Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful Book
Review: Because this book is a National Geographic book, it has beautiful pictures which capture the various aspects of the Vatican life. In addition to the wonderful photographs, the author gives valuable information about the Vatican. The only thing that I could have wished for this book is to have more detailed history of the Vatican. This book gives the reader a great foundation for the intriguing place called the Vatican State.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Book
Review: Because this book is a National Geographic book, it has beautiful pictures which capture the various aspects of the Vatican life. In addition to the wonderful photographs, the author gives valuable information about the Vatican. The only thing that I could have wished for this book is to have more detailed history of the Vatican. This book gives the reader a great foundation for the intriguing place called the Vatican State.
Rating:
Summary: The next step is a visit !
Review: Great pictures of a world hardly seen. The history and the importance (still) of the RC church is a fascinating read. Read the whole book in 2 days - never put it down.
Rating: 
Summary: Stunning Information
Review: I am the seminarian referred to in the book who led the authors on the tour of the necropolis underneath St. Peter's. Now, as a priest in Alabama, the book is a wonderful keepsake of my time in Rome. For those who have been to Rome, this book brings back great memories. For those who have not been, this book offers a rare glimpse into things few tourists see. This book is a MUST read!
Rating:
Summary: Don't Miss this book!
Review: I am the seminarian referred to in the book who led the authors on the tour of the necropolis underneath St. Peter's. Now, as a priest in Alabama, the book is a wonderful keepsake of my time in Rome. For those who have been to Rome, this book brings back great memories. For those who have not been, this book offers a rare glimpse into things few tourists see. This book is a MUST read!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful--Makes me Proud
Review: I was proud to be a Catholic anyway, but gee the wonderful stories, history and people behind this book makes it a must own for Catholics!
Rating: 
Summary: Skimpy on the ART
Review: If you can get this book used for under $10 dollars AND... You are interested in the whole workings of the Vatican National Geographic sytle, buy it it, is a great book from that perspective. It is not an over $20 dollar art book because a large number of pages which could have been used for images are wasted on oversize text. Five pages of the books text could have fit on one page. The photographs are great, but they are of everything including wasted full page close ups of guards. If you want a general book on the vatican this book delivers......but if you thought that "Inside the Vatican" meant a lot of art you might not see otherwise this is not the right book for the price.
It is not an Art book like one thinks of with Konemann books, there are some good photos and enough for a general book like this but it does not have enough art to warrant the price, then again I guess no one really said it was supposed to be art book.
I have written this review just as a warning for some people who might think that there is a lot of art here.....it is not an art book. This fact is kind of a shame because after 65% of the book is finished and it finally does get to the "Treasures section" the photographs are decent, however it makes you wonder why did we need a whole page close up of a guards face and only a quarter page on some of the art.
The Wonderful frescoes of the Vatican are very few and most are the usual 4 token shots of the Sistine chapel.
The wonderful Hall of Constantine isnt covered at all. I agree with all the other reviewers, if you are a National Geographic format fan, this is one of their best efforts. But....The wrong pictures are too big, the right pictures are too small, the really wonderful pictures never made it into the book, and way, way, too much space is dedicated to oversize text. I bought it used, do the same, it is not a new full price book,
there is enough for under $10 even if your main interest is art but you will not get as "Inside the Vatican" as you might with other books about the Vatican Art. Good Pope pictures, Pope-Mobile pictures, and that sort of thing
and good "Quick read history".
Rating:
Summary: Skimpy on the ART
Review: Jim Stanfield is one of the most accomplished photographers to work for National Geographic. I met Jim several years ago, and he's a fine gentleman as well as an outstanding photographer. He won one of the top photojournalism awards in the world, in 1986, based partly on this body of work as well as an essay on Isreal. Bob Gilka, who was Jim's boss at National Geographic, told me he thought Jim was the most technically accomplished photographer working for the magazine. When there was an especially difficult job to do, it was given to him. And Jim's technical expertise shows through, but there's more here than technically superior images. These are stunningly gorgeous photographs in their own right. But they are more than that, they give you an insight into life at the Vatican that will never be repeated. Buy it. I can't wait for more books by Jim Stanfield to hit the shelves.
Rating:
Summary: Buy it!
Review: Jim Stanfield is one of the most accomplished photographers to work for National Geographic. I met Jim several years ago, and he's a fine gentleman as well as an outstanding photographer. He won one of the top photojournalism awards in the world, in 1986, based partly on this body of work as well as an essay on Isreal. Bob Gilka, who was Jim's boss at National Geographic, told me he thought Jim was the most technically accomplished photographer working for the magazine. When there was an especially difficult job to do, it was given to him. And Jim's technical expertise shows through, but there's more here than technically superior images. These are stunningly gorgeous photographs in their own right. But they are more than that, they give you an insight into life at the Vatican that will never be repeated. Buy it. I can't wait for more books by Jim Stanfield to hit the shelves.
Rating:
Summary: worth every penny
Review: This book has stunning and well-done photos of the Vatican. The author had priviledged access to many areas that other photographers have not had. This book really shows you the history and beauty of the church's founding place. Well worth a read.
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