Iconic America: A Roller-Coaster Ride through the Eye-Popping Panorama of American Pop Culture (Hardcover)

~ (Author), George Lois (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

What is America? It’s Monopoly and Mickey Mouse, but also Sinatra and Fred Astaire. It’s the Declaration of Independence, but it’s also Barbie and Playboy, Winslow Homer and Rudi Gernreich’s topless bathing suit. This juxtaposition of images reflects America’s unique eclecticism, and the unprecedented influence that the images of America’s pop culture have had on the world. This book works as a great treasury of Americana, and as a mischievously enjoyable observation on all things truly American. Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger and famous adman George Lois have crafted an enlightening book, searching American history to find over 350 people, symbols, and things of import. Their iconic and iconoclastic choices are entertainingly presented through surprising visual juxtapositions. Inspired by Tommy Hilfiger’s passion for Americana and George Lois’ wit, Iconic America dramatizes the national ethos, and makes us think about who we are and what we stand for, with humor and charm.

About the Author

Since launching his menswear collection in 1985, Tommy Hilfiger has become one of the most popular designers in America. Today, his collections include an entire range of apparel and products. This is his third book. George Lois is an art director renowned for daring advertising campaigns. In the 1960s, he conceived some of Esquire’s most famous covers. Lois is in the Art Director’s Hall of Fame, the Copywriters Hall of Fame, has received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the Society of Publication Designers, and has been a subject of the Master Series at the School of Visual Arts.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 350 pages
• Publisher: Universe; illustrated edition edition (November 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789315734
• ISBN-13: 978-0789315731
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #310,092 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, December 28, 2007

By	D. Vorenkamp - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a really great book, that takes you on a historical journey through American culture. A real treat!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Symbols of a perfect life, April 19, 2008

By	Robin Benson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

Though the cover line refers to `A roller-coaster ride through the eye-popping panorama of American pop culture' the book, fortunately, has a much further reach than just pop. With about four hundred subjects covered and obviously reflecting the hopes and aspirations of the two authors I thought the book was a fine celebration of Americanism.

Firstly though the book is a visual treat. Designer George Lois has handled a whole range of graphic material brilliantly, especially in presenting similar items on the same spread: a photo of James Brown (The godfather of soul) facing Marlon Brando (The godfather of film) or Babe Ruth facing a Baby Ruth candy bar or a spread with a photo of an apple pie (As American as apple pie) and an Apple logo (Apple changes the American lifestyle). Another lovely design touch is running five Burma-Shave signs over five pages (The bearded lady/Tried a jar/She's now a famous/Movie star!/Burma-Shave).

Lois has blended all the personality photos, product shots, logos, paintings, cartoons and display typography together beautifully and the 175dpi printing on quality paper makes everything sparkle. The design treatment did remind of a similar strong visual book covering the same subject 1,001 Reasons to Love America (1,001 Reasons to Love).

I liked the wide-ranging coverage of icons throughout the pages and nicely not necessarily positive ones. Page seventy-one features the Enron logo, page 135 has a cutout photo of a lemon with Edsel printed on it, also included are a few frames from the Zapruder home movie of Kennedy's death likewise a photo of OJ Simpson, in court, trying on a glove.

The book is essentially visual and all of the images get detailed captions, sometimes a hundred words or more. The authors, where needed, provide light hearted headlines as in the housewives' favorite 'Yes, Virginia, there really is no Betty Crocker'. Cesar Chavez gets 'The grapes of wrath' or 'The web of justice' for Spider-Man.

You'll probably have your own icon that is not included, though with four hundred it'll be hard to pin-point something that's missing. All I could come up with is UPS and FedEx, neither are included in the comprehensive index. Maybe the reality is that the strength of America's past and present could easily produce a second volume!

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book but there's something you should know about it., August 9, 2008

By	Marlee H. "Marlee" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

I think this is a VERY awesome book and actually a history of life in America. I just want to caution anyone who MAY be shocked by a Playboy, nude centerfold in the middle of the book. I had bought the book for an elder member of my family and hadn't realized the photo was there. It was not well received. The photo may actually make you WANT to purchase the book now but just in case you may be offended...just know that it IS there.