Press

If I Had a Unicorn

978-0-500-65226-8

“This story is an excellent lap read, and the fun rhyming text and bright, easily decoded, whimsical illustrations with plenty of white space also make it a winning read-aloud… Children will enjoy the experience of reading this book again and again, noticing something new each time.”

— Kirkus Reviews

If These Apples Should Fall: Cézanne and the Present

978-0-500-02528-4

“"Clark is an astonishingly good judge… There are bold observations on almost every page of this book."”

— Art in America

“What drives If These Apples Should Fall is less the task of scholarly exposition than the swelling momentum of interpretation itself… Clark's observations can be unforgettable… In Clark's hands, Cézanne's practice is at once singular and a paradigm for an art history that lets in the world only when it needs to.”

— Artforum

The Illustrated Dust Jacket, 1920-1970

978-0-500-51913-4

“Vivid, gorgeous art graced books in the mid-20th century, and Martin Salisbury has collected the most stunning examples in The Illustrated Dust Jacket, 1920-1970.”

— Entertainment Weekly

The Illustrated Dust Jacket, 1920-1970 by Martin Salisbury, chronicles how this once disposable object became a major creative force in publishing.”

— Hyperallergic

Immortal Thoughts: Late Style in a Time of Plague

978-0-500-02579-6

“Neve's writing is as distinctive and interesting as when I first picked up Unquiet Landscape… Neve…finds his own "late style," an equivalent in words for the transformations he identified in Constable, Titian, Soutine and John.”

— David Berridge On the Seawall

In the Footsteps of King David: Revelations from an Ancient Biblical City

978-0-500-05201-3

“An engaging glimpse into the ancient past [and] a worthwhile work on a number of counts. Though sometimes a bit technical, the book is a fascinating glimpse into the methods, rigors, and rewards of archaeology. On another level, the authors add to a larger conversation about the historicity of the Bible while describing a find of true significance.”

— Kirkus Reviews

“The parts of the book that are not detailing the archaeological findings summarize the sometimes-conflicting biblical tradition regarding David's life and past archaeological study of the region.”

— Publishers Weekly

“An armchair archaeologist's delight.”

— Booklist

Indigo: The Color that Changed the World

978-0-500-51660-7

“[Legrand] uses her book to tell the story of our emotional attachment to garments and deep connection to color and craft.”

— Home Design with Kevin Sharkey, marthastewart.com

“Legrand …writes with enthusiasm about the history of this shade and its evolution.”

— Women's Wear Daily

“A sumptuous new book.”

— House Beautiful

“Diverse images of people at work convey the enormous range of conditions in which indigo dyeing takes place.”

— Surface Design Journal

“A visual feast of 550 images offers textile details, proud locals wearing their garments, and process shots illustrating how the dyeing is done.”

— Shuttle, Spindle & Dyepot

“This sumptuous book can be appreciated on all levels: a history of the production and trade of dyes and textiles; an anthropology of textile production; and a stunning visual catalog of the international production of cloth colored with the blue dye, indigotin.”

— The Art Blog

Inside the Neolithic Mind: Consciousness, Cosmos and the Realm of the Gods

978-0-500-29441-3

“In proposing provocative new theories about religious motivation in ancient times, Inside the Neolithic Mind creates a fascinating neurological bridge to the mysterious thought-lives of the past and reveal the essence of a momentous period in human history. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, this new edition of Inside the Neolithic Mind is very highly recommended for community, college, and university library collections.”

— Midwest Book Review

Introduction to Islam: Beliefs and Practices in Historical Perspective

978-0-500-29158-0

“Since 9/11, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of texts focusing on Islam and Muslims in the contemporary world, but high-quality references (like this one) are always a welcome addition…Recommended for high school students, undergraduate introductory courses on Islam, and general readers interested in the subject …”

— Library Journal

Inventions That Didn't Change the World

978-0-500-51762-8

“[Julie Halls] does a lovely job investigating the social and cultural back stories that led to the design of an Improved Pickle Fork and a Bona Fide Ventilating Hat, to name just a few, revealing the Victorians to be not just ingenious but wildly insecure about their social status, their bodies and their safety.”

— The New York Times

“Many of the contraptions may seem silly today, such as a current-cleaning machine or a 'portable smelting apparatus' that would allow you to meld metal on the run. Still, notes Ms. Halls, the devices vividly illustrate the era's rising consumer demand and fascination with innovation and practical science.”

— The Wall Street Journal

“A gorgeous compendium of crackpot ideas, reminding us that design is a Darwinian struggle—only the fittest inventions survive.”

— Fast Co.Design

“Shows us that we were always obsessed with technological innovations that promised to make our lives better.”

— Fast Co.Create

“While no single gadget in [this] books changed life as we know it, collectively they shaped an outlook on innovation that exists even today.”

— Smithsonian.com

“A remarkable collection of design drawings for inventions long forgotten.”

— The Miami Herald

“Covering everything from home and garden to sport and safety, these misfit inventions tell as story that grew curiouser and curiouser. This is the perfect book for your quirky uncle who spends too much time tinkering in the basement.”

— The Washington Post

“Whether or not all the inventions stood the test of time doesn't matter so much; the culture of amateur inventing as a whole can be credited for creating an environment that encouraged tinkering, discovery, and therefore progress.”

— Wired.com

“Sometimes an idea isn't as wonderful or useful as its inventor thinks. Halls takes you on an illustrated tour of some of the most unique and unusual inventions registered in Britain in the 19th century.”

— New York Public Library

“Looks at the forgotten side of the Victorian age of invention—not the steam engine or the light bulb but the Improved Sausage Machine, the Epanalepsian Advertizing Vehicle, and the Moustache Protector…And everywhere, there's the firm belief in social progress through technological innovation.”

— Quartz

“More than just a fun and beautifully printed collection of odd and curious patents. The author's knowledgeable commentary gives an interesting cultural account of the demands for, and uses of, these Victorian-era gadgets…Highly recommended.”

— Choice

The Irish Diaspora: Tales of Emigration, Exile and Imperialism

978-0-500-02252-8

“"This fascinating assortment of case histories, spread across 1,400 years and six continents, is an impressive feat of research. All of the chapters are based on a solid body of up-to-date historical writing. The summaries of often complex historical background to the lives explored are models of lucid compression. The short biographies themselves are lively yet judicious, packed with vivid detail but willing, where necessary, to question or dismiss colorful legend. And the reader will come away with a new sense of the many ways in which Ireland has interacted with the world beyond its shores, and of some of the extraordinary careers that have resulted."”

— BBC History Magazine

Islamic Geometric Design

978-0-500-51695-9

“A rich collection.”

— Islamic Horizons

“An exemplary and detailed practitioner account of Islamic pattern design…the lush photographic images are accompanied by visualized formal analysis that gives the patterns conceptual depth…Highly recommended.”

— Choice

“An extremely effective and thorough work on the geometric designs found throughout Islamic art and architecture and the process by which these designs were created…Well written, well-thought-out, and extremely well-illustrated. Enthusiastically recommended.”

— Library Journal

“This visually stunning look conveys the beauty and complexity of Islamic patterns …”

— Saudi Aramco World

“A hybrid of coffee-table, informational, and how-to book.”

— Protoview

“Uniquely comprehensive…Clearly written so that a total understanding of the material is possible for specialist and novice alike.”

— American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences