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Stonehouse's Anatomy
This anatomy book is Seok Jung Hyun’s brainchild of nine years, for which he drew nearly 1,500 illustrations. This is the English translation of his book that was published in Korea in 2017.
This book started with the author’s personal notebook which contained the artistic anatomy knowledge that he accrued over a long period of time as a professional illustrator. Seok, whose expertise is in drawing the human body, has studied anatomy for his own works and has gained unusual insight through exchanges with experts in various fields.
The author’s childhood curiosity regarding a dog’s hind legs eventually led to meetings with medical professors and bodybuilders, which broadened his understanding of anatomy. So while this book offers artistic anatomy for artists, Seok reveals at the beginning of the book that he hopes that it will become a guide to understanding and loving the self and others. To aid the reader in understanding the different human body parts, Seok includes explanations and interesting facts from a biological perspective.
Unlike many existing anatomy books for artists, which only explain shapes and structures, this book takes us on what feels like an adventure to an unknown planet called the human body. While we are there, we encounter new experiences and cultures and try to understand them. And at times, we’ll get to linger a while and actually learn them.
The author, who serves as our guide throughout this book, walks us through the entire experience in a very kind and thoughtful way. And as we follow him, we come to understand the human body. Seok also teaches us how to use that understanding to actually draw human bodies. It is not always necessary to be drawing on your sketchpad as you read. You should be able to enjoy it with a nice drink or a snack as you would with an entertaining work of fiction. And after each chapter, or perhaps at the end of the book, you will be able to draw with a love and appreciation for the human body the author has always hoped his readers would gain.
Please understand that there may be some misunderstandings or difficulties when reading some of the author’s personal thoughts and examples that he uses. We understand that this stems from a cultural difference between the author, who is Korean, and a wider variety of readers’ backgrounds. We promise that these parts will be reviewed and appropriately edited in the new edition, along with any translation errors.
This book started with the author’s personal notebook which contained the artistic anatomy knowledge that he accrued over a long period of time as a professional illustrator. Seok, whose expertise is in drawing the human body, has studied anatomy for his own works and has gained unusual insight through exchanges with experts in various fields.
The author’s childhood curiosity regarding a dog’s hind legs eventually led to meetings with medical professors and bodybuilders, which broadened his understanding of anatomy. So while this book offers artistic anatomy for artists, Seok reveals at the beginning of the book that he hopes that it will become a guide to understanding and loving the self and others. To aid the reader in understanding the different human body parts, Seok includes explanations and interesting facts from a biological perspective.
Unlike many existing anatomy books for artists, which only explain shapes and structures, this book takes us on what feels like an adventure to an unknown planet called the human body. While we are there, we encounter new experiences and cultures and try to understand them. And at times, we’ll get to linger a while and actually learn them.
The author, who serves as our guide throughout this book, walks us through the entire experience in a very kind and thoughtful way. And as we follow him, we come to understand the human body. Seok also teaches us how to use that understanding to actually draw human bodies. It is not always necessary to be drawing on your sketchpad as you read. You should be able to enjoy it with a nice drink or a snack as you would with an entertaining work of fiction. And after each chapter, or perhaps at the end of the book, you will be able to draw with a love and appreciation for the human body the author has always hoped his readers would gain.
Please understand that there may be some misunderstandings or difficulties when reading some of the author’s personal thoughts and examples that he uses. We understand that this stems from a cultural difference between the author, who is Korean, and a wider variety of readers’ backgrounds. We promise that these parts will be reviewed and appropriately edited in the new edition, along with any translation errors.
- GenresArtDrawingNonfiction
657 pages, Paperback
First published November 29, 2019
70 people are currently reading
616 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
June 5, 2021
The fact that this is has been wildly hyped up as the book to end all anatomy books is nothing short of a massive feat for the advertising and fans of this book.
Are there some great anatomy diagrams in this book? Sure!
Are they surrounded by racist caricatures, sexist depictions of women, and to top it all off a pregnancy fetish AND mild foot fetish? YEP.
(not here to kink shame, just why bring your specific fetishes into a book that's meant to teach??? HELLO?)
This book is embarrassing, and frankly the fact that it's being sold with zero refunds allowed, and a scrape of preview pages says a LOT.
I've been a professional artist for over a decade and was so gutted when I had purchased this book only to find out while it was in transit from another professional artist that it's riddled with gross shit. Feel free to search this title name in the twitter search bar to see all the pages and to consider heavily to not support with your $$$.
Anyway, stop buying this. There are so many other anatomy books, and one I was able to put into practice almost immediately, was Morpho: Simplified Forms: Anatomy for Artists. Highly recommend. it's around $13/14, pocket sized, and I've been using the information since and it's been extremely helpful!
Are there some great anatomy diagrams in this book? Sure!
Are they surrounded by racist caricatures, sexist depictions of women, and to top it all off a pregnancy fetish AND mild foot fetish? YEP.
(not here to kink shame, just why bring your specific fetishes into a book that's meant to teach??? HELLO?)
This book is embarrassing, and frankly the fact that it's being sold with zero refunds allowed, and a scrape of preview pages says a LOT.
I've been a professional artist for over a decade and was so gutted when I had purchased this book only to find out while it was in transit from another professional artist that it's riddled with gross shit. Feel free to search this title name in the twitter search bar to see all the pages and to consider heavily to not support with your $$$.
Anyway, stop buying this. There are so many other anatomy books, and one I was able to put into practice almost immediately, was Morpho: Simplified Forms: Anatomy for Artists. Highly recommend. it's around $13/14, pocket sized, and I've been using the information since and it's been extremely helpful!
January 6, 2025
cw: misogyny, racist fetishism, antiblack racism
Oh. My God. This is gonna be my more image-heavy reviews, but I kept everything within Goodreads' margins so hopefully it won't be too bad for people with shakier internet.
