Themes Books

I found Tom Mangelsen's gallery in Jackson a few months ago, and while I was there, I had a chance to see many of his just downright stunning images.

As an aspiring wildlife photographer, I truly appreciate the superb work of Tom Mangelsen. Also, while in his gallery, I had the chance to talk to as well as meet Mr. Mangelsen himself.

This book is just simply stunning. I cannot think of any other description. The many different images of the polar bear in its natural environment has to be seen to be appreciated.

What I like the most about this book over so many other "nature" books is that we get to see the many facets of the polar bears life, from the tender side with a mother and her babies, to the savage nature of these beautiful animals...not just some glossy expose that says nothing.

I would encourage anyone who loves nature photography, whether you are a "couch" photographer/explorer or are planning on a career in wildlife photography.

Heartily recommended!!!!

Mangelsen has created an outstanding work of art that can be appreciated by polar bear lovers and nature lovers alike. The intentional ommission of captions until the end of the book allows the reader to view each photo as a work of art, absorbing the beauty and magic of each piece. It is an essential coffee table book for those intrigued and mystified by the polar bear, and strongly recommended for anyone who enjoys nature photography. A definite bargin in the world of nature photography books.

This is an essential book for polar bear and nature photography lovers alike. There are over 250 photos of polar bears, and arctic wildlife captured in the beautiful frozen world they live in.

I found the photography truly captivating. The adorable bears are shown splashing in the water, dancing, taking afternoon naps & wandering through the snow. There is even one of the mother making friends with a sled dog.

I was deeply touched by the many images of the cubs snuggling close to their mother. I found the other wildlife photos featuring many foxes and birds equally impressive. The captions for all the images are in the back of the book.

Along with the pictures, there is a wonderful story of a year in the life of a mother polar bear & her 2 cubs. The author switches pleasingly between factual accounts of the arctic world, folklore, & the personal story of the bear family.

I discovered the work of Thomas Mangelson about ten years ago in Jackson, Wyoming, when I stumbled across a gallery devoted to his work. The most famous image there, the one of two grown polar bears "dancing," is on the cover of this book.

The book encapsulates all the artistry of this outstanding photographer. As difficult as it is to capture wildlife images, it's doubly so when you are photographing white animals against snow! Mangelson spends some four months a year in the Arctic, enlarging his huge repertoire of images. I can't begin to imagine the patience and meticulous attention to detail that is required to gather these pictures, but I'm glad Mangelson can!

I love the fact that this book shows the chronological sequence in the life of a bear family, and also that it doesn't have captions on each page. That allows you to follow the sequence of images undisturbed by human intrusion - you become a part of the life cycle, so to speak. Mangelson's work enables the viewer to see the bears as a complex family unit in addition to their usual portrayal as hardy predators. It cannot fail to move the viewer; this is a book to savor again and again.

I'm a huge fan of just about every image this photographer has ever published, and this book is, to me, the culmination of his work. I recommend it to everyone, bear fan or not!

Polar Dance is in my opinion the most mind-blowing book on bears I have ever seen. I am an artist who works with faux fur, specializing in the creation of all species of bears. Polar Dance is the most treasured of all my wildlife books. The photographs of the ice bear taken so sensitively evokes my deepest emotions each time I turn the pages. I can almost feel the cold and snow out there on the Arctic. I reach for this book often for inspiration and even comfort. I never cease to be amazed at how beautifully Thomas Mangelsen has portrayed the "Tiger of the North". Certainly he has done justice to perhaps the most magnificent of God's creatures. Polar Dance is more than a book. It is a work of art.

This book combines solid historical research with an attractive and amusing style of writing, resulting in a fascinating book about the "discovery" of this great American bird by Europeans.

Learned, witty, imaginative, unexpected, this book is a treasury of language, literature and images associated with the turkey. Beautifully produced, it is selling at a bargain price, and guaranteed to enliven your gathering around the turkey, for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any other feast.

Eiche has produced a masterpiece that deserves to become a best seller. Wonderful and witty account of the introduction of the New World Turkey into the Renaissance Old World, with brilliant tidbits of turkey lore and poems to accompany your Thanksgiving feast. A perfect stocking stuffer for old and young. Get it while Amazon still has copies available.

Joanna Woods-Marsden, Los Angeles, CA.

