The Telling Image

It is human nature to look for and recognize patterns and shapes in our environment; it is what helps us learn about and categorize our surroundings. In The Telling Image, Lois Farfel Stark explores the shapes that define humanity through photography, illustration, and words in a unique and beautifully structured book.

Stark starts her dissertation on human nature from the very beginning, with migratory webs of humanity, and follows the patterns in society from there, through the ladder of previous generations, the helix and network of the current culture, and finally projects her observations into humanity’s future and where we are likely to go from here.

The design of the book is beautiful, with a lay-flat binding making it easy to read and enjoy the images throughout. There are some stunning images in the book, along with a plethora of more journalistic photography, creating a feel somewhere in between a textbook and a coffee-table art book. The text is well referenced and clearly articulated but at times feels like it lacks substance. There are a lot of interesting and unique observations about the nature of man and its evolution, but they occasionally feel unsupported.

Overall, the book is beautifully put together and makes for an interesting and thought-provoking read. It would make a good gift for people who enjoy thinking about the imagery of human nature or for yourself, to beautify your shelf with a book both aesthetically pleasing and interesting.