Rating: 
Summary: Good book, but missing some essential parts.....
Review: As an art educator, there are many things I enjoyed about Jay Tobler's book....I appreciate the concise manner in which artist's works are dicussed,the artist cross-referencing feature and the good quality of the reproductions. The fact that such a 'tome' is so accessibly priced is a godsend....Unfortunately, in representing the scope of 'American' art per se, I do find it to be incredibly lacking. There exists hardly any representation of artists from minority groups in America....where are Native American artists, such as Pablita Velarde, and Jaune Quick-to-See Smith?...or important African Americans, such as James Biggars, or Bettye Saar?...to me,this book like may others, reinforces the notion that most 'important' artists in America are Anglo Saxon males. It is crucial, if we are looking at an overview of American art, to include ALL that is UNIQUELY American in creating a clear picture.
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent way to relax
Review: I am not an art critic or claim to have any expertise in art but I do find The American Art Book by Jay Tobler an excellent way to relax and view the world of art in compleley different setting. The compilation of artists is very complete and provides an outstanding cross section of artists within our american culture. As I read the book I can't help but think that each artist sat down with Jay and described to him in the artists words what the piece meant to them. The candor and symmetry of the writings are spendid and truly allow you to understand and relate to, not just the art work but also the artist.
Rating: 
Summary: Where's Paul Wonner?
Review: I realize it's difficult to include everyone, but I really miss him, especially his gouache figurative work. This is a very nice (and big) collection. The prints are good quality and the design doesn't detract from the pictures. It's especially nice to see 20th century American art scattered in with all the preceding artists. Another really good collection is "Icons of Art: the 20th Century." I don't think Paul Wonner's in that one either. How come?
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Summary: Fun and simple for novice art lover
Review: I thoroughly enjoy reading The American Art Book. The layout is just wonderful - it is simple, but very informative. I keep it on the coffee table and flip through it all the time. It is so well organized, and keeps my interest. I would recommend this book to anyone from avid art lovers, to book collectors, and to people who just enjoy learning about artists and their work. I especially love the large prints which allows the reader to really SEE the work. So many books overload you with much information that it is easy to lose interest. The American Art Book provides enough text to give the reader a good base understanding of the artist. I don't think I will ever tire of reading this book. A great thanks to Jay Tobler for this work!
Rating:
Summary: The definitive book of American Art
Review: Jay Tobler and a well-choosen group of art world insiders have compiled an impressive and definitive survey of American Art over three centuries. Wide-ranging but tightly choosen, this book includes all manner of visual arts (painting, sculpture, photography and more) and establishes the figures who matter most. Wonderful descriptive captions accompany each image. A unique coding system on each entry refers readers to influences and similar works. Most importantly, the often segregated folk artists, who are after all the most "American" of American artists, are accorded full and equal treatment here. This book is also amazingly underpriced considering the number of high quality color photographs within. The carefully selected images establish just what is "American" in American Art.
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Summary: Art for Everyone
Review: The American Art Book is an incredible compilation of fantastic art. It is accessible to artists and anyone who can appreciate art. The text which accompanies each piece is wonderfully written and provides detail without being too technical. It feels like the artist is sitting with you and telling you all of the interesting things about the work.I love that I can just pick up the book and always find something I haven't seen before. Jay Tobler has done a wonderful job choosing interesting and unique art from all genres and providing informative and interesting text.
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Summary: IT'S ALL HERE!!!
Review: The American Art Book, edited by Jay Tobler and published by Phaidon, is the one BIG American art book that has it all! The bountiful range of entries is astonishing to experience -- and at long last gives us a truly full spectrum three century survey of all of what is American in American art. The reproductions are beautiful, large and representative. We are spared tedious artspeak -- and instead offered just enough text to ground the work and its maker in time, place and space. The carefully selected reproductions, one to a page, are insightfully juxtaposed as page spreads that illustrate work not often seen together in the same building -- much less the same book. In The American Art Book we are finally able to SEE how all the pieces of the tapestry fit together as one. There is, quite simply, no better survey of art in America, and probably never has been. Rarer still, when was the last time the best book on American art was also the most reasonably priced? This is an art book you can afford to own, without disappointment or apology, no matter your budget. You'll see work you have never seen before by artists you know well. You'll discover artists you never knew existed whose work is pure revelation. And you'll make scores of connections you never knew existed before now. There is nothing bad to say about The American Art Book. Once you see it you'll wonder why no other art book in your library delivers so much.
Rating:
Summary: An absolute treasure.
Review: The definitive word on American Art. This book and Catherine Dunne's "Interior Designing For All Five Senses" are by far the two most impacting and enriching books I've purchased in a very long time.
Rating: 
Summary: Big pictures, little content
Review: The representations are big and beautiful, but the text accompanying each image started sounding repetitive after a few dozen pages. Also, the choices from each artists oeuvre could be argued indefinitely, I suppose, but it seems to me if you have space for only one image, it should be their best work, (i.e. Chamberlain's "nanoweap"?, Hopper's "automat"? Etc., etc., eesh) All in all, it left me uninspired.
Rating:
Summary: Mesmerizing
Review: This book has occupied the center of my kitchen table since I received it. I find myself drawn to it at all times of the day and night. The large format pictures are beautifully reproduced, the accompanying text is informative yet concise and the links to other artists provide a fascinating insight into American art movements. I am astonished at the range and variety of American art and feel quite ...patriotic!
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