Rating: 
Summary: Visually opulent, but missing a conclusion
Review: "The Book of Tiki" by Sven A. Kirsten treats the eyes to a full-color exploration of pseudo-Polynesian Tiki kitsch culture in the United States, a fad which reached its zenith circa 1960. Considered a momentary lapse in good taste ever since, Kirsten and his collaborators go to great lengths both to reclaim Tiki as a legitimate and prasie-worthy art form and to excavate some of its dilapidated artifacts. Given the extensiveness of Kirsten's research and archival material, this massive volume succeeds in passing along its affection for Tiki and in getting the reader to appreciate an art form that was once disgraced. However, "The Book of Tiki" is missing a conclusion that would put its arcana and observations into some kind of a compelling context. What is the reader to make of this Western appropriation of Polynesian cultures? Although the book notes in passing the irony of the West taking a great fascination in a culture that the West largely destroyed -- or at least altered beyond recognition (gone are the days of Herman Melville's "Typee") -- Kirsten draws no insights into what this tells us about Western culture and its manipulations of the cultures of others. For example, why Polynesian culture and not some other culture? What did the use of Polynesian symbols provide Middle America that other cultures (such as Latin American cultures) couldn't? A short chapter discussing these kinds of issues would have enhanced the book, given it a little more depth, and bolstered its claim to be "urban anthropology." As it stands, "The Book of Tiki" is a diverting entertainment, but it could have been something more substantial and thought-provoking.
Rating:
Summary: Visually opulent, but missing a conclusion
Review: "The Book of Tiki" by Sven A. Kirsten treats the eyes to a full-color exploration of pseudo-Polynesian Tiki kitsch culture in the United States, a fad which reached its zenith circa 1960. Considered a momentary lapse in good taste ever since, Kirsten and his collaborators go to great lengths both to reclaim Tiki as a legitimate and prasie-worthy art form and to excavate some of its dilapidated artifacts. Given the extensiveness of Kirsten's research and archival material, this massive volume succeeds in passing along its affection for Tiki and in getting the reader to appreciate an art form that was once disgraced. However, "The Book of Tiki" is missing a conclusion that would put its arcana and observations into some kind of a compelling context. What is the reader to make of this Western appropriation of Polynesian cultures? Although the book notes in passing the irony of the West taking a great fascination in a culture that the West largely destroyed -- or at least altered beyond recognition (gone are the days of Herman Melville's "Typee") -- Kirsten draws no insights into what this tells us about Western culture and its manipulations of the cultures of others. For example, why Polynesian culture and not some other culture? What did the use of Polynesian symbols provide Middle America that other cultures (such as Latin American cultures) couldn't? A short chapter discussing these kinds of issues would have enhanced the book, given it a little more depth, and bolstered its claim to be "urban anthropology." As it stands, "The Book of Tiki" is a diverting entertainment, but it could have been something more substantial and thought-provoking.
Rating: 
Summary: Delightful and "Educultural"
Review: A thorough, tongue-in-cheek (but loving) exploration and explanation of the nearly-defunct American pop Polynesian phenomenom.
The Book of Tiki covers every possible area infiltrated by the almost 100%-bogus South Seas "god", the Tiki. They are all here, from the famous founding fathers (Don the Beachcomber, Trader Vic) to the mostly unknown (and mostly un-Polynesian) artists and architects of "tiki style" to the restaurants, menus, drinks, artifacts, not to mention hotels, motels, apartments, miniature golf courses, amusement parks and rec rooms. Filled with lots and lots of photos, drawings, graphics, ephemera in glorious, kinetic profusion, the Book of Tiki will have you rifling through your junk drawer for that old swizzle stick from Hawaii Kai or surfing the tiki collectables on Ebay for sure.
At the same time there is a lot to learn here about the temporal nature of pop culture and how "a cultural icon is in its greatest peril of being destroyed right before its value gets rediscovered"
Rating:
Summary: Delightful and "Educultural"
Review: A thorough, tongue-in-cheek (but loving) exploration and explanation of the nearly-defunct American pop Polynesian phenomenom.
The Book of Tiki covers every possible area infiltrated by the almost 100%-bogus South Seas "god", the Tiki. They are all here, from the famous founding fathers (Don the Beachcomber, Trader Vic) to the mostly unknown (and mostly un-Polynesian) artists and architects of "tiki style" to the restaurants, menus, drinks, artifacts, not to mention hotels, motels, apartments, miniature golf courses, amusement parks and rec rooms. Filled with lots and lots of photos, drawings, graphics, ephemera in glorious, kinetic profusion, the Book of Tiki will have you rifling through your junk drawer for that old swizzle stick from Hawaii Kai or surfing the tiki collectables on Ebay for sure.
