The Principles of Uncertainty
by: Maira Kalman
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Amazon.com Review:
Amazon Best of the Month, Octhober 2007: In 2005 Maira Kalman brought a fresh vision to Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, filling the pages of the reference classic with her whimsical illustrations. And much like its multi-talented creator--who has illustrated children's books and New Yorker covers and collaborated on fashion projects with Kate Spade and Isaac Mizrahi--her new book, The Principles of Uncertainty, defies easy classification. Is it philosophy? Art? Memoir? Travel? Sociology? The answer is All of the Above (and more). This charming collection of text, paintings, and photography presents a "profusely illustrated" year in a life, with illustrated musings that range from a young Nabokov "sitting innocently and elegantly in a red chair" to two stuffed rabbits in the window at Paris's Deyrolles taxidermy to Kitty Carlisle Hart at home in her "pearly pink palace." Delightful, inspiring, and often very moving, this little charmer is a a book you might find nestled on Wes Anderson's coffee table. --Brad Thomas Parsons
Product Description:
Maira Kalman paints her highly personal worldview in an inimitable combination of image and text.
The Principles of Uncertainty is an irresistible invitation to experience life through the psyche of Maira Kalman, one of this country's most beloved artists. The result is a book that is part personal narrative, part documentary, part travelogue, part chapbook, and all Kalman. Her brilliant, whimsical paintings, ideas, and images-which initially appear random-ultimately form an intricately interconnected worldview, an idiosyncratic inner monologue. Kalman contends with some existential questions-What is identity? What is happiness? Why do we fight wars? And then, of course, death, love, and candy (not necessarily in that order).
The tremendous success of Kalman's 2005 illustrated edition of Strunk and White's The Elements of Style established her as an original, inspirational voice, and the quirky, hilarious, heartbreaking style of The Principles of Uncertainty reveals Maira Kalman for what she truly is: a national treasure.
Amazon Best of the Month, Octhober 2007: In 2005 Maira Kalman brought a fresh vision to Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, filling the pages of the reference classic with her whimsical illustrations. And much like its multi-talented creator--who has illustrated children's books and New Yorker covers and collaborated on fashion projects with Kate Spade and Isaac Mizrahi--her new book, The Principles of Uncertainty, defies easy classification. Is it philosophy? Art? Memoir? Travel? Sociology? The answer is All of the Above (and more). This charming collection of text, paintings, and photography presents a "profusely illustrated" year in a life, with illustrated musings that range from a young Nabokov "sitting innocently and elegantly in a red chair" to two stuffed rabbits in the window at Paris's Deyrolles taxidermy to Kitty Carlisle Hart at home in her "pearly pink palace." Delightful, inspiring, and often very moving, this little charmer is a a book you might find nestled on Wes Anderson's coffee table. --Brad Thomas Parsons
Product Description:
Maira Kalman paints her highly personal worldview in an inimitable combination of image and text.
The Principles of Uncertainty is an irresistible invitation to experience life through the psyche of Maira Kalman, one of this country's most beloved artists. The result is a book that is part personal narrative, part documentary, part travelogue, part chapbook, and all Kalman. Her brilliant, whimsical paintings, ideas, and images-which initially appear random-ultimately form an intricately interconnected worldview, an idiosyncratic inner monologue. Kalman contends with some existential questions-What is identity? What is happiness? Why do we fight wars? And then, of course, death, love, and candy (not necessarily in that order).
The tremendous success of Kalman's 2005 illustrated edition of Strunk and White's The Elements of Style established her as an original, inspirational voice, and the quirky, hilarious, heartbreaking style of The Principles of Uncertainty reveals Maira Kalman for what she truly is: a national treasure.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Inspiring and Creative
The book was a gift to me from a young student (22)I had worked with last summer. I couldn't put it down. It inspired me so much (I'm a playwright myself ) that I sat down and started painting my new play!I have bought the book 4 more times as gifts for people from 70 down to 20 who are teachers and painters and just plain people who were willing to go through the process of discovery with the author. She has a brilliant directness, creativity and honesty that is entirely engaging. Kalman is ... Read More
Rating: - This is a great book.I am certain.
