, they use vague language like "book awards." There should be a book on the hype publishers use to sell books. Authors nearly always write the jacket blurbs, unless they really are significant. Then, major figures or accomplished Editors write them.

Friedman and the remains of the Erikson fan club need to ask themelves a serious question. Did Friedman do more for the forgotten Erikson by writing a biography of him, than Erikson actually did for American thought? Most likely the benefit was mutual; Each man benefited from the other. The biographer elevated his image and the Professor written biography exaggerates the importance of the forgotten "thinker." Daniel Boorstin would call this scenario a "pseudo-event" and its pseudo-event creation (the law of pseudo-events. 'a pseudo-event creates other pseudo-events').

What was Erikson? He was not a scientist. He was not a grand theorist. He wasn't a leading intellectual. In study after study, psychoanalysis is found to be ineffective. In fact, there is no evidence Freud himself helped a single one of his "patients" - according to the patients Franz Boas students located and interviewed. Under careful rational analysis, Erikson was probably a secular high priest, a sort of theologian, a modern shaman. His work had no factual basis, no rational footing. He will not be remembered.

How many of you readers have any idea who he was or why you should invest money and a few hours reading a thick book about him? It is well written but still academic and consequently boring to most people. The last truly well-written book Friedman wrote is a book he would like to forget, "Inventors of the Promised Land." He invested over 15 years on "Gregarious Saints". Track down the brief history of that tome before deciding to buy a copy of "Identity's Architect." It is not a brilliant book. It is competent, if you ignore the psychological parts.

A lot of humanities professors who still waste time turning their "scholarship" over to psychoanalytic formulas. Once a scholar falls in love with any formula, they condemn their work to mediocrity. It is revolting what happens when a "scholar" or artist ploughs a loose theory to any investigation of human kind. Most revolting of all is when an alledged "scientific" theory is already proven wrong. The search for truth stops at the starting gate when any simple theoretical formula is applied to research and analysis. The end result is no more englightening than formula, unsigned romance novels.

This biography could have been a lot shorter. An educated editor would have insisted on more sticking to the facts and less "shrinking Erik Erikson." Some publishers puzzle me to no end. They will not financially break even on any book they publish written by professors like Friedman. Yet, they repeatedly publish them and in doing so, add weight to university library basement storage.

My advice is not to waste good time on this book, unless you are a leisure reader who would waste good time reading books like a novel by George Washington Cable.

If You Want to Understand Erikson's Works, Read This First.
I had been introduced to the theories of Erik H. Erikson in a grad. course in Educational Psychology. The course introduced just enough of Erikson to whet my appetite to learn more about the man; I am glad I did because after reading this book, I feel I have gained a richer understanding of his 8 Stage Life Cycle Theory, and the concept of Identity.

Professor Friedman's book is compassionate, but not fawning. He gives as complete a picture of a very complex man; as complete as one would hope to have, and he does so in a non-judgemental way.

There are many unattractive aspects of Erikson the man; why did this sensitive man, this lover of children who was estranged from his own step-father, virtually disown his own son, who had Down's Syndrome, and have him institutionalized? What made him so ambivalent about his Jewish identity? Friedman explores these issues in a very thorough, yet compassionate way. Erikson himself had a difficult time reconciling the dark side of Gandi while writing his biography; lovers of Erikson, like myself, may have that same struggle while reading this book, but Mr. Friedman does a superb job of bringing out, and sythesizing the "dark Erik" with the Erikson whose works have inspired many a generation of people like myself who are advocates for the welfare of children.

I read this book first before reading "Childhood and Society" and "Identity Youth and Crisis" and I am glad I did, for Eriksons paradigm was born from his own identity crisis he suffered, which Friedman does a masterful job of portraying.

If you really want to understand Erikson's Works, read this book first. You too will be glad you did.

A superb biography and introduction to Erik H. Erikson
This is a superb biography of one of the most influential psychoanalytic theorists of the American postwar period.Erikson's writings profoundly influenced not only clinical psychological work, but also the general tenorof social and cultural thinking in this country.Yet his insights were notimmediately embraced, and his personal life was not without turmoil andprofound heartache.Lawrence Friedman has done a wonderful job ofpresenting a fully dimensioned, meticulously researched and empathicportrait of this remarkable clinician and thinker who, perhaps more thanany other individual writer, shaped the way that we think about ourselvesand our society.

More than an excellent biography
All too often when reading a biography, the author fails to ask the questions that often spring to my mind. Most of these questions are about about the subjects motivation...the why questions. Lawrence Friedman daresto try and answer the hard and complex questions about a life, in thiscase, Erik Erikson's life. Even if Erikson is only a vaguely familiar name,this biography is worth reading because its a study of a very human life.In addition to being a well-written life study, Identity's Architect helpsus to ask the difficult question about the origins of our own identity. Intracing the reoccuring themes in Erikson's life, Friedman makes transparentthe very human activity of identity construction. We know none of ussprings whole from Zeus'head, but we rarely question how we came to be theindividuals we are. In asking the questions of Erikson's life, Friedmanchallenges us to question the construction of our own identities.

A knockout biography from Lawrence J. Friedman
For many these days, the name, Erik Erikson, may seem a distant memory. Yet unbeknownst to many of us, we often rely upon Erikson's insights into stages of development, the life cycle, and identity crisis for a just aglimpse or understanding of who we are and where we are heading inlife.

In this penetrating biography of Erik Erikson, Lawrence Friedmansucessfully explores the inner conflicts and struggles of Erikson's ownidentity issues for insights into Erikson and his theories. What emergesfrom Friedman's book is the sense that both Erikson's legacy and insightsare vital to our own struggles to know ourselves. In this reviewer's humbleopinion, Friedman brilliantly shows how Erikson's relevance and impacttoday is no less than it was decades ago.

A jewel of biography! ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Recounts the life of the architect whose projects included designing the Hearst Castle at San Simeon, California. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Julia Morgan
This is a great little book. It gives insight to Julia Morgan the person more than Julia Morgan the Architect. There seems to be plenty of books covering her work but this is a bit more personal. I really enjoyed it.

Not what I expected
The book was shorter and smaller than what I expected.After visiting Hearst Castle last year and hearing about this architect, I wanted to learn more.I think that there are better books out there.

The Best Book Report Book
Wow. I wanted to do a good book for my book report. This book was just the right one. It's about the life of Julia Morgan and what she was like. Now, if you don't like biographies, I don't either. This book waas really good though. I recommend this to anyone that hates biographies. The other reason I think I liked it is that my name is similar to hers! This book is all about the true Julia Morgan.