I bought this book because it was marketed as an anatomy book with tons of great references like this:
Looks promising, right? Wrong. Some people have already received their $100+shipping book and it is riddled with misogyny, racial fetishism, and antiblack racism. Please see Teju Abiola's thread here for larger resolution and a fuller scope of the book's contents. It's...a lot.
Examples of antiblack racism:
This is a gross oversimplification of skull structure and the skulls get darker the further back in time we go??? lmao
Examples of misogyny:
But of course the artist has a hardon for Renaissance-era art 🙄
Even if it were somehow the translator's fault, there is no accounting for the antiblack art, the porn-referenced poses for women, and the double standards infesting this book. Please do not support this project and look to this thread for some suggestions instead. I'm just here to inform, but I'm personally done with Stonehouse.
edit: came back in 2025 to say that there's nothing wrong with renaissance-era art but there IS something wrong with only putting the work of white people on a pedestal and your book reeking of colorism and antiblackness.
Oh. My God. This is gonna be my more image-heavy reviews, but I kept everything within Goodreads' margins so hopefully it won't be too bad for people with shakier internet.
I bought this book because it was marketed as an anatomy book with tons of great references like this:
Looks promising, right? Wrong. Some people have already received their $100+shipping book and it is riddled with misogyny, racial fetishism, and antiblack racism. Please see Teju Abiola's thread here for larger resolution and a fuller scope of the book's contents. It's...a lot.
Examples of antiblack racism:
This is a gross oversimplification of skull structure and the skulls get darker the further back in time we go??? lmao
Examples of misogyny:
But of course the artist has a hardon for Renaissance-era art 🙄
Even if it were somehow the translator's fault, there is no accounting for the antiblack art, the porn-referenced poses for women, and the double standards infesting this book. Please do not support this project and look to this thread for some suggestions instead. I'm just here to inform, but I'm personally done with Stonehouse.
edit: came back in 2025 to say that there's nothing wrong with renaissance-era art but there IS something wrong with only putting the work of white people on a pedestal and your book reeking of colorism and antiblackness.
June 6, 2021
Looking for the next big thing in the art space to get triggered about? Man is this the book for you!
Get ready for a long one~
I have gone through a number of anatomy books, Vilppu, Loomis, Bridgeman, Michael Hampton, even body building books etc, this is just one of many to add to add to your repertoire of references you can potentially pull from. Are there pieces of junk inside? There sure are, like all other books have their problems and biases as well. But that should not "cancel" out the things that can be potentially useful to you.
Having read through the sheer outrage that had surfaced online over the release of this book, I find some arguments and points nit picky at best, while others just sheer triggered outrage. Just basically looking to put this down in any way whatsoever. I am not saying that this is a great book that you should or should not get because in the first place, why should I or any other person be the one to decide for you?
Are there differences in morphology based on environmental factors, genetics and evolution?
Yes there are and that is a fact.
People look different because we ARE different even though we are of the same species. Not just racially but physically and anatomically and genetically as well, because let's face it if you've seen enough anatomy books, you'd know that the Male and Female bodies are built differently (you can ask your doctor about that too btw). And you know what, the wonderful thing is that there are differences and that there is everything in-between too.
It is known that Stonehouse has his particular aesthetic choices that he likes and preconceived bias and notions, but here's the kicker right: SO DO YOU.
Archetypes exists, to convey something, to communicate, for storytelling etc. People are pointing and crying shame at this book like it is heresy because they treated it like it is the gospel, the only true word. No it is not the gospel, and you shouldn't treat this or any other anatomy book as such. In fact you shouldn't take any one piece of literature or reference as the one true word. As a reader, YOU should decide for yourself, based on cross-referencing, reading widely, researching and sieving out for yourself what is useful to you, what is fact, and what is trash.
Don't go saying that you don't stereotype and discriminate when you draw/ do art. The very fact that you make aesthetic choices is already "discrimination". By the way, ALL anatomy books are idealised to their taste and aesthetics if you didn't already realise. Because real people don't actually look like anything in books (unless it is photographic reference), because we indeed are different and unique. They are meant to provide a framework to jump off of. You have to start with something from some point, because there are too many possibilities out there.
I don't see how you should just take any contents of this or anything at face value. If you approach any of these art books with an open enough mind, it is just one of the numerous perspectives and insights that you can potentially pull from. Is it going to be useful to you? I don't know, I'm not you, I don't have your tastes, experiences, goals, objectives, etc.
In any case, with an open mind, there will always be something to learn, be it what to do or what NOT to do.
As artists we interpret AND reinterpret reality based off our experiences, what we like, what we appreciate, etc, at the end of the day it is up to us to adjust and change what we want because it is an illusion of reality. Want something closer to 1:1 analogue of reality? Go take a photograph, or just see it in real-life for yourself.
Does this book have its problems? Sure it definitely does especially with some trying to use "science" to back its claims. There also are arguably some outdated or bad takes. However, does it have its nuggets of information too? Absolutely.
Is it worth the money? Find out and decide for yourself if it is actually worth your time and money and if it will be useful to you. Best if you can preview its contents for yourself too before coming to a decision, don't want to give them your money? Sure, go borrow it or something. If not, just don't pick it up.
Do your own research, listen and read widely, try to find more information about this book, and form YOUR OWN OPINION on it, not just blindly following the bandwagon of people getting outraged or triggered with all the ideological terms being thrown around.
Ultimately, be the one to decide for yourself if this or any other book, course or video is worth your time and money.
Get ready for a long one~
I have gone through a number of anatomy books, Vilppu, Loomis, Bridgeman, Michael Hampton, even body building books etc, this is just one of many to add to add to your repertoire of references you can potentially pull from. Are there pieces of junk inside? There sure are, like all other books have their problems and biases as well. But that should not "cancel" out the things that can be potentially useful to you.
Having read through the sheer outrage that had surfaced online over the release of this book, I find some arguments and points nit picky at best, while others just sheer triggered outrage. Just basically looking to put this down in any way whatsoever. I am not saying that this is a great book that you should or should not get because in the first place, why should I or any other person be the one to decide for you?
