Rating: 
Summary: Great Book / Great Photos
Review: As the owner of an American Pitbull Terrier, I am always happy to read positive material about this wonderful and widely misunderstood breed. I had the opportunity to listen to go to a book signing, reading, and Q&A session for this book with both the photographer and the author of the essays of this book, and I was quite pleased with the philosophy of these two men regarding the breed. The photography in this book is wonderful and very true-to-life. Most of these photos represent the dogs in unstaged situations. Some of the pictures are a bit shocking at first glance, especially if you are a conservative-minded, suburban, or upper-class urban pit bull owner (and there are many of them). The people pictured in this book are not conservative. They basically look like bikers, rappers, and rural country folk. But people should not make judgments on people's appearance. Just because someone looks like a biker and has lots of tatoos and piercings doesn't mean that they abuse their dog, or fight them, or don't love their dog. To think that is just as bad as hating pitbulls because they look "mean" (which quite honestly, they sometimes do). In the interviews in this books, most of these people's viewpoints on their dogs were quite positive and you could tell they had true affection for their dogs. The book really focuses on a certain sub-culture of pit bull owners, one that I am not familiar with. I saw nothing to indicate that these dogs were abused in any way. Dogs in the country often live outside in dog houses. Having these dogs tied on a lead is not inhumane. The one issue I have with the book is it's emphasis on breeding these dogs. I do not feel that some of the breeders they interviewed are responsible breeders looking to better the breed. They interviewed one breeder who says that he always in-breeds father/daughter because that way he keeps the dogs looking the way he wants. I am not a dog breeder, but I cannot believe that this could be good for the betterment of the breed. There was also the guy who breeds pitbulls for rappers and he breeds to they have the biggest heads possible, and he said he "hates" the "skinny" headed dogs. He says his buyers want their dog to represent themselves, as strong and tough. I don't think this is a good reason to get a pitbull. But it is a photo essay, and it was true, because these people are out there and it is happening. At the talk I went to, they mentioned that they are working on a film based on the book, which should be interesting. He also mentioned that they type of people who have pitbulls and live on Park Avenue usually weren't open to having their dogs photographed for the book. But the photographs of the dogs are beautiful (there are some truly magnificent pits pictured), and it is a thorough photo investigation into one subset of the pitbull-loving population.
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent photo essay, with some limitations
Review: As the owner of an American Pitbull Terrier, I am always happy to read positive material about this wonderful and widely misunderstood breed. I had the opportunity to listen to go to a book signing, reading, and Q&A session for this book with both the photographer and the author of the essays of this book, and I was quite pleased with the philosophy of these two men regarding the breed. The photography in this book is wonderful and very true-to-life. Most of these photos represent the dogs in unstaged situations. Some of the pictures are a bit shocking at first glance, especially if you are a conservative-minded, suburban, or upper-class urban pit bull owner (and there are many of them). The people pictured in this book are not conservative. They basically look like bikers, rappers, and rural country folk. But people should not make judgments on people's appearance. Just because someone looks like a biker and has lots of tatoos and piercings doesn't mean that they abuse their dog, or fight them, or don't love their dog. To think that is just as bad as hating pitbulls because they look "mean" (which quite honestly, they sometimes do). In the interviews in this books, most of these people's viewpoints on their dogs were quite positive and you could tell they had true affection for their dogs. The book really focuses on a certain sub-culture of pit bull owners, one that I am not familiar with. I saw nothing to indicate that these dogs were abused in any way. Dogs in the country often live outside in dog houses. Having these dogs tied on a lead is not inhumane. The one issue I have with the book is it's emphasis on breeding these dogs. I do not feel that some of the breeders they interviewed are responsible breeders looking to better the breed. They interviewed one breeder who says that he always in-breeds father/daughter because that way he keeps the dogs looking the way he wants. I am not a dog breeder, but I cannot believe that this could be good for the betterment of the breed. There was also the guy who breeds pitbulls for rappers and he breeds to they have the biggest heads possible, and he said he "hates" the "skinny" headed dogs. He says his buyers want their dog to represent themselves, as strong and tough. I don't think this is a good reason to get a pitbull. But it is a photo essay, and it was true, because these people are out there and it is happening. At the talk I went to, they mentioned that they are working on a film based on the book, which should be interesting. He also mentioned that they type of people who have pitbulls and live on Park Avenue usually weren't open to having their dogs photographed for the book. But the photographs of the dogs are beautiful (there are some truly magnificent pits pictured), and it is a thorough photo investigation into one subset of the pitbull-loving population.
