The Concrete Wave: The History of Skateboarding
by Michael Brooke
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Book Summary Information
Author: Michael BrookeEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1999-09-01
ISBN: 1894020545
Number of pages: 200
Publisher: Warwick Publishing
Book Reviews of The Concrete Wave: The History of Skateboarding
Book Review: Ok History, Wack Design + Organization
Summary: 2 Stars
This book grew out of author Brooke's work on the SkateGeezer web site, and while it does do a pretty decent job at recounting the history of skateboarding, it suffers badly from shoddy editing and poor design. The book is divided into the four "waves" of skating (1959-65, 1973-80, 1983-91, 1993-present), each of which has a one or two page introduction, followed by a mix of pieces on the technological developments, interviews, random skater stories, and company profiles and histories. This format makes it easy to pick up and flip through, reading here and there at random (much like a Web site), but if you read it cover to cover, it's not very cohesive. The book is probably strongest in detailing the progression and development of various manufacturing techniques and materials in making boards, the section on urethane wheels is especially good. Where it's weakest is in dealing with some of the "cultural" components of skating. For example, references are made to tension between "skate and destroy" and "skate to create" philosophies of skating, but what those terms mean isn't explained very well. The book could use considerable editing, as some of the pieces seem to be lifted straight from hastily written e-mails, there are a number of typos, and the apostrophe is consistently misused. I can live with those things in a DIY 'zine, but in a $20 book, it's unacceptable. The photos are a mixed bag, with the older 70s stuff being pretty interesting, but most of the newer stuff being sub par. The book's overall design is a joke, it's hands down, the most poorly designed full color book I've ever seen. It's amazing that a publisher would fork out the considerable money required to print a full color book, and then turn something out where the typography, use of photos, graphics, screens, and sidebars, looks like a 10-year old was running the show. If it was properly edited, reorganized, and totally redesigned, then I would consider it a book worth getting, otherwise I'd suggest snaking a friend's copy if you must read it.
Summary of The Concrete Wave: The History of Skateboarding
The first book ever published to document the history of one of the worlds most cutting edge sports-skateboarding. The book features hundreds of photos of skaters, memorabilia and includes interviews with Tony Alva and Tony Hawk. Forward by Rodney Mullen.Skateboarding Books
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