Are there differences in morphology based on environmental factors, genetics and evolution?
Yes there are and that is a fact.
People look different because we ARE different even though we are of the same species. Not just racially but physically and anatomically and genetically as well, because let's face it if you've seen enough anatomy books, you'd know that the Male and Female bodies are built differently (you can ask your doctor about that too btw). And you know what, the wonderful thing is that there are differences and that there is everything in-between too.
It is known that Stonehouse has his particular aesthetic choices that he likes and preconceived bias and notions, but here's the kicker right: SO DO YOU.
Archetypes exists, to convey something, to communicate, for storytelling etc. People are pointing and crying shame at this book like it is heresy because they treated it like it is the gospel, the only true word. No it is not the gospel, and you shouldn't treat this or any other anatomy book as such. In fact you shouldn't take any one piece of literature or reference as the one true word. As a reader, YOU should decide for yourself, based on cross-referencing, reading widely, researching and sieving out for yourself what is useful to you, what is fact, and what is trash.
Don't go saying that you don't stereotype and discriminate when you draw/ do art. The very fact that you make aesthetic choices is already "discrimination". By the way, ALL anatomy books are idealised to their taste and aesthetics if you didn't already realise. Because real people don't actually look like anything in books (unless it is photographic reference), because we indeed are different and unique. They are meant to provide a framework to jump off of. You have to start with something from some point, because there are too many possibilities out there.
I don't see how you should just take any contents of this or anything at face value. If you approach any of these art books with an open enough mind, it is just one of the numerous perspectives and insights that you can potentially pull from. Is it going to be useful to you? I don't know, I'm not you, I don't have your tastes, experiences, goals, objectives, etc.
In any case, with an open mind, there will always be something to learn, be it what to do or what NOT to do.
As artists we interpret AND reinterpret reality based off our experiences, what we like, what we appreciate, etc, at the end of the day it is up to us to adjust and change what we want because it is an illusion of reality. Want something closer to 1:1 analogue of reality? Go take a photograph, or just see it in real-life for yourself.
Does this book have its problems? Sure it definitely does especially with some trying to use "science" to back its claims. There also are arguably some outdated or bad takes. However, does it have its nuggets of information too? Absolutely.
Is it worth the money? Find out and decide for yourself if it is actually worth your time and money and if it will be useful to you. Best if you can preview its contents for yourself too before coming to a decision, don't want to give them your money? Sure, go borrow it or something. If not, just don't pick it up.
Do your own research, listen and read widely, try to find more information about this book, and form YOUR OWN OPINION on it, not just blindly following the bandwagon of people getting outraged or triggered with all the ideological terms being thrown around.
Ultimately, be the one to decide for yourself if this or any other book, course or video is worth your time and money.
February 8, 2021
This book makes me want to cry but I won’t for fear my tears will ruin the pages. This book is dense with beautiful informative illustrations as well as information about not only humans but other animals. How did one person create this book. I am going through each part slowly as I learn to improve my anatomy skills. This book is too cheap. The wealth of knowledge housed in this book is amazing,
March 31, 2021
This book is an enormous treasure. It's beautiful, warm, inviting, meticulously crafted, entertaining, and engaging. Equal parts gorgeously rendered anatomy, charming comics, and down-to-earth explanations. It's easy to forgive the typos because it's so absorbing. Apparently it's a textbook but I couldn't put it down and can't recommend it enough.
June 5, 2021
I can't believe how high the ratings for this book are - this book is full of pseudoscience, misogyny and racism posing as anatomy.
For example these racist caricatures:
Or trying to justify 'sexy' and 'feminine' poses using bone structure, which is simply inaccurate:
If you want to draw women in these kinds of poses, go ahead (although I will judge you), but please don't pretend it's science.
Some more sexism (has this author ever met a woman in real life??):
Do yourself a favour and save 80 dollars on this, and maybe take some figure drawing classes instead.
For example these racist caricatures:
Or trying to justify 'sexy' and 'feminine' poses using bone structure, which is simply inaccurate:
If you want to draw women in these kinds of poses, go ahead (although I will judge you), but please don't pretend it's science.
Some more sexism (has this author ever met a woman in real life??):
Do yourself a favour and save 80 dollars on this, and maybe take some figure drawing classes instead.
June 7, 2021
As a medical doctor, it is hilarious to see “woke” individuals with low cranial vault volume losing their composure over reality. This book is accurate, and made easy to understand through clever, amusing and intelligent drawings. Men and women are different. People who evolved on different continents are different. Grow up. Accept reality. Life will be easier for you.
June 6, 2021
Absolutely worth the price.
May 11, 2021
This book is really good although i have only been able to read a limited amount of pages due to the country i live in, i can say for sure it is extremely useful! and i hope to be able to experience this book in its entirety one day.
June 5, 2021
Racist and sexist, what a shame.
October 20, 2021
Stonehouse's Anatomy was a book I was really looking forward to reading once I felt safe enough to reenter a library space to ask for borrow. I heard nothing but great things about the illustration and information author Seok Jung Hyun supposedly imparted, and it never hurt to have another resource to add to an already extensive resource.
I came across the twitter thread of a Black artist (tejuabiolaart) discussing the incredibly expensive ($80+) paperback edition. Their commentary started out with positives, highlighting that Jung Hyun's narrative voice was strong throughout. However, by the time the artist reached the 30-page point of the artbook, they happened across illustrations and commentary mired by racist (anti-Black, anti-Inuit, anti-Asian) stereotypes. Just wrongheaded ideas about race and biology (using 'both brains' when lying, or why a person looks the way they do, and how people react to small or large eyes among East Asian or white folks).
