With the release of Disposable - A History of Skateboard Art in 2004, author Sean Cliver made a brilliant attempt at artfully cataloging every important skateboard deck ever released. In the process, he created a classic, but was left feeling less than satisfied. Ever the completist, the gaping omissions in the first book gnawed at him and drove him to envision compiling the ultimate encyclopedia of Skateboard decks. While Disposable was beautiful, capturing the essence of the aesthetic, The Disposable Skateboard Bible sets out to be the ultimate guide. The author's industry insider status (mesmerized by his first visit to a skate shop in 1986 he went all out and in 1989, landed his first job as a designer at Powell-Peralta) allows him to guide readers through the culture and experience, the art and the mania of the skate world with authority and expertise. While the boards take center stage, fascinating vignettes and recollections by an A-list of skateboarding personalities from Tony Hawk to Mike Vallely, Mark Gonzales to Mark "Gator" Rogowski, Steve Caballero to Stacy Peralta and more.
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This may put me on both sides of the wrong age too old to today's generation and too young to the skaters of the 80s but as a seven-year-old runt in 1987, I would travel down to Milwaukee's Turf Skatepark with my mom and my older brother, Than, and split time watching him do scratcher grinds in the ice-slick deep bowl or slamming around a joystick while attempting to out-run bees in the video game 720º;. All I did was kneeboard then, but I liked the smell of the Turf lobby and would spend a good deal of time admiring the fluorescent wheels, board graphics - namely, the Tony Hawk Powell-Peralta Bird Skull graphic - or the griptape art (Even the pre-cut Nash circular saw grip design seemed awesome to me at the time).
When I finally started skateboarding in 1995, the first mid nineties memory that comes to mind is the girl who modeled for Teabag clothing. She was gorgeous in a way reserved only for a boy on the verge of pubescence and she graced the pages of Big Brother magazine, where Sean Cliver worked.
I didn't take much notice at the time, but when Sean Cliver wrote Disposable: A History of Skateboard Art in 2005, it brought a lot of my memories back, not just from the perfect storm that was Big Brother, but of those years at the Turf all those memories that each wheel, board graphic or piece of torn griptape held. Now, I am not and probably never will be a skateboard collector, but his most recent follow-up book, The Disposable Skateboard Bible broadens the years of nostalgia and is an amazing read for anyone who holds their greatest memories in the very thing they have spent their life destroying. It's out now and is available through Gingko Press or Amazon.com . --ESPN.com
When I finally started skateboarding in 1995, the first mid nineties memory that comes to mind is the girl who modeled for Teabag clothing. She was gorgeous in a way reserved only for a boy on the verge of pubescence and she graced the pages of Big Brother magazine, where Sean Cliver worked.
I didn't take much notice at the time, but when Sean Cliver wrote Disposable: A History of Skateboard Art in 2005, it brought a lot of my memories back, not just from the perfect storm that was Big Brother, but of those years at the Turf all those memories that each wheel, board graphic or piece of torn griptape held. Now, I am not and probably never will be a skateboard collector, but his most recent follow-up book, The Disposable Skateboard Bible broadens the years of nostalgia and is an amazing read for anyone who holds their greatest memories in the very thing they have spent their life destroying. It's out now and is available through Gingko Press or Amazon.com . --ESPN.com
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this book after picking up a copy of Concrete Wave magazine. There was an interview for the author and a few photos from the book which I found very interesting.
When I started skateboarding it was in 1986, and at the height of popularity in my area. Every shop was covered with neon deck designs and day glo plastic parts for sale. I don't remember many (if any) wheels that were natural colored white, everything was bright and loud. Every company stood out, there was no mistake for a Vision board or a G&S, you could even tell the difference from the shapes alone.
I never actually had a board from these years, my parents bought me a generic board while my friends all had the skate shop specials. So all I could do is read the Transworld and Thrasher magazines at the super market.
Years later, I wanted to buy a reissue board and while searching around I knew there was a few favorites that were missing. The reissue market is mostly Santa Cruz and Powell, with some other brands like a few Vision. After finding this book from reading Concrete Wave, I was amazed at the amount of skateboards I remember and the ones that I didn't.
The book is produced on a nice thick cover and each page is very thick, also there is a bit of distressed look to the pages. Each deck is photographed very clearly, and the range of graphics is amazing, I had no ideas there were so many colors to some of the decks or alternate graphics.
I think the part that really surprised me was how I could remember so many of the boards and who had them. It also kinda of made me realize that how technical skating has gotten really left behind the unique shapes that defined some of the boards. I just recently bought my first longboard and find it's more fun as their shapes and design are fun since it's different from each other.