An impressive woman, a bittersweet life
I've been somewhat familiar with Julia Morgan's architecture for many years, so it was interesting to read about her life. This is a nice quick read for an adult, but would really be wonderful as a gift to that niece or nephew who aspires to be an architect. The book does a good job of demonstrating how important Miss Morgan's determination and leadership skills were to her success, in addition to her obvious artistic giftedness.

As a Berkeley grad I was disappointed to learn that one of my heros, John Galen Howard, who was chief campus architect in the early 20th century (and designer of the Campanile, among many other of the granite buildings), acted in such a petty way towards Miss Morgan, blocking any campus building contracts from going to her because she had the audacity to leave his office to go solo. On the other hand, Bernard Maybeck sounds as though he was as delightful as the Berkeley brown shingles he designed.

A touching aspect of the book is how it illustrates Miss Morgan's kindness to everyone she came in contact with. She designed a playhouse for the children of the man who chauferred her to and from the Hearst Castle site. When her own mother was getting old and fearful she built an exact replica in San Francisco of the bedroom her mother had lived in for many years in Oakland.

Outstanding
I read this book when it first came out to review for our library collection.It has always been one of the books that has stood out in my mind as an unforgettable.It is terrific not just for the youth but alsoadults.It is an exemplary biography for an exemplary woman. Julia Morganwas one of our countries first women architects.It is an excellentbiography for girls and the general public.An excellent comprehensiveread of one ofour countries finest architects. I highly recommend it forsomeone looking for an oustanding, informative, inspiring fun read for ouryouth. ... Read more

Product Description
A biography of R. Buckminster Fuller, the architect and inventor whose investigations into the principles of nature influenced his designs and helped revolutionize our world. ... Read more

Product Description

Frida Kahlo was born in 1907 to parents of German and Spanish descent, in Coyoacan, outside Mexico City. After contracting polio at age six, Frida also suffered severe injuries in a bus accident. Her time spent in recovery turned her toward a painting career. These experiences, combined with a difficult marriage to the artist Diego Rivera, generated vibrant works depicting Frida's experiences with pain as well as the symbolism and spirit of Mexican culture. Though she died in 1954, interest in her work continues to grow, with museum exhibitions and publications around the world. This biography will introduce art students and adult readers to one of the Latino culture's most beloved artists.

In 2002, the film Frida introduced the artist and her works to a new audience. In 2007, the 100th anniversary of Kahlo's birth, a major exhibition of her work was held at the Museum of the Fine Arts Palace in Mexico. In 2007 through 2008, another major exhibition began its journey to museums throughout the United States.

Product Description
Early one day in the summer of 1993, the famously prolific architect Norman Jaffe went for a swim at the beach in Bridgehampton, New York, leaving his clothes in a neat little pile on the sand, as he did almost every morning. But this particular morning, he never returned. With his disappearance, he left behind many unanswered questions--not only about the cause of his death, but about the nature of his architectural legacy.

Romantic Modernist: The Life and Work of Norman Jaffe, Architect is the first book to explore Jaffe’s body of work and the inner struggle that shaped his life. Although he was described by Men’s Bazaar magazine as the "Man with an Image" when he posed for a fashion spread in the late 1960s, he was much more than that. A magnetic, free-spirited individual, he approached his work with a sense of passion that was all but unrivaled in the world of architecture. Over the course of his career, he established himself as an innovator in solar and urban design, but he is best known for his strikingly sculptural houses in the Hamptons, from small hideaways to sprawling estates, to which he brought an almost mystical vision: with the perfect balance of light and shadow and the right proportions and materials, he was convinced, houses could provide what he described as "dreamlike, romantic journeys" that offered an opportunity for self-discovery. Through interviews with Jaffe’s closest friends and associates, as well as exhaustive archival research, critic Alastair Gordon traces Jaffe’s career trajectory from his early years on the West Coast through his increasingly celebrated life in New York and his premature, unexplained death. Hundreds of original drawings and color photographs illustrate Jaffe’s riveting story, offering a rare look at this charismatic figure whose life was as interesting as the work he produced. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

gorgeous book and a good read
This looks like a gorgeous coffee table book but the story of Jaffe's life is more like a romantic thriller. His disappearance after a life of tortured creativity as the architect of choice to the rich and famous in the Hamptons makes for a riveting read with glorious visuals. Inspiring and inspired by Alastair Gordon who also wrote Weekend Utopia, another tale of architecture in the Hamptons, a great writer. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

work of art
What a fantastic book.

First let's consider the printing and binding quality. I recently got into these history books with included reproduction artifacts and they are a lot of fun. Most have magazine quality printing though that can be hard to read when the writing is reduced down. Not this book though, the color reproductions are printed at a higher dpi than others, on paper that is a nice flat texture. The design of the document pockets is more elegant than others, and the quality of the printing and the level of the text is clearly directed at an adult level rather than at the pre-teen school market of many other books in this niche. The book comes in a box and the cover of the interior book has a lovely elegant design.

The content is great, there is a lot I didn't know about the wide variety of architectural projects Jefferson took on, and the writing is engaging and flows well. There is a lot of interesting context, such as a review of the work and impact of Renaissance architectural genius Palladio, and we see clearly how Jefferson intentionally sought to make design references to the ancient Roman Republic's influence on the new American Republic.

Five stars are WAY too few.......
I am not an architect like the previous reviewer; I'm a historian of Mr. Jefferson. This is one of the most wonderful works you shall ever see...I have no idea how many years Mr. Wills spent on it, but the results are worth the effort. Fabulous pictures, reproductions of priceless charts, letters, and drawings, all lovingly, and perfectly, rendered. A true work of art in the finest sense of that term.

Thomas Jefferson would, of course, still be important had he never made a drawing, or designed anything. He was a statesman, attorney, philosopher, natural scientist, and probably had enough training to qualify as a physician; he functioned as such for his neighbors. BUT, he would also be important as an architect if that were all he was. His "fans", like me, know that. We spend years studying him, and NONE of us has him "figured out". Others need to know. I have read dozens of books about him, and never cease to marvel.

This is a "coffee table" book, but don't waste your money, or insult Mr. Wills, just to set it on a table. Buy it from Amazon...I paid the John Marshall House $50 for mine; oh well, they need the money worse. Buy it, read it, study it. Absorb beauty and perfection. Be amazed. Be grateful that one so great walked among us. Twenty stars, at least.

