I recently picked a copy of this book. Amazon.com describes it as follows:

Now available again in a stunning new format, this generously illustrated book for lovers of photography includes 365 images from the greatest photojournalists of today and yesterday. Founded by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Magnum Photos is the iconic international photographic cooperative whose members have captured the major historical events of their times, as well as private and intimate moments. A year’s worth of these images is offered in this visually stunning book that features full page reproductions organized to reflect what CartierBresson himself declared a “community of thought, a shared human quality, a curiosity about what is going on in the world, a respect for what is going on and a desire to transcribe it visually.” Nearly 70 photographers are represented with five to six images each, and the current Magnum members have selected the photographs that they consider to best represent their own output. Running more than 700 pages, this book includes images that make history both individual and universal.

It’s a small (about 7 inches by 7 inches), thick book so of course the images inside are also quite small. There’s little in the way of explanatory text. No introductory essay. No text other than brief captions (usually just the name of the photographer and the place/date where the photograph was taken) accompanying the photographs. Just a short (four paragraphs) blurb from Jonas Bendiksen, President of Magnum Photos (2010) and an even shorter (two paragraphs) piece from Marie-Christine Biebuyck, Magnum Photos.

There were a few images that I was familiar with, but the vast majority I’d not seen before. I find it a great book to keep handy so that I can pick it up from to time just to browse through the beautiful photographs.

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