Rating: 
Summary: This is terrible book for anyone who loves the APBT breed!
Review: I bought this book as a Christmas gift for my husband. The book is billed as a comprehensive photo essay of the American Pit Bull Terrier. I own two pit bulls, one is a show dog and one is a rescue, and I volunteer with pit bull rescue. This book does nothing but destroy the image of the breed even more. It perpetuates the sterotype of people who own this breed, and stops just short of promoting dog fighting. Pictures at the end of the book show numerous dogs chained up with their only homes being construction piping, and many pictures of pits along in back yards. (A pit bull fighting ring with that exact set up was recently discovered and closed down on California!) This is the worst thing you can do to this breed! They want love and affection, and need human contact. By publishing this book with these pictues, it makes it seem like it is OK to chain up your pit in the back yard. There is a picture of a very young momma pit chained to the side of her whelping box with all her puppies suckling from her. Why chain her up?? Where are all the pictures of kids who cuddle with their pit bull family pets? I contacted the North American distributer, who told me the text indicates the owners in the pics love their dogs. That is wonderful, but I highly doubt putting your pit in a "rape box" equals love. Furthermore, a picture is worth a 1000 words. This book manages to perpetuate the stereotype that these dogs are only owned by questionable looking people and that they belong in a tortured state chained in back yards. Those dogs are the ones that end up in our rescue - begging for homes which are scare, and usually have to be put down for lack of room. IF YOU HATE PIT BULLS then buy this book. If you care one ounce about your dog, do not give 1 penny to this author. I am returning my copy to Amazon.com.
Rating:
Summary: Not a good book
Review: I bought this book because I love American Pitbulls Terriers. I have had 2 pitbulls, both amazing and beautiful animals, but now unfortunately I can't have pets as I live in New York. Frankly it disappointed me thoroughly. My overriding memories of my dogs are their sheer physical beauty and their wonderful characters. The pictures in this book reveal nothing of the true nature of any dog let alone a pitbull. The pictures are either bland and do not remotely portray the majesty of the breed or a lot of them detail what obviously looks like cruelty and are very disturbing. A lot of the photographs in the book are of stereotypical pitbull owners. The essay by James Frey, however, is delightful and interesting. The rest of the text is pointless and uninformative. I would not recommend. If you are interested in pitbulls you should buy something by Richard Stratton.
Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected
Review: I bought this book with the assumption that it would be full of stories by and pictures of people from across the country, of all walks of life, sharing their experiences about their beloved pit bulls. Instead, I was rather shocked to find that it contained mostly photographs of pit bulls, mostly all on a heavy chain, ranging from one attacking an animal, to training on a treadmill, to being in a pen full of freshly born pit babies. Yes, a few essays were nice, but generally, I was disappointed to see that this book merely enables the stereotypes that make people hate and fear this breed in the first place.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointment: Could have been much better
Review: I can see that like the pitbulls themselves this book has been cause for contraversy. I also live with a multitude of pitbull/pitbull mixes (5 to be exact.) I have also undertaken initiating a pitbull rescue locally, as I can not keep any more! I know I am not alone in my passion for this breed. I have worked as an animal control officer and as an officer at the local SPCA so I have had the opportunity to meet many dogs especially pitbulls. I find that this book very accuratley depicts the existance of many pitbulls. This is not bad PR, this is real life. I may be mistaken but my understanding was that this book was a pictoral autobiography of sorts. If you do not like the way some pitbull owners think, act, or the manner in which they care for or breed their dogs...fine. But that does not change the FACT that they own and care for pitbulls. Nobody seems to write the National Geographic when they print 'real life' photos that we may find disagreeable. To me the book was a beautiful photo-essay depicting what real life looks like to a pitbull. Like it or leave its real. If that reality does not sit well with you, do not complain when others expose it.
