Arranged in three sections: "Messengers", "A Hierarchy of Angels", and "Secular Angels," this magnificent artwork has something for everyone. Whether you believe angels are a spiritual reality serving in the celestial family of the deity, or you think they are simply decorative adornments to art works, this book will appeal to you.

The pop-up format adds considerably to its enjoyment bringing a third dimension to the reader's experience. In addition to gigantic and detailed two page pop-ups,(they can be seen from either side of the book-front and back) there are tiny side "books" (about 3x4) on the sides with additional pictures and text supplementing the visual sensation. It certainly is not a book to be handed to a young toddler, but a youngster who can sit with a parent, or grandparent, or aunt or uncle and respect a book will be as enchanted as the adult doing the reading. Fischer's artwork is masterful and can only be believed by seeing it in person. It's a five star for me. ( )

This gorgeous pop-up book is guaranteed to thrill you even if you don’t have the slightest belief in Seraphim, Cherubim, Principalities, or any of the rest of the nine angelic orders.

According to St. Thomas of Aquinas in Summa Theologica, angels are intellectual creatures of pure spirit, i.e., they are completely incorporeal. Nevertheless, he concedes that from time to time they assume bodies just to perform some specific service for God.

This book highlights the visual representations of these incorporeal beings and tells something of the history of how they came to look the way they do in art and literature.

It is important to understand that, at least according to St. Thomas of Aquinas, an angel is not a dead human; angels are as different from humans as animals are from us. They are endowed with a power and intellect not proper to man. Thus the angels are not humans, and humans can never become angels. So how do we know what they might look like? Why do we depict them with wings, for example? Fischer tackles these questions and more in the surprisingly comprehensive written material.

The book is divided into three sections: Messengers, A Hierarchy of Angels, and Secular Angels. Next to the large central pop-up section on each page, small booklets to either side give explanations for what you are seeing, drawn from cultures and religions around the world.

But you don’t even need to read a thing to enjoy this book. I could sit and turn the pages for hours, just to partake in the pop-up confections. And you definitely don’t need to believe in angels. You just need an appreciation of art, culture, and design, and the magical wonder of elaborate pop-ups.

Evaluation: If you need a lovely present to give someone for Christmas this year, I don’t think you can go wrong with this book! You might want to protect it from your resident wild things, however, whether human or beast. ( )

ANGELS by Chuck Fischer is an extraordinary book. When it came in the mail, Carl chuckled because I’d received a pop-up book. Once I opened it and started turning the pages, he stopped laughing and starting gasping. I cannot describe just how gorgeous and stunning this book is. This is not a kids’ pop-up book. The paper engineer on this project was Bruce Foster and he does a phenomenal job – I cannot begin to imagine the time and work involved in creating something like this.

This book is more than brilliant illustrations and pop-up work, though. The text, written by Curtis Flowers, is chock full of information about angels of all kinds. This book has them all – Eastern Angels, Mythological Angels, Biblical Angels, Secular Angels and Angels of the Zodiac.

ANGELS is a fascinating book and I’ve discovered something new every time I’ve picked it up. I learned that Archangel Michael is the greatest archangel in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. I also learned that most Biblical Angels are male. My only complaint with the book is a very minor one - some of the text is difficult to read because of the pop-ups.

If you know anyone who loves angels or art, ANGELS would make a fabulous gift. I know I would be thrilled to receive something like this. ( )

Thanks to Hachette Book Group for my copy of this colorful pop-up book. No one does pop-up books as well as Chuck Fischer!

Although children will enjoy it, in no way is this a children's book; it is created for adults and is a comprehensive study of angels arranged into three sections: "Messengers," "A Hierarchy of Angels," and "Secular Angels." Text is interspersed throughout the book by inserting booklets--themselves tiny works of art. A good idea is having the "Acknowledgment" and the "Image Credit" pages as pull-outs.

This volume is smaller than other works of the author; perhaps because the price is less than the others. Nonetheless, it is large enough to do the job. I would encourage careful handling to preserve this treasure. This would make a marvelous gift. ( )

I always loved pop up books when I was younger. They were 'special' books, kept on a separate shelf. I still love them today and Angels by Chuck Fischer is destined for a separate shelf as well. An adult shelf though, this one's not for kids to play with!

Angels or celestial spirits appear in many languages and traditional religions including Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Angels covers the history and origins of angels including biblical, secular, arts and music, the zodiac and much more.

Fischer has created absolutely gorgeous artwork and paper engineer Bruce Foster has taken that art and produced some of the most intricate pop ups I've ever seen. The colours are rich as is the detail. But it's not just pop ups, it's pull outs and fold outs too, little booklets within the book. I tried to take a picture to show you one of the pop ups, but it just didn't do it justice. My favourite was of the archangel Gabriel. The text is a fascinating collection of historical fact and lore relating to angels.

Turning each page is like unwrapping a present. You really have to stop and savour each page and look at all the detail. Although I must admit, the first thing I did was open every pop up and then I went back to read each page! This would make a phenomenal Christmas gift that could be enjoyed over and over again throughout the year. ( )