Julian Rothenstein

This book is about psychological tests, providing the "what" rather than the "why". It is survey of favorite tests past and present (and real and unreal) rather than an analysis or evaluation of testing in general, or of particular tests. There's no harm in it -- is a very goodlooking book, particularly on a coffee table -- and is fun to poke through. And it is definitely funny in bits, at least as much in the real tests as in the made up ones. You will not, however, learn much about psychological testing from it.… (mehr)

Other than a foreword by the publisher and a charming introduction by [[Georges Perec]]—a short text called The Alphabet, this is a book to look at rather than to read, as it is filled with alphabets, signs and various typographic specimens, mostly dating from the early part of the 20th century. The book description from the publisher says it all:

Delightfully unpredictable, ABZ is a wonderbook of typography, graphics, and symbols. Julian Rothenstein turns his idiosyncratic eye towards eccentric alphabets, emblems, and logos discovered in avant-garde modernist publications and other curious sources. Hundreds of examples of graphic ephemera sit side-by-side in inimitable Redstone fashion, mixing peculiar charm with useful reference in one stunning package. Special features include an amazing alphabet, circa 1926, created from photographs of a dancing woman; original test-types for opticians charts; pages from sign artists manuals; and coolly elegant designs from fin de siècle French, German, Italian, and Czech journals. Nearly all of this rare and beautiful material is reproduced here for the first time since its original publication. An art book like no other, ABZ is a collection of typographic oddities taken to the next level of appreciation.

I discoverd Redstone when I was a graphic design student and had purchased the first book Alphabets and Other Signs (1991), now lost among many moves in my student days. I've since purchased a few of their highly collectible agendas; they truly do have an original way of presenting their material which makes for very fun and exciting viewing. Recommended for lovers of type, design and graphic ephemera.… (mehr)