Total Tattoo Book

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Summary: Guide book to the World of Tattoing--Color Photos, History
Review: This is a great guide to Tattoo culture, history, styles, effects upon society, et al. Also included is a listing of Tattoo shops all-over the world. Of course, this listing is outdated, but should give anyone with Internet access all they need to get started. For instance, "Tattoo Charlie's" is a famous Louisville, KY based shop that only had a few branches, when this book was written. Now, however, Tattoo Charlie's has spread all-over Louisville, Southern Indiana, etc.
At the time this book was written, Tattoing was illegal in IN. Now, we have numerous shops available, which can be found by a web search, or asking-around.
Although this book is out-of date, it contains a concise history of the Tattoo, the people who get tattooed, various methods of tattoing, many black and white photos, and a middle section of Full-Color photos. This book is loaded with pics and includes photos of famous tattooed individuals. At the time this book was written, every other Holllywood star did not have a Tat, so it was interesting, circa the creation of the book. Consider this a "Pre Dennis Rodman -era" Tattoo book.
The Total Tattoo book even covers the implications of "Cosmetic Tattooing."

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Summary: Total Tattoo
Review: This is an excellent book, well researched, and provides information on tattoos and their history that you can't find anywhere else, or at least anything else I have read and tried to research. She is very intelligent and knowledgeable on the tattoo industry, and that is why her book is so well written. She also has a tattoo or two, herself. She hosts numerous tattoo shows and conferences with well known tattoo artists. One was recently held at NYC's Seaport Museum for several weeks. I happened to be on an airplane to Toronto a few years ago, and by stroke of luck, sat next to this young woman

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Summary: read this review.
Review: This was the first book that I have read on tattooing and I found it to be very poorly written and lacking substance. The first few chapters are the only ones that include any sort of valid information and even that is very breif. The text seemed to be quite repetative and written in laymans terms. The photos were o.k. but they felt misplaced and serving as a diversion from the composition itself. As the book drags on she uses a listing magazines and studios (many of which are no longer open) to try and fill the last fifty pages or so. Don't waste your money and time.

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Summary: Not TOTAL tattoo book
Review: Well it was a light read and i learnt a little. It doesn't deserve its title of TOTAL tattoo book because its far from complete. The author goes off the track with personal stories on many occasions and forgets what she is supposed to be talking about, so the subtitles in each chapter are loosely connected with the text.
However, i wouldn't totally discourage the purchasing of this book as I was entertained by it. After all any tattoo talk is interesting, although in my opinion the author should have stuck to one genre- either a personal recount of the artists she knows and her experience- or a profesional factual novel in 3rd person.
It was a light read that was enough to pass the time.