At the same time there is a lot to learn here about the temporal nature of pop culture and how "a cultural icon is in its greatest peril of being destroyed right before its value gets rediscovered"
Rating: 
Summary: Welcome back Tiki
Review: A wonderful resource for tiki fans old and young. From the history of Tiki to collectables and where and how to get them and incorporate them into your personal spaces. Two new wonderful Tiki inspired places in Palm Springs have the whole town talking, (and visiting).
Rating:
Summary: LONG LIVE TIKI!
Review: As one who grew up in Hawaii and has some Hawaiian blood, this book was a blessing and a curse. A blessing for it shows how post-war America found solace in strong drinks, bad chinese food, steel guitar music, and over-the-top pseudo-Pacific decor. From coast-to-coast, and in places as arcane as Modesto, California, Tiki meant fun. This book is great collage of images from bygone days, and the narrative is brisk -- if not as in depth as one would like...The curse is that Tiki is now almost as archaelogically distant as its own subject matter. Trader Vic's is still the "high-class" standard bearer, but there are only four left here in the states. This book alone should spur a tiki revival writ large. As with many other Taschen books, a French and German narrative is included... what better way to spread the intristic power of Tiki in our globalist age!
Rating:
Summary: Lost Treasures Uncovered!
Review: Each turn of the page reveals new wonderful surprises. A thoroughly enjoyable collection of photographs and stories about tiki culture of the 50's and 60's. The author takes a unique approach--he is an "urban archeologist" in search of a lost culture that flourished briefly, than mysteriously dissappeared. But relics have been left behind in the way of matchbooks, tiki glasses, postcards, menus, and old signage. Great reading and also fun to just flip through the photos.
Rating: 
Summary: AUTHORITATIVE COMPENDIUM OF 50s AND 60s AMERICAN TIKI STYLE
Review: Following World War II, U.S. soldiers returned from the South Pacific with tales of Paradise Found: white sand beaches, sleepy lagoons, trees heavy with ripe, exotic fruits and gorgeous natives dressed only in grass skirts, feathers and shells dancing at all-night orgies of music and food. The American imagination seized this exotic vision of island culture and integrated it into fashion, pop music, cuisine and even architecture. Everything from bars to bowling alleys adopted elements of Polynesian design. TIKIs, the carved wooden or stone totems from the Pacific, found their way into many a hotel lounge and suburban living room. Sadly, the massive cultural upheaval of the late 60s brought a sudden end to this innocent islands escapism and the trappings of TIKI were relegated to the cultural attic. The good news is: TIKI IS BACK! There is a nostalgic revival of interest in the wonderfully tacky and fun gear that made TIKI Style so compelling back in the day. We can once again frequent TIKI lounges dressed in our best Hawaiian print shirts, listen to TIKI tunes and drink exotic, umbrella-garnished cocktails out of coconuts that we have ordered off menus printed in one of those super-cool TIKI typefaces. THE BOOK OF TIKI is an enlightening and hilarious guide that casts the reader as an "urban archaeologist" exploring the remnants of TIKI culture across our great land, and discovering relics from this forgotten civilization in thrift shops, garage sales, and second-hand book and record shops. A fascinating, richly illustrated pop-cultural survey, this tasty book is a long-overdue investigation into the cult of TIKI in America. Author SVEN A. KIRSTEN was born in Hamburg, but has called California home for many years. His is a Director of Photography and America's foremost TIKI authority.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Research!
Review: I got a big kick out of this book--the author's dedication and perseverance amazes me (and I have done a lot of research of my own into various obscure topics, so I know what it takes). Terrific illustrations and a nice, funky layout. Anyone interested in oddball Americana, particularly the cartoonish weirdness that occurs when we apply our marketing skills to mysterious foreign cultures, ought to hustle out and buy this book. I'm not sure what language it was written in, because the text contains some odd usages, a few minor editorial problems (two chapters with the same number, in my book) and a handful of skewed captions. But none of these things bothered me much, because it was so much fun to look at. I love the concept of "urban archeology," although in the case of Tiki bars, it seems that the bulldozer and wrecking ball are providing too many final solutions. The book does make me wonder where my nearest Tiki relic might be. Maybe I'll join the hunt.
Rating:
Summary: Tiki is back...where it belongs!
Review: I just glanced through this book at a local bookstore and was in heaven. It's priced much lower here on Amazon, so buying it on-line is the way to go. Actually, I was a bit envious as this is the definitive book I would write on Tiki culture if I could. The history, factors, collectibles and magic of Tiki are covered in tremendous detail. Amazing illustrations, photos, trivia, historical notes and more await all fans of Tiki culture. I would say that Kirsten's book delves further into Tiki culture than any book this Tiki collector has ever seen. Simply a must buy for anyone who loves Tiki culture, or anyone looking to discover the magic of this "lost" time. I'm buying 2 copies--one for my friend and one for me.
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