Americans love the world. For them, America is the world. Tommy Hilfiger is one such American. His toothsome smile and awesome clothes apart, we know him as someone who designs goods for upper-class American whites. He has joined hands with George Lois, the most creative design communicator in the US to compile a few unique moments and events in America’s pop culture.

This hardbound graphic book, ‘Iconic America’, chunky in size and punky in content, serves as an interesting guide to the history of America, the events that made the country truly one of a kind. It also gives you amusing tidbits on the history of many popular things that has become so much part of our everyday life that we don’t realise Uncle Sam’s hand in creating them.

For example, how many of us know former president of America, Theodore Roosevelt is responsible for the creation of teddy bear, the cuddly little toy? The 26th President of USA  went hunting one day determined to kill a bear. All he got was a bear cub tied to a tree who the president refused to shoot. This made national headlines and led to the birth of the toy. With over 400 iconic and iconoclastic images chosen from the unique melting pot of American culture, ‘Iconic America’, takes you on a rollercoaster ride across the nation.

It’s about remembering Pearl Harbour and it’s also about remembering the Wright brothers. From Marlon Brando to the Jolie-Pitts and Marilyn Monroe to Gloria Swanson every detail is here. It takes you through the iconic gloves of Michael Jackson and O J Simpson, baked beans and burgers and finally places the DNA of all American style in the American ‘Jeans’.

If not for anything else, browse the book for its Playboy centrefold.

Arathi Menon