Life: The Classic Collection

Beautiful book inside & out, lovely for coffee tables & conversation starters. I have been waiting to get this book for awhile, and finally it comes with out dissappointment!

I purchased this book for my father's 89th birthday. We all looked through the book, and everyone could remember seeing different pictures over the years. For anyone who grew up with Life magazine this is nostalgia at it's best. There are lots of memories in this book, both happy and the sobering.

This is a beautiful book. Has duplicate photos for framing on top of original photos(on some) in book with tissue paper between those pages. Bought two for gifts.

In the later 1950s and early 1960s, I remember my family subscribing to a number of magazines--TV Guide, Newsweek, McCall's, Ladies' Home Journal, Popular Science, some farm journal (we lived on and worked on a farm), and Newsweek, Look--and Life. The latter two were always eagerly awaited, because of the photography coupled with the stories. This book, Life: The Classic Collection captures the spirit of those photographically oriented publications. The book begins by quoting its founder, Henry Luce, speaking of his vision (Page 4): "To see and to be shown is now the will and new expectancy of half mankind. To see and to show is the mission now. . . ." The inaugural issue debuted in 1936. This volume has some interesting features. Some of the classic photos can be removed to be framed and displayed (and a second copy remains within the volume itself); there is little text, although the photos are identified. Those of us who grew up back in the 1950s (and before) will instantly remember many of these photos. I vaguely recall having seen--and appreciated--the photo of Jack and Bobby Kennedy facing one another in the shadows; the NFL Championship game in 1966; the Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics; the seven original astronauts in 19659. . . Others are classics that I remember after they were published--Harry Truman displaying the headline that says "Dewey Defeats Truman" (I was born in 1947, so--obviously--I have no memory of this!); Margaret Bourke-White taking a photo from atop the Chrysler Building; The D-Day at Omaha Beach photo. . . . So, for those who lived with Life magazine, this is a nice way of recalling memories. For those not familiar with this classic magazine, this represents a terrific introduction to the art of the photograph.

I love this book! The photographs are stunning as one can expect from Life Magazine photographers. Some of the photos are famous, some less well-known. The book is large and the pictures are BIG, too, filling up the entire page. I especially liked this feature. Often, books have several smaller photos on one page, in this book the pictures are a very good size. Included in this collection (which is VERY reasonably priced) are 25 full-sized prints ready for framing. The prints cover a variety of subjects making it almost certain that everyone will find one or more prints that they would like to frame and put up in their homes. I'd definitely recommend this book. It's a great book at a great price.