However... in its thoroughness this book gets a failing grade. Where was the pictures of drug-detection dogs working American borders, were are the search and rescue pitbulls, were are the photo's of pitbulls doing therapy work? Where are all the photos of pitbulls, 800 on average in the Los Angeles area alone PER WEEK, dying in North American shelters. Many pitbulls are family pets, yet with the exception of the two dogs breeding in a living room with a child watching TV, this aspect was not depicted. Where are all the photos of people spending all their extra pennies and sanity engrossed in rescuing this breed. Pitbull rescue is a challenge, it is not like chihuahua rescue. Its hard to find good homes, and its hard to raise money for pitbulls. While the author/photographers that put this book together may have acuratlly depicted the lives of many pitbulls they forgot about what might be a larger minority of pitbulls that live as family pets. To find pitbulls not living on chains in yards, but as actual integrated family pets may seem challenging, BUT it is not impossible. And its not just on Park Avenue that pitbulls are treated differently than chain restrained medallions of machismo. I can think of a large handful here in the middle of nowhere Canada if the authors are having a problem finding family pits to photograph.
In sum I found this book dissapointing in that it failed to depecit the full pallet of pitbull reality. It only depicted beautiful photos of pitbulls that belong to backyard breeders and conformation and weight pull enthusiasts. My home is not THE only home in which pitbulls can be found lounging on the sofa or under the bedsheets. My home is not the only home that does not keep its "pets" on chains. My home is not the only home that would eagerly show off its perfect-pet-pitbull ambassador in such a publication. So while the photo quality was superb, and the ability of the photographers to capture the existence and essence of many pitbulls was also superb. I feel that there were eqally hundreds of photos missing that belonged in a book that seemed to want to give a photographic pitbull autobiography. Pitbulls are surprisingly loved by many people that do not need tattoos, or gold rings, or trophies, or tee-shirts (that show two pitbulls fighting with the slogan 'til death do us part,) or large scale breeding facilties to prove it. Some people who love the breed engage in work that tangibly effects our world in a positive way such as police, search and rescue, and therapy dogs. Others just like to compete in obedience or agility or snuggle with their pits while watching Saturday morning cartoons. Others love them so much that they open up their homes and wallets in an effort to save them from death sentences in overcrowded shelters. I think that the authors did a huge disservice by failing to depict the latter group of pitbulls and pitbull lovers. I think that if they really loved the breed they would not have left inspirational pitbull lovers like Tia Maria Torres Cardello and Kristine Crawford to the back pages of his book, reference to them but mere mentions of web addresses. Tia runs a large sadly needed rescue outside of L.A. that helps deal with the overpopulation of pitbulls in that area. She also has outreach programs like 'Pets in the Hood' and low cost spay/neuter/vaccine programs. Kristine and her pitbulls were hand picked by the American government to search for remains after the Columbia shuttle tragedy. To me they are just as important to the 'American Pitbull' as Frank Rocca or Louis Colby. Actually to me they are more important because, they show their love for the breed in more meaningful ways than any gold ring, trophy, or tattoo could.
The true 'American Pitbull' has many faces, and unfortunatley the producers of this book failed to capture them all. They did not seem to really try.
Rating: 
Summary: Could've been so much better
Review: I didn't know I was buying a picture book when I bought American Pit Bull by Marc Joseph. However, I was prepared to still give it a chance. This book is full of large, beautiful illustrations; that much is true. Some of the dogs were gorgeous, and some of the pictures showed the charming aspect of these fascinating dogs. However, the perspective is very limited. A large portion of the book is full of pics evidently taken at an ADBA show, which is very into the game aspect of these dogs. A smaller but still prevalent portion is geared towards the thug owners whose manhood is seemingly defined by the size of their Pit Bull's head or the number of spikes on its collar. Plenty of pictures of dogs out on chains, tied up to dog houses. Very few pet and/or working dog owners and their dogs were were photographed.
