As a rule of thumb I am not really a book guy, I like history books but own little in the way of reference books and will avoid them if I can. This has worked well considering the things that interest me do not allow for many reference books, so I can bide my time with history books and just do what I do which is wander around looking at pieces and buying the ones I like. This book was one of the few that I actually wanted and waited for its release in order to get my paws on it because I like party badges and the guy writing the book knows them well. Of additional interest was the fact that Dietrich at B&D Publishing was taking on the project and that made it even more attractive knowing his attention to detail in publishing on reference books from prior publications. Its a no brainer purchase for the book shelf and a must have if you want to collect these pieces. I picked this up at the Max show and told Dietrich that I would read it on the plane ride home, he just smiled in typical fashion and said "I doubt it". He was of course correct and here I am two months later writing up what I thought was going to be easy reading, its not. A lot of this has to do with me and being a member of the male species and I tend to have a short attention span and get bored easily, this does not mean the book is boring by any means, it just means I read 3 books at the same time and what I read depends on what room I am in. One of the reasons I shy away from reference books is that they quite frankly bore me and picking up a book so that I know badge weighs 23.7 grams, measures 23mm, is made of zinc and should have a certain catch is alien to me. I have no patience for it and its easier just to fire an email and ask someone that actually knows the answer. In a lot of cases its not necessarily the author of the well known book, its someone else. The other reason is quite simple, people parrot them like their godsend and they get on internet forums and treat them like they actually mean something, many are worthy the status of firewood and mean nothing in real market and that is the way it is depending on the book. This book, and I knew this before I bought it; was going to be a market changer and required reading for me as the author does nothing but study these badges and he is in the open internet world and known to many. I do not wish to inflate his skull any larger than it is now but this is a good book, a tad bit tedious at times and you may want to remove any sharp instruments or loaded weapons in close proximity while reading this or you might just feel the need to do yourself in. I never completely agree with any book or author on anything and Jo Rivett will be no different in this regard, but the book is comprehensive, often provocative; and loaded with data intermingled with strong opinion designed to set the record straight on previous publications in regards to this subject. In the end I think he achieves his goal and its one of the few books that I can walk away from and know it was worth the price and have the feeling I learned something worth knowing. The publisher, Mr. Maerz has added the typical high quality touches to the book that he is well known for, its format and photos are top notch as well. Anyone considering its purchase should go in knowing that its worth the time to read this and will walk away with a considerable amount of knowledge on the subject that they did not have going in, much of it can also be applied in other areas. Money well spent. On over 500 pages and more than 2000 color photographs the author Jo Rivett presents the history, the designs, the manufacturing, and the intrinsic details of the Party Badge of the NSDAP. Never before has this topic been covered in such depth and it most likely never will be again. A chapter about the Golden Party Badge rounds off this scientific and provocative book. ** All Shipping Quoted in U.S Dollars, For European or Multiples Please Contact for Accurate Quotes** (The Party Badge)