Excellent
I have not only been a fan of Thomas Jefferson' architecture for a long time, I have also spent years writing and researching his work. As an architect myself, may I say that this book is long overdue and a treasure of wonderful photographs. But most importantly are the stunning reproductions of Jefferson's original hand-drawn architectural drawings that are included within the book. It is also very low priced for the intricate arrangement of pockets and overlays within the book. Overall an excellent work. ... Read more

Product Description
Former Sports Illustrated senior writer Tim Crothers took a year off to write a book; that year became a five-year odyssey chronicling one of the most successful coaches in the history of sports. The Man Watching reveals, for the first time, the story of the man, Anson Dorrance, who built the University of North Carolina soccer program that Sports Illustrated hailed in 2003 as "The Greatest College Sports Dynasty Ever."Dorrance, in 2004, was named one of the top 25 coaches of the past 25 years by an expert panel at ESPN. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

The Man Watching
This is one of those books that is hard to put down. It helps to unpack the man 'Anson Dorrance' and the sporting legacy that he developed.

Good, if a bit one-sided
This is a good book, and very interesting as a sketch of one of the most (if not the most) successful college sports coaches of all time.The details of his life history and the anecdotes are interesting, and the book goes quickly.It seems, however, that with such an apparently controversial figure that there must be another side to the story.The book glosses over the causes of the lawsuit that was brought against him and ultimately settled, and most of the rest is close to hero-worshipping.If there is another side to the story, a dark side told from the point of view of his detractors, you will not get it from this book.
I would warn the soccer coaches who buy this book, it is not going to give you much that will help you become a better soccer coach.There are allusions to "the competitve cauldron" and some insight into the record-keeping and practice organization, but if you are buying this book to help you become a better soccer coach you will not get a lot out of it.

A Fascinating Journey Inside the Life of the Man Who Watched
I've been a college coach my entire life working with male and female athletes at the Division One level.Over a 30 year career I've read many many books on leadership, motivation, management and relationship building. Walk into any book store- there's thousands of them.
This book stands apart in my mind as one of the best simply because it takes you inside the UNC program that Dorrance built and shares his thoughts, observations, beliefs and practices.What is so powerful about the man and the story is the simple things he values most and how he reinforces them over and over within his teams daily regimen.
If you coach college sports at any level, this is a valuable read.If you coach female athletes at any level, especially high school or collegiate, this is a must read.
No two people ever think alike and Anson's style is unique to him.But the lessons that any leader can take from this book will be well worth the time spent.There are certain universal truths that all coaches have to come to grips with if they hope to be successful.It's clear from the beginning to the end of this read, that Anson's ability to grasp these truths and consistently weave them into his daily life lessons to his players is what sets him and the UNC program apart. His style may not appeal to everyone, his approach may not be your cup of tea, but it's hard to read this well written book and not come away with a sense of admiration for way he molds his athletes into champions.
This book is well worth reading and for anyone in the coaching profession, it will force you to re-evaluate how you approach your mission.

Would recommend it more for a player than a coach
As a previous review noted the first half of the book, which dwells on the coaches life, is much more of a "biography" than the second half.
The second half is more of a description of the "feel" of the UNC program, which based on the writing, seems authentic.
The programs description doesn't really add much to the biography unless you have an opinion about the UNC program.
The rituals and idiosyncracies of the program are no more interesting or poignant than any other D1 successful sports program.
I believe this book, through its many quotes and reprinted letters, gives a sense of what the emotions of college soccer are like for the athletes. As a coach of male and female soccer players, I would recommend it for female players who wonder what college soccer is like. Of course, any fan of the UNC girls program would find this an inspiring read since it holds true to the title and praises the program at length.

Parts are excellent; skim the over-the-top parts
The biography of Coach Anson Dorrance of UNC should appeal to soccer fans and coaches. As a general biography, I wouldn't recommend it, because the focus is clearly on soccer and not much else outside of the game, the Tar Heels, and Dorrance's personal life and family. The bigger view of the context in the greater world is mostly limited to some general trends, such as the rise of women's sports from virtually nothing to their much stronger state today.

The historical background was easily the most interesting part, and the first half of the book is much stronger than the second. Coach Dorrance's background as a child of the world and an aggressive, competitive youth was surprisingly engaging. Even better was the origin of women's varsity soccer at UNC and elsewhere as women's soccer germinated to a critical mass within American colleges. Similarly, the creation of the women's national team with early stars such as Michelle Akers and its evolution into a dominant power with and without Coach Dorrance was also very informative. Tim Crothers has added a valuable historical record by capturing these stories with factual reporting and extensive interviews.

Coach Dorrance is of course famous for the exceptional success of the program at UNC, and the Heels even won the next national championship after the book was published. The author draws out Dorrance's coaching philosophy, recruiting style, motivational approaches, and other aspects of his personality and performance. The various "aha!" moments where Dorrance learned to appreciate and exploit the differences between men and women have been fodder for stories and lectures for many years, and they make for excellent material and opportunities to compare with our own observations and attitudes.

What got a little tiresome was the volume of material on how competitive Dorrance is and how great Carolina is and how special Carolina is, almost as if other teams don't have their own special bonds among teammates or play with intense effort and dedication. I ended up skimming a bunch of that as too much rah-rah and of little additional value. Fortunately, Crothers added a chapter on Dorrance's "dark side", such as his arrogance. Some juicy, bitchy stories can make up for an excess on the praise side.

Crothers naturally had to cover the lawsuit. Based on the tone of the book, I surmise that the author has put the whole situation in a relatively positive view. Debbie Keller isn't exactly presented as sweetness and light. However, on the contrary side, the author reviews Dorrance's admitted mistakes, his agreement to training, his change in approach, and some remarks by people who were at least neutral on the whole matter. I'm not sure what to think, and the reader can still gather a lot from the biography if the lawsuit is secondary to one's interest in the book. ... Read more

Product Description
The first full biography ever published—a vivid portrait of this complex, curious, brilliant man.

The twentieth century was the century of the image—and Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004) was the eye of the century. Through the decades, this eye focused on Africa in the 1920s, the tragic fate of the Spanish Republicans, and the victory of the Chinese Communists. It was Cartier-Bresson who fixed in our minds the features of his contemporaries: Giacometti and Sartre as characters from their own works; Mauriac mysteriously levitating; Faulkner, Matisse, Camus, and countless others captured at the decisive moment in portraits for eternity.

An intensely private individual, Cartier-Bresson confided in his close friend Pierre Assouline over a number of years, even opening up his archives to him. Here, for the first time, we read about his youthful devotion to surrealism; his unending passion for drawing; the war and the prison camps; the friends and the women in his life. Assouline provides an acute and perceptive account of the life and philosophy of this icon of our times, and gives us an opportunity to reassess his contribution to twentieth-century photography and reportage. 23 illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great book.
For anyone who is aspiring to be a photographer or simply enjoys photography, Henri Cartier-Bresson is well-known legend in this realm of art. This book is great in all aspects-it tells of his beginnings, and tribulations, but also shares inspiring stories and words. It follows him throughout his life, and the events that affected his art. This book is not a short book, and can take some time to read. But if you like reading and enjoy this artist very much, you might not be able to put this book down. All around great book to read.