The publisher prefaced the content, citing cultural differences, and that Jung Hyun's personal opinions (of which this book has plenty of) would likely create a clash of ideals for folks of "different backgrounds". Basically, the point was to stress that care was taken not to mistranslate Jung Hyun's words (which are full of caveats trying to cover bases). However, a lot of the book's content just reads as garden variety sexism and racism unfettered by cultural specifics.
tejuabiolaart also noted that Jung Hyun had some fairly outdated views regarding sex and gender. There's an obvious pregnancy fetish with constant references to why the 'female body' is optimal for reproduction (an illustration or two that frames the skeletal 'female' body with a smaller body situated below their rib-cage). The book plays into gender roles that are specifically tied to how pop singers, celebrities really, (Western or East Asian) are taught to perform in order to advertise a certain image to the public.
A lot of the art, heavily cartoonish, leans towards body idealism found in anime (especially the knock-kneed designs of women characters). A lot of the how-to-draw women segments are anime-like, while the how-to-draw men segments lean more toward idealized 'realism'.
The thread set off a series of responses from other artists (Black and Korean artists specifically), who also bought the book and affirmed a similar experience of being blindsided by the author's racism and sexism. The book also has detractors in Jung Hyun's community as well, so this isn't an issue someone can simply brush off as 'cultural differences'.
Reading the passages that artist was comfortable with uploading for public viewing was, for lack of a better word, disheartening. All I really wanted a solid drawing resource to reference. Stonehouse's tries to be a historically informative book on top of a stylization book, but the commentary reads as ill-informed on the history it references, or mired by the racial coding/colorism the author infers in how he colors or designs certain characters.
Instances where the book centers body movement or fluidity, and how to replicate that through drawing are undermined by things that an editor and sensitivity reader should've flagged and recommended reworking. Jung Hyun highlights how folks in Korea idealize western beauty standards when talking about why certain aspects of cultures are imitated or idealized. I don't think anything highlights how warped colonization (white supremacy) has made things like the study of the human body. The constant deference to "Western" (i.e., white) culture, these ideas expressed in Stonehouse's are not new, but a reoccurring problem in art and anatomy books.
If you're a Black or Brown artist looking for a comprehensive figure study book, I'm not sure if one that doesn't subscribe to white supremacist ideologies or incredibly idealized (white) bodies (based on standards set before any one of us were born) really exists. However, there are probably "less problematic" books out there to choose from that aren't Stonehouse's.
Among the ones I've seen recommended are Morpho: Anatomy for Artists (Michel Lauricella), Anatomy For the Artist (Sarah Simblet), Anatomy for Sculptors (Uldis Zarins), and FORCE: Drawing Human Anatomy (Michael Mattes).
For myself, I could probably recommend low-key like Drawing with Lee Ames, or even something as rudimentary as Ames's Draw 50 series if you just want a an introductory course on how to draw realistic figures or objects. The books are old as dirt, however, so there are bound to be problems I haven't noticed.
I cannot, however, recommend that you spend $80 or more dollars on Stonehouse's Anatomy. Just avoid it.
I came across the twitter thread of a Black artist (tejuabiolaart) discussing the incredibly expensive ($80+) paperback edition. Their commentary started out with positives, highlighting that Jung Hyun's narrative voice was strong throughout. However, by the time the artist reached the 30-page point of the artbook, they happened across illustrations and commentary mired by racist (anti-Black, anti-Inuit, anti-Asian) stereotypes. Just wrongheaded ideas about race and biology (using 'both brains' when lying, or why a person looks the way they do, and how people react to small or large eyes among East Asian or white folks).
The publisher prefaced the content, citing cultural differences, and that Jung Hyun's personal opinions (of which this book has plenty of) would likely create a clash of ideals for folks of "different backgrounds". Basically, the point was to stress that care was taken not to mistranslate Jung Hyun's words (which are full of caveats trying to cover bases). However, a lot of the book's content just reads as garden variety sexism and racism unfettered by cultural specifics.
tejuabiolaart also noted that Jung Hyun had some fairly outdated views regarding sex and gender. There's an obvious pregnancy fetish with constant references to why the 'female body' is optimal for reproduction (an illustration or two that frames the skeletal 'female' body with a smaller body situated below their rib-cage). The book plays into gender roles that are specifically tied to how pop singers, celebrities really, (Western or East Asian) are taught to perform in order to advertise a certain image to the public.
A lot of the art, heavily cartoonish, leans towards body idealism found in anime (especially the knock-kneed designs of women characters). A lot of the how-to-draw women segments are anime-like, while the how-to-draw men segments lean more toward idealized 'realism'.
The thread set off a series of responses from other artists (Black and Korean artists specifically), who also bought the book and affirmed a similar experience of being blindsided by the author's racism and sexism. The book also has detractors in Jung Hyun's community as well, so this isn't an issue someone can simply brush off as 'cultural differences'.
Reading the passages that artist was comfortable with uploading for public viewing was, for lack of a better word, disheartening. All I really wanted a solid drawing resource to reference. Stonehouse's tries to be a historically informative book on top of a stylization book, but the commentary reads as ill-informed on the history it references, or mired by the racial coding/colorism the author infers in how he colors or designs certain characters.
Instances where the book centers body movement or fluidity, and how to replicate that through drawing are undermined by things that an editor and sensitivity reader should've flagged and recommended reworking. Jung Hyun highlights how folks in Korea idealize western beauty standards when talking about why certain aspects of cultures are imitated or idealized. I don't think anything highlights how warped colonization (white supremacy) has made things like the study of the human body. The constant deference to "Western" (i.e., white) culture, these ideas expressed in Stonehouse's are not new, but a reoccurring problem in art and anatomy books.
If you're a Black or Brown artist looking for a comprehensive figure study book, I'm not sure if one that doesn't subscribe to white supremacist ideologies or incredibly idealized (white) bodies (based on standards set before any one of us were born) really exists. However, there are probably "less problematic" books out there to choose from that aren't Stonehouse's.
Among the ones I've seen recommended are Morpho: Anatomy for Artists (Michel Lauricella), Anatomy For the Artist (Sarah Simblet), Anatomy for Sculptors (Uldis Zarins), and FORCE: Drawing Human Anatomy (Michael Mattes).
