Rating: 
Summary: This book is terrible
Review: This book should be retitled: "White Trash, Thugs, and Assorted Degenerates. I bought it as a reference for an art project but most of the pictures feature the not-so-savory owners ahead of the dogs. While this book is full of well taken photographs (and very little text), quite a few of the photos don't even have dogs in them, just some fat, shirtless guy showing of his jailhouse tattoo. It's no wonder these dogs have such a poor reputation-- just look at the people who own pitbulls in this book. Of the 3 books I purchased, "Colby's Book of the APBT" features the best photos. I admit I haven't read it, but in the little I've skimmed the author seems to glorify fighting. The 3rd book I purchased, "The Ultimate APBT" is worthless if you're looking for photos. And yes, I do own a pitbull.
Rating: 
Summary: GRRRR....
Review: This book was a terrible disappointment, though the photography was very well done and the author was well intentioned. I know several APBT owners who aren't backwoods trailer trash or thugs. Joseph drummed up the cream of the crap with some of the APBTs owners he interviewed in this book. Also, for anyone that cares to know, Pitfalls Kennels DOES NOT health test their dogs. They are just backyard breeders on a huge scale. Stupid people all over pay them hundreds of dollars for sub-standard "rare" blue pit bulls. Thanks for giving these jokers lots of free advertising with your book.
Rating: 
Summary: Nice book
Review: This is a great book filled with hundreds of colorful pics of pit bulls and the people who love and respect them. I can understand why the person above me who reviewed this book says that some of the pics are questionable (heavy chains, treadmills), but those things do not mean that the owners hate, abuse or fight their animals. Some of the pics (only SOME) may make a novice dog enthusiast believe that a heavy lumber chain and an outside dog house means abuse, but it truly does not. The book even lists various pit bull rescues in the back, and the text portion of the book dispels all the rumors involving human aggression and the "killer dog" myth. Do not let a few misleading photographs force you away from this book. Yes some of the pics, like the one with the mother dog with the huge chain on her neck and her pups nursing from her does seem a little excessive, but that does not mean that her owners scream at her, beat her, fight her etc. The whelping box looked quite clean actually. The author and photographer had only good intentions when putting this book together. It is not a documentary of vile dog fights. Oh, and by the way, the pics that show a pit bull going after a wild boar is very common, as many pit bulls are used as catch dogs (dogs that grab ahold of boar and wild pigs and pin them down. american bulldogs are used for this too. this is legal and is common down south). A good book, and buying it DOES NOT mean you hate APBTs.
Rating:
Summary: this book is great
Review: This is a very cool book- the pictures are incredible. Who knew there
were so many people who loved Pit Bulls. If there is such a thing as a
"Pit Bull crowd" I now feel like I've just met some of them, and
understand their thing a little better (I have a Wheaton Terrier- a
very different scene at the dog park). A couple that I know has a Pit
Bull- they are somewhat different from the people in Joseph's book, but
I think that the story here is that quite a lot of different types of people love these dogs (families, young, old, black, white, etc...),
have that love in common with one another, and are very serious about
living with them and raising them, whatever their means. The text does
an excellent job of providing some great stories to go with the
pictures. (It was a total surprise to find James Frey had written the
main essay- I loved his book A Million Little Pieces). The pictures are
very taken with a very artistic eye... If you're into photo books, this may well become one of those classics in a few years.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book!! (We recommend it).
Review: This is an excellent photographic book about American Pit Bull Terriers - a book that might even dispell some of the ongoing false myths about this great breed (see the text portion of the book, too). A few people who have written Amazon reviews here have indicated that they are uncomfortable with some of the pictures, and have written (vehemently, even) against this book. Well I can tell you that a dog on a chain does not represent cruelty in any way, unless that dog has been treated in a cruel manner. The APBTs in these pictures look well cared for, and the kennel facilities that are shown look to be top-notch. My wife and I have been to the ADBA dog shows, like the ones in this book. We have raised quite a few and rescued quite a few pit bulls in our time, and I can say that the author accurately depicted the good natured atmosphere surrounding the people and dogs who participate in these events. The pictures show the diversity of the breed, as well as the diversity of the people who are lovers of the breed. Those who are interviewed include several well known breeders and owners (a veterinary technician / obedience instructor, even). I would say that there are people here in the book who are more than qualified to comment with authority on the APBT (Frank Rocca, for example). It is very clear to me and the friends to whom I've given this book to as a gift (21.00 here on Amazon which is a total bargain) that the people in the book love their dogs. We have spent a good deal of time enjoying this book, and will continue to do so.
Rating:
Summary: Good One / A+
Review: Way different from what you always see in the "breed book" type books. Loads of great photos of this great breed- that's the best reason to pick up this one. I think that this one is an original, and really worth having.
Rating:
Summary: Good One / A+
Review: Way different from what you always see in the "breed book" type books. Loads of great photos of this great breed- that's the best reason to pick up this one. I think that this one is an original, and really worth having.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book / Great Photos
Review: Well done, and very well worth the price. This is not just a book of photographs of Pit Bulls, this is really much more than that. Marc Joseph (the photographer) did justice to this breed, and to their people. The interviews, and the main text are great, too.
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