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kelseywelsey's review against another edition
4.0
A very quick read but really great from start to finish. You don't have to be familiar with New York to appreciate Niemann's creative illustrations and humor. A lot of these are personal narratives that just happen to be done by a brilliant illustrator. Highlights for me included: My Way maps & the extra chapter on the creative process at the end. The variety of mediums was also delightful, ie: using napkins and painting with coffee to illustrate the authors love/hate relationship with the drink.
kurtwombat's review against another edition
4.0
We all take in life as we live, it's how we let it out again that shows who we are. For Christoph Niemann, his life comes out through his graphic design influenced art work. Much of the unique work that appears in his book ABSTRACT CITY originally appeared as part of his visual blog for the New York Times. Working like visual essays accompanied by modest text, each is a treat presenting relatable moments from everyday life in formats that recall catalogs or training manuals. Often silly but always creative, Niemann's art utilizes disparate art forms to convey his ideas the elements of which usually relate specifically to what he is talking about. For example, relating his personal history with coffee through a series of drawings on coffee stained napkins or lamenting how electrical cords complicate our lives through art using actual wires. Since much of my childhood involved creating my own world while playing with Legos, I particularly appreciated Niemann's using the multi colored plastic blocks to represent what it's like to life in New York, entitled--I LEGO NY. It's tempting to breeze through the book but I found myself dipping back into previous essays. As I experienced each new art format, I appreciated the ones before even more.
hushed's review against another edition
0.25
terrible. badly written, badly put together. don’t bother.
lordcheez's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting and semi auto biographical experiment in art forms
blueskygreentreesyellowsun's review against another edition
5.0
Funny and clever. I liked the cookie dough + sprinkles section, the subway section, and the afterward/creativity section the best, they really rocked me. The "Wrath" picture makes me laugh every time I think of it.
ronanmcd's review against another edition
4.0
It's like reading through my own notebooks, only clearer, and funnier, and better.
Niemann sees himself as a designer, has two sons, and draws a lot, almost as much as he thinks.
Lovely book, basically just notes on living. In parts obvious and facile, funny and quirky, in other parts human and open, Niemann is always baring himself. You finish really knowing the guy. Not often you can feel friends with an author just by reading their book. Lovely
Niemann sees himself as a designer, has two sons, and draws a lot, almost as much as he thinks.
Lovely book, basically just notes on living. In parts obvious and facile, funny and quirky, in other parts human and open, Niemann is always baring himself. You finish really knowing the guy. Not often you can feel friends with an author just by reading their book. Lovely