Customer Reviews

Total Tattoo Book

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I must start by saying that I am considerably disappointed with this book. The author spends a lot of time boasting about being a "tattooed Jew", tooting her own horn for organizing a tattoo convention in New York, and talking about how "tattooed people are ok!" and "bikers are just like everyone else". There is definately too much chatter and not enough information. The list of tattoo studios in the back of the book is not a very good resource, as the information there is highly likely to change, such as addresses and phone numbers. There are a lot of black and white photos, not "many in color!" as the back of the book claims, and most of the pictures can be found in any number of other books on the subject. The book was inexpensive, and may provide some insight into tattooing in New York, but it lacks substance and isnt worth much more than a quick read.

i would only recommend this book to people who know nothing at all about tattooing. i would have rather named this book "tattooing for dummies". if you're new to the tattooing community this book will definitely provide you with useful information, otherwise it just wont do much for you. too many generalizations, i feel. the language used is very much aimed at an american audience.

This was the first book that I have read on tattooing and I found it to be very poorly written and lacking substance. The first few chapters are the only ones that include any sort of valid information and even that is very breif. The text seemed to be quite repetative and written in laymans terms. The photos were o.k. but they felt misplaced and serving as a diversion from the composition itself. As the book drags on she uses a listing magazines and studios (many of which are no longer open) to try and fill the last fifty pages or so. Don't waste your money and time.

Well it was a light read and i learnt a little. It doesn't deserve its title of TOTAL tattoo book because its far from complete. The author goes off the track with personal stories on many occasions and forgets what she is supposed to be talking about, so the subtitles in each chapter are loosely connected with the text.
However, i wouldn't totally discourage the purchasing of this book as I was entertained by it. After all any tattoo talk is interesting, although in my opinion the author should have stuck to one genre- either a personal recount of the artists she knows and her experience- or a profesional factual novel in 3rd person.
It was a light read that was enough to pass the time.

im a big fan of body art. i read and research alot about it. i also have four tattoos of my own and plan on getting more. i even dated a tattoo artist for a short period of time. i hung out at the tattoo shop every day and was around 5-10 artists at a time every day. i know my stuff. but by no means am i out writing a book on tattoos.

with that said.

this book was not the "total tattoo book" i expected. it mostly told me stuff i already knew, had bad pictures, and talked way to much about her personal experiences. i was bored and even skipped sentences at times just to finish it. but i did finish it out of respect for the author and give her two stars.

1 star for her efforts
1 star because its about tattoos

Amy Krakow has one small ankle tattoo, attends a couple tattoo festivals and calls her self an expert.I'd have more respect if she went under the needle a couple more times but she has one petty ankle tattoo.Big deal!The book was somewhat intertesting but she needs to go off "I'm cool because I have one tattoo", ego trip and realize thousands of us have at least one tattoo and don't write a book on how individual we are.

this book is very very fundamental. the black and white photos are small and pretty useless and the color shots could be better.
better books are available

This book isn't badly written, but isn't the "Total Tattoo Book" as she claims it to be. The book centers around New York's tattoo scene, and mostly old-school, male, tattoo artists. Amy claims to be an insider, but all she really is, is a convention promoter.

I am a tattoo artist and this was, without a doubt, the most comprehensive book I have ever read regarding the history of tattooing. I am going to suggest it to my customers, but no way they are borrowing my copy! That one is sacred ground!

I found this book to be very interesting for anyone fascinated by the beautiful art of tattoo or for those just curious about them This book can change how you perceive tattoos. Covers information on almost all aspects of tattooing. Made me realize what a true art form this is. Why wasn't it ever taught in my art history classes?These tattooists are true artists with alot of courage. This book has me already regretting that my lone little tattoo is not bigger and that I only have one. I envy those in the book with their fearlessness in the world of tattoos.