An important role of art is to shift our perspectives, enabling us to look at objects and scenes differently than we might otherwise. In that vein, The Art Book presents a fresh take on more than one thousand treasures of the art world: Rather than arranging these paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculptures by traditional methods - by period, medium, or technique - this big (10"x11¾"), beautiful tome collects them alphabetically by artist, from Marina Abramovic to Francisco de Zurbarán. And though at first glance it may not seem like a revolutionary method, the results brilliantly emphasize the expansive variety of these cultural touchstones, earning The Art Book a permanent spot on the bookshelf or coffee table of every art-lover. (KG)