American Hunks: The Muscular Male Body in Popular Culture, 1860-1970

"American Hunks" is a book that (refreshingly) does not make titillation of the reader's prurient interests a priority, instead taking a generally sober attitude toward the historical and artistic documentation of male musculature and depiction in American culture. By giving the reader text in small doses, usually with short introductions and detailed captions, this book guides its audience from the hesitant first steps of pride in muscular development during the Victorian and Edwardian eras through to the full-blown muscle-building fascination of the 1980s, without spoon feeding.This book will make an excellent reference, demonstrating the iconography of the flexed arm disembodied on many grocery products, showing the way to tell social mores and amateur from professional photography in many decades, and noting the many changes in the cultural "ideal" male body. It may also prove therapeutic for men with bodyimage difficulties, for instance demonstrating that the thick-trunked wrestler's body was considered highly desirable in the 1800s, so just because it isn't in vogue now does not mean it isn't beautiful. But this book is most useful as a social study in the development of male and female psyches over the past century or two.Artists will find interesting concepts in this book, leading to the successful simulation of antique imagery, readoption of recently discarded techniques, and perfect comparative reference bases. Historians and geographers will also find interesting concepts in this book, as it shows phenomenae not often documented and the shifts of the center of masculine iconography across the American world.There is one down side to this book: typos are frequent and obvious. Hopefully the publishers will fix this in future editions.

Great wonderful book on American culture and the photos of our history are incredible to learn about the past.

"American Hunks" is a bonanaza of vintage muscleman photos. With his inimitable flair and mischevious sense of fun, Mark Chapman and Brett Josef Grubisic have gathered hundreds of the best images from the world of the hunk, muscleman, he-man or gymnast/wrestler. The book presents over 100 years of male muscle images from sources as disparate as cement bags, shoe polish tins, Coke ads, cigarette packs and underwear, not to mention a wide variety of studio photos. Each image has a welcome paragraph to describe it. There are introductions by both authors, as well. Though there are some familiar photographs (due to their iconic nature), I was happy suprised to see hundreds of images for the first time. This volume is a must have for all fans of the male form and physical culture, all presented in excellent quality prints and with panache and wit. This is a keeper!

A wonderful book, with its many excellent photos, the more recent ones bringing back memories. Those were once the only pictures we had to fantasize about the ideal man/lover... It's mostly pictures with captions. with only short chapter introductions. Thoroughly enjoyable!But one thing is missing: hardly a word about censorship or prudery, which is the first thing you think about seeing some of those fig leaves, posing pouches and even painted-by-hand blotches to obscure the offending parts in many early photos. We only read that a studio was forced to shut down, or forbidden to send by post, and it all relaxed in 1967. Still, there are many photos to prove these must have been clandestine.

this book shows the thread of exotic body builder type images that have been with us since the dawn of photography.Here we find body builders,gymnasts,sexy movie stars that will truly inspire physique lovers.The book is presented with black and white vintage,as well as poster colored,and campy imagery too.It's sexy with a healthy sense of humor.It ironically includes an image of naked Germans getting a physical,even though they obviously don't fit in with the American theme.This is a great buy and entertaining! there is non pornographic nudity,very natural and stately.

The books starts strong no joke intended as the the strong men featured and was quite a revelation on some stage and film musclemen, but the book dissipates itself near the end as it seems to sruggle with venturing forth altho a good case can be made for the spotliting of the male with muscles in the 80's as the glamour men. A good array tho of these men known and unknown and good commentary as well.

American Hunks: the Muscular Male Body in Popular Culture is a great book for those interested in bodybuilding/physique modeling. Liberally illustrated and nicely written I recommend it to anyone interestin this subject.

Great Book!

If you want to know what is the story of male physique culture, this book could help you. It's a sort of precious archive of photos with little essays.