The Tattoo Encyclopedia : A Guide to Choosing Your Tattoo (Paperback)

by Terisa Green (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Skipping the technical details of how to get a tattoo, Green's catalog delves into the fascinating realm of why people get tattoos and what images they choose. After an introduction sketching the history of skin art, Green, an archaeologist and UCLA research associate, launches into an alphabetical encyclopedia with a collection of common tattoo symbols under each letter. She offers an illustration of the symbols and describes the meaning and symbolism behind each. For example, a hammer suggests "might, activity, and brute force." The book also explains more obscure tattoos, such as the number 13, which stands for the thirteenth letter of the alphabet (M) and is sometimes used in lieu of a marijuana leaf; and a sunflower, which represents constancy. Green covers some 800 images, from acorn ("an ancient representation of life and birth") to Zuni fetish (a popular Native American symbol).
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
... a book that should be in every tattoo shop on the planet. It's an easy-to-use, A-Z reference guide ... -- Skin & Ink Magazine, March, 2004

... will not only provide an invaluable tool to artists and collectors alike, it's also a great read ... -- Tattoo Revue Magazine, Issue #114

Guilty pleasure. -- Kansas City Star, August 17, 2003

Looking for that perfect gift for your teenage son or daughter - that free-spirited, be-myself, make-a-statement child ...? Voila. -- St. Louis Post Dispatch, August 21, 2003

… useful resource for anyone seriously contemplating a tattoo … interesting, well-written treatment on the meaning of commonly used symbols. -- Netsurfer Books

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Fireside (August 12, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743223292
• ISBN-13: 978-0743223294
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #59,055 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have!, February 20, 2004

By A Customer

This is a fantastic resource for anybody who's thinking about getting a tattoo. In fact, I would go so far as to say that you shouldn't get a tattoo without reading this book. You can look up tattoo symbols by name, by type, or just thumb through the whole thing looking at all the fantastic illustrations. I bought the book when I decided the time had come to take the tattoo plunge, but realized I had no idea what design I would want or would look good. This book helped me choose a design I would never have thought of by myself. Even if you're not considering a tattoo yourself, the entries make for fascinating reading. Every tattoo shop should have one of these! I'm waiting for the sequel on jewelry!

32 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Virtually useless, October 16, 2005

By	Bianchi Joe (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews

The illustrations are little more than commercially-available clip art. The descriptions and explanations are so brief as to be meaningless, and the historical information is ubiquitously available on myriad Internet sites. If you have never seen a tattoo before in your life, this will be a fascinating read. But for the rest of us who have even the slightest prior knowledge of tattoos or generic iconography, buying this book will be an utter waste of money. May I suggest instead that you vist a tattoo shop and discuss designs with an artist.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars interesting, April 28, 2004

By	D. Allor "Leah Nicole" (Cary, NC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book gives interesting history on just about any popular tattoo you see around these days. It is very interesting to know that certain popular tattoo art dates back to when it does, and holds a special meaning in certain cultures. You might want to pick up this book if you are interested in finding out some important details about a tattoo you get before you get it, but it may require extra research as the descriptions in the book are very brief.