A History of photography Book

Very concise - at some points little more than a list of photographers important in a sub-field - it's nonetheless an excellent discourse on the equipment, styles, personalities and works of art in the history of photography. I can't help but feel that this book is better read now, when each time the reader encounters an unfamiliar name she can search the internet for context, than when the book was originally written. Nonetheless, there's an excellent sample of images of varying styles and eras included, and it's a cracking little primer on photography available for peanuts second-hand.