This book is an instant classic, which will doubtless inspire generation after generation of food mavens, history buffs--and just about anyone who enjoys good eating and good writing. The humble fowl furnishes the premise for the author to take us on an exhilarating trip across cultures and historical eras. Eiche paints a panorama of cultural, culinary and artistic life that assumes almost epic proportions, but she never fails to delight with her eye for wierd, offbeat, and just plain hilarious details. The author, a distinguished scholar of Renaissance art, writes with great charm and a dry sense of humor that is almost too deliciously wicked. Her prose will is reminiscent of the great bellettrists of natural history, from Izaak Walton to Diane Ackerman (whose books, if you haven't read them, would make a perfect accompaniment to this one). Whether you're looking for a great gift book, in search of some un-put-downable cultural and culinary history to read on a cold autumn night, or just want to adorn a holiday table with its gloriously beautiful illustrations--this is a book you'll gobble up with pleasure again and again!

This book is a gem! It documents, with remarkable art and historic references, the turkey's journey from the Americas to Europe. The illustrations are delightful, ranging from tapestries and cookbooks to political cartoons. Everyone I have shown this book has enjoyed it.

This is a beautifully produced photographic essay on the plight of the Puerto Rican people in the United States. It begins, interestingly, in Hawaii but spreads across the entire United States, with stops in New York City, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey, Chicago, Washington DC, and California. Most of the photographs are from the 1980s, with a few somewhat earlier. The photographs are supported by well written, informative text that movingly documents the struggle of a displaced, disenfranchised people. The Puerto Rican people are in a peculiar position which has made them especially vulnerable to exploitation and discrimination. They are part of the United States, so they are American citizens. But they are not a state. They do not vote in federal elections and have no representation in the U.S. Congress. Puerto Rico is considered a "commonwealth," with a somewhat confusing and ambiguous status. The issue of statehood versus independence versus continuation of the status quo as a commonwealth is a matter of ongoing debate among Puerto Ricans. However, the history of the relationship with the United States is akin to the relationship between a colonial power and a colony, namely, oppression and exploitation by large well capitalized interests. This book is the visual documentation of the human impact of that relationship. In response to the economic hardships facing them on the island, many Puerto Ricans migrated to the United States mainland and Hawaii in hopes of improving their lot. Frank's assessment of that quest is generally negative. He believes that living conditions in the Puerto Rican communities have worsened between 1980 and 2000. However, his beautiful black and white photographs, which include many sensitive portraits as well as urban landscapes, reveal a community with great vitality and youthful energy struggling against the harsh background of poverty and discrimination. Although they are downtrodden, these people are not in despair. That can be clearly seen in the photographs. These are people with dreams and the drive to pursue them. These are communities that have strong internal bonds and are engaged in a vigorous ongoing struggle to improve their fortunes. Frank has been an activist and a leader in that struggle as well as a photographer who documents it. He has produced a very moving and informative book that is a credit to his people and their ongoing endeavor. In the interest of full disclosure Frank has been a teacher, mentor, and friend of mine for probably twenty years. He brings high standards of craftsmanship and quality to his work as a photographer. One sees those standards of excellence at work in the skill and thought with which this high quality book has been put together. It is an excellent addition to any photographic collection.

Bravo! This life's work by Frank Espada is a beautiful and moving documentary of humanity. The stunning photographs tell a compelling story on their own. The stories that accompany the photos tell the heart wrenching experiences of a proud people that have contributed so much to our history and culture, yet at the same time continue to be neglected. This book should be in the curriculum of every high school, college and university across the country, as it certainly chronicles an important chapter of civil rights and human rights in American history.

What draws you into this experience are the masterful photographs captured by one of the world's most important documentary photographers. If you are a lover of documentary photography, this book is for you.

In any given year, few books document the ethnic experience of any one group of people. Even fewer depict the Hispanic experience within this context. Rarer yet have any of these publications captured the essence of the Latino migratory experience. And barely a handful has portrayed the migration of the Puerto Rican citizen--from island to Mainland.

It is indeed refreshing for a Hispanic volume to exclusively focus on a group that continues to represent the world's largest human airborne migration, still striving to survive and longing to make significant contributions. Page after page chronicles countless journeys and unfolds arduous experiences. Espada's book provides a living testament to this migration and portrays indelible images of a people in transit.

