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Editor's picks

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  Los Angeles, Portrait of a City

  Book (TASCHEN America Llc)
  

  Rating (16 reviews):

  (4.8/5)

  

  Sun and neon

  At last, the city at the end of the rainbow gets the Taschen treatment: a large, chunky, 570 page, visual history. This is more than just an ordinary picture book though because so many of the photos, after the Thirties, have been taken by named photographers (there are biographies of thirty-nine of them at the back of the book) and it's the mixing of their work and anonymous photos that I thought gave the book a special feel. Another interesting theme reflects the creativity of the city with the use of quotes from well-known historical books and movies that appear throughout the pages, nicely with a graphic of the jacket or poster.Having looked through the pages a few times it does seem amazingly comprehensive. The seven chapters run from 1862 to the last photo in 2005. Each starts with a several hundred word overview followed by a spread with a period map then by captioned photos. Cultural, political and sports personalities, architecture (including street scenes... 5/5 Robin Benson - See all my reviews, November 13, 2009

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  A Wondrous Portrait of a Hard-to-Navigate City

  To a life-long New Yorker, Los Angeles is a foreign country, filled with vivid impressions -- warm all the time, unseemly pink and tourqouise neon pillars at the airport, lush vegetation, endless freeways, glittering Disney Center, lovely bungalow neighborhoods, downtown that stretches to Santa Monica, Hollywood emblazoned on the hill, Century City sprouting from somewhere, the Getty Center gleaming from its perch, Wilshire Boulevard marching through time and linking it all together, mammouth city hall, nostalgic Union Station, pinata and flower markets, new rapid transit, cars, cars, cars.... Of course, we all have mental images of the place, products of the media -- cops, movie stars, immigrants, water wars -- that shape a superficial understanding of LA. But in many ways it's a hard-to-navigate place -- I am not talking about the famed transportation routes, but about its culture and history. For the discerning visitor, there are visual hints of the past, wonderful surprises in the... 5/5 Eugenie L. Birch (New York City) - See all my reviews, November 26, 2009

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  I'm lovin' it

  I am a Northern California native, but moved to Los Angeles 10 years ago. This is a great book for anyone who wants to know more about a city that is often accused, mostly by outsiders, of being shallow, one-dimensional or soulless. It provides a unique glimpse into the real Los Angeles, one that is rich in history, complex and ever-changing. Great book. Highly recommended... 5/5 Ryan (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews This review is from: Los Angeles, Portrait of a City (Hardcover) I am a Northern California native, but moved to Los Angeles 10 years ago. This is a great book for anyone who wants to know more about a city that is often accused, mostly by outsiders, of being shallow, one-dimensional or soulless. It provides a unique glimpse into the real Los Angeles, one that is rich in history, complex and ever-changing. Great book. Highly recommended... Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 6, 2009

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  List Price: $70.00
  

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  The Little Black Book of Los Angeles

  eBooks (Peter Pauper Press)
  

  Rating (1 reviews):

  (5.0/5)

  

  Great gift for out-of-town visitors!

  I've given this book to several out-of-town visitors to L.A., and they have all found it extremely useful. I even bought one for myself to find some great "insider" spots that I didn't know about. It's very well organized and simple to use! 5/5 Oceanside Shopper (Seal Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: The Little Black Book of Los Angeles 2009 (Travel Guide) (Little Black Books (Peter Pauper Hardcover)) (Spiral-bound) I've given this book to several out-of-town visitors to L.A., and they have all found it extremely useful. I even bought one for myself to find some great "insider" spots that I didn't know about. It's very well organized and simple to use! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , November 6, 2011

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  List Price: $5.95
  

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  L.A. Bizarro: The All-New Insider's Guide to the Obscure, the Absurd, and the Perverse in Los Angeles

  Book (Chronicle Books)
  

  Rating (7 reviews):

  (5.0/5)

  

  Welcome to Decadent/Deviant L.A.

