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Summary: A Book for Composed Solitude
Review: 'The Family of Man' was published in 1955, amidst a very potent brew of recent history. The scars of World War II were still fresh in the minds of people, as well as the very real possibility of nuclear war in the present.It is probable that the pressures of the age played a part in the organizers decision to host 'The Family of Man' exhibition and publish this book. Indeed, the horrific twentieth century history had perhaps motivated the photographers represented to do some of their best work. By attempting to show what life may be(is?) like from an 'ideal' perspective, an exhibition of lasting value was created. Let us give a warm thanks to these talented photographers, for reminding us of the inherent tragic beauty of the human condition in our age.
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Summary: If you have only one book of photography make it this one.
Review: A photo version of Desiderata. Timeless. Looking through this book brings me back to what is real and important in life.
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Summary: Words do not do this book justice
Review: Edward Steichen's 1955 exhibition preserved in book form. The Family of Man is a touching, beautiful, horrifying, funny, tragic, poignant collection of photos. Loosely grouped by subject; birth, death, laughter, fear, hunger, the pictures strike us like sudden blows. My father gave me this book when I was fifteen and I must have bought twenty copies since then, presents for people I cared about deeply.
I cannot recommend it highly enough.
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Summary: Most wonderful wonderful and yet again wonderful
Review: First time I saw the pictures collected by Edward Steichen was in the permanent museum of the exhibition, Clervaux in Luxembourg. I was keeped almost in silence from entering to exiting and the message of the pictures was striking to me then - and 15 years later it still is. This is a collection of pictures from all the world, picked between Thousands to be the best pictures to describe the family of man as we ALL are. No matter of colour, religion, origin or political believe we are all sons, fathers, lovers, hungry, thirsty, at times fearful and at times playful - WE ARE ALL ALIKE! This message is as important now as it was in the 50` and looking at extreemist and the war of terror, you can only wonder how come we have learned nothing in 50 years. The book brings me back to Clervaux and the thoughts about life, and each time I stop at a different picture or text, that captures the essence of where I am at that time of life. The book is universal not only to man but also to moods. However happy I am to own the book it is nothing compared with the exhibition in Luxembourg. I can only say that I returned and will return again, and for the full experience of these pictures I will recommend it to all.
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Summary: Beautiful, Thoughtful
Review: I have given this book as a gift many times over the years, and can't recommend it enough. The photographs are beautiful, giving the viewer a sense of what is common in the overall human experience. Simple, straight-forward in content, and very moving. An essential volume of photographs.
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Summary: Beautiful, Thoughtful
Review: I have given this book as a gift many times over the years, and can't recommend it enough. The photographs are beautiful, giving the viewer a sense of what is common in the overall human experience. Simple, straight-forward in content, and very moving. An essential volume of photographs.
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Summary: Still packs a punch!
Review: I recently purchased this book, after having grown up with it in the 50s and 60s. The photographs are as stunning, vibrant and moving as I recall, and I realized that I had clearer memories of this collection of pictures than those in our family photo album - which probably says a lot about my family and cameras?! Anyway - there's something VERY 50s about these photos - the Germans look "German" - the Irish look "Irish", and so forth. This collection of photos presents a very UN-MELTED "melting pot" at the same time it reveals a universal humanity and compassion. There's palpable joy, sorrow, pain, love, beauty, ulginess and every other human emotion depicted here. It's a beautiful book you won't be sorry you got!
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Summary: Still packs a punch!
Review: I recently purchased this book, after having grown up with it in the 50s and 60s. The photographs are as stunning, vibrant and moving as I recall, and I realized that I had clearer memories of this collection of pictures than those in our family photo album - which probably says a lot about my family and cameras?! Anyway - there's something VERY 50s about these photos - the Germans look "German" - the Irish look "Irish", and so forth. This collection of photos presents a very UN-MELTED "melting pot" at the same time it reveals a universal humanity and compassion. There's palpable joy, sorrow, pain, love, beauty, ulginess and every other human emotion depicted here. It's a beautiful book you won't be sorry you got!
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Summary: The Nuclear Family
Review: In American we are centered in our universe. This book, and it's re-printed edition, supposes a scientific norm of "family" for the world. This definition hardly fits even today's American culture, let alone today's world culture. While the pictures are beautiful, they can be deceiving and should been seen as an appropiatly dated anthology of 50's ideology of family in light of the threat of nuclear war and Communism. I gave it three stars because it was funny.
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Summary: This book has the power to educate all people of all ages
Review: In the same way an infant is captivated by a human face, so is the receptive reader drawn to the pages of this book, over and over again. In photographs taken around the world, the images remind us of the overwhelming preciousness of our all-too-short lives, the mystery of the universe, and the inherent potential of humankind to choose its own way. Making us aware of our responsibility to cherish life, to handle it tenderly and respectfully, for our own sake and for the benefit of our children, is its clear intent. I discovered this book on my parents' bookshelf at the age of six. It was my introduction to the world, as expressed through the images of others. Thanks to The Family of Man, I began to understand the vastness of the world, in contrast to my own small one. I saw more in those images with every passing year. The aphorisms from the world's great literature, printed alongside the photographs, became comprehensible to me as I learned to read words as I had been taught by this book to read human faces. I was impressed by our vast differences, and touched and comforted by the common humanity that we share with one another. The messages contained within this work are timeless and relevent. If I had the power to do so,I would place a copy of this book in every classroom of every grade of all the schools in the world. In my opinion, there is no one of any age for whom this book is not appropriate. I believe from the beginning we all want to be the best we can be; somehow along the way too many of us lose hope. This book reminds us of the worthiness of the pursuit of the meaning of life. Though as individual members of the global community we may be quite different, we nonetheless see in these pictures the implications of choices made for, and against life--and we are inspired to consider thoughtfully the implications of our everyday thoughts and acts. This may well be the first and greatest lesson in life.
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