I was in a bookstore when this book called to me from shelf.I didn't know who Maira Kalman was at the time.I just knew I had to pick it up.I cracked it open and was sucked in by the artwork and the hand-written pages.Her writing is very plain, observational, and very honest.Her artwork is simple, but beautiful.It's fun.Nobody is remaking the wheel or building a better mousetrap here.Do you like Dodo Birds?Ever think about it?How about pretty pictures?I still don't who Maira ... Read More
Rating: - Celebrate Maira Kalman
I bought this book for myself and one or two other people last Christmas.I loved the humorous approach to what is essentially a book about Kalman's husband dying at age 49.All of the changes that occur so suddenly in the world that she describes are wrapped around the center disaster.The wit and the charm of the pictures and the author's thoughts take you into a world where she is mourning and finding out who she is which makes for a melancholy celebration.I thought the title alone made it ... Read More
Rating: 
- Left me cold
I bought this book because I was fascinated by the illustrations, but I subsequently found the text to beabsolutely mediocre and undeserving of more than a passing glance.The author ruminates repeatedly on who she, or anyone else for that matter, is.Also prevalent are musings along the lines of "What is the point in any of this?"If it had been written by someone in her youth, recently thrust into the world, the author might have pulled it off, but to me it came off as tired and repetitive. ... Read More
Rating: - Witty, funny and wonderful
Everything Maira touches turns into the most funniest, quirkiest and happiest thing. This is one of my favorite books, its sort of like a new version of Chicken Soup for the Soul. The illustrations are amazing, color combinations are vibrant, writing is witty that it just becomes such a pleasurable visual read. She is even more funnier when she speaks. She's like the intelligent, amazing and awesomest aunt that you wished you had.
- Inspiring and CreativeThe book was a gift to me from a young student (22)I had worked with last summer. I couldn't put it down. It inspired me so much (I'm a playwright myself ) that I sat down and started painting my new play!I have bought the book 4 more times as gifts for people from 70 down to 20 who are teachers and painters and just plain people who were willing to go through the process of discovery with the author. She has a brilliant directness, creativity and honesty that is entirely engaging. Kalman is ... Read More
- This is a great book.I am certain.I was in a bookstore when this book called to me from shelf.I didn't know who Maira Kalman was at the time.I just knew I had to pick it up.I cracked it open and was sucked in by the artwork and the hand-written pages.Her writing is very plain, observational, and very honest.Her artwork is simple, but beautiful.It's fun.Nobody is remaking the wheel or building a better mousetrap here.Do you like Dodo Birds?Ever think about it?How about pretty pictures?I still don't who Maira ... Read More
- Celebrate Maira KalmanI bought this book for myself and one or two other people last Christmas.I loved the humorous approach to what is essentially a book about Kalman's husband dying at age 49.All of the changes that occur so suddenly in the world that she describes are wrapped around the center disaster.The wit and the charm of the pictures and the author's thoughts take you into a world where she is mourning and finding out who she is which makes for a melancholy celebration.I thought the title alone made it ... Read More
- Left me coldI bought this book because I was fascinated by the illustrations, but I subsequently found the text to beabsolutely mediocre and undeserving of more than a passing glance.The author ruminates repeatedly on who she, or anyone else for that matter, is.Also prevalent are musings along the lines of "What is the point in any of this?"If it had been written by someone in her youth, recently thrust into the world, the author might have pulled it off, but to me it came off as tired and repetitive. ... Read More
- Witty, funny and wonderfulEverything Maira touches turns into the most funniest, quirkiest and happiest thing. This is one of my favorite books, its sort of like a new version of Chicken Soup for the Soul. The illustrations are amazing, color combinations are vibrant, writing is witty that it just becomes such a pleasurable visual read. She is even more funnier when she speaks. She's like the intelligent, amazing and awesomest aunt that you wished you had.
