Taryn Simon: An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar Hardcover – July 31, 2013

This is one of the more compelling photography books I have explored in recent years.

Pictures full of context

Another beautiful release by publisher Hatje Cantz, this time a long awaited reprinting of Taryn Simon'scritically lauded work 'An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar'. Though I'm not a fan of photography-as-art or the hundreds of high-priced monographs featuring (inevitably) volcanoes, celebrities, dogs, cats, tropical fishes, semi-nude semi-celebrities in black & white, etc., when I first read about Simon and her book it piqued my interest. Inside C.I.A. headquarters, to a nuclear-waste holding facility where the water-submerged barrels give off an ominous blue argon glow, and then off to the seedy meeting hall of the KKK... Simon has a very good eye, but an even better mind. The range of subjects in itself is impressive, moreso because she managed to talk her camera in, and OUT, of these occasionally dangerous places. It is excellently produced, with a charcoal grey clothblound cover and tastefully restrained gilt-embossed titles. As with all Hatje Cantz titles, the paper stock is of the highest quality. It's larger than the average monograph, about 10.25in W x 13.5in H, with 160pp. If you are a devotee of photography or just someone fascinated by the secrets that the world's only superpower still tries to keep, get this book, and soon. I wouldn't count on a 3rd printing.

Incredible. A tour-de-force.

A thought-provoking collection of photographs

Great body of work, a real eye-opener.

i was so excited receiving this and i can happily say that this was one of the rare times where the item i received exceeded my expectation, in part because the seller i bought it from seemed to have given me a brand new copy? i thought i was never gonna get my hands on a brand new piece ever. thank you so much !!!!!

Il libro della Simon è semplicemente fantastico... una serie di immagini che rivelano lati sconosciuti e inattesi degli americani. Da ciascuna immagine si potrebbe realizzare un lavoro fotografico e non solo.