#looks like the MoMA which greatly amuses me

[ramblingcompany]

Messing around with the cover of MoMU a little more :)

[a-h-arts]

The book reads like a story and is very entertaining Effective book for someone who wants to begin to understand modern art. I bought this book because for years I had wandered through museums and became curious about modern art pieces. I found that when I took the time to understand a piece and what the artist was saying, I was grateful I did. Hence taking the plunge to educate myself more! This book contributed greatly to my understanding and appreciation of modern art. It was very readable in that the author tells interesting stories about the artists that really pull the reader in, and the chapters are sized that one chapter takes about 25 to 45 minutes to read. The book reads like a story and is very entertaining. I appreciated how well the different art movements were woven into the historical and philosophical contexts. Go to Amazon

Accessible introductory book to modern art movement I give tours at a local art museum and I have read several books on modern/contemporary art to help me explain this genre which many find inaccessible. Most books go into detail about the artist but not really addressing why they are viewed as significant. What I liked about this is that Gompertz talks about the major art movements, how one leads to another and how artists interacted with one another. He includes entertaining stories which illustrate his points. This book should be approached as an 'overview' not an in depth study. Recommend it as a good starting point for those who want to learn more on this topic. Go to Amazon

An Excellent Modern Art Book I used this to explain much of modern art history to my ten year old before a trip to MOMA. This was extremely helpful, especially when used with Understanding Modern Art (An Usborne Introduction) by Cook, J. (Cook's book was excellent, and a good place to start) and What Are You Looking At?: The Surprising, Shocking, and Sometimes Strange Story of 150 Years of Modern Art by Gompertz and ...isms: Understanding Modern Art ... by Sam Phillips. These three books can be very helpful and made our trip to MOMA very successful and enjoyable. Go to Amazon

Entertaining, Enlightenting, Energizing The creative comparisons Will Gompertz made in explaining modern art were down to earth, drawn from real life, and most entertaining. Enlightening comes right behind as a descriptor, though, because he decodes and demystifies many difficult-to-understand artworks. He certainly energized me to research and read more. I often came back to his descriptions after the "artspeak" of some art historians muddied already murky waters. Gompertz says it in plain English. I wish there had been more on art of the last 20 years. Let's hope for a sequel. SMR Go to Amazon

informative and very readable Gompertz is a knowledgeable and entertaining writer. WAYLA offers a very coherent explanation of the puzzle of modern art --why works with very little technical virtuosity would be so well regarded, including why collectors and museums would pay such absurd prices. I learned a lot from this book. It introduced me to some art and some artists that I really enjoy. It confirmed some of my cynical presumptions about the art business but it also opened my mind. Go to Amazon

Very enjoyable overview of modern art I really enjoyed this book; it was informative without being pretentious, as many art history books can be. The author very clearly charts the evolution of modern art from Impressionsim forward, in everyday terms and language that everyone can understand (no boring Artspeak). It was fun, amusing and really kept my interest. I would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in art. Go to Amazon

Fun informative great read Excellent fun read now adopted by Docents Meadows Museum Go to Amazon

A Work On Art A tutorial on modern art by a British expert, written in a breezy, conversational style. Go to Amazon

very good overview. like his humor. Want to make the jump from poking fun at modern art to maybe understanding it a little I am so glad I bought it as it will be something I ... Perfect for anyone serious about the art world Five Stars Five Stars Five Stars Essential reading to understand the story of modern art Highly Recommended Art History for the masses