This "coffee table book" is a must for every Panama Hat lover. The exotic and beautiful photographs only enhance and clarify the well written text. From the forward by Brent Black (leading world authority on Panama Hats - hand-woven in Ecuador!) through the chapters on Montecristi woven fino hats, onto the Cuenca hat story and ending with a list of retailers specializing in this unique product - this book answers most, if not all, questions about this legendary hat.

Yet more proof that French post-structuralism is just the emperor's new clothes. If the author is continually nudging and winking at the reader, it must be deep. "Look! This book is self-referential!" Oooooooh, I'm so impressed.