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grunhub's review against another edition
4.0
Gorgeous illustration; fantastic relation of Our Country's history to every-day life. Comes off as preachy at times, but Kalman's reverence for democracy, intellectual curiosity, and the pursuit of happiness is abundant and compelling. It's difficult to dislike this kind of book.
4/5
4/5
heatherdmoore's review
4.0
This book oozes with charm and character. I found it both unexpected and delightful.
shelleyanderson4127's review
3.0
This was a very enjoyable book, with bright, full color sketches by Kalman and short musings and questions. It's a quirky book, with both humor and some important questions, written immediately after Obama was first elected US President. Kalman's musings about immigrants in the America, and the disparities between rich and poor, have become even more urgent in the moral quagmire and chaos of the Trump Administration. This is a book from a more optimistic time, hence to be read when you need optimism.
slugabed's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
drusebookparty's review
5.0
If ever a person could tap into my already existing love of constitutional history and the narrative of our founding fathers (and mothers) and balloon it, it would be Maira Kalman. Such a beautiful book! Her colors were already a part of so many things I adored, (like the few Jcrew catalogues I irrationally hoarded for years that I've since discovered were a product of her styling) and I even tried to paint with them myself (not entirely unsuccessfully), but the objects and scenes she reveals are what make this book truly special. I don't quite know how to explain the simple wonder her work inspires in me, but its very very good. Very good.
lcline1981's review
5.0
At first, I didn't know what to think about the book, because I wasn't sure what it was. I, like many a human, really like to categorize, and this book seemed to defy categorization for me. I've seen Kalman's illustrations in my copy of Strunk & White's The Elements of Style, which is also a beautiful book. The illustrations are whimsical and colorful, but the spirit of the book is what really captured me as a reader.
I don't often say things like this, but I was really delighted by this book. Every page I wanted to savor, but I still devoured this book in a single morning. Kalman's meditations on American history and politics and material culture are perceptive, and funny, and hopeful.
Here are some quotes from passages that I marked:
"I looked deep into his eyes and found that I was falling in love. In love with A. Lincoln."
"And in front of the Supreme Court facade that states, 'Equal Justice Under Law,' stands a woman in a shocking pink coat. Inside it is all polished wood and marble an red velvet drapes and decorum and history and everything you would want in a Supreme Court. In the court the lawyers are arguing cases that I kind of understand. But not really. Not really is putting it mildly but that is not the point. It is all ab out language, the language of dissent and the search for meaning. There are faults, biases, political leanings, differences of philosophy. Unavoidable. They are human beings."
"Don't we need both the warriors and the artists on this planet?"
"If you want to understand this country and its people and what it means to be optimistic and complex and tragic and wrong and courageous, you need to go to [Jefferson's] home in Virginia. Monticello."
"Everything is invented. Language. Childhood. Careers. Relationships. Religion. Philosophy. The future. They are not there for the plucking. They don't exist in some natural state. They must be invented by people. And that, of course, is a great thing. Don't mope in your room. Go invent something. That is the American message. Electricity. Flight. The telephone. Television. Computers. Walking on the moon. It never stops."
"We hope. We despair. We hope. We despair. That is what governs us. We have a bipolar system.
Anyway, the bottom line is that I liked the book a lot. It is a celebration.
I don't often say things like this, but I was really delighted by this book. Every page I wanted to savor, but I still devoured this book in a single morning. Kalman's meditations on American history and politics and material culture are perceptive, and funny, and hopeful.
Here are some quotes from passages that I marked:
"I looked deep into his eyes and found that I was falling in love. In love with A. Lincoln."
"And in front of the Supreme Court facade that states, 'Equal Justice Under Law,' stands a woman in a shocking pink coat. Inside it is all polished wood and marble an red velvet drapes and decorum and history and everything you would want in a Supreme Court. In the court the lawyers are arguing cases that I kind of understand. But not really. Not really is putting it mildly but that is not the point. It is all ab out language, the language of dissent and the search for meaning. There are faults, biases, political leanings, differences of philosophy. Unavoidable. They are human beings."
"Don't we need both the warriors and the artists on this planet?"
"If you want to understand this country and its people and what it means to be optimistic and complex and tragic and wrong and courageous, you need to go to [Jefferson's] home in Virginia. Monticello."
"Everything is invented. Language. Childhood. Careers. Relationships. Religion. Philosophy. The future. They are not there for the plucking. They don't exist in some natural state. They must be invented by people. And that, of course, is a great thing. Don't mope in your room. Go invent something. That is the American message. Electricity. Flight. The telephone. Television. Computers. Walking on the moon. It never stops."
"We hope. We despair. We hope. We despair. That is what governs us. We have a bipolar system.
Anyway, the bottom line is that I liked the book a lot. It is a celebration.
silverthane's review
4.0
I’ve never come across a book like this before. The best way I can think to describe it is to say it’s like a children’s picture book, only for adults. There is little writing in this book which is taken up with a mixture of illustrations and photographs (mostly illustrations) which are on the subject of democracy in the United States both past and present.
Kalman writes and illustrates about many American historical figures including Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and, of course, George Washington but also goes on a journey meeting living Americans who help keep democracy in the US alive and kicking. Kalman speaks about these people and her own experiences in America from a uniquely personal and warm perspective which adds to the charm of the book.
Kalman doesn’t fall into the trap of pretending America is perfect and doesn’t do a lot of overt flag waving but does praise America and its history in a much more muted but no less impactive and profound way. I was amazed how much she was able to say through her illustrations. There is humour and some lovely words which I enjoyed immensely
I found the book informative, touching and above all; fun!
Highly recommended
Kalman writes and illustrates about many American historical figures including Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and, of course, George Washington but also goes on a journey meeting living Americans who help keep democracy in the US alive and kicking. Kalman speaks about these people and her own experiences in America from a uniquely personal and warm perspective which adds to the charm of the book.
Kalman doesn’t fall into the trap of pretending America is perfect and doesn’t do a lot of overt flag waving but does praise America and its history in a much more muted but no less impactive and profound way. I was amazed how much she was able to say through her illustrations. There is humour and some lovely words which I enjoyed immensely
I found the book informative, touching and above all; fun!
Highly recommended