kiramke's review
Everyone I mentioned this book to was immediately excited and came up with ideas for tattoos they hoped were included. Most of them weren't. So get on it people!
mrsthrift's review
3.0
Wow, this is truly one of the nerdiest books I've ever read. It is also extremely beautiful. it feels solid and important in your hands. The binding is beautiful, the photographs are of variable quality but the printing is top-notch. Most of the submissions are from students pursing or recently acquiring advanced science degrees, and their enthusiasm really shines through. Even if you're not a science nerd, you can appreciate the passion that exists at the intersection of permanent body modification and scientific inquiry. My only wish is that the tattoos could have been photographed consistently by a professional, so that the photos would look more like a collection.
Topics include: mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy, earth sciences, DNA, Darwin, paleontology, evolution, natural history, humanity, neuroscience, and finally What The Mind Makes (mostly schematics of human inventions)
This was my fave tattoo in the book. A geological cross-section found in the earth sciences section.
The foreword is by Mary Roach, who I adore, and she doesn't disappoint here. I was thrilled that she included the tattoo she would get, if she ever got one. (a diagram of a rat wearing underpants, from her research for Bonk) Interesting note: the author, Carl Zimmer, doesn't have a single tattoo himself and has no plans to get one.
With that said, I hit my 2011 reading goal with this book and I feel like I need a nap.
Topics include: mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy, earth sciences, DNA, Darwin, paleontology, evolution, natural history, humanity, neuroscience, and finally What The Mind Makes (mostly schematics of human inventions)
This was my fave tattoo in the book. A geological cross-section found in the earth sciences section.
The foreword is by Mary Roach, who I adore, and she doesn't disappoint here. I was thrilled that she included the tattoo she would get, if she ever got one. (a diagram of a rat wearing underpants, from her research for Bonk) Interesting note: the author, Carl Zimmer, doesn't have a single tattoo himself and has no plans to get one.
With that said, I hit my 2011 reading goal with this book and I feel like I need a nap.
ccapps's review
5.0
What's the first thing you ask someone when you see their tattoo? If you don't have any tattoos it's probably, "did it hurt?" The follow is often something like, "Does it mean something? " or "Why'd you get that? "
Carl Zimmer addresses that second question for hundreds of science themed tattoos in this book, which is fascinating and inspirational to someone like me with an interest in both tattoos and science.
The book itself is beautiful so kudos to the art director who said people will pay for cut outs on the cover.
My one issue with this work is that the photography looks like a mixture of professional and amateur work. Had this been a book I paid for (instead of checked out) I'd feel let down.
Another important note, feel free to let anyone look through this piece, because if this book is in indication of the trend, scientific tattoos are placed in significantly less risqué areas on the body compared to the traditional tattoo collection.
PS Mary Roach wrote the forward so that was reason enough for me to take a look.
Carl Zimmer addresses that second question for hundreds of science themed tattoos in this book, which is fascinating and inspirational to someone like me with an interest in both tattoos and science.
The book itself is beautiful so kudos to the art director who said people will pay for cut outs on the cover.
My one issue with this work is that the photography looks like a mixture of professional and amateur work. Had this been a book I paid for (instead of checked out) I'd feel let down.
Another important note, feel free to let anyone look through this piece, because if this book is in indication of the trend, scientific tattoos are placed in significantly less risqué areas on the body compared to the traditional tattoo collection.
PS Mary Roach wrote the forward so that was reason enough for me to take a look.
shinychick's review
3.0
Tattoos have always been an area of interest for me, but lately, I've been devouring everything I can on the subject. I especially love books like this, which explain why people get the ink they do.
glamourfaust's review
3.0
Although I wasn't inspired to get any of the tattoos in the book, I am inspired to get another (more) tattoos.