Spanning more than half a century, few books have portrayed the diaspora of Puerto Ricans so vividly. Through the critical eye of a still camera, this compendium represents the height of photo documentation without being journalistic in style or verbose in narrative. As it captures the essence of a people, it also represents a rather unique addition to our knowledge by filling a historical vacuum and illustrating how this population flux has greatly enriched this country.

Not to be misunderstood, however, the book is more than a collection of photos. It represents a selection of some of the best photographs an essayist would be proud to showcase. Each photo has been painstakingly selected. Some represent winners of awards, while others represent the best from regional and national exhibitions. The author communicates a vibrant history within 200 photo-filled pages, each conveying the richness of life and struggle across multiple decades and in a wide array of settings. As such, the book is not one to be merely read, but one to be experienced through its many images and subjects.

Such a compilation of photo art is also the culmination of more than 50 years of toil by a Boricua who also happens to be a photographer and a detailed chronicler of events. It exemplifies the work of a photographer that had the temerity to document the initial movement of a people to this country and with subsequent labor migrations across states, cities and barrios. The photos capture a people's movement in dramatic black and white--active and energetic, alone and in despair, in song and dane.

Equally important, the book represents a beautiful product. It is one that will likely withstand the test of time and can be proudly displayed on a mantelpiece along with sculpture and other artwork. Its photos are so impressive and well presented that the book can become a talking piece all its own. As a compilation of gorgeous photography, it also can become a veritable addition to any collection.
--Abdin Noboa-Rios, Ph.D.

Frank's book is an evocative and poignant portrayal of his soul-search and it's profound rooting in his ethnic heritage. In the tradition of Gene Smith, the expressively graphic photographs of his quest stand out from the glitz and vanity of much of today's photographic expression for their truth and honesty. For those who value such, an important book for their bookshelves.

Dave Heath

I adore this book. The images are striking, engaging and filled with poinancy. Frank Espada's incredible achievement stands the test of time and is forever immortalized in this exceptional book. The book itself is a work of art and graces our living space with its distinguished presence. The rich and bold images have been crafted by one of the world's masters of black and white photography. Each image reaches out with humanity, vulnerability, honesty and compassion. Frank Espada has given the world an incredible gift of his creative eye, masterful skill and heroic heart.

This is a book any serious photographer or photography lover should own, but also those interested in American history. The Puerto Rican Disaspora is not just a story for or about Puerto Ricans. It is about America. It is about us. If we do not know our history, we are doomed to repeat our mistakes in the future. Frank has documented an important aspect of our struggle for civil and human rights in a community he knew intimately well. This project is a seminal work from an American master.

Basics: 2000, 2nd edition, softcover, 129 pages, 300 color photos of 181 species, CD with 1,300 photos of 335 species, audio clips, no range maps

Compared to other bird books on Puerto Rico or the Caribbean, this book is not formatted to be used as a field guide. Instead, it is a photographic overview of the island's 181 resident and visiting birds, but not the other 150 less common vagrants. Each page covers 1-2 species with 1-4 photos and 1-5 paragraphs of text. As one would hope, greater coverage and more photos are given to the Puerto Rican endemics and the Caribbean specialties.

The color photographs are generally good and are shown in appropriate sizes. Some of them are a little grainy and others might lean towards small, but nothing too bad.

The text gives the usual contents of identification, habitat, habits, status, conservation, and range. Three-quarters of the text is dedicated to the bird's habits, status, and conservation, reinforcing this book is not geared to be used as a field guide. It is an at-home reference to review and learn about the more common Puerto Rican birds.

Enhancing the photographic content of this book is a CD attached to the inside, back cover. This CD contains 1,300 photos of all 335 species to have occurred on the island. Each bird has anywhere between 1 and 16 color photos. Just as in the book, text is offered for the species, often with additional material not found within the book. A nice addition is the inclusion of sound clips for most of the expected birds. The quality of the photos are not as good as those found inside the book, but they do offer more poses and variations. The CD was created to run on both Windows and Mac. It's worked for me with no problems on Windows 2000 and XP.

