There have been Beatles books written by nearly everyone who ever came within a mile of the group. And many have been written by people who never even came that close!

However, Beatles Gear fills a void that previous books rarely touched on: the instruments the Beatles used. While this subject may only appeal to instrument enthusiasts and the most fervent Beatles fan, it does add something valuable to the history of the group. One feels Andy Babiuk really did his research and made an attempt to fully cover every instrument the band owned or played.

This book makes a nice suppliment to the "bible" that is Lewisohn's "Recording Sessions." The pictures are (mostly) beautifully rendered and many have not been seen before.

While this book is not for everyone, it makes the distinction of being a rare Beatles book that adds to wealth of knowledge already out there.

The Christmas present I never got, so I bought my own copy. This book meticulously covers a topic not widely known by a lot of people, even fans of the Fab Four. It's about time someone wrote a book on the instruments and equipment the Beatles used to craft their wonderful songs. The book is a must in the library of Beatlemaniacs, those interested in rock music, musical instruments, and the recording arts. However, I wish the author could have hired better, more thorough proofreaders, as this edition had a few incorrect spellings (e.g., look for "Geroge" Harrison). Despite all that, it's a great read!

I have been waiting for this book for a long time.Having played guitar for thirty years and my own preference in musical equipment being somewhat different than the Fab Four, I nevertheless found the book fascinating. The author has done meticulous research and is the perfect companion to Mark Lewisohn's Recording Sessions. This is a must for "gearheads" and Beatle fans in general. It is not too technical keeping the electronically challenged interested but detailed enough for any "tubehead " to enjoy. A true tour de force. Thank you Mr Babiuk........Only one drawback though, I'm now obsessed more than ever to get that Vox AC30 Top Boost guitar amplifier I have always wanted. Thanks again----JTM

I own this book from school. It is a must for any student of surgery or nursing. It contains information vital to the understanding of the patient and the process of surgery and recovery.

This book is the gold standard for O.R. Techs and Perioperative nurses, and the U.S. Navy uses it to train their personnel. This book is invaluable for the knowledge and technique it imparts for those of us who work in the O.R., and explains the steps and procedures for hundreds of surgical cases.

This book is out of print, but I finally managed to lay my hands on a copy, after searching for years! This is an excellent resource for the serious student of classic English decorating, how it developed over the course of the 20th century, and its inspirations from the past. The second part of the book is devoted to John Fowler, his firm of Colefax & Fowler, and a look at various homes he decorated in his long and influential career. At the very end, you learn a little about various well-known decorators, both English and American, who were influenced by Fowler.

It definitely helps if you already have some background knowledge of the subject, since Cornforth gets almost too detailed in his information. If you don't know, or care much, about the history of the people behind the stately homes he describes, you may well get lost in the text. I found the second half, on Fowler, much easier reading, since I already had a large interest in him, his ideas, and his firm.

My only real complaint, however, is the photographs. They are taken from sources such as Country Life magazine over the past 75 years or so. Unfortunately, most of them are black-and-white, so you lose the very important elements of color and depth. The color picture sections are an improvement, but book photography has improved a lot. Some pictures have a flat and somewhat out-of-focus look, or the color is off. You still get the basic idea, but the true glory of these rooms would come through much better with newer photography.

Still, all in all, a very rich and informative source for those with a deep interest in the subject, if you're lucky enough to find a copy!