  Years ago, I read the first L.A. Bizarro. LOL - admittedly, I was too young and too afraid to visit some of the places listed in the book, so I read it with a sort of voyeuristic wistfulness.Now, Older (not that much!) and braver, I was thrilled to find the new, updated L.A. Bizarro.This isn't your Grandma's guidebook!The authors of L.A. Bizarro bring L.A. natives and tourists alike a peephole view into the kitschy, deviant and bizarre L.A. The L.A. you only dream about.The book is full of information on some of the weirdest and most interesting places in L.A. From stores where you can buy hardcore S&M Furniture, to dive bars, to haunted hotels and nude beaches, L.A. Bizarro brings them all to you.A quick warning: some of the entries and photos are definitely not appropriate for kids. The book is strictly adults only, but it's a great deal of fun! 5/5 OutlawPoet "OutlawPoet" (Pasadena, CA USA) - See all my reviews, September 18, 2009

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  LA Hurrayo

  I'm a California native and I thought this book was amazing. It shows a side of LA I never knew about, and it is a spectacular resource to go see this side of LA first hand. It is a creative and unique gift for the holidays. My mother received a copy for her birthday last month. Of course, make sure you have the kind of mom that will appreciate this cult classic before buying it for her. 5/5 J. L. Baker "PB Jerry B" (Vermont) - See all my reviews, November 28, 2009

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  When you don't know what to give...

  This book is hilarious, insightful, strange and definitely unlike any other guidebook every written. It makes the perfect gift for everyone (except kids and grandparents, well, I guess it depends on your grandparents!). It certainly lives up to its title as it takes you on a journey through a Los Angeles that is unknown to most and certainly bizarre. The authors write with both authority and humor as they've clearly experienced everything detailed in this book, for better or worse. There is certainly no other book quite like it! However, be forewarned, this is not for the faint of heart and contains material that is quite explicit in its sexual content and journey into Los Angeles' depravity, but that's what makes it so much fun. 5/5 Gift Giver Extraordinaire (Beverly Hills, CA) - See all my reviews This review is from: L.A. Bizarro: The All-New Insider's Guide to the Obscure, the Absurd, and the Perverse in Los Angeles (Paperback) This book is hilarious, insightful, strange and definitely unlike any other guidebook every written. It makes the perfect gift for everyone (except kids and grandparents, well, I guess it depends on your grandparents!). It certainly lives up to its title as it takes you on a journey through a Los Angeles that is unknown to most and certainly bizarre. The authors write with both authority and humor as they've clearly experienced everything detailed in this book, for better or worse. There is certainly no other book quite like it! However, be forewarned, this is not for the faint of heart and contains material that is quite explicit in its sexual content and journey into Los Angeles' depravity, but that's what makes it so much fun. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 25, 2009

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  List Price: $19.95
  

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  Lonely Planet Los Angeles San Diego and Southern California (Regional Travel Guide)

  Book (Lonely Planet)
  

  Rating (2 reviews):

  (5.0/5)

  

  well organized with accurate suggestions, size makes it easy to carry

  Ok, I was raised in Los Angeles area, and I secretly wanted to know what I missed out on since I left for Alaska. Boy, after going through this book, I see I missed so much, better think about returning soon. This book is well laid out with it's new Top 25 Experiences, itineraries that work for short or long time frames, maps that zero in on what to see in a truly large area. The Understanding SoCal is written for anyone, for me who is an X, or someone going for a first visit, well written!Lonely Planet puts out guides for regular people, meaning I think anyone can get into a guide, learn with they want, and get busy enjoying. And since I got the soft bound version, it's a size that really fits under your arm to be carried, yet, not too big, or I could have opted for digital chapters for my iPhone or iPad device, those work well too. I like maps that keep me where I'm going. I use a rental car gps, but I still want to know on a bigger scale the area, what sights I'm... 5/5 Gary Miller (Anchorage, AK USA) - See all my reviews, May 22, 2011

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  Yep! A Worthly Resource!

