What a show stopper: when I brought it in as a guide, nearly everyone at the tattoo shop had to come around to see this book. All of the tattooists were impressed by it.
I'll start with the cover; by far the most deceiving part of the book. In no way does it convey the feeling of the book, nor does it even match the design of the inside images and contents. It almost looks like it was taken from another book (or it is the author's girlfriend.) Either way, once you open the book and view some of the amazing images inside the book, you will agree that the cover is cheesy and needs to go.
The images are a little inconsistent, but then again, they kind of have to be due to the nature of the book. It looks like there were numerous photographers, and many sources from which they got these pictures. I think some of them look like a camera phone took it (for example, pages 36, 38, 58, and cover.)
The back story of the artists is worth the read. Some are hilarious while others are a bit enlightening, especially about Hardy and Jerry and others that are the pioneers of our era. I had no idea purple ink was such an exotic luxury.
Anyway, get this book; you will not be disappointed.