Customer Reviews

America 24/7

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

The book has beautiful photographs and wonderful captions full of miniature stories. I ordered a cover, and when I had trouble with uploading (I'm not very computer literate) their customer service team got back to me in a day and they helped me through it -- even resizing my picture for me. My custom cover order came in three weeks. I have to say it was really worth the effort seeing the final cover in my hands. I'm surprised they don't charge us more for the whole thing. I've ordered many more as gifts. Their new site is easier to use and I was even able to track my order using the USPS tracking number they gave me. I would expect any company trying out a whole new idea to take a few months to get such a large operation together, but now its June and the site seems so be working great! I would give it another chance if you had problems in the past. I'm a satisfied customer and I hope they get more positive reviews because I know they're really trying their best.

a first class photography volume. I was suprised to see America portrayed in such a traditional light but the pictures are a wonderful window into American life today. The book is hefty but with so many pictures you really get a chance to see the whole America.

I bought this book as a gift after hearing about it on NPR. The custom cover looked fantastic. I'm not sure what happened with those customers who gave this a 1 star. My experience with the custom cover process and the service was extremely smooth. They told me it would take 3 weeks but I received it in 5 days. THERE'S NO BETTER GIFT FOR A SOMEONE INTERESTED IN PHOTOGRAPHY. GET READY FOR BIG HUGS AT THE UNWRAPPING!

To match the success of the famed "Day in the Life of America" is a feat in and of itself, but America 24/7 exceeds even that excellent work coupling photography and storytelling. This book goes one step further. By integrating technology and the vision of many more photographers, contributors and writers, the content is both timely and timeless, and represents a broad range of what 'America' is--an often difficult to define notion of a people joined under the common banner of perseverance, freedom, individuality and passion for ideals that remain unique in this world. This book is not just a book, it is history captured through the eyes and souls of many.

Very happy with the book itself. However, I am disappointed I was not notified prior to purchasing TWO for Christmas presents that you can no longer personalize the front cover. It should be noted for all customers to see. Also, never heard back from the company when I emailed my disappointment.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! It was the perfect one of a kind gift for my dad, who has everything. The book itself was a perfect visualization of America and the Custom Cover was a wonderful bonus offer. Where else can you get the chance to put your own image on a New York Times best seller?! I've read some reviews complaining about Custom Covers and I have to say that in my case and with most of my friends who have ordered, everything went smoothly -- their site was easy to use, customer service was prompt and helpful, shipment was on time and the cover print was excellent. I'd give them another try...I know I'll be ordering more Custom Covers.

I was very pleased to see this book at this point in our history when so many people are worried about the direction of our country. America 24/7 portrays the nation in a poignant yet realistic light. It is a very workable mix of grit and good old Americana. It is refreshing to see such an upbeat visual portrayal of our basic core values... essentially what it means to be an American citizen in 2003. I was first acquainted with this project through an outdoor art exhibit at Bryant Park in Manhattan. The exhibit was good. The book is better. Exquisitely printed and a bargain at Amazon's price.

I was lucky enough to be a photographer on this project and just got a copy of the book.

I am blown away by the quality and the uniqueness of the photography. Each time I go thru it, I find something else amazing and interesting that I did not see previously. Having travelled a great deal overseas, I will probably bring copies on future trips as gifts and to show people outside this country a truer (non-Hollywood, non-governmental) view of America.

Happy viewing!

"Digital photography enabled the project's organizers to simultaneously solicit and receive photographs from thousands of communities across America via the Internet. Digital technology, from cameras to software to the Internet, enabled Americans to tell their own stories in a way that's never been possible before."

DK has a worldwide reputation for publishing high-quality nonfiction books. "America 24/7" takes their vision a step further. Now you can design your own custom cover. If you have always wanted to have your picture on the cover of a book, your day has arrived. Yes, you can now order a personalized cover for "America 24/7." This could get rather interesting and surprise a number of your family members. "We didn't know you were famous" they will say as they enviously view your beautiful picture in all its glossy glory. Or, how would you like to surprise your friends and family with "their" picture on this gorgeous coffee table collectable?

