John Berger's Ways of Seeing is one of the most stimulating and the most influential books on art in any language. First published in 1972, it was based on the BBC television series about which the Sunday Times critic commented: "This is an eye-opener in more ways than one: by concentrating on how we look at paintings...he will almost certainly change the way you look at pictures." By now he has.
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NEC's view
Ways of Seeing is a classic for a reason. John Berger takes apart how we look at images—from oil paintings to advertisements—and reveals the politics, power, and assumptions built into what might seem like simple acts of looking.
What we loved about reading it is how accessible it feels while still shifting something fundamental in the way you see the world. It’s sharp, clear, and eye-opening, the kind of book that leaves you noticing details and dynamics you might have overlooked before.
For us, it's one of those rare books that genuinely changes how you move through the visual world.