  This is smaller in size than older editions, but it is as informative as the Lonely Planets of Old. Easier to carry around with you. We are yet to travel to LA to try this edition out. To my way of touring and thinking this is an interesting Lonely Planet guide. I have purchased several others LP guides and some are more interesting to me than others. This one I have read cover to cover, my children(young Teens) have read and enjoyed this as well. Yes I am happy I have purchased this book. I always use these books inconjuction with the net and current local newspapers. 5/5 keysesoze - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Lonely Planet Los Angeles San Diego and Southern California (Regional Travel Guide) (Paperback) This is smaller in size than older editions, but it is as informative as the Lonely Planets of Old. Easier to carry around with you. We are yet to travel to LA to try this edition out. To my way of touring and thinking this is an interesting Lonely Planet guide. I have purchased several others LP guides and some are more interesting to me than others. This one I have read cover to cover, my children(young Teens) have read and enjoyed this as well. Yes I am happy I have purchased this book. I always use these books inconjuction with the net and current local newspapers. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , April 14, 2011

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  List Price: $19.99
  

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• 

  Top 10 Los Angeles (EYEWITNESS TOP 10 TRAVEL GUIDE)

  Book (DK Travel)
  

  Rating (13 reviews):

  (4.1/5)

  

  Great guide

  I took this guide book with me on my first visit to LA recently. I was interested in doing all of the typical tourist things. This book was indispensable. I also bought Frommer's guide book and I never opened it.I rented a car and traveled through LA. I was driving alone and the maps in this book were a huge help. They are very detailed and held up through being thrown in the car and in and out of bags. The pictures are great. The decriptions are short and to the point. I also loved the size of this book. It is small enough to easily carry in a larger purse or backpack.I didn't use the Top 10 book to plan my trip - only what to do and where to go when I got there. A more detailed book might serve you better if you need help decided where to stay and what hotels to use.You can't go wrong with this guide book - it is really the only guidebook you need for LA. 5/5 Krislee - See all my reviews This review is from: Top 10 Los Angeles (EYEWITNESS TOP 10 TRAVEL GUIDE) (Paperback) I took this guide book with me on my first visit to LA recently. I was interested in doing all of the typical tourist things. This book was indispensable. I also bought Frommer's guide book and I never opened it.I rented a car and traveled through LA. I was driving alone and the maps in this book were a huge help. They are very detailed and held up through being thrown in the car and in and out of bags. The pictures are great. The decriptions are short and to the point. I also loved the size of this book. It is small enough to easily carry in a larger purse or backpack.I didn't use the Top 10 book to plan my trip - only what to do and where to go when I got there. A more detailed book might serve you better if you need help decided where to stay and what hotels to use.You can't go wrong with this guide book - it is really the only guidebook you need for LA. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , May 10, 2005

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  Best Available General Purpose Guide

  During the past few years, I've become increasingly convinced that L.A. is one of the most interesting cities in America. Unfortunately, much of what is there is overshadowed by ersatz "attractions" like Disneyland and Universal Studios.This guide overcomes that problem by focusing upon different areas of interest and then listing the top 10 attractions within each area. Yes, Disneyland and Universal Studios are still covered, but so are the numerous museums, architectural landmarks (this book first made me aware of the Bradbury Building), parks, restaurants and hotels.Despite the enormous amount of material covered, the guide is compact enough to easily fit in a pocket or purse, yet still offers attractive graphics and intuitive organization. I bought Fodor's guide at the same time, but despite its greater amount of text, found that I used the Top 10 Guide virtually exclusively.The 10 to 12 pages on Pasadena are quite good. Pasadena is a city worth... 5/5 Diego Banducci (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Top 10 Los Angeles (EYEWITNESS TOP 10 TRAVEL GUIDE) (Paperback) During the past few years, I've become increasingly convinced that L.A. is one of the most interesting cities in America. Unfortunately, much of what is there is overshadowed by ersatz "attractions" like Disneyland and Universal Studios.This guide overcomes that problem by focusing upon different areas of interest and then listing the top 10 attractions within each area. Yes, Disneyland and Universal Studios are still covered, but so are the numerous museums, architectural landmarks (this book first made me aware of the Bradbury Building), parks, restaurants and hotels.Despite the enormous amount of material covered, the guide is compact enough to easily fit in a pocket or purse, yet still offers attractive graphics and intuitive organization. I bought Fodor's guide at the same time, but despite its greater amount of text, found that I used the Top 10 Guide virtually exclusively.The 10 to 12 pages on Pasadena are quite good. Pasadena is a city worth... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , July 15, 2006

