Steve McQueen Paperback – May 1, 2004

Really enjoy this coffee table book of the original macho man Steve McQueen. Anyone who is a big fan of Steve McQueen would definitely enjoy all the professional photos william claxton put together in this book. Plus a lot of good commentary of what was going on in Steve's life when each of these pictures were taken.

This book is no fan-boy volume on the King of Cool. Claxton is a world-renowned photographer. Every single photo in this book is a classic that can be framed and put on the wall of a museum, even the infamous shot from the trip to Carmel and Big Sur in 1964 with Neile, where Steve flashes his pecker into the camera (right after the one of McQueen lighting up his Marijuana joint with dried mistletoe), but so non-chalantly that when I first bought the book, I didn't notice this pornographic detail for 5 months! Especially amazing are the shots taken on the set of "Baby the Rain Must Fall" with Lee Remick on the day of JFK's assassination.McQueen by Claxton. Every picture tells a hundred stories, all of them incorporating the "chill" dimension that the McQueen archetype embodied more than that of any other actor. An icon shot by an icon during the decade of most radical change in recent history. Rebels with class and causes but none higher than mental sovereignty (colloquially designated as "cool'), creativity and spiritual growth. What more could a prole ask for on the Prison Planet? lol

Most of the photos from this book can be found on the web, but this has a lot of great stories from the photographer and friend of Steve Mcqueen. The photos recap a short period in his life but prove why he was the king of cool.

I didn't know much about this actor. He died when I was young and it wasn't until I was older that I discovered his work on my own. I didn't learn until later that he died of complications following experimental surgery in Mexico for mesothelioma (asbestos-caused cancer).McQueen was cool, but he was also not one to make a big deal of himself. One of my favorite photos is of him in the back of a truck after a motorcycle race, filthy (yet happy) and enjoying a beer. But there are many, many sweet and sincere photos in this book. Yes, it is a finite and relatively short segment of his life that has been captured on film, but it is an important time.Published by Taschen and printed in Italy. A high quality coffee table book for $14.99 (I paid $19.99!). In fact, its description as a paperback is almost misleading, since it's a "hard" (reinforced) paperback. Claxton, probably better known in jazz circles, passed away in October 2008.

Eclectic portrait by famed photographer Claxton who befriended a young McQueen 62-65 on assignment. These included "Love w. the perfect stranger" NYC w. Natalie Wood; "Baby, the rain must fall" Texas cut short by Kennedy's assassination; "Soldier in the rain" LA w. Jackie Gleason. Steve's fascination with all things automotive shines through w. his Jaguar XKSS. Shelby Cobra small block, Ferrari Lusso and his Mojave dirt biking. Claxton focused on the man and his zest for life come across the photographs. McQueen was only one year removed from his discovery in TV's "Wanted, Dead or Alive" and well before his stardom in the "Magnificent Seven" and "Bullitt". A rare look back at an icon in the making.

Great photography of Steve when he was doin' his thing. From the bright lights to behind the scenes it seems to chronicle a good portion of Steves best years on Earth. A great visual time machine to see the coolest most stylish dude. I would say this book is a lot like McQueen himself. On the surface this book isn't using a lot to show you everything. Basic cover, simple photographs, lots of B&W, but it captures everything so effortlessly much like the man himself. Everything he did seemed so effortless. He didn't have to do a whole lot to make an impact.

I bought this as a present for my mom's hubby. He is a Steve McQueen fan and LOVED the pics in this book. It's designed well with lots of cool pics. It also includes some interesting facts inside about the pictures. This makes a great gift for any SMcQ fan or if you want it on a coffee table somewhere. Thick book...

This book is jammed with high quality pictures of McQueen before he hit it big. He is a popular actor at this time in his life, not yet the full blown international star, and this book provides a window into his life. The best part of this book is that there's very little stereotypical posing (the cover is one of the posed shots) and it seems more of an old collection of pics that a friend pulled out a ratty shoebox--very intimate and loose. And it helps that the friend is talented. The weaker part of the book is the personal anecdotes--they're fine and insightful but brief. But you can buy a biography to fill in the blanks.