I've listed several related books below...
1) A Guide to the Birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands by Raffaele
2) Las Aves de Puerto Rico by Biaggi
3) Birds of the West Indies by Bond
4) Birds of the West Indies by Raffaele
5) A Guide to the Birds of the West Indies by Raffaele
6) Photographic Guide to Birds of the West Indies by Flieg

I am going to Puerto Rico for a vacation. This book will help me to identify the birds that i might see.
Since it is small it is easy to carry around with you. I think that nature lovers would enjoy it. I give it a hearty recommendation

This guide to Puerto Rico's birds is really quite strong and useful, especially when combined with the information on the included CD (which is well organized in both English and Spanish.) Who wouldn't love to just sit at their computer all day and listen to birdsong, at least when they can't be out in the mountains or mangroves of PR?? I found the photographs quite satisfactory for ID purposes (not something to be taken lightly) and the narrative information is very useful.

Just one nit to pick: why is the peregrine falcon described as "a small hawk"?

El libro y el CD son excelentes, sobretodo porque se conecta al internet y uno accesa otros sonidos de aves. Una lástima que el libro en español no incluya el CD, los puertorriqueños leemos y hablamos el español, no entiendo porque el libro en español no pueda incluir el CD con un sonido que es universal : el de los pájaros.

This is the perfect guide book for birding in Puerto Rico. The photographs, 1340 in all, are brilliant, and the text is detailed and rich in information. The guide itself will easily fit into a pocket or day pack and so when out in the field you will have it at your fingertips.

What's unique about this guide is the excellent CD-Rom that comes with it -- this will help you before you go to know what the birds look like, their calls, their behavior and where you can find them once in Puerto Rico. I used the CD-Rom to check out three of my favorite PR birds and was amazed at the numerous and gorgeous pictures, the superb quality of the audio recordings and the information Oberle has reproduced in this book. For instance, regarding the Puerto Rican Tody (one of the 17 PR endemics covered in this guide as well as over 320 other birds), there were a dozen different pictures of the Tody including fabulous close-ups. The information Oberle gives includes identification, voice with audio, habitat, habits, range, status and conservation, taxonomy and related books and articles about the Tody. The Tody is a tiny forest bird with emerald green upperparts and a bright red bill and throat -- everytime I see one I think of a Christmas tree ornament, they are so cute! Oberle discusses in detail what they eat: katydids, grasshoppers, earwings and dragonflies, and discusses as well their foraging techniques. Because Oberle goes into such great detail about ID and habitat/habits, I think this is the best guide to enable one to actually find the birds once in PR.

I also checked out the PR Woodpecker and found those pictures, audio and habitat/habits information just as extensive as that about the Tody. I learned that the woodpecker's stiff tail feathers helps it to gain balance while chiseling at tree bark to find its favorite insects, including earwings, beetle larvae and ants. I discovered it occasionally eats scorpions and and lizards! Oberle informs the reader that a good place to find the woodpecker is around the parking lot of the El Portal visitor Center at the El Yungue national park.

A third bird that is well covered in both the CD and guide is the Pin-tailed Whydah, which has a most remarkable long tail and perches on wires and branches. I was surprised to learn that the female is like our parasitic cowbird and doesn't build her own nest but drops her eggs in other birds' nests.

Oberle has done a splendid job of bringing together in a compact book all the information and photgraphs of birds that you will need when out in the field. Because he cares so much about these birds and the environment, he also has special sections at the begining of the book on conservation efforts, migratory birds that winter in PR, and the extinction issues that face too many birds and other wildlife today in Puerto Rico and elsewhere.

To anyone going to Puerto Rico who plans to do some birding, I heartily recommend this book and CD-Rom to you.

I really enjoyed this book, the stories and the pictures. A great book to have on the coffee table. It was in excellent condition and highly recommend this seller.

One day, my husband and I, when we retire will most likely use these 2 books as our "bibles" when we buy our RV and travel the country. I really am enjoying reading both books and will keep this author in mind.
I would recommend this book to others just as a way to see how different people live. Can you imagine living in a place where the population is 4??? Great books!!!!

This book is a great comical read about small town America.I really enjoyed it and it make a great conversation piece.

There he goes again!

Armed only with a camera and quick wit, Gary Gladstone guides us through this fascinating country of ours. I dare you to read this book and not come away with a smile on your face. Simply put...it is just plain fun. No matter who you have in mind, this is the perfect gift.