In closing, if you have any interest in skating history or just interested in the graphics, or even wanting to create your own custom skateboard, this is a great resource. The book covers from the beginning of skateboarding, to about 2007.
BTW my favorite skateboard?
The Schmitt Stick John Lucreo from 1987.
When I started skateboarding it was in 1986, and at the height of popularity in my area. Every shop was covered with neon deck designs and day glo plastic parts for sale. I don't remember many (if any) wheels that were natural colored white, everything was bright and loud. Every company stood out, there was no mistake for a Vision board or a G&S, you could even tell the difference from the shapes alone.
I never actually had a board from these years, my parents bought me a generic board while my friends all had the skate shop specials. So all I could do is read the Transworld and Thrasher magazines at the super market.
Years later, I wanted to buy a reissue board and while searching around I knew there was a few favorites that were missing. The reissue market is mostly Santa Cruz and Powell, with some other brands like a few Vision. After finding this book from reading Concrete Wave, I was amazed at the amount of skateboards I remember and the ones that I didn't.
The book is produced on a nice thick cover and each page is very thick, also there is a bit of distressed look to the pages. Each deck is photographed very clearly, and the range of graphics is amazing, I had no ideas there were so many colors to some of the decks or alternate graphics.
I think the part that really surprised me was how I could remember so many of the boards and who had them. It also kinda of made me realize that how technical skating has gotten really left behind the unique shapes that defined some of the boards. I just recently bought my first longboard and find it's more fun as their shapes and design are fun since it's different from each other.
In closing, if you have any interest in skating history or just interested in the graphics, or even wanting to create your own custom skateboard, this is a great resource. The book covers from the beginning of skateboarding, to about 2007.
BTW my favorite skateboard?
The Schmitt Stick John Lucreo from 1987.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
Very cool fun book. I skated a lot in the late '80s and of and on in the '90s. More recently I bomb hills on a longboard, and my nephew is getting into it. This book is a complete and enjoyable look at practically every deck design one could possibly recall, from the 1950s to now. Well done and could work as a good coffee table book, but understand - there are few actual skater/skate shots, or anything about trucks or wheels. This is an encyclopedia for collectors and lovers of decks and deck art. There are many short essays by skaters and designers with stories that add a lot.
By WilliamU
Amazon Verified Purchase
Sean Cliver did an outstanding job with this collection of rare skateboard art. The hardback cover makes it a great table reader.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
An amazing book for an old skater...
The photos are amazing, but the stories in this book are amazing. Quite the collection. A must have book if you rode at any time.
Published 2 months ago by bigdaddyj73
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brings back the memories of middle school!
Incredible! If we could only get a Book like this for freestyle bikes of the 1980s!!!!
Anyone know of one?
Anyone know of one?
Published 2 months ago by Lauras Husband
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stupendous!
Fabulous book covering history of skateboards, with so many pictures that you will never get tired of browsing through it. Read more
Published 3 months ago by marilyn meyer
5.0 out of 5 stars
legend record
A solid book with all the low down facts and history.
A must have for all collectors interested in skateboarding history and era art.
A must have for all collectors interested in skateboarding history and era art.
Published 3 months ago by chicawawa
5.0 out of 5 stars
Looking forward to this
Haven't received the book yet, but I will say that I am certainly looking forward to it. I have an original copy of Disposable, still in the wrapping, and so I've only viewed that... Read more
Published 3 months ago by W. A.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nice book, nice pics!
One of our table books, every guest here start looking by it ! Nice selections of pics ! My God is a skateboarder.
Published 4 months ago by PAULA NAHAS
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book, Definitely Recommend
I mainly purchased it because I bought a deck that has a feature in this book. Glad I bought it, really cool to see all those old decks, loaded with pictures.
Published 4 months ago by Matt
5.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT!
Disposable was 5 stars....& this one is twice as good as Disposable. Having several decks in both books, it's cool seeing them in print. Read more
Published 4 months ago by J. Engelke
5.0 out of 5 stars
I don't usually write reviews but this is one of the raddest books...
This book is written by Sean Cliver who designed skateboard graphics for Powell originally back in 1988 (He designed all the rad Powell graphics in the early 90's. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Chris Rice
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing
Thats one of the best books about skateboard history i`ve ever seen!
If you wanna get involved with all shapes and boards designs ever made just get into!!!
If you wanna get involved with all shapes and boards designs ever made just get into!!!
Published 8 months ago by Biopics
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