Covering the history of the study and drawing of the human body as well as examining all aspects of anatomy relevant for the visual artist, this book is the very best I've found. There are pages and pages of full-page photographs of parts of the body as well as detailed overlays on translucent paper that show where the bones are from both the front and the back view. You can't get this by working through a copy of Gray's Anatomy or the Anatomy Colouring Book, believe me! A detailed examination of the muscle structures is similarly employed, and has made the biggest difference to my life drawing this year.

Simblet also examines a number of master works by comparing the paintings with human models in similar postures (or as close as can be arranged, depending on the master work!). This is the best way to understand what is going on in the master works -- where and how the artist has distorted the human body's capabilities in order to make a statement or offer an alternative.

The models in the book are exquisitely photographed. There's a nice balance of male and female models, white, black, and Asian in classic poses, stances and a few nice flexed positions, too. While it's a very graphic book, it's so beautifully done, and so obviously respectful of both the models and the artists who are studying them, you won't mind if your children come across the book, or look over your shoulder while you refer to it.

It's worth every penny, not only because it's informative and beautiful, but because you'll want to refer to it over and over again for years.