The short book of lessons is ideal for beginners to develop a perspective. Good practical lessons but lacks artistic style. Drawings look 80s retro and not classical or modern. However, if you are just beginning to draw, then this book will give you a good overview and approach to drawing the head/figure.

Anyone who gives this, or any of Jack Hamm's books a grade lower than 5 Stars is a fool.
Mr. Hamm's method of instruction is extremely practical, cuts through the long-winded pedagogical theories, and hits on the practical approach.
One critic mentioned that the women pictured look like they were from the 1950's. If Michaelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475-1564) wrote an instruction book for artists, I suppose that same critic would criticize the use of subjects who look like they were from the 15th and 16th centuries. Anyone who would like to explore the short-cut to developing artistic technique owe it to themeselves to stock up on all of Jack Hamm's books.
Those who do not possess any artistic talent would not benefit from any art method.

The author, Jack Hamm, describes his book as a "how-to handbook" that offers simplified techniques, hints and helps and step-by-step-procedures. This book is exactly that, and it doesn't disappoint the beginning artist who needs the a-b-c, 1-2-3 teaching method. Not only does Jack Hamm show us step by step how to draw heads and figures, he illustrates how to draw these from from different perspectives (I found this especially useful for head studies). Foreshortening, anatomy, and drawing clothing and shoes are also covered. This book is an invaluable tool and reference for the beginning to intermediate artist.

It's difficult to overstate how strong the information in this book is.
The reason is Hamm knows how to teach and pass on the knowledge of drawing, not just show you a good drawing and saying "do it like this". After Loomis he would be my first choice for anybody looking for a good beginning foundation on drawing from your head in one book.

This book is not expensive, but is the most useful book on figure drawing I own. I have consulted it so many times that it is dog-eared. A thing that sets this book apart is the way the author uses easy to remember rules of thumb and anatomical "landmarks" to aid in drawing. While not getting too detailed, the author enables you to avoid the gross mistakes that cripple a drawing. For example, the book shows how to successfully draw a quarter view of the head and shoulders, and explains the natural tendency to draw this view incorrectly. This is, without a doubt, the best art book I own.