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Rating: 
Summary: Great Pictures...Waiting for B737-900
Review: Boeing 737 amounted to the largest sales of commercial jetliners in history. The short-ranged series has served the industry for over 30 years since it premiered in 1967. In this volume abound with colored pictures, Shaw had written an inside-out coverage for the proliferative models. Shaw included a detailed production history of the 737-800 model, the latest version of the family until the inaugural of 737-900 in late 2001. Numerous colored pictures of the aircrafts luxuriate the book. There is detailed information under every caption. Several featured captions (including the book cover) show the aircrafts belonged to the Oakland-based Southwest Airlines, known for its all-737 fleet (over 350 aircrafts). The end of the pictorial also includes detailed account on all current 737 operators and carriers. Why 4 stars? I expect more technical specification. Author might consider putting in more technical info in the next update with the new 737-900 model.
Rating:
Summary: Great Pictures...Waiting for B737-900
Review: Boeing 737 amounted to the largest sales of commercial jetliners in history. The short-ranged series has served the industry for over 30 years since it premiered in 1967. In this volume abound with colored pictures, Shaw had written an inside-out coverage for the proliferative models. Shaw included a detailed production history of the 737-800 model, the latest version of the family until the inaugural of 737-900 in late 2001. Numerous colored pictures of the aircrafts luxuriate the book. There is detailed information under every caption. Several featured captions (including the book cover) show the aircrafts belonged to the Oakland-based Southwest Airlines, known for its all-737 fleet (over 350 aircrafts). The end of the pictorial also includes detailed account on all current 737 operators and carriers. Why 4 stars? I expect more technical specification. Author might consider putting in more technical info in the next update with the new 737-900 model.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Pictures, LackingText
Review: I needed a general book for some background history on the 737 program. Having read other books from this series (notably the Birtles L-1011 book, the Endres A-300 book, and the Laming and Hewson A-320 book), I ordered this volume in connection with research I am doing for my Master's thesis. In comparison to those other volumes in the series I found this book lacking in detail and accuracy in some cases. The author apologizes right off the bat for this claiming that due to the number of aircraft built, he was unable to be comprehensive in the book. Though the book allegedly covers the B-737-300-800 series, it really focuses on the 300-500, as the NGs were just starting to come off the line when this book was written. There are very few photos of 600-800 series aircraft, and the ones that are here are in Boeing paint or primer. There is essentially no coverage of the -900 to speak of, other than mention that it exists.If you want to look at color pictures of 737s, this is the book for you. It is really a photo book with a bit of text, rather than an in-depth look at the aircraft. Certainly do not expect any serious discussion of systems here. There is a lot of redundancy between the sections of the book as well: prepare to be told the same information repeatedly, rather than have new information revealed as you progress through the book. There are also several inaccuracies in the book. I have flown several models of the 737, and my estimation of the book is that it's OK for easy to look up facts, such as launch dates, first flights, etc., but do not rely on this book for technical information. There are even parts of the book where the author is unsure of his material and just leaves the doubt and indecision in the book instead of actually finding out the correct information. For example, in a discussion of painting the aircraft he reveals that the 737s are covered in primer at Renton then flown to Boeing Field for painting, except for the rudder which is painted prior to flight. He explains that the rudder "is finished in customer livery prior to being fitted to the aircraft. This has something to do with the weighing of the aircraft which affects the trim" (p. 16). Two points here: his understanding is close, but no cigar; and second, if you are writing a book that technical people are going to read, call Boeing and ask them why the rudder is painted first. This is not the only gaffe of this sort, but it illustrates the problem. The coverage of the accidents is spartan, and also contains errors. The book predates the ruling on the UA 585 and US 427 accidents. He does mention that the rudder is suspect (to his credit), but beware that the book contains no real authoritative information on the rudder or those accidents. Anyone who knows me well knows that of all the airliners I have flown (A-320, DC-9, MD-80, B-727, B-737, B-747-400, B-757, B-767, and L-1011) that the B-737 is hands down my least favorite for many, many reasons. Having said that, I gave this book a fair shake, but it simply came up short. The book largely reads like Boeing corporate propaganda: it seems much more biased than the other books in the series which I have read. It is also the book with the least amount of concrete information on the subject aircraft, and contains more inaccuracies and tenuous information than the others do. Like I said before, if you for some reason would want to look at color photos of 737s, buy this book; if you are looking for technical information, look elsewhere.