An Extraordinary Life
Henri Cartier-Bresson is undoubtedly one of the giants of modern photography.Much has been written about him and particularly his approach to photography, but nothing with this depth about his personal life.This is a book for those who have held "The Decisive Moment" in their hands, who are familiar with the master's work, or at least are willing to seek out some of the many publications of Cartier-Bresson's photographs from Amazon or their local library.Leica enthusiasts should be fascinated; HCB, as he is known by many, was the first (and perhaps the best) to push the Leica to its full potential.The book includes many photographs of Cartier-Bresson himself, some never before published.It does not include any of his photographs as they are surely best seen in the masterfully produced editions of The Decisive Moment, The Scrapbook, The World of Henri Cartier-Bresson, etc. What a fascinating life HCB has led. And what a pleasure it is to learn some of the background behind photographs long familiar to us, which until now had little more attached to them than the name of the country and the year in which they were taken. The translation from the French is a bit awkward, and inaccurate, at times, but I find that more charming than an irritation.This biography fills an enormous gap.It provides a loving and extensive glimpse into a private and remarkable world, and I am thankful for it.

A misunderstood book.
This book has been somewhat unfairly reviewed.

I have just read this fine book from cover to cover. Whilst I found it worthy of 4 stars, I have to agree that it has some weaknesses.

- The book really should have some of the photos to which the text often refers.

- The author has assumed that readers have a good knowledge of Henri and his work.

It is not a perfect book, BUT it is a very good book, IF you already have a good idea of Cartier-Bresson's life-story and life's work.

If you are an awe-inspired follower of Henri's photography, as I am, and have a good knowledge of his photos from reading and looking at his many books, you will find this an informative, enjoyable and satisfying read.

If you were to read this in conjunction with a book that includes his most important photo's, such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Photographer, you would be able to gain a great deal from reading this book.

However this is a book for the well-prepared.

I found the many anecdotes and quotations entertaining. They gave me a clearer insight into the man's life and his genius.

Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Biography
For the most part, this book is excellently written--even poetically written, at times. For the person who already appreciates and even worships Henri Cartier-Bresson (as I do) this book is satisfactory. For everyone else, however, this book lacks several important things:

1. Actual reproductions of the photographs specifically mentioned.
2. Aesthetic evaluations of the photographs mentioned.
3. Critical analyses by people not the author.

----Irving Orenstein

Not Worth Your Time
Pierre Assouline's book is an uninspired chronicle of the life of Henri Cartier-Bresson, the well-traveled artist and, according to Assouline, liberal intellectual who produced some of the twentieth century's most important journalistic photography.

One of the most annoying aspects of the book is its inartful explanation of Cartier-Bresson's privileged background and its effects on his life.Assouline stumbles when telling this part of the story, and the book cannot recover.On the one hand, the text constantly presents us with tantalizing aspects of idle wealth: the personalities, the international travel, the social, artistic and political allegiances.On the other hand, it half-heartedly makes the case that Cartier-Bresson all along eschewed his family's wealth.A boring and predictable explanation that, among other things, is not supported by direct evidence.Far from it. All indications are that Cartier-Bresson relied upon his social rank and resources while rising to artistic fame.He may have done it passively, but, at a minimum, his standing and money put him in the right place at the right time; and gave him the right friends. This is the story to be told.

In the first few chapters, Assouline takes us on a bland tour of the art schools, cafes and salons of Paris where the young Cartier-Bresson (along with other sons and daughters of the world's industrialist class) embedded himself during the 1930's lull between wars. The writer next focuses on Cartier-Bresson's dalliances with painting and world travel, along with his abbreviated career as a filmaker.Descriptions of pre-war France have been well and fascinatingly told elsewhere.In Assouline's book Cartier-Bresson's artistic and literary milieu comes off as impossibly ordinary.

The book's highest point is achieved in its chapters about the photographer's life during and immediately after World War II.But even these chapters do not describe for us any important episodes in his relations with other Magnum photographers.The writer obliquely references the photographer's sharp temper, but nowhere does it make an appearance directly.Cartier-Bresson's work within the Magnum agency is where the real meat of his biography should lie, but none of it is exposed to the reader.

This book is not worth your time.Rather, spend it looking at Cartier-Bresson's work, his photographs.


... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Beautiful, but Brief
A monograph on Chicago architect and planner Daniel Burnham is well over due.This is a big, beautiful book that has recent color photos of many of his major works.That being said, the book also has many shortcomings.The essay is relatively brief.There are no illustrations of Burnham & Root's earlier works such as the houses and commuter train stations that gave the firm its start.There's not even an illustration of the Montauk Building, known by many as the first skyscraper.There are very few plans and no sections or details (Wouldn't it be great to see a wall section of the Manadnock Building?).There is no building chronology, such as that contained in Thomas Hines Book.This is an expensive book, and for $95.00 (or even the reduced Amazon price) I would expect that this would be the one and only source book necessary for the study of Daniel Burnham. Unfortunately it's not.If you want a big picture book of Daniel Burnham's work, this is the book.If you want a more scholarly study, I suggest Thomas Hines "Burnham of Chicago". ... Read more

Product Description
A provocative new biography of the master of surrealism and megalomaniac exhibitionism, drawing on much previously untapped material. Salvador Dali's often bizarre life is chronicled in an entertaining way, including his relationships with Garcia Lorca, Andre Breton, Luis Bunuel, and Gala. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Dali's life
A basic biography about such a curious individual.Ordered this book for a paper that I am writing on psychopathology and Dali. Very helpful information; lots of description in this biography. Not just a time line.

