Self Publish, Be Happy: A DIY Photobook Manual and Manifesto

Better than I expected from the "look inside this book" and mixed reviews on Amazon. Overall look of book, with pages from featured photo books photographed against a wood grain, provided an attractive continuity. I liked the one-page book commentaries/facts (on a white page with black fonts). The publishing info for each featured book was short and to the point, easy to grasp. Knowing print run size, printing and paper info, retail pricing, etc. was invaluable. Left me with the impression that indeed you could do small print runs and have fun. Glad I bought the book. Intend to keep it as an inspirational reference.

A compendium of some of the best independently published books in recent years, with advice interspersed. A nice lighthearted volume

This book isn't a "how to" so if you're looking for that you should look elsewhere. This is a great resource for ideas and inspiration on self-publishing, full of many various examples of different types of self-published zines and whatnot, with info on materials and costs. You basically have a free Alec Soth zine right in the middle of the book so that's worth the price alone.

What a waste. Overly designed and very few worthy examples. There are some great self published books out there and this book does not cover them. Look elsewhere, like actually buying artist self published books and not this doorstop of a book. Sad.

Really not very helpful. interesting but not helpful

Such a cool resource for self publishing and discovering great self published work from around the world.

This book is a disaster. The book consists of 20 or 30 one page summaries of self-published photo books. The remaining. pages are low quality photos of pages in the books. Most of the books are weird and don't come close to the quality of books printed by shutterfly, blurb, or MyPublisher. I spent five minutes looking at it and sent it back. You will learn nothing by reading/looking at this book.It is not even motivational.

This book is not only beautifully designed and printed and engagingly written, it is an invaluable resource, and will be an important historical snap-shot of artist-made photographic books from a transformative moment when such works became central to the world of contemporary photography. Unlike most such resources, Ceschel is not simply trying to establish a market hierarchy of “important” or “collectible” titles, but to expose the reader to a truly diverse and seductive range of styles, formats, content and intention in independent photographic artists’ books. The large reproductions, and the devotion of several spreads to each title, allows viewers to get a very physical sense of how the book-object operates, and to really take in the layouts and sequences as they would be experienced holding the books in one’s hands. As a university teacher, I look forward to assigning this book to any class I teach focused on photo-books, or even in any advanced creative image-making course. But like the best teaching books, it is also a book for enthusiasts, collectors and other artists. Though celebrated and well-recognized books are represented here, many of the works included here – some hand-made in very small runs, or by young artists otherwise not very well known, – could easily slip from the record of photographic history. It is deeply important for anthologies like this to exist: ones that curate based on interest, experiential power and originality rather than name recognition and canonical expectations. Some viewers might be thrown off by the title, as it is not primarily structured as a technical, step-by-step, how-to book. But this is a guide for aspiring book artists of the best kind – one that encourages independence and experimentation and inspires by examples and possibilities, rather than a rote set of skills or a checklist of do’s and don’ts. It is not attempting to walk readers through generic conventions, but to expose them to the most provocative, rich and daring examples of contemporary photo-book making.

This book provides exactly what it says on the tin, and more. At over 500 pages this manual is excellent value for money. You get "Instructions for use" a very practical and insightful "Manual" and hundreds of photographs from dozens of self publish success stories, including handy tit bits, personal experience and advice from the individual book publishers, as well as all the stats related to each book and information of printers and costing guides for each book. This personal insight and experience is invaluable, its like being at a private party with all the publishers and getting all the professional gossip first hand. I love the magazine feel of the book and the wooden coffee table background on which all pics are taken. If anyone is expecting a top-end glossy photo book at this price and with over 500 pages then they are living in la-la-land. It is a manifesto/manual/reference book of a high quality and excellent value, especially if buying from Amazon. I would recommend this book to anyone who is creative and interested in self publishing and wants to do it their own way. This book is not a methodical step-by-step manual for those without imagination or ideas. Rather it is a distillation of the experiences of others who have paved the way before, with some basic pointers to trigger your own imagination. It really got me thinking, and that's only after a first glance. Highly recommended !!!

utile per gli spunti. Peccato sia solo in inglese e che non contenga anche indicazioni pratiche per l'autopubblicazione di libri fotografici

The Self Publish Be Happy book is a manifesto for people interested in publishing their own photobook. It features a nice selection of some of the best self-published photobooks in the SPBH library, a fascinating text by the head of MoMA’s book section that puts self-published photobooks in an art-history context, and the author’s 10-point guide to making your own photobook. Do not expect a sort of "Photobooks for Dummies" with hold-your-hand, step-by-step instructions, though; this is rather a book that aims to fire your imagination and inspire you to do it yourself. And on that score it certainly succeeds. Beautifully designed and produced, it comes highly recommended for photographers looking for innovative ways to get their work more widely seen and appreciated.

I love this book, its beautifully designed and written with humour. The first time I flicked through it I was stuck with an idea as a direct result of the 'just do it your self' ethos and actually produced my first photo book a week later. Its a good read even if you just like photography and have no intention of doing your own photobook. But I challenge you to read it and not want to create your own book immediately afterwards.

Good insight to different approaches of photobooks, but fails to tell you how to actually make your own. Gives maybe 10 bullet pointed considerations without actually explaining them. Pretty pish book overall, but it does have some pretty pictures.