Rating: 
Summary: A great book for people who want to learn about 737-300-800
Review: I personally love airplanes and I bought this book because it is simply the best book specifically on the Boeing 737. It has tons of details that an aviation enthusiast like me, would want to see. I like the whole series of books called Airliner color history. I am planning on getting a copy of 737-100 & 737-200 as well. The detailed writing and great information as well as very good beautiful color photos makes this book great. Underneath every photo, there is a caption with great information. I also like the production list at the end of the book so that you can look up any 737-300-737-800 and find out when it went into service and other interesting info. I recommend it to anyone who likes airplanes and especially someone who really knows a lot about them and/or wants to learn a lot about them.
Rating:
Summary: A Guided Tour Of Boeing's Biggest Sellers!!
Review: It's another winning effort in the "Airliner Color History" series of books on commercial aircraft! Here, we're treated to a first-class rundown of the best-selling jetliner in history: The Boeing 737. Massive amounts of detail, plus loads of fine pictures, are provided for six different variants of Boeing's amazingly-successful twin-jet (including the B737-300 series right through to one of the newest, the B737-800). Any technical question you might have regarding these very reliable transports are more-than-likely answered for you in this book. The book has a copyright date of 1999. Therefore, the newest 737 variant, which debuted with airlines in 2001 (the B737-900), is not included here. If you love the Seven-Thirty-Seven, you should pick up this book!
Rating:
Summary: An excellent look at the New Generation Boeing 737
Review: The Airlife's Airliner series of books cover individual commercial aircraft types in an interesting, in-depth manner. Each volume of this British series covers a unique commercial aircraft type from its design, production, entry into service, its usage by airlines, and in some cases eventual demise. Each volume features plenty of color and black and white photographs of the subject aircraft along with a complete construction list (accurate to date of publication for aircraft types still being built). This volume of the series covers the "classic" Boeing 737s (except the original -100 and -200) through the current Boeing 737-800. Unfortunately it was published right before Boeing announced the development of the 737-900 so that variant is absent. However, it does discuss what was involved in making a good airliner (737-200) into a better airliner (737-300/400/500) and from there into an excellent airliner (737-600/700/800). Remember ... the Boeing 737 is the most popular medium to long range airliner ever built ... and it has been built since 1968 ... almost 40 years!
Rating:
Summary: An excellent look at the New Generation Boeing 737
Review: The Airlife's Airliner series of books cover individual commercial aircraft types in an interesting, in-depth manner. Each volume of this British series covers a unique commercial aircraft type from its design, production, entry into service, its usage by airlines, and in some cases eventual demise. Each volume features plenty of color and black and white photographs of the subject aircraft along with a complete construction list (accurate to date of publication for aircraft types still being built). This volume of the series covers the "classic" Boeing 737s (except the original -100 and -200) through the current Boeing 737-800. Unfortunately it was published right before Boeing announced the development of the 737-900 so that variant is absent. However, it does discuss what was involved in making a good airliner (737-200) into a better airliner (737-300/400/500) and from there into an excellent airliner (737-600/700/800). Remember ... the Boeing 737 is the most popular medium to long range airliner ever built ... and it has been built since 1968 ... almost 40 years!
Rating:
Summary: A Good Photographic Look at the Boeing 737 300-800
Review: This book gives a nice overview of the 737 300-800 series of aircraft. There are numerous pictures of the 737, which allows the reader to see the airplane in the many different colour schemes of the operating airlines. A chapter listing the detailed production history of this series (300-800) is also included, but it is rather boring as it is displayed in a chart form. I also found this book to be somewhat lacking in techinical information, and the developmental history of the airplane. The books' strengths lie in its wonderful colour pictures, but would be better if it included a little more on the history of the development of the series.
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