The memory man
Surrealists said that someone who came up with something out of the ordinary must have been in love with Gala Eluard: her husband Salvador Dali's unforgettable imagery, from early autobiographical works through Surrealist dream symbols to metaphysical and religious themes, drew into the art world people who had been uninterested in painting. Perhaps he revealed the secret of his appeal when he said that he drew just one picture, mixing what happened to him and in the world with eternal themes from his childhood, such as the threatening father in "The old age of William Tell." Some childhood memories found expression in Hieronymus Bosch-styled decaying soft objects, as in "The persistence of memory." With "Cenicitas" and "La miel es mas dulce que la sangre," he launched his psychoanalytically symbolic art by following the Surrealist ideal of uncensored and uncontrolled imagery, knowing what to apply from Sigmund Freud's "The interpretation of dreams," and using sleepwalking shadows, Joaquin Sorolla-type light, and jewel-like clear colors. One of his hallmarks became pictures with multiple images: "The endless enigma" double, triple and quadruple imaging into such disturbing visions as a fish skeleton balanced on top of a stick and Gala's eyes staring cruelly out at viewers; "The image disappears" double imaging a Jan Vermeer-styled girl into a bearded man; "The metamorphosis of Narcissus" double imaging Narcissus into a petrified hand holding an egg cracking into a narcissus, with Sandro Botticelli-type dancing figures and Umbrian school-like golden glowing background; his metaphysical "Dali a six ans soulevant avec precaution la peau de l'eau pour observer un chien dormir a l'ombre de la mer" covering a dog with atomic reactor-type, mirrorlike heavy water and reflecting granite cliffs, in a Piero di Cosimo-styled seascape; one of his nuclear fission series, "The three sphinxes of Bikini," double imaging the atomic explosion into three heads, with one turning into two trees. Later, one of the high points in his religious paintings was floating a foreshortened "Christ of St John of the cross" over an early evening sky and above the rocks of the painter's homeland. From his fascination with three-dimensional art and as an exercise in the stereoscopy that he saw in Gerard Dou's art, he painted "Dali from the back painting Gala from the back externalized by six virtual corneas, provisionally reflected by six mirrors." And his final masterpiece Teatro museo Gala-Dali was a three-dimensional autobiography of all his ideas and images. Author Meredith Etherington-Smith reads magnificently with DALI'S OPTICAL ILLUSIONS edited by Dawn Ades and Robert Radford's DALI. Readers might want to look into Ruth Brandon's SURREAL LIVES, Sharon Fermor's PIERO DI COSIMO, Carl Linfert's BOSCH, Bruno Santi's BOTTICELLI, and Arthur K. Wheelock's JAN VERMEER. ... Read more

Product Description
The Snowflake Man is a biography of Wilson Alwyn Bentley, thefarmer from Jericho, Vermont, who took more than five thousandphotomicrographs of ice, dew, frost, and - especially - snow crystals.Although his photographs were taken between 1885 and 1931, they have neverbeen equaled and are in great demand today.

Bentley's story is one of courage and persistence against tremendous odds.He taught himself how to photograph snow crystals through a microscopewhile still in his teens and then pursued his obsession for years beforehaving the beauty and scientific value of his work recognized by others.The Snowflake Man lays open the life of a simple, self-educated, sensitiveman who pursued natural beauty with microscope and camera for nearly fiftyyears. The book contains 30 black and white photographs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

To Preserve Nature's Designs for all the World to See.
Wilson A. Bentley rarely left Jericho, Vermont, but his contributions to meteorology and his extraordinary photomicrographs of snow crystals reach far and wide. In 1885, at the age of 19, Bentley became the first person to successfully photograph a snowflake. A lifetime of dedication -not to say obsession- to preserving the beauty of ephemeral snow crystals produced over 5,000 impressive snowflake images. Even now, Bentley's images are found on textiles, paper products, jewelry, and every sort of graphic art. Atmospheric scientist and author Duncan Blanchard has pieced together Bentley's story as best as possible with relatively little surviving documentation of his personal life. Of course, to Bentley, photographing snowflakes and studying atmospheric phenomena was his personal life. He was passionately devoted to it.

"The Snowflake Man" begins with a little Bentley family history, then follows Wilson's life and work from his birth in 1865 to his death in 1931 at age 66, shortly after the publication of his wonderful "Snow Crystals", which brought the best of his vast collection of snow crystal photos to book form. Bentley lived his entire life on his family's 4-generational farm and made his photographs in the barn, washing his glass plates in a brook, making copy negative with an oil lantern and contact prints by sunlight. He applied the same methodical perfectionism to recording the weather and studying the formation of raindrops and frost, among other atmospheric water phenomenon. Many of Bentley's contributions to meteorology were recognized at the time, but science took a few decades to catch up with his pioneering work in cloud physics.

Duncan Blanchard has written a sympathetic biography of Wilson Bentley, a man who suffered constant derision for his scientific obsession that was simply unproductive and out of place in a farming community. His spectacular photomicrographs opened the door to professional respect and, eventually, popular fame. This biography is more straightforward than eloquent, and Blanchard jumps to too many conclusions about Bentley's thoughts and his family. But the book is very readable and contains as much information on Wilson Bentley as anyone is going to find. There is an index in the back as well as a list of all of the known articles that Bentley authored in his lifetime.

A fitting tribute for one man's life long obsession
It is said that no two snowflakes are alike; the same holds true for the obsessions that drive the human spirit. Some we control, others control us. Wilson A. Bentley, an eccentric Vermont farmer, gave in to his fascination with snowflakes and spent his entire life documenting their myriad forms. His unprecedented and starkly beautiful collection of literally thousands of photographs of snowflakes taught the world just how unique these ice crystals really are, and how one man could stubbornly pursue one microscopic slice of knowledge over the entire course of his life.

Bentley lived and died bewitched by atmospheric process. As a teenager, he built by hand the photographic equipment that would later gain him some measure of fame, often incorporating found materials - such as straws from a broom - into the rigors of his study. Dismissed by most as a harmless crank, his work was groundbreaking, leading to a revolution in understanding.

In The Snowflake Man, author Duncan S. Blanchard uses his professional training as a meteorologist and physicist to commemorate the labor of love that drove Bentley. The writing is, at best, of limited merit but in some odd way that only serves to make the images of Bentley - a confirmed bachelor - hunched over his photographic equipment all the more poignant. What is clear is that Mr. Blanchard knows his subject matter well and was no doubt inspired in his own career by the unwavering dedication, or obsession, of the odd and all but forgotten researcher.

Like Bentley's favorite subject matter, the book itself will quickly melt away - it is a slim effort that can be read in one sitting. The photographs, now almost a century old, are still remarkable though. Most compelling, however, is the insight it offers into obsession which will linger long after the last page. It is a worthy and recommended read if only to honor the fierce, undying commitment of the snow flake man.

Unique Education
This book, as is snowflakes, is very unique.Illustrations are fantastic and tell a story of their own!