For myself, I could probably recommend low-key like Drawing with Lee Ames, or even something as rudimentary as Ames's Draw 50 series if you just want a an introductory course on how to draw realistic figures or objects. The books are old as dirt, however, so there are bound to be problems I haven't noticed.
I cannot, however, recommend that you spend $80 or more dollars on Stonehouse's Anatomy. Just avoid it.
June 5, 2021
This book is full of racist, sexist stereotypes, false pseudoscience and other disgusting stuff.
I have seen the photos circulating on social media about all the weird and horrible things in this book. It's like straight from the 1800's. At least check the photos before buying it. Even the publishing house admitted that a lot of it is horrible trash that they will "edit out" from the second edition. It's just vile.
I have seen the photos circulating on social media about all the weird and horrible things in this book. It's like straight from the 1800's. At least check the photos before buying it. Even the publishing house admitted that a lot of it is horrible trash that they will "edit out" from the second edition. It's just vile.
June 7, 2021
Such an awesome book on anatomy!!
But can't stand all these snowflakes on the review section getting triggered on little things which aren't even the author's intention, bruh guys grow up.
But can't stand all these snowflakes on the review section getting triggered on little things which aren't even the author's intention, bruh guys grow up.
June 7, 2021
A total treasure in its genre. The material is incredibly vast and detailed going way beyond what was expected. There is a lot to be learned for the subject of the book. Certainly easily the best resource in the field. I am thoroughly surprised at the value from this tome.
Unfortunately, it seems like there was recently a bunch of fake, brigaded reviews over the last few days resulting from a Twitter thread. I won't say more than it's quite bizarre how some basic facts of life, anatomy, and human characteristics can draw so much ire from what seems to be the personal insecurities of terminally online Twitter denizens, but that's a whole different subject. 😬 I will say it's not a very good excuse to attack an entire skilled and cultural legacy in the mastery of an artform. Some people just don't read enough, I guess, but education is an unending endeavor.
Unfortunately, it seems like there was recently a bunch of fake, brigaded reviews over the last few days resulting from a Twitter thread. I won't say more than it's quite bizarre how some basic facts of life, anatomy, and human characteristics can draw so much ire from what seems to be the personal insecurities of terminally online Twitter denizens, but that's a whole different subject. 😬 I will say it's not a very good excuse to attack an entire skilled and cultural legacy in the mastery of an artform. Some people just don't read enough, I guess, but education is an unending endeavor.
June 7, 2021
Great book, Great anatomy breakdowns, Great reference material.
People seem to be review bombing this book simply because it displays different bone structures for races and genders, however this is a GOD SEND for artists who actually want to draw different races and genders accuractly.
Its quite hard to find good reference material that isn't just based around either just "European" body types of non-realistic "Anime" body types.
Honestly a great art book, Written by a Korean yet people somehow think hes being racist..... im not too sure how they spin that one.
TLDR: Its a good book for learning how to draw all races and genders, Honestly great book 9.5/10
People seem to be review bombing this book simply because it displays different bone structures for races and genders, however this is a GOD SEND for artists who actually want to draw different races and genders accuractly.
Its quite hard to find good reference material that isn't just based around either just "European" body types of non-realistic "Anime" body types.
Honestly a great art book, Written by a Korean yet people somehow think hes being racist..... im not too sure how they spin that one.
TLDR: Its a good book for learning how to draw all races and genders, Honestly great book 9.5/10
June 7, 2021
Awesome book! Really helped me with my drawing skills :D
July 8, 2021
It is one of the best book on Anatomy drawing I've ever read.
The racism and sexism bullsh.t argument of a few woke reviewers shouldn't deter you from investing in this wondeful book. The illustration are there for you to remember the essential info, not to trigger you. If you can't stand humor and mastery, this isn't a book for you.
If you're willing to practice and let go of the societal filters that completely blind you to the essence of anatomy drawing, then this is a book for you. It is only my opinion and to me, this book is definitely a game changer.
The racism and sexism bullsh.t argument of a few woke reviewers shouldn't deter you from investing in this wondeful book. The illustration are there for you to remember the essential info, not to trigger you. If you can't stand humor and mastery, this isn't a book for you.
If you're willing to practice and let go of the societal filters that completely blind you to the essence of anatomy drawing, then this is a book for you. It is only my opinion and to me, this book is definitely a game changer.
June 7, 2021
Stonehouse's anatomy book is very detailed, deep, and easy to follow. Does this book have outdated cultural depictions? Absolutely. So does Aladdin, jungle book, and many other Disney movies. If you want to follow rules that a group has laid down, go for it. I’m not playing ball. PC Culture had created an epidepic of entitlement and it needs to end.
June 7, 2021
Good book that provides good tips on how to draw women and men in a physically appealing way.
June 11, 2021
Excellent.
July 4, 2021
If you are an artist, this book will change your life.
Read
June 14, 2021This book is incredibly frustrating as it is resourceful.
Honestly, as a new-ish artist to anatomy I found this book super comprehensive when explaining more complex parts of the body than what I’ve read so for in anatomy books, like Bridgman. The drawings are detailed and the passages explaining how evolution shaped our bodies into what they are today helps one understand the bodies functions and purposes.
From a character design standpoint there was a bit with how the artist demonstrates that elves are depicted with pointy doe ears to help symbolize their close relationship to nature and their gentleness.
The trouble is the artist injects a lot of “humor” into this book which is a risk in itself. Most people who have actually purchased and read this book would likely agree the early section where Stonehouse shows the evolution of man from sea spec to bipedal mammal is quite charming. “You learn best when you’re laughing” was likely what the author was thinking.
Unfortunately the author's sense of humor is juvenile and would only get laughs in a middle school boy’s locker room.
