History of Photography Book/Textbook

[Aquarium Dreams]

Has anyone read one or know of one that is used in college classes? There are quite a few on Amazon, so I'm wondering which ones people here like.

 

[Hertz van Rental]

As you say, there are lots of books on the subject (and I have quite a few of them).
The thing to remember is that they all contain the same information so they will all get you through a College class (but it's worth asking your tutor for a recommendation).
Buying your own is a matter of choice dictated by prose style, approach and cost.
Approach is probably the biggy. Different books look at different aspect so you get a slightly different view (as well as some different pictures and photographers).
A good one to start with covering most things well is Photography by Ian Jeffrey ( http://www.thamesandhudson.com/books/Photography/9780500201879.mxs/27/0/ ). Thames & Hudson actually do a cracking good selection of books and they are all worth a browse.
Another good one (but I think it is out of print) is The Birth of Photography by Brian Coe (one time curator of the Kodak Museum).
I have one or two others I like to use in conjunction with these - in particular a French history which gives you a whole new view on the subject and introduces you to lots of great photographers you've never heard of.
The bottom line is: haunt second hand bookshops and buy all the HoP books you can afford. They will all be useful

 

[Aquarium Dreams]

Thanks Hertz. I'm not using this for any class-- unfortunately, none on this subject are available where I live. I'll probably start out with the Ian Jeffrey book and A World History of Photography by Naomi Rosenblum. [ame]http://www.amazon.com/World-History-Photography-Naomi-Rosenblum/dp/0789203294/ref=sr_1_1/102-8774412-7587336?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176777372&sr=1-1[/ame] One review said, "there are no author's opinions, or philosophical discussions in this book, just facts," which is exactly the approach I'm looking for to start off. I really do need to get out to the used bookstore more often.. now that I work in a retail bookstore, I haven't been prowling around the used bookstores or the shelves at Goodwill like I used to!

 

[mrca]

Seizing the Light by Hirsch followed by The History of Photography by Newhall. Try doing more than just reading them. Many years ago, used them as a project to shoot the history of photography from 1840's forward to today using modern cameras.

 

[Ysarex]

I'll add this one to the list: A World History of Photography by Naomi Rosenblum.

Joe