Warmest possible treatment of a delightfully chilly subject
Author Blanchard brings humor, life, and compelling energy to an eccentric and an era previously hidden under a thick layer of (snow)dust.Bentley, generally considered an eccentric -- when considered at all -- was actuallya dedicated scientist with an artist's eye and heart.What could have beendull scientific treatise actually reads with the smooth pull of a goodnovel. ... Read more

Product Description
Robert Polito recounts Thompson's relationship with his father, a disgraced Oklahoma sheriff, with the women he adored in life and murdered on the page, with alcohol, would-be censors, and Hollywood auteurs. Unrelenting and empathetic, casting light into the darker caverns of our collective psyche, Savage Art is an exemplary homage to an American original. A National Book Critics Circle Award winner. 57 photos.Amazon.com Review
Jim Thompson wasone of the greatest crime novelists ever, leaving behind a legacy ofhard-boiled classics like The Grifters and The Getaway.Robert Polito has written the definitive biography of this brilliant Americanoriginal.Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for biography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Savage Art
Polito wrote a masterpiece on the subjetc. Impressive book for all who whant to decipher who was the incredible writer Jim Thompson.
Plus the writer includes fragmentary notesof lost papers, and of books written by Jimmy now out of print, lots of pictures, newspapers notices's...It is a great book ( and a big one: 500 pages!). I would like to know if Polito had the birth certificate of Jim, because I'm an astrologer and very curious to know the hour he was born!
Clélia Romano
clelia.romano@gmail.com

Well-researched but disappointing...
Meticiously researched and winning awards, this biography of the writer is ultimatly over-written, and too often, is boring.

The author attemps to draw similarities betweein Thompson's life and thought processes by inclunding passages from his works which becomew boring in the extreme. This will prove especially irritating to all but the individual who has read the majority of Thompson novels and short stories. The author constantly divulges every aspect of Thompson's works, down to the smallest detail. New readers of Thompson will likely feel they've already read Thompson's entire output.

This is a valid biographical tool but the author relies on it too much. The rememerances of family, associates, friends, and others who knew Thompson are also carried to the extreme. It seems every two or three paragraphs is followed by a 'rememberance' or section of Thompson's work. I probably skipped half the book due to this irrirating habit of the author trying to analyze Thompson
through these devices.

The hard facts of Thompson's life are fascinating, however, and I
found myself wondering how with all his hangups, family problems,
heavy drinking, and such how Thompson managed to live as long as he did. Thompson was a troubled individual his entire life and it
is obvious he poured much of his fears and frustrations into his incredible works.

I can recommend this book to the devoted Thompson fan since it does detail his life nicely but be aware that even the most hardened fan will find it hard going.

Fascinating and Tragic
Jim Thompson was largely forgotten when he died in 1977. The years since his death have brought about a new appreciation for his work. Robert Polito tells readers Thompson's life story in Savage Art. Amazingly, Thompson's life story might be even better than any of the stories that he told in his books.

Polito has done a masterful job of research and he illuminates Thompson's fascinating, tragic life. Thompson's best books are rooted in his unsatisfying relationship with his father, a small-town sheriff who made - and lost - several fortunes while his son was young. Partly as a result of his father's problems, Jim Thompson worked in an incredible range of jobs (bellboy, oil-field worker, door-to-door salesmen, journalist, etc.) and traveled all over the United States. Polito helps his readers understand how Thompson's background influenced his work.

For all of Thompson's skill as a writer, he was a bitterly-unhappy alcoholic who spent his life in poverty. Savage uncovers Thompson's horrible decisions and wasted opportunities in a narrative that both fascinates and repels. The string of catastrophes recounted in Savage Art will make many readers cringe.

While Savage Art is very readable, I have a few quibbles about it. The book (at 508 pages) should be about 100 pages shorter. Polito goes off on too many tangents for my taste. He chose to include the entire text from scores of letters written by Thompson and to Thompson. Polito also goes into excruciating detail about Thompson's mother's and father's family backgrounds. A good editor would have helped Polito trim some fat from Savage Art.

I first read Savage Art in the mid-1990s and I thought that it was great. My local library had an old copy in its discards for 50 cents, so I read it again this summer (2009). Once again, Savage Art held my attention. History will decide where Thompson stands among the great crime-fiction writers. Whatever the verdict, crime-fiction fans will enjoy Savage Art.

Thorough and well written
I highly recommend this 1995 National Book Award winner.Thorough and utterly engrossing, Savage Art will satisfy both longtime Thompson fans and neophytes, providing stunning insight into the man as well as the autobiographical aspects of his ofttimes sordid fictional output. Definitely a must read for those who appreciate noir.

Interesting, illuminating, meticulously researched.
Savage Art is a truly remarkable work of scholarship.In it, Robert Polito meticulously separates out fact from the considerable amount of mythology that surrounds Jim Thompson's life.
Since so much of what Thompson wrote is autobiographical in origin, a knowledge of Thompson's very unusual life history helps the reader better appreciate his work.So it is not at all hard to argue that this is not only a well written and fascinating biography, it is an important one as well.
Polito explains, in exacting detail, how Thompson's life and consequently his writing was influenced by the interpersonal and societal forces he encountered as he matured.
To put it another way.Jim Thompson's worldview was shaped, nurtured and, some would say, warped by his life experiences.
He then took this unique worldview and used it to interpret the self same experiences which formed it. The result is Thompson's very significant contribution to 20th century American fiction.Dark, disturbing books inhabited by sad, desperate characters trapped in hideous circumstances.These are novels that boldly explore areas that would otherwise be unexplorable.
Savage Art is very much a monumental achievement.Essential reading for Jim Thompson fans.
... Read more

Product Description
In James G. Blaine: Architect of Empire, author Edward P. Crapol assesses Blaine's role as an architect of empire and revisits the ambitious imperialistic goals of this two-time secretary of state. Crapol examines Blaine's pivotal role in shaping American foreign relations and looks at some of the underlying reasons why the U.S. acquired an overseas empire at the turn of the century.

This text will acquaint readers with how Blaine sought to win global economic supremacy and intended to transform the U.S. into the world's number one power. The book also lends insight into Blaine's efforts to spark energetic governmental action in revitalizing the merchant marine, building a first-class navy, using the coercive tactic of reciprocity, achieving unilateral control of an isthmian canal, and creating U.S. political and economic hegemony in the hemisphere. In addition, James G. Blaine: Architect of Empire takes a serious look at Blaine the Anglophobe and anti-British nationalist who defined Great Britain as the U.S.'s primary global rival and the chief obstacle to American economic and political dominance in Latin America and the Pacific.