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  Simply The Best compact guide to LA

  We visit the LA area two or three times a year.This is simply the best compact guide to LA that we've seen.It's quite usefully organized around several different communities in the LA area. This is the only way that's useful in LA since, if you're staying in Santa Monica, reading about a great restaurant in Pasadena isn't all that helpful.A very dense collection of useful information. It's introduced us to hotels (e.g. Magic Castle Hotel) and restaurants (e.g. Newsroom Cafe) that we've really enjoyed.Hopefully they'll be able to keep this updated every couple years or so.If you're going to LA, buy this. It's a steal. 5/5 A's Fan (California) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Top 10 Los Angeles (EYEWITNESS TOP 10 TRAVEL GUIDE) (Paperback) We visit the LA area two or three times a year.This is simply the best compact guide to LA that we've seen.It's quite usefully organized around several different communities in the LA area. This is the only way that's useful in LA since, if you're staying in Santa Monica, reading about a great restaurant in Pasadena isn't all that helpful.A very dense collection of useful information. It's introduced us to hotels (e.g. Magic Castle Hotel) and restaurants (e.g. Newsroom Cafe) that we've really enjoyed.Hopefully they'll be able to keep this updated every couple years or so.If you're going to LA, buy this. It's a steal. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , October 19, 2005

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  List Price: $14.00
  

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  Los Angeles From the Air Then and Now (Then & Now (Thunder Bay Press))

  Book (Thunder Bay Press)
  

  Rating (1 reviews):

  (5.0/5)

  

  Wonderful Book!

  If you have any interest in the metropolis that is Los Angeles, then this is a must. It combines two concepts--aerial views as well as a "then and now" perspective. Both are very beautifully done here. Every aspect of the area is covered, and the current photos are dramatic (and up-to-date; the book is brand new) while the old photos are fun. It is great to see the differences in the city 50, 40 or even fewer years ago. I hope all Angelenos and visitors to the city enjoy it as much as we did. 5/5 margo (Santa Cruz, CA) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Los Angeles From the Air Then and Now (Then & Now (Thunder Bay Press)) (Hardcover) If you have any interest in the metropolis that is Los Angeles, then this is a must. It combines two concepts--aerial views as well as a "then and now" perspective. Both are very beautifully done here. Every aspect of the area is covered, and the current photos are dramatic (and up-to-date; the book is brand new) while the old photos are fun. It is great to see the differences in the city 50, 40 or even fewer years ago. I hope all Angelenos and visitors to the city enjoy it as much as we did. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , January 16, 2012

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  List Price: $19.95
  

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  48 hours in Los Angeles (Regional Travel Guide)

  eBooks (Lonely Planet)
  

  Rating (1 reviews):

  (1.0/5)

  

  not even worth it

  This is a VERY brief read (about 15 pages). Everything in here can easily be found online, or else invest in a better book. 1/5 sveta "samurai" (Virginia) - See all my reviews This review is from: 48 hours in Los Angeles (Regional Travel Guide) (Kindle Edition) This is a VERY brief read (about 15 pages). Everything in here can easily be found online, or else invest in a better book. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , May 1, 2012

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  List Price: $0.99
  

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  Frommer's Los Angeles (Frommer's Complete Guides)

  Book (Frommers)
  List Price: $19.99
  

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  Julius Shulman Los Angeles: The Birth of a Modern Metropolis

  Book (Rizzoli)
  