It’s a huge let down that this is a book written in 2017 considering the way the author occasionally talks about woman is no better than the way Heinlein or Bester did in their writing back in the seventies. There are offensively outdated depictions even from a “caricature” perspective. The pseudoscience for drawing woman is mysoginistic and there are sexist comments littered throughout the pages. The perversion as comedy (ie see any anime featuring boys trying to peep on naked bathing teenagers/women in a bathhouse. I’m looking at you Persona 4 and 5) is something I encounter often in manga and anime and disappoints me every time. But that’s a separate rant.
I paid 80$ for this book and with no way to refund it, I’m mostly trying to see the glass as half full at this point. As a white man, I imagine it’s easier for me to force my way through these passages and images than most women and POC. I’d like to go through and scribble out the unsightly parts, but that’s ignoring the bigger problem. Plenty of people have suggested substitutes and I’ll be picking up Morpho. Anatomy For the Artist by Simblet and Classic Human Anatomy by Winslow are also on my list now.
I love Superani and how they’ve inspired me but do not support them by purchasing this tome.
PS: the transphobic and racist language used by those in comments who rated this 5 stars really shows you’re more interested in provoking than criticism. Please grow up
Honestly, as a new-ish artist to anatomy I found this book super comprehensive when explaining more complex parts of the body than what I’ve read so for in anatomy books, like Bridgman. The drawings are detailed and the passages explaining how evolution shaped our bodies into what they are today helps one understand the bodies functions and purposes.
From a character design standpoint there was a bit with how the artist demonstrates that elves are depicted with pointy doe ears to help symbolize their close relationship to nature and their gentleness.
The trouble is the artist injects a lot of “humor” into this book which is a risk in itself. Most people who have actually purchased and read this book would likely agree the early section where Stonehouse shows the evolution of man from sea spec to bipedal mammal is quite charming. “You learn best when you’re laughing” was likely what the author was thinking.
Unfortunately the author's sense of humor is juvenile and would only get laughs in a middle school boy’s locker room.
It’s a huge let down that this is a book written in 2017 considering the way the author occasionally talks about woman is no better than the way Heinlein or Bester did in their writing back in the seventies. There are offensively outdated depictions even from a “caricature” perspective. The pseudoscience for drawing woman is mysoginistic and there are sexist comments littered throughout the pages. The perversion as comedy (ie see any anime featuring boys trying to peep on naked bathing teenagers/women in a bathhouse. I’m looking at you Persona 4 and 5) is something I encounter often in manga and anime and disappoints me every time. But that’s a separate rant.
I paid 80$ for this book and with no way to refund it, I’m mostly trying to see the glass as half full at this point. As a white man, I imagine it’s easier for me to force my way through these passages and images than most women and POC. I’d like to go through and scribble out the unsightly parts, but that’s ignoring the bigger problem. Plenty of people have suggested substitutes and I’ll be picking up Morpho. Anatomy For the Artist by Simblet and Classic Human Anatomy by Winslow are also on my list now.
I love Superani and how they’ve inspired me but do not support them by purchasing this tome.
PS: the transphobic and racist language used by those in comments who rated this 5 stars really shows you’re more interested in provoking than criticism. Please grow up
June 9, 2021
This would have actually been a fantastic book that would be worth the money if it weren't for the blatant pseudoscience and problematic depictions of people. The artist and author of this book is incredibly skilled no doubt and I've been a long time fan, but I am disappointed with the way they approached teaching anatomy.
This issue isn't about being "triggered", its about the misinformation that is being taught as fact in this book. Why would I or anyone else want to pay this much money to learn false information? Not every woman stands pigeon-toed, being a woman doesn't mean you can't run properly, and being a man doesn't mean you can't cross your legs (some very mild examples) This book also includes a lot of stereotypes and really outdated science and ideas about race. Not only that, there is a lot of fetishism in the book as well, especially towards women and certain body parts. Fetishism is not necessary in an educational anatomy book, and it left me very uncomfortable after reading.
Whether or not these issues were conscious or unconscious decisions by the author, this should have been reviewed by multiple people before being published. Racism and sexism is not part of any culture, and saying that it is is incredibly damaging and false.
Yes there is helpful information in this book, but I personally do not think biased information is trustworthy. I wouldn't want this to be my foundation in art. There are better anatomy books and even free resources far better than this.
This issue isn't about being "triggered", its about the misinformation that is being taught as fact in this book. Why would I or anyone else want to pay this much money to learn false information? Not every woman stands pigeon-toed, being a woman doesn't mean you can't run properly, and being a man doesn't mean you can't cross your legs (some very mild examples) This book also includes a lot of stereotypes and really outdated science and ideas about race. Not only that, there is a lot of fetishism in the book as well, especially towards women and certain body parts. Fetishism is not necessary in an educational anatomy book, and it left me very uncomfortable after reading.
Whether or not these issues were conscious or unconscious decisions by the author, this should have been reviewed by multiple people before being published. Racism and sexism is not part of any culture, and saying that it is is incredibly damaging and false.
Yes there is helpful information in this book, but I personally do not think biased information is trustworthy. I wouldn't want this to be my foundation in art. There are better anatomy books and even free resources far better than this.
June 5, 2021
The whole book is filled with sexualised women (in their panties, in swimsuits, in stockings, showing their breasts etc) and his own caricature of himself asking for feet and looking at women's privates which is super irrelevant when you want to learn anatomy and it's full of inaccurate things like how women run or fight or pose but all in sexy poses so if you're a woman I would not buy this book because it will just fill you with rage.
July 31, 2021
The anatomy is broken down in fairly easy to understand steps. The author also uses a lot of simplification and describes why the body functions the way it does, which helps a lot in the understanding.
I personally would have liked to see the drawing steps of each individual part in more poses though. Now it’s in a static pose from multiple perspectives, but it would help me to also see how the muscles flex and extend and how to draw them in those positions.
I personally would have liked to see the drawing steps of each individual part in more poses though. Now it’s in a static pose from multiple perspectives, but it would help me to also see how the muscles flex and extend and how to draw them in those positions.