Finally, Crapol looks at Blaine as the transitional figure who helped forge the economic expansionist mentality that underpinned the late nineteenth-century burst of imperialism. James G. Blaine is an excellent resource for scholars and students interested in America's imperial past and the figures who played key roles in America's global economic development. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good but wish it had a little more detail
Edward Crapol provides a short but insightful book into the effect James Blaine had on the development of "American Empire" in the Gilded Age.From the house to his eventual triumphs as secretary of state in several administrations James Blaine "the man from Maine" developed many of the key ideas that would allow William McKinnley to be successful in annexing Hawaii, expanding American influence and the expansion of American trade through things like the open door policy.These were all things Blaine pushed for but lacked the ability to get through due to changes in administrations during his time.His unsuccessful runs for the presidency were usually matched by his ability to wind up as secretary of state where he did far more good than he would have otherwise done.He was an able administrator with thinking beyond his time that would transcend into the future according to Crapol.The biggest complaint about this book is that it does not go into enough detail and you find yourself wondering how some of the conclusions are reached since we don't hear about the debates in the senate or more about the proposed revolutions in Hawaii.It still provides an excellent look at what happened just without the details of why it happened.Overall it is at 4 stars due to the lack of detail.

James G. Blaine
I am related to James G. Blaine and have read most books about him and his times.This was the best to date. Wallace Blaine Murray

Wonderful, one of a kind
This wonderful study opens a new window on Mr. Blaine and his contributions tot he development of America.Many have looked towards TR as the 'imperial president'but this fine study shows that in fact the ideas and the machinery of 'empire' and expansion beyond the continent were being drawn up long before, in the late 1800s.Blaine used his influence on the navy and to encourage the movement into such spheres as the 'guano' islands, finally America was beggining to actually enfore the Monroe Doctrin, which had been enacted more then 50 years before.

This is an excellent study of America and one of its great 'forgotten' politicians, someone who everyone knew about in the 1800s but who many forgot by the 1920s.Exploring the picotal role of this man, this is a must read for any student of american history or anyone interested in Americas place in the world.

Seth J. Frantzman ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Biograpphy or Dictionary?
In many ways an admirable book and Holroyd writes with elegance, knowledge and wit.He, however, follows the recent trend in biography by feeling it necessary to retail every tiny tidbit he has discovered about John. Longletters are printed, for example, when the relevant information could becapsulized in five words. The reader is finally distracted by the sheervolume of inconsequential material and the overwhelming feeling that theauthor doesn't believe that the reader can follow where he is going withoutconstant, constant reinforcement. The book edges toward a sixth gradeaccount of the summer at camp in which logical development is snowed underand beautiful writing obscured by detail. ... Read more

Product Description
Wright's family history, personal adventures, and colorful friends are explored in this evocative biography. Secrest had unprecedented access to an extensive archive of Wright's letters, photographs, drawings and books. "Secrest's achievement is to etch Wright's character in sharp relief. . . . (She) presents Wright in his every guise".--Blair Kamin, "Chicago Tribune". 121 photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Great but Flawed Genius
FLW is certainly the great man of architecture in the USA,
but as a human being he had few redeeming qualities.He
charmed his way through life, unable to ever live within
his means.Who needs two grand pianos?How many buddas
do you have to have?He lived life on a grand scale because
he acquainted it with a neccesity for a happy life.He was a
driven man.I think Meryle Secrest recounts all this and more
in her wonderful biography.

It was a gift
It was a gift for someone (most of my purchases are), but the person said it was a wonderful book.

Wright the Man is Chronicled Here
Wright the man is chronicled here, in one of the two best biographies of the architectural superstar.One would also want to read Brendan Gill's "Many Masks" as a companion to Ms Secrest's treatment of F Ll W - just to get the harmonizing flavors of opinion.

Ms Secrest does magnificent research and shares it in a narrative that flows easily and keeps one's attention.Her information about Wright's family tree, as well as the family background of his wives and Mrs. Cheney, is more thoroughly presented than I have seen elsewhere.

One must not expect a thorough critique of Wright's buildings here -- there are too many works to be considered and there are many other resources, old and new, for such explorations."In the Nature of Materials" leaps to mind.However, this book does flesh out the man and in some ways dispels some of the outlandish tales and outright fabrications about his life, toward which Wright was oft inclined.

It should be noted that Secrest is one of the Wright biographers who mistakenly limit the contributions of Isabel Roberts, who was a draughtsman/architect in her own right.She defines Roberts' roll simply as: "Isabel Roberts, secretary ".She cannot be faulted too much, having swallowed the red herring presented by Frank Lloyd Wright himself when writing about the Oak Park "...studio adjoining my home, where the work I had then to do enabled me to take in several draughtsmen and a faithful secretary, Isabel Roberts..."In future, Wright biographers would be wise to consult research done by John A. Dalles presented in hisarticle, "The Pathbreaking Legacy of Ryan and Roberts", in "Reflections", the journal of the Historical Society of Central Florida, Summer 2009; pages 8 and 9.

You may wish to read Wright's disingenuous "An Autobiography" (1943) as well as some of the family books - "The Valley of the God-Almighty Joneses: Reminiscences of Frank Lloyd Wright's Sister, by Maginel Wright Barney, 1986, and his son, John Lloyd Wright's "My Father Who Is On Earth", G P Putnam Sons, NY, 1946. But consider this a mostly reliable guide to Mr. Wright's long and theatrical life.

Frank Llloyd Wright: A Biography
Biography is very thorough, but the writing is somewhat difficult to read due to organization.

Prairie interests
This is an excellent book by Meryle Secrest on Frank Lloyd Wright.It traces the career of America's foremost builder from his days in Chicago as a resident in fashionable Oak Park to his final days on the Arizona desert.Ms. Secrest does not specialize in architecture, but this appears to be an asset. While there are plenty of books that can go on (and on and on) about building techniques, this is intended for the lay person who is interested in Frank Lloyd Wright in general terms.This book provides an excellent introduction to both the man and his work. ... Read more

