Rating: 
Summary: Very Disappointing
Review: I'm usually a big fan of the Dummies books, but this one frustrated me to no end. Everyone else has already complained about the lack of decent pictures, and they are right: for a book about art, there's an awful lot of black and white text and cheaply drawn cartoons without showing us the good stuff. Faced with just reading the material without looking at the art, I found myself to be immensely bored. All too often, Tom strays from the topic to relate yet another anecdote about his travels and adventures in the art world. Furthermore, Tom's constant name dropping gave the whole book a tone of the arrogance and snobbery that Tom claims alienates so many people from exploring the art world. A lot of time is spent on preparing people for the "way" to visit an art museum, which is fine, but I want to have something of an understanding of the material so I know what to look for when I'm at the museum. I didn't get that from this book. If you want a really excellent introductory book to art, try Sister Wendy's Story of Painting. It's everything this book is not -- it has tons of beautiful pictures, and great, understandable text that never strays from explaining the art itself. Even better, get Sister Wendy's 1001 Masterpieces to go along with it -- it's a great way to enter the world of art.
Rating: 
Summary: No better start
Review: It is easy to pick on this book. I don't like the title, and I wish it had a bibliography, for instance. Hoving's selection isn't mine, but he includes more than I would have thought possible, and he writes with clarity and enthusiasm. Though nothing substitutes for the real thing, as Hoving makes clear throughout, I like his choice of color illustrations, and the black and white illustrations are useful reference points. Most refreshing are his enthusiasm, and his willingness to express his preferences.I bought this book for the around the world guide to museums, with the mini-reviews and mini-summaries of what is where. Most guides to the art places of the world are dull as dishwater. This one looks like a perfect 2 carat gem: small, but clear and scintillating. Well written, well organized, and far more than a guide to the museums of the world. I expect it to make a handy reference to areas of the art world I am less familiar with. It is on the bookshelf in my studio. One could pack around many weightier tomes, and come up with far less.
Rating: 
Summary: Art for Dummies
Review: Perhaps I miss something. Sometime I don't know whether the author is serious about his saying or just joking. For example, on page 20, he lists some music CD to bring along for museum visits. The list shows a lot of mistakes about classical music. I found it is amusing how an art expert & lover can miss so much on the subject of classical music.
Rating:
Summary: Art for Dummies
Review: Perhaps I miss something. Sometime I don't know whether the author is serious about his saying or just joking. For example, on page 20, he lists some music CD to bring along for museum visits. The list shows a lot of mistakes about classical music. I found it is amusing how an art expert & lover can miss so much on the subject of classical music.
Rating: 
Summary: It's bad because it's so good
Review: Reading "Art for Dummies" was an exciting experience but also so frustrating that on occasion I almost sent the book flying towards the wall. On the plus side: chronological layout, even-handed treatment of different periods and techniques, and Mr. Hoving's obvious and infectious love of art. Which leads us into the central irony of the book. Mr. Hoving describes many art works much better than we can see them. Nothing is so frustrating as to have him rhapsodize about an art work which is rendered in postage-stamp-sized black and white in the book, its salient features almost invisible, even under my Bausch & Lomb magnifying glass. This happened far more than it ought to (once would have been too much, of course). The book was limited in its use of color plates and the black-and-white reproductions tended to be small, small, small. The "For Dummies" folks should have upped the retail price another ten bucks and put in some serious color plating or perhaps done a multi-volume work: "Impressionism for Dummies," "Modern Art for Dummies," you get the idea. As it is, I can't give the book a true "thumbs up." It's a pity, because even with the minor factual errors professionals have spotted it's quite a well written book. It just isn't nearly visible enough.
Rating:
Summary: It's bad because it's so good
Review: Reading "Art for Dummies" was an exciting experience but also so frustrating that on occasion I almost sent the book flying towards the wall. On the plus side: chronological layout, even-handed treatment of different periods and techniques, and Mr. Hoving's obvious and infectious love of art. Which leads us into the central irony of the book. Mr. Hoving describes many art works much better than we can see them. Nothing is so frustrating as to have him rhapsodize about an art work which is rendered in postage-stamp-sized black and white in the book, its salient features almost invisible, even under my Bausch & Lomb magnifying glass. This happened far more than it ought to (once would have been too much, of course). The book was limited in its use of color plates and the black-and-white reproductions tended to be small, small, small. The "For Dummies" folks should have upped the retail price another ten bucks and put in some serious color plating or perhaps done a multi-volume work: "Impressionism for Dummies," "Modern Art for Dummies," you get the idea. As it is, I can't give the book a true "thumbs up." It's a pity, because even with the minor factual errors professionals have spotted it's quite a well written book. It just isn't nearly visible enough.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful informative text, but too few pictures.
Review: The text of this book is extremely informative, focusing on great works, and great museums, mostly in the West. Mr. Hoving's enthusiasm for art, and the great masterpieces, is infectious. The book is limited, however, by too few, and inadequate pictures. There are two full color sections, and small B&W pictures throughout, but many of the pieces he describes are not shown. I guess that fully illustrating the book would be expensive, but it is difficult, even for Mr. Hoving, to adequately describe a masterpiece with words alone. He has met his goal, however, by introducing the reader to the various "isms", and stimulating one's curiosity. He advises one to "saturate" themselves in art, which, if time allows, I will strive to do.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent reader-friendly introduction but lacks pictures
Review: This book is written in a very friendly style that makes art accessible and does not talk down to the reader (who may be new to art concepts and perhaps intimidated by entering this brave new world). Hoving tells us to 'saturate' ourselves in art by visiting museums and looking at lots and lots of art; that way he says you can develop your eye for the good stuff, and trust that you will indeed recognize the good stuff when you see it. Unfortunately (but understandably because this is meant to be an inexpensive, accessible introductory book), there are many many descriptions of important works through the ages, but only a very few color plates that illustrate them, and a few more black and white photographs. It's a bit hard to 'saturate' yourself in a piece of art based on a description in words - you know what they say: a picture is worth a thousand words! However, there's a simple and enjoyable remedy. I recommend that you buy the glorious, lush History of Art (5th edition, revised)by Janson, and use that as a companion piece while reading Hoving's Art for Dummies. Many of the works (and just about all of the artists) mentioned by Hoving are represented in the Janson book, which is full of color plates. Hoving's book is more readable, but Janson's book will bring the work alive! It's a hardcover book that comes in a box with a big satin ribbon. I gave it to myself for Christmas (and while cramming for an upcoming appearance as a contestant on Jeopardy!)
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Guide for the Beginner
Review: Thomas Hoving does a masterful job of introducing the reader into the world of art. Plenty of color representations, especially given the length of th text, an ample rendering of interpretations, and the revelation that art is accessible to anyone willing to take some time to learn give this book an undeniable attraction to the novice. The only drawback (not worthy of a reduction in stars) is that some of the black-and-white representations are of poor quality. Other than that minor flaw, the book really is incredible.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Guide for the Beginner
Review: Thomas Hoving does a masterful job of introducing the reader into the world of art. Plenty of color representations, especially given the length of th text, an ample rendering of interpretations, and the revelation that art is accessible to anyone willing to take some time to learn give this book an undeniable attraction to the novice. The only drawback (not worthy of a reduction in stars) is that some of the black-and-white representations are of poor quality. Other than that minor flaw, the book really is incredible.
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