  Rating (2 reviews):

  (4.5/5)

  

  The master photographer shows off his city

  This may very well be the best Los Angeles photography book i've ever come across and i've seen many of them. Julius Shulman's images of LA modernism are well known, but now we can also see his photographs of LA's other styles of architecture like Beax Arts, Art Deco, etc. I will have to disagree with the "product description", however. One of the best things about this book for me is that the majority of the buildings shown here are still standing. 5/5 LAC81 - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Julius Shulman Los Angeles: The Birth of a Modern Metropolis (Hardcover) This may very well be the best Los Angeles photography book i've ever come across and i've seen many of them. Julius Shulman's images of LA modernism are well known, but now we can also see his photographs of LA's other styles of architecture like Beax Arts, Art Deco, etc. I will have to disagree with the "product description", however. One of the best things about this book for me is that the majority of the buildings shown here are still standing. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , June 26, 2011

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  LA at its Best

  I never knew LA could look so good. This book is a must for people who enjoy see a city when it was at its high point. 4/5 Gerald A. Vanslambrouck - See all my reviews, June 12, 2011

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  List Price: $60.00
  

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  Los Angeles Then and Now (Then & Now)

  Book (Thunder Bay Press)
  

  Rating (13 reviews):

  (3.3/5)

  

  Los Angeles, Then and Not Really Los Angeles

  Perfect as a gift for those whose coffee table is Hollywood challenged. Apparently, the author/editors believe Los Angeles is 9 parts Hollywood, 1 part unimportant. Also, this book is for the advanced Hollywood student who already knows where most of these vital cultural icons exists - addresses are infrequently provided - or doesn't really care. Original camera positions for the "then" pictures are not duplicated in the modern version, and worse, the year in which the historic photograph is taken is not uniformly provided. Film star names are essential to the sparse narrative, as opposed to information as to the significance or relevance to Los Angeles/rest of planet of the site/photo chosen. 1/5 scott r johnson - See all my reviews This review is from: Los Angeles Then and Now (Then & Now) (Hardcover) Perfect as a gift for those whose coffee table is Hollywood challenged. Apparently, the author/editors believe Los Angeles is 9 parts Hollywood, 1 part unimportant. Also, this book is for the advanced Hollywood student who already knows where most of these vital cultural icons exists - addresses are infrequently provided - or doesn't really care. Original camera positions for the "then" pictures are not duplicated in the modern version, and worse, the year in which the historic photograph is taken is not uniformly provided. Film star names are essential to the sparse narrative, as opposed to information as to the significance or relevance to Los Angeles/rest of planet of the site/photo chosen. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , October 1, 2002

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  Lord! How disappointing!

  I am a Los Angeles history buff (specialty, the early 1900s), so I bought this book for my library, but I was really disappointed in it. For one thing, it is very badly edited; grammatical errors (mostly misplaced or dangling modifiers) abound. I mean, for such a handsome book, it really deserved a go-through by a professional editor.Secondly, who really needs a photo of the present-day Roma restaurant at the corner of Hollywood and Wilcox (complete with a guy in a cowboy hat hurrying to beat a flashing "Don't Walk" light and a lineup of late-model cars waiting to cross)?Or who needs a shot of the Virgin megastore where the historic Schwab's restaurant used to be? And on and on . . . Some of the "before" shots are worthwhile, but most of the "after" shots are really pedestrian -- including that hustling cowpoke.The best pic is on the cover -- the opening of the movie "Hell's Angels" at Grauman's Chinese. There are some other good older pix inside, too.As has been... 1/5 George Garrigues (Palms, Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews, December 2, 2002

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  Cool stuff!

  We had this book at school. The teacher used it for our history class and it was really good. He said it was good history guide, but it also had interesting facts. I really loved the photographs. My Grandpa lived in Los Angeles then. My Dad bought him this book and he said it was the best book he'd seen on Los Angeles history. 5/5 0, June 7, 2005

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  List Price: $19.95
  

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