Rating: 
Summary: Practical Inspiration
Review: Rather than just show color combinations in a vacuum, this book uses real examples from different design periods to demonstrate the use of color. Great as both a reference and inspiration. Also just plain nice to look at.
Rating:
Summary: This is the color book you've been waiting for!
Review: Sure there are plenty of books about color out there. Some are about color theory, some tend towards technical info about pre-press and separations, etc., and some even include swatches.I know -- I've wasted a lot of money on them over the years. This book, however, is unique, and the first one I've found truly useful -- even inspirational. Cabarga takes choice period artwork (from the Victorian era through ultra-modern rave posters), analyzes the colors, shows you why they work/don't work then actually pulls the colors out in CMYK-specified patches (w/numerical values) and supplies half a dozen or so examples of how to use each palette. This last feature is extremely useful: swatches without examples are virtually useless, and swatches without CMYK numerical values (or Pantone) can leave you guessing. Need a Victorian look? Want that 1950's Atomic feel? It's all here, and wrapped up in a breezy and humorous narrative that make the book a fun read as well as super informative. Highly recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: disapointing but still of value
Review: the premise of this book is interesting in that it attempts to deconstruct the color content from various art pieces though the past century. I was really excited to recieve the book and was looking forward to reading it, but was disappointed. Not all of the colors appearing in the piece shown were always represented. And I didn't think that the layouts redone with the chosen colors were creative or accurate in the reflection of the proportions of the pieces' color. In fact in more than one instance, I felt the most important accent color was left out of the breakdown all together. That made me mistrust the accuracy of the paletes presented that were based on other pieces for mthe same time period, but without showing the piece itself. All in all, the book is interesting from a historical sense, and I will definitely derive some value from it, but i felt it was lacking in it's attention to detail. Unfortunately, because color is all about attention to detail, it's lack of it does undermine the book's intrinsic value.
Rating: 
Summary: Why bother?
Review: There is very little of value in this book. The author has compiled color combinations that she has found in the world around us, and she has even gone so far as to give (approximate) CMYK values for the schemes. So far so good. The problem? She seems to find the same color combinations over and over again. Considering that there are sections here on Victorians, Art Deco, the Sixties, Earth tones, and Raves, one would certainly expect to find some drastically different color combinations. But flip back and forth between the "Rave" section and the "Victorian" section, and you will be surprised by how similar the schemes are. At least, I am. There are some minor assets to the book, but I would not recommend it. For those looking for swatches, I would recommend "Color Harmony 2" (ISBN 1564960668). Not only is it worlds better, it's also cheaper and smaller. And did I mention better?
Rating:
Summary: If I'd ever lose it, I'd buy it again!
Review: This book fulfilled every expectation I had prior to its arrival, that is - it's not a color theory book in any way. It has no color wheels, nor does it theorize about complementary colors and the like. It's a collection of suggested color combinations - usually combinations which I'd never think of. And that's where the real value is!
In the samples, you can easily notice which is the 'base' color and which colors 'match' in different situations. And each sample itself has some printed design-like feel, which makes it incredibly more usable than ordinary swatches in other books.
Just by flipping the pages I found (color) suggestions for the designs I'm working at.
Ah, and the book is also beautiful.
If you're looking for color inspiration rather than theory, add this one to your basket!
Rating:
Summary: disapointing but still of value
Review: This book is a neat collection of color combinations from different eras, complete with CMYK color codes. It's presented well, an attractive colorful volume, with some commentary about the different periods covered. As a guide to color combinations for design, specifically web design it's pretty cool. If you are looking for something geared more towards the science, and psychology of color, then check out "Color: The Secret Influence", which is a more scientific (yet very readable) book about color and light. It does not focus on, or present color combinations found in this book.
Rating: 
Summary: A good color swatch book
Review: This book is a neat collection of color combinations from different eras, complete with CMYK color codes. It's presented well, an attractive colorful volume, with some commentary about the different periods covered. As a guide to color combinations for design, specifically web design it's pretty cool. If you are looking for something geared more towards the science, and psychology of color, then check out "Color: The Secret Influence", which is a more scientific (yet very readable) book about color and light. It does not focus on, or present color combinations found in this book.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, color in context
Review: This book is more useful than any other swatchbook I've owned. The reader is guided, era by era, through a color history, with an interesting and often humorous analysis. An interesting read and useful too. I look forward to (hopefully) an updated edition with colors represeted in CMYK and RGB.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic, helpful book
Review: This is hands-down the best book on color combination, treatment, and design I have seen in a long time. I HIGHLY suggest picking this one up!
Rating:
Summary: Eyecandy of great inspirational and practical value.
Review: This is the first volume of two, the second being 'The Designer's Guide To Global Color Combinations. I own both and I regard them as simply unmissable, because I use as well for recreative as practical purposes. Each page offers a depiction of a work of art, which may be painting, illustration, texture, fabric. The main piece always has a short description (artist, origin, media) and a personal note by the author why the piece is so eyestriking. All pieces are catalogued according to time and style, so you'll find art deco, popart, contemporary, ... styles but also 'bad' use of color. However, this is NOT a book about color theory. The approach is subjective and you may find that your views differ with the author because the appreciation of coloruse is personal (which the author also underlines). Never the less this is also an outstanding objective guide to historical color use during the centuries starting from the late 19th century till now. For computer artists it also offers CMYK values, as well for the main piece, and variations on it. If there would be one negative point, it's only that there is not a cd added with all the palettes, so you would not have to type in the values. And, for people operating mainly in RGB color space, as the book cover states: no RGB values. (you'll find these in the second volume, but for some strange reason they were not added in this first volume). Despite this small point of criticism: this guide is a work of art unique in it's category. There is nothing that even comes close to the work of endurance the author has done, to offer the reader a practical and inspirational guide to color combining. A guide you'll browse and browse again.
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