The possibilities are endless: birthdays, graduation, anniversaries, baby showers, "just because" presents, "I think you are amazing" presents or "you're the best friend on the planet" presents. Is there anyone who would not love a custom cover?

What about all your pet loving friends who would go wild with happy puppy/kitten joy to see their dog or cat's picture on the cover of a book. As you can tell, I was rather excited about the possibilities of putting photographs of my cats on a book cover. Better yet, I had found a picture of my grandmother holding a cat on her shoulder that is quite unique and artistic. The ordering process was professional and within minutes I could see a picture of the finished product - "a glossy high quality customized wrap-around dust jacket." Now that is what I call amazing! The picture I used was also rather small before I scanned it and I was impressed with how well it turned out on the picture of the cover.

To order a custom cover, you go to the URL listed on the back flap and then upload an image that has been taken with a 1.2 Megapixel camera (640x508 pixels). For even better results, use a photograph that was taken with a 2 Megapixel camera or greater (1200x940 pixels). The maximum file size is 5MB. You can also scan a picture. In seven steps you have your custom cover and it is ready to ship. Apparently there is an overwhelming demand for the covers.

Now as for the pictures and how they are organized:

There are six chapters: Hearth & Home, Hard at Work, American at Play, Reason to Believe, Our Town, and Sea to Shining Sea. Each pictures shows America as it is, what was happening in 2003 and this is literally a 2003 time capsule of photographs. DK has planned 50 more books, one for each state, so look for a book about your state in the Fall of 2004. You can already pre-order a copy featuring your state!

The scale of this project was immense and Rick Smolan and David Elliot Cohen (The original creators of the "Day in the Life" series of photography books) brought together the finest technology services for every publishing step. The sheer talent that went into creating this work of art takes your breath away. 25,000 photographers spent one week shooting digital photos of American life. More than one million photos were taken in the week of May 12-13, 2003. Not only does this 304-page, hard-cover book feature over 1,200 photographs, there are six 750-word essays introducing each chapter.

This book was selected as one of "Oprah's Favorite Things" in November 2003 and I can see why. You can even order a framed or unframed photograph from this book. "Monument Valley, Arizona" is definitely worth framing!

There are so many beautiful photographs, but the picture of "Nine-year-old Nora Garcia cuddling her baby sister" is angelic. My favorite picture is of Charlotte Day-Reiss reading books with the sunlight filtering in through the window and it made me nostalgic for days gone by and afternoons reading in bed. I'm sure she is a reviewer of the future!

I had a good laugh when viewing the picture of Kari Lloyd-Jones trying to do yoga while her son, Ian, joins in. There is also a spectacular picture of the seventh-floor garden at Rockefeller Center in New York. I had to look twice, then, kept looking at the "Longaberger Headquarters" that is a seven-story replica market basket in bright yellow. I was also amazed to find a picture of Mt. Rainier, a very dangerous volcano in the Cascades looming above the Seattle area and a picture taken in Pike Place Market. We hope Mt. Rainier stays beautifully capped in all its snowy glory.

This is the America we know and love. You will recognize the true-life settings as a mirror of your own life and be amazed by the creativity and adventurous spirit of the photographers. America 24/7 is an authentic and creative photographic journey into the real America we embrace in our daily lives. This is a book about family, growing up in America, home, celebrations, religious traditions, adventure, sports, nature, reading story books on the porch and the simple breathless beauty of everyday life. I can't wait for my custom cover to arrive!

~The Rebecca Review

The book is great but don't fall for the custom cover. Although it is a great idea, the company is not very customer friendly. After you order, you are told the projected ship date which is 2 weeks. They do not respond to emails. Whatever you do...do not order from this company. In fact, I am surprised Amazon is supporting them.