February 1, 2022
(I'm Korean living in America, and read this book in Korean.)
Amazing book. I always tried to learn anatomy for artists, but just could never. Most books out there are cut and dry, and even black-and-white. And I just couldn't wrap around all the knowledge in my head. However, this book really helped me internalize all those anatomical details. The book starts with the head and face, and goes down the body down to the feet. It really reads more like a comic book rather than a textbook. It also has step-by-step guidelines on how to draw each bone. I just finished reading it cover to cover, and now I plan to go back and actually draw out those bones. I also plan on copying the author's splendidly detailed full-body drawings to solidify my understanding.
About the racist/sexist accusations. I think it's twofold: 1) the author describing what made the anatomical differences between races and biological genders and 2) women depicted in very pornographic form. As for 1), I actually think there are some validities to the author's point - it shouldn't be taboo to talk about evolutionary history and general trends just because it suggests anatomical differences between races and genders. Also, the people who post the "problematic" excerpts seem to conveniently ignore the disclaimers the author wrote saying that this is just a general trend, and that the reader should utilize this knowledge as he/she sees fit (like, if you want to make a female person look more feminine, emphasize this female anatomy, if not, bring in this pattern in male anatomy - yes femininity and masculinity are social constructs but let's save that argument for somewhere else). They also seem to ignore that he has a cartoon of a European woman and a Korean woman saying "whether your thigh is longer or your calf is longer, or whether your skin is white or black, all living forms on Earth have its own form of beauty!" (p. 483 in the Korean version) and that his epilogue details the work he put in (for 9 years), the help he got from various professors, and his worry that he might be spreading false information despite his effort.
But for 2) women depicted in very pornographic form. I did get distracted a lot because of this (I'm a woman), and it did make me a bit uncomfortable. But I want to understand that this is an anatomy book, so most folks are pretty naked, and the cartoon/gaming/anime art industry in East Asia generally doesn't know how to depict naked women without making them look pornographic. It also doesn't help that the author, and 100% of people he asked for reviews were men (famous industry figures in Korea, including the director for Train to Busan). So I take this as a reflection of the industry and society he comes from, rather than his personal failure.
I hope potential readers don't get scared by the accusations from people who probably didn't even read the entire book. And that's understandable too - it's a hefty book, and it took me nearly three years to finally get around to reading it from cover to cover. And it was a great experience. If you do get this book, your first instinct might be to treat this book more like a glossary and just refer to the anatomical part you are interested in at the time. That's what I used to do, but I didn't get much out of it. But I got a LOT out when I decided to sit down and start reading from the beginning. It took 40 days to finish this book, but was so worth it. It gives you a perspective in understanding anatomy like never before.
All in all, this book is a great resource from a master artist to a student. I hope everyone gets as much out of it as they can :)
Amazing book. I always tried to learn anatomy for artists, but just could never. Most books out there are cut and dry, and even black-and-white. And I just couldn't wrap around all the knowledge in my head. However, this book really helped me internalize all those anatomical details. The book starts with the head and face, and goes down the body down to the feet. It really reads more like a comic book rather than a textbook. It also has step-by-step guidelines on how to draw each bone. I just finished reading it cover to cover, and now I plan to go back and actually draw out those bones. I also plan on copying the author's splendidly detailed full-body drawings to solidify my understanding.
About the racist/sexist accusations. I think it's twofold: 1) the author describing what made the anatomical differences between races and biological genders and 2) women depicted in very pornographic form. As for 1), I actually think there are some validities to the author's point - it shouldn't be taboo to talk about evolutionary history and general trends just because it suggests anatomical differences between races and genders. Also, the people who post the "problematic" excerpts seem to conveniently ignore the disclaimers the author wrote saying that this is just a general trend, and that the reader should utilize this knowledge as he/she sees fit (like, if you want to make a female person look more feminine, emphasize this female anatomy, if not, bring in this pattern in male anatomy - yes femininity and masculinity are social constructs but let's save that argument for somewhere else). They also seem to ignore that he has a cartoon of a European woman and a Korean woman saying "whether your thigh is longer or your calf is longer, or whether your skin is white or black, all living forms on Earth have its own form of beauty!" (p. 483 in the Korean version) and that his epilogue details the work he put in (for 9 years), the help he got from various professors, and his worry that he might be spreading false information despite his effort.
But for 2) women depicted in very pornographic form. I did get distracted a lot because of this (I'm a woman), and it did make me a bit uncomfortable. But I want to understand that this is an anatomy book, so most folks are pretty naked, and the cartoon/gaming/anime art industry in East Asia generally doesn't know how to depict naked women without making them look pornographic. It also doesn't help that the author, and 100% of people he asked for reviews were men (famous industry figures in Korea, including the director for Train to Busan). So I take this as a reflection of the industry and society he comes from, rather than his personal failure.
I hope potential readers don't get scared by the accusations from people who probably didn't even read the entire book. And that's understandable too - it's a hefty book, and it took me nearly three years to finally get around to reading it from cover to cover. And it was a great experience. If you do get this book, your first instinct might be to treat this book more like a glossary and just refer to the anatomical part you are interested in at the time. That's what I used to do, but I didn't get much out of it. But I got a LOT out when I decided to sit down and start reading from the beginning. It took 40 days to finish this book, but was so worth it. It gives you a perspective in understanding anatomy like never before.
All in all, this book is a great resource from a master artist to a student. I hope everyone gets as much out of it as they can :)
November 2, 2025
Racist and misogynistic commentary.
It’s a shame how overly hyped this book was by people on YouTube and in the general artist community. After reading the contents I was very disappointed with the racist caricatures and constant misogynistic comments when it came to explaining the female body (Which was also misinformation). The book would’ve been solid if it didn’t show stereotypes when it came to male and female poses, if it gave accurate information and/or left out the commentary from the writer all together.
Poses became harder to read or even sexualized when it can to the female form which was unhelpful with studying.