Gary Gladstone has done it again; "Reaching Climax" is a fantastic read! I just bought 4 more copies to give as gifts to some family friends and they all loved it!

Gary's talents as a storyteller are equal or better then his creative eye. The images created by Gary to enhance the experience of visiting each town are truly enchanting.

Gary's first book in the series, "Passing Gas" and his newest edition, "Reaching Climax" are both testimonials to his love for all things Americana.

A solid rock book! Great layout. Some of the soft out of focus images should have been edited out but Lynn probably overrode her book editor about that.

Bought this wonderful art-photo book as a gift for my rock-n-roll loving friend. Could barely give it up! Amazing range of artists and years of history. Definately recommend this to any music and photography lover.

Lynn Goldsmith has been the supreme chronicler of all things Rock in the last 40 years and some of her best photographs are in this book. You get goosebumps as you thumb through the more than 300 pages of images and immerse yourself in memories of the times.

No one captures the passion of an artist quite like Goldsmith, it is no wonder that Tom Petty calls her "the best Rock and Roll photographer."

This book, in a word, rocks.

The photos that make up "Rock and Roll" take me back to a time when music was allowed to dominate my life - before careers, mortgages, and family forced it to a role of mere coexistence; when the musical giants pictured within were more god than human. And this book does an amazing job of feeding that hero-worship - it's oversized pages make the stars seem bigger than life. However, "Rock and Roll" is more than just a nostalgia trip - Goldsmith's photos show their subjects in settings both familiar and unfamiliar, thereby both re-affirming and contributing to our impressions of them.

Bottom line, this is a very cool book filled with amazing photos that any fan of rock & roll will enjoy.

One of the many artist quotes found inside is from Sting: "It's fun to visit the past, as long as you don't go back permanently." I may not go back permanently, but with this book I will definitely go back frequently!

This new large sized coffee table book by the legendary photographer Lynn Goldsmith is beyond superb. From the slick vellum cover with its well-chosen scrawled "rock and roll" font, to the several legendary images within, the book is a true masterpiece and probably one of her best.

Through Lynn's eyes and Iggy Pop's well chosen introductory words, the reader gets a rare glimpse into Lynn's colorful, art filled world of hard rock, blues, punk, pop, rap, beauty, intelligence, blood, sweat and guts. Lynn is all over the place in this book, right there on stage with a sweaty 1978 Mick Jagger, underneath a bloody Sid Vicious, thoughtfully shooting icons like Tom Waits and a young Bruce Springsteen (in very personal moments), to capturing the sex appeal of the early Van Halen and exposing the cool iced grace of Lou Reed. Lynn's ability to try so many kinds of shots and evoke so much raw emotion from her subjects is part of her brilliance and charm. She can even get whimsy out of angry subjects like Roger Daltry and then create iconic, legendary pictures of Frank Zappa, Patti Smith, Grand Funk Railroad, and so many more. Her timing couldn't be better as she always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Whether it's getting a perfect snaggle toothed Johnny Rotten or being right there when Tina Turner is letting it all hang out, Lynn just has her pulse on not only the music, but the places to be when that music is going down.

Lynn, to me, is also far better than most in her league because she is able to work in so many different moods, styles and settings with ease. Her live shots are just incredible, filled with energy and emotion; just see her Bruce and The E Street band shots for a taste, or the fantastic James Brown images. The shows become alive right there on paper. Lynn's studio work is also brilliant. The books filled with noir lighting, bright colorful backdrops, natural light and well-chosen settings. I personally love the studio Dylan shots, you can see her deep admiration for the man in those pictures and the close up shots are just breath taking. I also really love the relationships the pictures have with one another. Shots were well chosen to live side by side in perfect harmony.

Last but not least, besides the great artist commentary towards the end of the book, included in several sections are Lynn's now famous multiple image fold outs where 1000's of images of the artist make up one full sized image...very cool indeed. BUY THIS BOOK!!!!

A must have book for all Versace fans.

