I love Usborne books. They are full of illustrations, sidebars, fun facts, and lots to keep you interested while they entertain you.

This one tackles the challenges of understanding modern art, when so many are apt to approach it by arguing, “It isn’t lifelike;” “Anyone can do it;” and “I can’t understand it.” The authors set out to show how these objections can be overcome with an understanding of works of modern art and why they are believed to have merit.

The authors accomplish this by reviewing particular works (and particular artists (including Jackson Pollock, Henry Moore, Andy Warhol, Georges Braque, Georgia O’Keeffe), and movements characteristic of this period (such as Abstract Expressionism, Cubism, Dada, Suprematism, and Futurism). It is organized by subjects, including still life, nature, people, city life, movement, politics, and emotions.

It is a short book, but provides enough background to tempt readers to explore further. ( )