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Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Art Resource
Review: As a graphic designer, I keep a reference library for ideas. This book is one of my absolute favorites. I've used this book for color schemes, concepts, composition and more. Smoking subject matter aside, this book is a beautiful display of something that is an artform in it's own right.
Rating:
Summary: Visually Stimulating
Review: Cigarette packaging is something most people don't even think about these days; alas, most or all modern package designs are so bland and pointless, why should they? Smoke Gets In Your Eyes reveals the amazing artistry of tobacco packaging of the golden age (i.e., many decades ago). Recommended for anyone interested in the glorious advertising art of bygone eras.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Art Resource
Review: Graphic designers will love this book with its colorful comprehensive overview of cigarette containers from around the world. There must be several hundred packs shown (and beautifully printed with each pack having a drop shadow so they look like they're floating on the page) and the authors have managed to arrange them into meaningful chapters. The chapter dealing with 'Patriotism by the Pack' has some great designs, the Tobacco Alternatives Company issued Glory brand (1996) with a flamboyant use of the Stars and Stripes, the White House produced an elegant pack in the Eighties, a flip-top box in cream with just the President's seal on the front.Now that smoking has lost its cache the last chapter 'The Anti-Packs' has some really offbeat stuff, Trim brand from the Cornell Drug Company in 1960 suggested on its front that it 'curbs your appetite', aimed at the ladies, naturally. Pure brand in 1995 would have you believe that because their product contained no additives you could puff away in good health. I'm not convinced that all the weird brands shown here were serious attempts at creating mass sales though. Thibodeau and Martin have written a fascinating study about pack art (and the packs are the dominant items in the book) and though there are other books on the subject the only one that might be comparable is Chris Mullen's 'Cigarette Pack Art' (ISBN 0861367898 or 0312138423) which came out in 1980. Written from a European perspective it perhaps has more historical pack material shown and a lot more text. Oh yes, the book jacket points out that neither of the authors smokes!
Rating:
Summary: Pack it up, quit now and buy the book instead.
Review: Graphic designers will love this book with its colorful comprehensive overview of cigarette containers from around the world. There must be several hundred packs shown (and beautifully printed with each pack having a drop shadow so they look like they're floating on the page) and the authors have managed to arrange them into meaningful chapters. The chapter dealing with 'Patriotism by the Pack' has some great designs, the Tobacco Alternatives Company issued Glory brand (1996) with a flamboyant use of the Stars and Stripes, the White House produced an elegant pack in the Eighties, a flip-top box in cream with just the President's seal on the front. Now that smoking has lost its cache the last chapter 'The Anti-Packs' has some really offbeat stuff, Trim brand from the Cornell Drug Company in 1960 suggested on its front that it 'curbs your appetite', aimed at the ladies, naturally. Pure brand in 1995 would have you believe that because their product contained no additives you could puff away in good health. I'm not convinced that all the weird brands shown here were serious attempts at creating mass sales though. Thibodeau and Martin have written a fascinating study about pack art (and the packs are the dominant items in the book) and though there are other books on the subject the only one that might be comparable is Chris Mullen's 'Cigarette Pack Art' (ISBN 0861367898 or 0312138423) which came out in 1980. Written from a European perspective it perhaps has more historical pack material shown and a lot more text. Oh yes, the book jacket points out that neither of the authors smokes!
Rating: 
Summary: Cigarette Art when Smoking was King
Review: I'm not a habitual cigarette smoker, but I'm a sucker for vintage packaging design, as well as books about such design. This medium-sized "coffee table" book is well produced and would be an inspiration to anyone interested in graphic design, typography, advertising, and of course smoking. Anthropologists may also be interested in the use of similar icons (i.e. airplanes, reclining women and tigers) that pop up on cigarette packages from a wide range of different countries/cultures. It's a sad thing that you don't find such sumptuous art on cigarette packages anymore - this book shows that the golden age of cigarettes (and also of product design) is long gone. But I'm glad it's being showcased in this book to share with later generations!
Rating:
Summary: Cigarette Art when Smoking was King
Review: I'm not a habitual cigarette smoker, but I'm a sucker for vintage packaging design, as well as books about such design. This medium-sized "coffee table" book is well produced and would be an inspiration to anyone interested in graphic design, typography, advertising, and of course smoking. Anthropologists may also be interested in the use of similar icons (i.e. airplanes, reclining women and tigers) that pop up on cigarette packages from a wide range of different countries/cultures. It's a sad thing that you don't find such sumptuous art on cigarette packages anymore - this book shows that the golden age of cigarettes (and also of product design) is long gone. But I'm glad it's being showcased in this book to share with later generations!
Rating: 
Summary: Please, can someone open a window here!
Review: OK, so the fancy packaging is cool, but aren't we trying to get rid of all the cigarette and tobacco advertisements through commercials and other ads? "A Branded World" by Michael Levine defines the real meaning of branding to make a company successful without the smoky mess. Once you've read "A Branded World" you will find yourself inhaling, "finally, a book worth reading."
Rating:
Summary: Please, can someone open a window here!
Review: OK, so the fancy packaging is cool, but aren't we trying to get rid of all the cigarette and tobacco advertisements through commercials and other ads? "A Branded World" by Michael Levine defines the real meaning of branding to make a company successful without the smoky mess. Once you've read "A Branded World" you will find yourself inhaling, "finally, a book worth reading."
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