New Mexico: A Guide for the Eyes (Guides for the Eyes) Hardcover – February 14, 2012

I have several shelves full of books on New Mexico, particularly photo essays, but the most recent addition stands out, and for very good reason. Elisa Parhad's New Mexico: A Guide For the Eyes captures something of the essence of the Land of Enchantment in a way that other books do not. Between the significantly colored turquoise end papers of this small book, Parhad takes us through a pantheon of cultural icons of the state. Some are well-known: adobe, chile, pickup trucks, hot air balloons, and the ocean of limitless blue sky, but also included are the not so well-known. Spending time with this book, one learns of Avanyu, the spirit of a serpent, which folk legend tells us resides in the rivers of New Mexico. There are also pawn shops, which have a surprising and historically important history in the state, and the Ditch Witch, a fictional creation of the Albuquerque city government intended to warn children away from playing in potentially dangerous arroyos, which can become flooded after a sudden rain storm.The visual contribution to this book by an array of photographers is clear, graphic and very engaging. It's amazing how, by focusing on a small detail, the spirit of a much larger subject can be conveyed. An example is the viga. At first look it appears to be a photograph of a Navajo blanket, but we soon realize that the pattern is of the wooden ceiling structure traditionally found in older adobe buildings. The state symbol, the Zia sun, is cleverly illustrated by a shot of rusty license plates nailed to a wall.I would recommend this book without hesitation to anyone who loves New Mexico and reading about American history and folklore. Parhad's writing takes the reader far below the surface detail usually covered in travel books. Even grumpy old Zozobra would love this book.

Wonderful, easily digestible info about the culture and history of NM. We keep this in our guest room and people love it.

This is an amazing book! I've had some friends travel to New Mexico and this is my go-to gift for them. It is better than a guidebook because it highlights all sorts of unique things about the state from a cultural perspective. I encourage you to buy this book if you live there or plan to travel there.

I have never read a book in which photos actually have their own "voice." I have spent time reading and looking, again and again. Even though I live here and love our landscape, this book deepens it. Full of photos and color, it is in fact a history book, an art study, and an insight into Native American culture. Well done!

Excellent knowledge of what makes up Nee Mexico. Full of pictures & facts about true authentic New Mexico

Book format has an image on the left and a brief explanation on the right. Typical New Mexico concepts are illustrated that way, such as food or customs or locations. The book is fairly small, so it may fall short as a coffee table book, but it succeeds as a visual NM dictionary.

In my opinion, this is not a guide to New Mexico...just pictures. Not worth the money at all. Don't buy it if you are looking for a guide to New Mexico.

love it