Product Description
Theodor Seuss Geisel, creator of Horton the Elephant, the Grinch, the Cat in the Hat, and a madcap menagerie of the best-loved children’s characters of all time, stands alone as the preeminent figure of children’s literature. But Geisel was a private man who was happier at the drawing table than he was across from any reporter or would-be biographer. Under the thoughtful scrutiny of Charles D. Cohen, Geisel’s lesser known works yield valuable insights into the imaginative and creative processes of one of the 20th century’s most original thinkers.Amazon.com Review
Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, was one of the titans of 20th century American children's literature--a legacy that shows no sign of diminishing in the 21st. But such epochal fare as The Cat in the Hat and enduring, whimsical characters as Horton, The Grinch and Sam-I-Am represent but one corner of the late writer/artist's vast artistic universe. Other Geisel biographies have detailed his remarkable life and vibrant art, but Massachusetts dentist/Seussiana collector nonpareil Richard D. Cohen serves up a "visual biography" that's part lovingly illustrated coffee table book and part insightful analysis of a creative mind and the various historical and cultural forces that shaped it. Cohen richly illustrates his compelling tribute with key, telling artifacts from his own massive collection. No corner of the author/artist's life has escaped Cohen's obsessive collector's eye, including: turn-of the-century bottles of the Geisel family brewery, Geisel's teenage writings and illustrations, later work that spans careers in cartooning advertising (successful campaigns for Esso, Flit and others), wartime propaganda (including uncredited work on the Oscar-winning Hitler Lives!) and Hollywood (The 5000 Finger of Dr. T). Indeed, in Cohen's thoughtful, lavishly illustrated analysis, Geisel's latter-day incarnation as children's author supreme was but the logical distillation of a lifetime devoted to wit, wordplay and whimsical art.--Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Not the whole Seuss!
This is a very well researched history of the pre-Cat In the Hat career of Theodor Geisel.What I found annoying was the book barely covers the post-1957 period, whichwas where all of Doctor Seuss's best known work can be found. It was probably not the point of the author to fully cover the later period, but the title of the book should reflect the contents of the book.

Yes I Love It, Sam-I-Am!
As we celebrate the centennial of Ted Geisel's birth, material is appearing that looks at the influence of Dr. Seuss on generations of American readers.Dr. Cohen brings us what is obviously a labor of love. Drawing inspiration on his extensive collection of Seussiana, he has produced one of the most lavishly illustrated and broadly scoped book on the life and works of the good doctor.

Cohen reaches back to Geisel's school days and illustrates the development of the artist's style and humor. Continually he will point out how pieces done at various points in Geisel's life can be traced as part of the development of what would become some of his trademark images and beloved characters, including the Grinch. Instead of focusing heavily on Seuss's books, he draws attention to the vast collection of other artwork that was drawn, mostly before the books even came into being. Seuss's work as a humorist, advertising artist, sculptor, and cartoonist (political and otherwise) are shown here as he continued to improve and hone his craft. The end results are the books that are so beloved to multitudes of people who were lucky enough to grow up with Seuss in the house.

The book would be worth it for the pictures alone, but the accompanying text helps get below the surface of many of the pieces, and to tie them together into a artist's whole output. Even if you only look at the pictures and read the captions to the pictures, you will get a whole new appreciation of Dr. Seuss's work over the years. If I any complaint, it is that in some ways the books almost get shorted too much in this narrative, and too often the captions for the illustrations are repetitive to the text.But these are minor quibbles that in no way detract from the glorious whole.

For the Seuss lover, and for the casual reader, this book brings the reader a whole new appreciation of a beloved illustrator's work and the genius that was Dr. Seuss.

The many facets of Dr. Seuss
Since 2004 is the Seussentennial, or the hundredth anniversary of Dr. Seuss' birth, this is a great time to get to know more about one of America's most popular icons of children's literature. Ted Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, was far more than an author and illustrator of children's books and movies. His career includes humorist, journalist, advertising genius, magazine and political cartoonist, creator of wartime training and propaganda films, president of a publishing company, and spokesman for children's education.

Author Charles Cohen, a dentist and avid collector of Seussiana, is well qualified to write this visual biography of Ted Geisel. Through lavish illustrations, many from his own collection, Cohen shows the many facets of Geisel's art and imagination. The reader is treated to Geisel's earliest works from long before his first published children's book. These include examples of his college newspaper cartoons and his many successful advertising campaigns that blended humor and salesmanship. These creations are juxtaposed with his later children's books to provide the reader a deeper understanding of how culture and history shaped the evolution of his ideas and whimsical bestiary, and to point out the same themes cropping up over and over again in his works.

Although this book provides a fascinating view into many unusual perspectives of Dr. Seuss the artist and innovator, there is little here about Ted Geisel the man. In the introduction, Cohen says that he neither met Geisel nor interviewed anyone who knew him. Instead he delved into Geisel's works to discover what made him tick. As a result, there are many facts missing about Geisel's personal life and friendships. The few personal facts that were thrown in, mostly towards the end of the book, came from out of nowhere and made me crave more details. It is for this reason, especially since this book is called a "visual biography," that I rated it four stars instead of five. It is more a visual exploration of Geisel's works than a biography. Nevertheless, I strongly recommend this book. It will open your eyes to a creatively obsessed man that you never realized existed. It will also rekindle your fond memories of the Dr. Seuss books you read as a child. Perhaps it will even shed a bit of light on why you loved those books so much.

Eileen Rieback

A Grown-up Biography of a Children's Hero
With the awful, distorted, contrived pile of wasted film, conjured up in the form of Mike Myers' take on the "Cat in the Hat," it would be nice to know why, in the beginning of it all, Dr. Seuss was ever popular at all. He was a great writer and cartoonist before his famous cat's striped hat became chic fashion among post-grunge era teenagers.

In "The Seuss, the Whole Seuss and Nothing But the Seuss: A Visual Biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel" by Charles Cohen, we are shown the greatness of Seuss -- of Theodor Geisel, through drawings, paintings and text. We get to learn about his early days at Dartmouth, as he toyed with hybridic animals, wit and satire.

Not every idea worked. Seuss, an experimenter, evolved from being a talented but rustic styler of odd creatures into a sophisticated artist of odd, if not bizarre beasts that had genuine identity.

Before he write and drew books about green eggs, grinches, and elephants named Horton, he was an editorial cartoonist. His language in many of the cartoons was far from being politically correct, but his social commentary decrying racism was right on. He hard-handed racist thought with no evidence of his sweet children's characters kindness.

Cohen has produced an array of research. Samples of Seuss' art grace most pages. We also get a look at the vast merchandising, parodies, and unlicensed knock-offs.

This is not a children's book. Don't be fooled by the name of the publisher. It is for someone interested in reading a serious look at the history of one of America's beloved cartoonists.

I fully recommend "The Seuss, the Whole Seuss and Nothing But the Seuss: A Visual Biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel." by Charles D. Cohen.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

Fabulous!
This book is not all about reiterating the Seuss stories we've already read, but instead an objective well researched pictoral and written account of the man so many love.Cohen does a great job researching the possible meanings of Geisel's cartoons and later texts.There are many, many Judge magazine and other political cartoons that are absolutely hilarious, and absolutely adult in nature (similar to alot of his "childrens" stories).

I highly recommend this book to anyone what likes to drop into a chapter then skip to another at an opposite end of the book because they are somewhat independent although chronological, it is easy to skip around to the parts you feel like reading for that day.

Also, at 400 pages full color, who can pass up the bargain?

f.y.i. This biography seems to coincide a lot with *In Search of Dr. Seuss* the movie that just came out in dvd ... Read more