Iconic America: A Roller-Coaster Ride Through the Eye-Popping Panorama of American Pop Culture

I think this is a VERY awesome book and actually a history of life in America. I just want to caution anyone who MAY be shocked by a Playboy, nude centerfold in the middle of the book. I had bought the book for an elder member of my family and hadn't realized the photo was there. It was not well received. The photo may actually make you WANT to purchase the book now but just in case you may be offended...just know that it IS there.

Though the cover line refers to `A roller-coaster ride through the eye-popping panorama of American pop culture' the book, fortunately, has a much further reach than just pop. With about four hundred subjects covered and obviously reflecting the hopes and aspirations of the two authors I thought the book was a fine celebration of Americanism. Firstly though the book is a visual treat. Designer George Lois has handled a whole range of graphic material brilliantly, especially in presenting similar items on the same spread: a photo of James Brown (The godfather of soul) facing Marlon Brando (The godfather of film) or Babe Ruth facing a Baby Ruth candy bar or a spread with a photo of an apple pie (As American as apple pie) and an Apple logo (Apple changes the American lifestyle). Another lovely design touch is running five Burma-Shave signs over five pages (The bearded lady/Tried a jar/She's now a famous/Movie star!/Burma-Shave). Lois has blended all the personality photos, product shots, logos, paintings, cartoons and display typography together beautifully and the 175dpi printing on quality paper makes everything sparkle. The design treatment did remind of a similar strong visual book covering the same subject 1,001 Reasons to Love America (1,001 Reasons to Love). I liked the wide-ranging coverage of icons throughout the pages and nicely not necessarily positive ones. Page seventy-one features the Enron logo, page 135 has a cutout photo of a lemon with Edsel printed on it, also included are a few frames from the Zapruder home movie of Kennedy's death likewise a photo of OJ Simpson, in court, trying on a glove. The book is essentially visual and all of the images get detailed captions, sometimes a hundred words or more. The authors, where needed, provide light hearted headlines as in the housewives' favorite 'Yes, Virginia, there really is no Betty Crocker'. Cesar Chavez gets 'The grapes of wrath' or 'The web of justice' for Spider-Man. You'll probably have your own icon that is not included, though with four hundred it'll be hard to pin-point something that's missing. All I could come up with is UPS and FedEx, neither are included in the comprehensive index. Maybe the reality is that the strength of America's past and present could easily produce a second volume! ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

While I have not read it cover to cover, from what I've glanced at this is a pretty nice book for those interested in the pop side of American culture. It brings back a ton of memories just looking through the pictures and uncovers a lot of interesting facts for those pictures that don't hold a lot of meaning to you. A definite gift for those that are hard to buy for.

Tommy Hilfiger did a great job capturing what America is. I really enjoy looking through this book.

This is a really great book, that takes you on a historical journey through American culture. A real treat!