Fantastic photography in another large book from Versace. This book captures the 'rock chic' glamourama which the late Versace excelled at creating. The association between 'Rock and Roll', and art is full indulged here creating a empirical illusion to the Versace dynasty. The glossy presentation of the images also adds to an overall feeling of luxury. The only reason I have not given this book the top rating is for its inclusion of Elton John - who makes me sick. So what if its expensive, luxuries like this don't come cheap. ciao,

Maureen Farquhar (maureenfarquhar@yahoo.com)

This book gives a look into the classic, Calabrian influenced, luxury of Versace. This volume serves as a record of the pure decadant genius of this mega Italian talent.

For all of you who loves Gianni Versace clothes and really admire what he had done to the world of fashion I recommend you to have this incredible book.

Gianni Versace was a designer who loved to push the envelope. His clothes were a mixture of extremes: sexy, sleazy, colorful, tacky, and elegant. One adjective you'd never find in a sentence with the word Versace is "boring." His clothes commanded--and often got--attention, which is why he was such a favorite among celebrities such as Madonna, Elton John, Liz Hurley, Courtney Love, Prince, Jon Bon Jovi and even Princess Diana. This book is a fabulous, eye-opening collection of vivid photographs of models and rock stars in Versace: from Prince to the members of British boy band Take That. Some outfits are more releaving than others, but they're all unmistakably Versace. Diana herself is also included in the book, along with a few words of praise for the designer. Tragically, Versace was murdered in the summer of 1997, but his spirit and influence live on. This book comes highly recommended. Drop it on your coffeetable, and your guests won't want to put it down.

Each story in the book is inspiring. Excellent writing and wonderful photography. Very enjoyable reading.

Love this clever book. If you love the Rocky film and the inspirational "pull yourself up by the book strings" ideals of the films then you're not alone - and this book proves it. Being a Philly native and a fellow alumni of LaSalle University this book and the stories it shares have a special place within me. Highly recommend it.

my family and i had recently gone to philly for a family wedding. one of the main things that my elderly father wanted to see, before any of the more traditional things like the liberty bell, was the "rocky statue"! therefore, i bought this book for him for christmas to remind him of the day. of course i read some of it before gifting it, and found the stories to be very inspirational.. also, i was unable to find the book here in california, so was very thankful for the ease of ordering it through amazon.

I have always loved the Rocky Movies even though some people think they insult our intelligence. It is more than just a movie it is an inspiration and after reading this book it makes me proud to be a Philadelphian even though Philly gets a bad rap. I have ran up those steps many times and I think that Rocky has put Philly on the map in a good way. Something we need badly here. The photos are wonderful, so inspirational and the stories are so heartful. Read this book! You won't regret it.

You want to run up the Rocky steps, you know you do. In fact, if you've have ever had the chance, you probably already have. Nobody comes to Philadelphia without jogging to the top of the Art Museum steps, twirling around, and triumphantly pumping their fists in the air. If you've seen the movie, and ever been in Philly, you've climbed the steps. I'd bet a cheesesteak on it. If you haven't been fortunate enough to star in your own reenactment of this classic cinematic scene, this book is the next best thing. It's full of great stories and photographs of people fulfilling their dream of following in Rocky Balboa's footsteps, which, for each and every one of them, commemorates some unique goal, achievement, or special moment. It's a terrific book about humanity. Buy one for yourself and one for someone else - it's a great gift. Enjoy.

Beautiful book. Thank you, Kevin Bentley, for a powerful collection from one path through the lonely labyrinth of life.

In Sailor: Vintage Photos Of A Masculine Icon, Kevin Bentley has compiled more than 150 authentic and visually stunning period photographs of the sailor. In doing so he showcases the mystery, adventure, camaraderie, exuberance, and romantic allure of the young men who sailed the seas as work and at play. Sailor is a highly recommended collection for students of photography and a nostalgic tour-de-force for anyone who has every traveled the world aboard a naval ship with their friends and comrades.

The scope of this collection is stunning, it almost made me consider joining the Navy! These beautiful young men joined together in true affection is a must have for anyone who appreciates male photography.

It's really interesting to look at old photographs and imagine times gone by, what it was like to live at that time, and what the people in the photos were really like. Sailor has gathered together in one book over 150 never-before published snapshots of sailors and portraits spanning over a century of time. If you ever dreamed of being a sailor you will find these photos fascinating. The youthful men, the masculine exuberance, & companionship shown in these black & white and sepia-tone snapshots are a peak into a sailor's real life. If we could only stay as youthful and handsome all our lives as these photos show, how wonderful that would be.

