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.
Rating: 
Summary: A Major Disappointment!
Review: I was delighted and excited to see this book sitting on the shelf, but when I opened it I was just as disappointed. It portrays this wonderful breed in every unattractive stereotypical manner imaginable (except for actual dog fights). One comes away with the distinct impression that the ONLY people who own this dog are those with rap sheets, scary dental work, multiplicitous tattoos, and Chateau du Trailer Park addresses. This book would merit only ONE star if it were not for the fine photography.
Rating: 
Summary: Couln't be more truthful
Review: It is really dissapointing to hear how badly people can criticize this book just because it portays the truth about the people who breed and love these animals. So what if they have tattoos, gold front teeth and live in trailers; the fact of the matter is that they love and adore these dogs. If you would like to see pictures of people in their Park Ave penthouse sitting in their designer chair with their dogs then you are looking at the wrong book. You might think that the people portayed in this book are stereotypical but I think it's your denial on facing the truth about who these people are and their lifestyle. I think you have to stop thinking that these people live in the UNITED STATES and not in your suburban bubble with your mini van and Maltese dog yapping on your lap!
Get real and accept the truth
Marc Joseph did an amazing job in his photography and in his research of the truths and myths of this breed.
I have never been confronted with an aggressive pitbull living in Brooklyn; but have come close to being biten by a couple of Cocker Spaniards.... so, just a little ending thought for all those ignorant people to think about.....
Rating:
Summary: What A Disappointment
Review: Joseph had an excellent opportunity to give this breed the credit it deserves, and he missed the mark. While it's important to show a realistic portrayal of the APBT, the bad simply outweighs the good in this book.While much of the text is positive, and well written, there are more photos that show the dogs in a violent light (i.e. a multi-page spread of two dogs ripping apart a pig). In a nutshell this book will contribute the negative image that APBT's already have, and glorify those who have these dogs for the wrong reasons.
Rating:
Summary: Sad to see the Pit Bull in this light yet again
Review: Many people in Pit Bull rescue and people that own Pits were mislead by the authors notes when they purchased this book. It's sad to see how someone (Marc Joseph) thinks that Pits being chained in the backyard, a mother pit being chained while she is trying to nurse her babies, an outdoor kennel in horrible conditions, Mr. Colby's picture (which his father was a very well know dog fighter), a Pit fighting in a hog dog fight, a pit with a leather muzzle, a female being tied down in order to mate her and numerous other pits being kept outside chained shows responsible ownership. I'm disappointed that this book was ever published and that I like many other responsible pit owners were mislead into wasting our money on this book. You want a real look at responsible ownership visit the countless rescue site of pit bulls with their new families. Visit PBRC.net to see the sad reality of over breeding of this breed and how us the people that are trying to save these poor dogs from people like the ones featured in this book, fight an uphill battle everyday. Hopefully someone will have the good sense to bring out a book on pits that really shows their good nature and the loving animal they are. Remember there are no bad dogs, just bad owners.
Rating:
Summary: RAD BOOK / COOL PICS
Review: People tend to criticize what they don't understand. Joseph's book shows how all kinds of people dig the Pit Bulls, and how they live with and love their dogs.
Rating:
Summary: Finally- the positive story about Pit Bulls.
Review: Thanks to the author and photographer of American Pit Bull for really showing what great dogs Pit Bulls are. Finally, there is this book about the positive ways that many people feel about them. Excellent book, all around.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!! A GREAT BOOK. DON'T BELIEVE THE (NEGATIVE) HYPE.
Review: The book in question is, hands down, the most original book you've ever seen about APBTs, or any other breed, for that matter. The photographer Marc Joseph, and the writer James Frey, are obviously very much fans of the breed, and it certainly shows in their words and in their pictures. The few negative reviews of this book that a few people have posted here are a reminder that, like the great APBT breed itself, some folks are just not cut out for it. But whatever remarks some people have posted here, and whether or not you think you'd like to be friends with everybody pictured in the book, American Pitbull is extremely worthwhile, and highly recommended, for its great and positive depiction of the spirit of APBT breed, and the APBT people.
Rating: 
Summary: Best photo book I've seen in a while.
Review: This book is terrific if you are interested in a different side of the story on these dogs (i.e. other than what you usually see in the newspapers about them). The photos are great, as are the essays and interviews, and you really get a sense of how close to their dogs some people can be. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes dogs, especially Pitbulls, or knows someone who does. Hey, I don't even like dogs, but the book is beautiful and I got a few as gifts.
Rating:
Summary: Well Done
Review: This book seems to have earned some very high marks here on Amazon- and some responses from people who feel less than favorable towards the book (or maybe, really, some of the people who are pictured). I strongly aggree with those who admire it, as I do. I also think that this book is very original- the photographs are first rate, and the book is very nicely put together. The people (and dogs) pictured here are clearly devoted to their Pit Bulls, and the authors really captured this very well. I also think (as someone else mentioned here on Amazon) that it's nice to see these dogs pictured in a different way, as opposed to what you always hear on the news about them.
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