I also found myself scratching my head at some of the images. What am I looking at? A large picture of a DOOR. Let's see, what else? Two dogs mating in the living room next to a small child watching television. (A second look revealed that both dogs were female, but still, Mr. Joseph, did we need to see this?) A dog tied up to a breeding stand, and then being bred. There were also quite a few pictures of dogs lunging on their leads and barking, which is very bad PR for the breed. That's the kind of thing you'd see glorified in a DMX video or Nike commercial.
Another problem with this book is this: You can read the whole thing in 10 minutes, if you pause to scan the articles. With all the pictures, it could probably qualify as a coffee table book, but I wouldn't put such a book on my coffee table. A picture of a female chained in the whelping box with a tow chain may be a conversation-starter, but its not the kind of conversation I'd like to have.
Maybe I expect too much from Pit Bull books. But I feel that anytime someone endeavors to write about my breed, they should include some informational content, and should be preferably educational. There is so much misinformation surrounding these dogs, that when a book comes out that shows Pit Bulls chained up to fences, lunging at the camera, knowledgeable fanciers shake their heads. The photography in this book is excellent. Its a pity there wasn't a better message, or at least more balanced content.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book !
Review: I have looked this book over at least twice , and have to admit
it is a nicely put together book . Definately a must have in your Bulldog library !! The book is " chock full " of tastefull
photography that anybody could appreciate , from the novice to
the experts . Great job , Marc !!
Rating:
Summary: Not a happy book
Review: I read most of this book and could not handle the rest. Having 2 pitbull mixes, I was hoping that it was an enlightening book on the beauty of the American pitbull. It was not. It was a depressing collection of photos on the lives of pitbulls owned by uncompassionate dog owners. They insist they love their dogs, yet tether them to trees and doghouses with giant metal chains. Do they not realize how cumbersome and heavy that weight is to bear on their necks. I do not recommend this book for people who love their dogs. This book, American Pitbull, is a pictorial on people who do not regard their dogs as anything more than a disposable pet, or an income. To them, their dogs do not feel pain, do not need love or compassion, and do not have any thought nor consciousness
Rating:
Summary: Another case of lousy PR
Review: I saw the reviews for this book in a much-loved magazine, and they were fairly negative. However, being a very passionate Pit Bull owner, I bought it anyway, and then promptly returned it. This book shows a one-sided view of pit bulls and their owners. If one were to take the stance that a picture is worth a thousand words, then this book is filled with words and phrases such as "white trash", "back-yard breeder", "thug-life", "machismo", "lack of substance", "low socio-economic standing", "animal neglect", "miseducated" and worse. The dogs are mostly displayed as status-symbols for people with too little self-identity. Some of the kennel scenarios are atrocious: can you really tell me that a person with twenty or more dogs can give each pet the individual attention, cleaning, and proper preventative healthcare it so richly deserves? I am a veterinary technician and well aware of the rising costs of routine care of pets, and I don't believe for a second that all the dogs is book were so loved as the author claims. Love is not about having the biggest, scariest, gamest looking dog because you are too much of a coward to be yourself, by yourself. Love is about responsibility, dedication, and that intangible bond which can only be seen the expressions on the faces of people and their pets, an expression which is sadly lacking in this book. If Mr. Joseph wanted to really do the breed justice, he would have a few hundred more pages, revealing the dogs to be therapy workers, search and rescue volunteers, agility and obedience champions, playful house pets, assistance dogs, drug/bomb sniffing dogs, and above all, LOVED dogs. That would have shown the true spectrum of the American Pitbull, in all its sadness and its glory, and that would have been a fitting tribute. As it stands, Mr. Joseph's photographic essay has simply left the responsible representatives of this breed with more work to do as we now combat yet another example of poor public relations.
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