Customer Reviews

Colors: Tibor Kalman, Issues 1-13

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

 

 

I was disappointed with this books as soon as I browsed its contents. One third of the book is a reproduction of COLORS issue 13: probably the least interesting issue produced under the editorship of Tibor Kalman. Issue 13 had no words but 80 pages of stock photography - more of an indulgence than an issue of an otherwise extrodinary magazine. The previous 12 issues of COLORS had a wealth of both words and pictures on such themes as the street, wealth, religion, AIDS, travel, and sport. Unfortnately, in this retrospective, each issue only gets scant attention. As well, some of the excepts of the magazine are so inexplicably reduced in size that the text is impossible to read. The remainder of the book are exerpts from Tibor's scrapbook. Some of these excerpts are facinating, such as the FBI's reports of Tibor during his 'Cuban phase', but most merely confirm that that Kalman's strength came from his ideas and not from his skills in drawing or design.


Ignore this book. Buy Tibor Kalman: Perverse Optimist instead.

My hope when buying this book was that I would find more indepth information about the creation of colors with insight coming from the people who assisted in its production. What I found was 1/3 of the book being redundant with Tibors book "Perverse Optimist." The last 1/3 of the book is a reproduction of issue 13 - an issue I already own - so that wasn't very helpful either.

I was almost completely dissapointed with this book until I reached the middle section - an archive of Tibor's sketches, doodles and thoughts that help readers like myself see exactly how he initiated ideas for Colors Magazine. THIS IS WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR. This fairly extensive section of the book offers heaps of photos that document Tibor's professional and activist life from High School onward. The supporting text by Maira is heart warming, funny and enlightmening. This section alone justifies buying the book.

This is a terrific book for anyone who loves unusual visual imagery. At least half the book is without text, just gorgeous photos. There is some material that could be distasteful, and you should know that going in and plan to skip those pages if they offend you. I'm not real crazy about the feces photos, for example. But so much of it is great, that it's okay for some of it to be outside my comfort zone. Someone else might not have my sensitivity. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who finds beauty in the unexpected - and in the expected.

I was expecting more insight, more celebration, more highlights...and instead you have some very reduced page layouts (maybe 40% of the original) that can't be appreciated, Kalman's scribbles and comments, and the photography of Issue 13...What was the point???

I never had a chance to pick up the old issues 1-13 of the COLORS magazine.
So I was looking forward to getting this book. Unfortunately they only take what looks to me as the best page or two of each individual issue. Which is still fantastic but I want much more. Seeing its practically impossible to obtain the back issues this is the closest your going to get. A must buy for anyone who enjoys this magazine.

Really Disappointing! If you're looking to have the first issues of COLORS don't buy this. This "book" synthesize at a very low level each issue and the text of some "photos" is impossible to read because of it's size.

just the best of colors magazine, classical and radical graphics from the 80 and 90 compilled in a single volume

i thought this was a marvelous book rendition of the magazine. i wish there were more pages though. it was just way too short.

stunningly beautiful, such imagination... and a look into Tibor Kalman's head through his own notes!
Enjoy this book of random and organized art.