As seems to happen all too often with our book recommendations, Looking at Photographs is no longer listed as available new at Amazon U.S. and is listed as "Temporarily out of stock" at Amazon U.K.
Just before I posted the notice below, at 11:34 p.m. Friday, the book was listed at #106,946 in sales on Amazon U.S.; and yesterday by 2:31 p.m. it was #73. I wasn't checking regularly so I don't know if that's as high as it got.
Perhaps Amazon was getting too many pre-orders and wasn't sure if its incoming shipments could cover them all. I still expect the book to be available in the immediate future.
As usual, I'll try to keep you posted. Sorry if you've experienced any frustration or inconvenience.
Mike
Your catalytic role in the world of photo book sales is an interesting aspect of TOP.
I've said previously, in response to other posts, that I always find your taste in books and images so closely parallels my own that I'm now at the point where I'm prepared to buy a book simply on your recommendation.
I've lost count of the additions to my library that are due to the 'TOP Effect'.
Luckily, I've had a copy of 'Looking at Photographs' since it was first published, but I've just received Tim Davis' 'My Life in Politics' based on your 'Random Excellence' mention.
It's a rare treat, and destined to become a classic in my view.
Posted by: Roy | Sunday, 12 April 2009 at 03:40 AM
After reading your post yesterday, the book was Temporarily out of stock at Amazon.co.uk, but this morning it is available again and I managed to place my order. It will be a proper addition to "The Photographer's Eye" which I enjoyed tremendously.
Posted by: Luca Baldassarre | Sunday, 12 April 2009 at 05:14 AM
I think I can see a business model for a pay site...
James.
Posted by: James Kingdon | Sunday, 12 April 2009 at 07:50 AM
Heh, you know you're big when you've got an equivalent of the slashdot effect - congrats Mike :) I hope people are using your amazon affiliate link.
As far as I can tell David Hobby has one, his traffic is not usually enough to kill webservers outright but any videos he links to really grind along for the first day or two.
Just miffed I didn't manage to get my pre-order in!
Posted by: Jonathan Irwin | Sunday, 12 April 2009 at 08:12 AM
I jumped to Amazon from your post and ordered it early Saturday morning. Amazon US only showed 9 in stock. so they must have had a small inventory to start with.
Posted by: rick donnelly | Sunday, 12 April 2009 at 08:47 AM
The same for TruthBeauty, apparently. I ordered it on April 9th, but have just received notice that the seller is sold out. Sigh.
Posted by: John Parks | Sunday, 12 April 2009 at 05:04 PM
You need a word for this, like "slashdotted". Toppled?
Posted by: improbable | Sunday, 12 April 2009 at 06:09 PM
Topped out?
Posted by: Rana | Sunday, 12 April 2009 at 09:55 PM
Being a Szarkowski fan, I ordered immediately after your post and received a shipping confirmation early Monday morning. Thanks for the recommendation and more power to you.
Posted by: Lawrence Siegel | Monday, 13 April 2009 at 11:44 AM