This is an interesting, inspiring and beautifully presented book of work from mosaic artists around the world. There is so much variety in terms of style, technique, materials, and colour, and I very much like the fact that there are many photos of works in their entirety as well as pieces showing closeups of the same work in detail. There are generally between four and six pages for each artist, showcasing their work and talking a little bit about their artistic background, their technique used for certain pieces and their inspirations, all of which I found fascinating and brought me to a greater understanding of how the piece was created.

I admit that not everything in the book is to my own personal tastes: my preferences lean towards the more colourful. Among my favourite mosaicists in this collection are Erin Adams, whose compositions are based on intricately patterned oriental rugs; Gary Stephens, whose weird and wonderful designs feature brightly coloured fruit, fish, frogs, and ukelele-playing mermen (!); Linda Beaumont, especially for the assortment of objects she incorporates into mosaics; and Candace Bahouth, who I feel has a great eye for colour and shape. Nonetheless, there is a lot of creativity and enthusiasm evident in all the work in the book, whatever your tastes.

It also has possibly the best introduction I have ever read in a book about mosaic: "Mosaic design is a fascinating art based on paradoxes that must be embraced. Among these are the pieces, multiple objects of simplicity fused into a singular, complex wholeness; the irregularity that springs from deliberation; and, more often than not, the creation that is wrought from destruction. Such paradoxes are put into context by the mosaicist when the principles of other visual arts are applied. By shaping tesserae like a sculptor, choosing colors like a painter, and weaving patterns like a fiber artist, the mosaicist presents his or her vision."

What a wonderful way to introduce what mosaic is all about! I also feel that there is just the right balance between text and photographs - enough to enhance understanding, but not so much as to detract from the art itself. I recommend this book to all lovers of art, not just of mosaic. ( )