It generally had some good information about muscles and how they function with bones but it’s every so page that the narration goes back to say women and men have certain roles because of what they are, which seems unnecessary since the discussion is suppose to be about anatomy and not societal roles.
It’s a shame how overly hyped this book was by people on YouTube and in the general artist community. After reading the contents I was very disappointed with the racist caricatures and constant misogynistic comments when it came to explaining the female body (Which was also misinformation). The book would’ve been solid if it didn’t show stereotypes when it came to male and female poses, if it gave accurate information and/or left out the commentary from the writer all together.
Poses became harder to read or even sexualized when it can to the female form which was unhelpful with studying.
It generally had some good information about muscles and how they function with bones but it’s every so page that the narration goes back to say women and men have certain roles because of what they are, which seems unnecessary since the discussion is suppose to be about anatomy and not societal roles.
August 1, 2021
Overall, it’s definitely worth it.
October 4, 2021
As someone who is interested in figure drawing, and anatomy in particular, I was looking forward to seeing what this book had to offer, as it was getting quite a buzz. At a whopping 650+ pages, I knew it was going to take awhile to read it, but, was it worth it?
Like many anatomy books (and I have a TON of them lined up on a shelf) this book has certain aspects that others don’t. The main draw of this book is the gorgeous renderings and the “ease of entry”, as it is not as “dry” as more traditional anatomy books tend to be. On the downside, the author has a bit of a “personal/Eastern perspective” that can be distracting to those with opposing views.
It covers all of the relevant areas of anatomy in a concise manner, often times introducing a little anecdote to the specific area of study. Since I read the English translation of the original Korean text, there are some concepts that didn’t translate well. (Especially the “Dracula” cartoon… LOL). And speaking of cartoons, there are many manga drawings throughout the book that provide information and “humor”. Although not necessary, it does provide a more relaxed environment in which to study the material.
I was able to get my copy as a pre-order for $85, and thought that due to the size of the book and the material presented, that it was worth it. However, at the full retail price of $100 you would probably be better off getting a couple of other books instead, as there is nothing “earth shattering” contained within. To it’s credit, it does provide an avenue of study for those who don’t want to read through books such as Elliot Goldfinger’s “Human Anatomy for Artists” or Richer’s “Artistic Anatomy”. It’s a decent book, but way overhyped!
The main highlight of the book is the gorgeous renderings, as well as some interesting points of interest scattered throughout. If you are interested in an accessible book on anatomy from the perspective of an artist, this would be an excellent choice for you to consider. However, if you are looking for a book that contains “serious” anatomical studies and a medical/scientific approach, you would be better off with one of the many better books suited for that.
I welcome the book into my collection of anatomy books and I enjoyed reading it. But, I’m not sure that it would be the first book that I would grab if I needed to check on a specific anatomical subject.
Like many anatomy books (and I have a TON of them lined up on a shelf) this book has certain aspects that others don’t. The main draw of this book is the gorgeous renderings and the “ease of entry”, as it is not as “dry” as more traditional anatomy books tend to be. On the downside, the author has a bit of a “personal/Eastern perspective” that can be distracting to those with opposing views.
It covers all of the relevant areas of anatomy in a concise manner, often times introducing a little anecdote to the specific area of study. Since I read the English translation of the original Korean text, there are some concepts that didn’t translate well. (Especially the “Dracula” cartoon… LOL). And speaking of cartoons, there are many manga drawings throughout the book that provide information and “humor”. Although not necessary, it does provide a more relaxed environment in which to study the material.
I was able to get my copy as a pre-order for $85, and thought that due to the size of the book and the material presented, that it was worth it. However, at the full retail price of $100 you would probably be better off getting a couple of other books instead, as there is nothing “earth shattering” contained within. To it’s credit, it does provide an avenue of study for those who don’t want to read through books such as Elliot Goldfinger’s “Human Anatomy for Artists” or Richer’s “Artistic Anatomy”. It’s a decent book, but way overhyped!
The main highlight of the book is the gorgeous renderings, as well as some interesting points of interest scattered throughout. If you are interested in an accessible book on anatomy from the perspective of an artist, this would be an excellent choice for you to consider. However, if you are looking for a book that contains “serious” anatomical studies and a medical/scientific approach, you would be better off with one of the many better books suited for that.
I welcome the book into my collection of anatomy books and I enjoyed reading it. But, I’m not sure that it would be the first book that I would grab if I needed to check on a specific anatomical subject.
June 5, 2021
This is “The Art of Loving” all over again for me. A book so detached from current realities and conversations that it becomes quite difficult to read, enjoy and learn from unless you have the ability to compartmentalize information and ignore the misogyny, racism and possible transphobia that plagues some of the pages.
This book was heavily hyped in the art community, so it was kind of ordered on a whim. I had forgotten about it until it came a day ago and I’m disappointed to know I can’t get a refund.
Just like “The Art of Loving”, some information and diagrams are very useful, but it’s not worth buying the book and reading it in its entirety just for those golden nuggets. People are already sharing some pages online from what I’ve seen, so I’ll soon start doing so myself and share only the diagrams that are worthwhile.
Seriously, don’t buy nor support this book. Find some scans online and find other alternatives. You’re better off with filtered information through a selective collection of scans than with this thick brick of useless personal input by a backwards-thinking and misogynistic author. Ah, how disappointing, really…
This book was heavily hyped in the art community, so it was kind of ordered on a whim. I had forgotten about it until it came a day ago and I’m disappointed to know I can’t get a refund.
Just like “The Art of Loving”, some information and diagrams are very useful, but it’s not worth buying the book and reading it in its entirety just for those golden nuggets. People are already sharing some pages online from what I’ve seen, so I’ll soon start doing so myself and share only the diagrams that are worthwhile.
Seriously, don’t buy nor support this book. Find some scans online and find other alternatives. You’re better off with filtered information through a selective collection of scans than with this thick brick of useless personal input by a backwards-thinking and misogynistic author. Ah, how disappointing, really…
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