A wholly brilliant book about Victorian culture. It is a disgrace that it is now out of print, and that it has not been recognised as the classic that it is. Meisel's insights into the connections between different fields of cultural activity are immense and endlessly productive. At no point does he seek to reduce Victorian culture to a set of predictable issues, or to make dismissive noises about artists like Frith. He takes his subject seriously, grasps its logic and make us see it afresh.

This book should be in every library, and available in paperback.

I was mesmorized by this book! Herb Ritts has the ability to not ownly create a beautiful portrait, but to capture I personality of his models. Each photograph tells a fabulous story of fantasy, glamour, and often just everyday life. I would highly recommend this collection. Among my favorite celebrity photos: Johnny Depp on the set of Edward Scissorhands, Jim Carrey dressed as a Mermaid, Tom Cruise on the set of Mission Impossible 2, the tattooed arm of Axle Rose, and a mysterious grin by Roy Lichtenstein. These photos are also large enough (most are at least 8x10) to remove and frame.

As an amateur photographer, I have always found Herb Ritts to be one of the greatest modern photographers living. Similiar to many celebrity photographers such as Richard Avedon, David LaChapelle, and Annie Liebowitz, Ritts captures the essence that is celebrity perfectly. Whether it is the photograph of Madonna and Sean Pean as a loving couple, or a gathering of today's top supermodels (all nude) Ritts has an eye for detail, as well as an approach few photographers nowadays don't utilize, direct communication with your subjects. In the past (and even in the present) celebrity photography can be a pain as many celebrities tend to want their agents around them whenever there is a shoot.

Many of Ritts photographs in this compilation happen to be of a homoerotic nature. Ritts, who is openly gay, captures the essence of male sexuality perfect, and the results can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of their orientation.

I hope in the future Ritts comes out with another huge compilation of his work. His recent work with such celebrities such as Monica Lewinsky and Janet Jackson should be published in a volume, but for the meanwhile, purchase this book for your coffee table or library. It will make an interesting topic of conversation with anyone. Ritts is pure genius!

It is excellent. Sensual, lyrical, erotic, powerful, sometimes whimsical and as hot as the Arizona sun. Ritts is America's Rennaisance photographer and his pictures and videos of Jan and Michael Jackson, Madonna, Cindy, Nicholson, etal, etal, are must-views in exhibit, too. His work is up there with contemporaries Leibowitz, Scavullo and helmut newton...you have got to see his work!

The Art of being you came out just after the death of the talented Gianni Versace. I own all of his books which I highly recommend. Different in this installment are the images of modern art which Versace so incorporated into his work. Evident is the work of Julien Schnabel (broken plate painter) and Andy Warhol. The presence of photographer Richard Avedon's work makes the 100$Canadian worth it. If your into fashion especially Versace, check out Vanitas for Gianni's renderings. Nobody does it like Versace. Lets hope his sister continues the same tradition.

This book shows the private art collection that the versace family have collected. Great book with great pictures.

In the world of Art books, This has got to be the best posthumous release ever. Abbeville Press has outdone themselves with this masterpiece. I own Mr. Versace's previous 5 books, Signatures, Vanitas, Do not disturb, Rock and Royalty and Men w/o ties which I highly recommend. In this edition, Versace shows us that until his untimely death, the wheels never stopped turning. With the help of Thierry Perez, Steven Meisel, Julian Schnabel and other fabulous artists, This book truly defines the artifice and uncompromising couturier called Gianni Versace.

I read Trick or Treat
I thought it was a good book. It was good because it was funny. The kid went trick or treating and he got scared by a person on the tenth floor and everything turns wackbards and everybody tricks him. I recommend this book. This book is for ages 8-11.