Book Review: Footnotes from the Most Fascinating Museums

Having a master’s degree in Museum Education means one is gifted many books related the topic. Footnotes from the Most Fascinating Museums by Bob Eckstein was published just last year in 2024, and I received it for my birthday. The small hardcover with glittery gold title text and a watercolor painting of the MET on the front cover made for a lovely coffee table book. Inside, the contents was light and humorous, making an easy read for museum enthusiasts. While overall a delightful experience, my issue with this book was the disconnect between the title, the author’s original intention, and his apparent methodology of choosing the “most fascinating museums”.

Before I get into my gripes, I must emphasize that this is a very pretty book. Eckstein is a popular illustrator with a long of publications, and this expertise shines through. His gorgeous paintings of architecture, interior spaces, and artwork is unmatched. His brief but factually sound informational blurbs on each museum show solid research, and these facts are often paired with a humorous or thought provoking quote from fellow museum goers or museum staff. The execution of the book is exactly what I look for in volumes to add to my personal library. I was initially pleased to have visited several of the museums and have most others already on my list of places to visit, but this was my first cue that something was amiss.

Unfortunately, as mentioned at top, a disconnect exists between the title and the contents. Had Eckstein been permitted to name his book Notes from My Travels: Musings of a Prolific Illustrator or Fascinating Museums within a Quick Drive of a Major Airport, then I would not have been making the points I am about to make. I imagine the decision of naming did not come down to Eckstein but was created in a brainstorm between publisher, editor, and marketer. Additionally, I acknowledge that Eckstein did not have the time or resources to visit every museum in the world and methodically choose the most fascinating. However, this book would have one believe that fascinating museums are all located in the United States, with a few bones thrown to Mexico and Canada, and congregate near major cities close to large bodies of water, something I promise is untrue.

Those of you who know me in the Real World might already be aware of my obsession with Google Maps and its online program My Maps, which allows users to create their own maps atop the same globe used as a GPS by mobile phones and newer cars. Mildly incensed by the paucity of diversity in the museums selected, I made a map showing the location of all seventy-two museums featured in the book, which were unevenly divided into nine sections: Academia & Science; Culture; Encyclopedic; Fine Arts; Historic Homes; The Human Condition; Natural History & the Great Outdoors; Planes, Trains, Automobiles & Ships; and Miscellany. The map is embedded below.

If you are near Boston, New York, Detroit, Chicago, Houseton, Seattle, Los Angeles, or Las Vegas, you are in luck. If you live anywhere else in the world, too bad. This lack of representation changed my feelings about the book from that of excitement to disappointment. Although I did not expect the scope to be truly worthy of such a title, I also did not expect the scope to be so limited.

Nevertheless, the book would be enjoyed as a light read by someone less pedantic than me. The listed price for this book is $27.50, and three copies are currently available in my local library system, C/W MARS. A few moments of humor might not be appropriate for all ages, but most sections are fine for general audiences. I found the text difficult to read on some pages due to low contrast. No audiobook is available at this time, likely owing to the highly visual nature of the book. If you are going to a major US city and want to know what one person finds interesting, this is a decent travel resource. Otherwise, conduct your research elsewhere and simply enjoy the pictures and jokes.

Abby Epplett’s Rating System

Experience: 7/10

Accessibility: 6/10