So if you're a lover of old photos, or a serious collector, or if you just enjoy looking at men in uniform, you will enjoy this book. I felt like I was looking through an older friends personal photo album. Kevin Bentley did a wonderful job in gathering together these old anonymous photos, and the book design by J. White is perfect. I really enjoyed this collection of photos.

This is a gorgeous book! It's a thoughtful and stunning collection of vintage photos that will appeal to all those interested in sailors and those obsessed with collecting compelling historical photos. I've collected vintage photos for years, and SAILOR reminds me of the importance of finding, saving, and sharing such artifacts. A really wonderful book that I'm sure I'll give as a gift for years to come.

I was born in San Francisco and know the beauty of this city. I recently visited my cousin who lives in Italy. She was teasing me that she wanted to come home with me to San Francisco so I did the next best thing and purchased this book for her. I understand from her emails that she treasures it and hopes to come here one day

San Francisco is one of the most stunning cities in the world and if you look inside this book it's not hard to see why. Morton Beebe brings it to life in this beautifully presented colourful book. Not only are there beautiful photos and pictures, but essays and interesting reading material and information about this gorgeous Northern Californian city.
If you have been fortunate enough to travel to San Fran and enjoyed it, then you'll love this book, - and if you haven't yet been, then this might be just the inspiration you are looking for to convince you to travel there. This book is well worth it's price and makes either a great gift or a nice treat for yourself. I really loved reading through this book.

Absolutely gorgeous pictures, great for San Francisco lovers. New edition has several new pictures and essays. It serves as a great gift if you are visiting someone and want to show off the city you live in

Bring together an elegant top-quality publishing company, a gifted photographer, superb essayists and you have all the makings for a good book. Let the subject be San Francisco, though, and you have a great book.

This is the 3rd edition of this best seller with 218 full color images by Morton Beebe as well as essays by Herb Caen, Tom Cole, Barnaby Conrad, Herbert Gold, John Hart, Allen Pastron, Miguel Pendás, and Kevin Starr. Together, they provide an intimate portrayal of the City by the Bay. This stunning collection of photographs captures the contrasts, the energy, and the vitality of San Francisco. As do the essays.

Tom Cole takes us back to the beginning and provides an historical review of the raucous town that suddenly grew up overnight in its feverish bid for gold. Barnaby Conrad leads us into the night with anecdotes witty, clever, and sensuous from an eclectic mix including, to name just a few, Graham Green, Frank Sinatra, and Eva Gabor.

"Bahnaby tells me you haf a vooden leg, vitch vun iz it?"
"Eva, I never thought I'd have to tell a Gabor what a man's leg feels like."
"Vell, dahling, ve vass never in zee lumber business!"

In a final essay, Allen Pastron walks us through much of the city beneath our feet. Here, we discover the world's finest anchorage being dug up and, therein, its archaeological heritage. Penned a "worm's-eye-view," the essay provides some wonderful insights into what was once the bawdy Barbary Coast - particularly, the story of the discovery of the buried ship General Harrison.

Rudyard Kipling opined San Francisco was "a mad city inhabited by perfectly insane people." So it lives on! Multi-faceted lifestyles unfold with each page, the images capturing the curious joie de vivre that reigns over The City. Other pictures highlight the unmistakable landmarks: the skyline with its Pyramid Building, the Golden Gate, and my favorite, the Palace of Fine Arts in the gentle light of dusk below a full moon glowing. The photos speak volumes in this book. Each offers a glimpse as to why the city Herbert Gold called "America's last great metropolitan village" has won the most coveted travel destination award in the world - now ten years in a row - the Condé Nast Traveler's annual Readers' Choice Awards.

San Francisco, City by the Bay, was first published in 1985. This edition features ninety new images and three new essays. The publisher, Abrams, boasts that Beebe's book is their longest running best seller. Not surprisingly. It is said that San Francisco is a city full of people that want to be here. Morton Beebe, a 3rd generation San Franciscan, reminds us of why this is so.

Beebe's images have truly captured the many diverse flavors and charms that make San Francisco the unique city that it is. Combined with the entertaining and informative essays, the beatifully printed images in this book bring a reader as close as one can come to walking through the streets of San Francisco itself. I throughly enjoyed this book.