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The Principles of Uncertainty Paperback – October 27, 2009

by Maira Kalman (Author)

324 ratings

Editors' pick Best Biographies & Memoirs

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“Sublime . . . Kalman’s elegantly witty and at times melancholy narrative runs arm in arm with her unmistakable paintings on a serendipitous romp through the history of the world.” —Vanity Fair

“Wildly original . . . there’s nothing else even remotely like it . . . This hilarious, wise, and deeply moving volume [is] the ultimate picture book for grown-ups.” —O Magazine

Maira Kalman paints her highly personal worldview in this inimitable combination of image and text

An irresistible invitation to experience life through a beloved artist's psyche, The Principles of Uncertainty is a compilation of Maira Kalman's New York Times columns. Part personal narrative, part documentary, part travelogue, part chapbook, and all Kalman, these brilliant, whimsical paintings, ideas, and images - which initially appear random - ultimately form an intricately interconnected worldview, an idiosyncratic inner monologue.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Sublime . . . Kalman’s elegantly witty and at times melancholy narrative runs arm in arm with her unmistakable paintings on a serendipitous romp through the history of the world.” —Vanity Fair

“Wildly original . . . there’s nothing else even remotely like it . . . This hilarious, wise, and deeply moving volume [is] the ultimate picture book for grown-ups.” —O Magazine

“An odd treasure.” —Ariel Levy, The New York Times Book Review

“Within this work, as much literary as artistic, one finds the assurance (the certainty!) that the human condition is inescapable but not insurmountable.” —The New York Observer

“In her distinctive, muscularly whimsical paintings with sad-funny handwritten annotations, Kalman encounters, well, everything . . . More personal than much of her previous work, the book is simultaneously idiosyncratic and universal. And utterly lovable.” —Culture + Travel

“This is a unique, warmly intelligent book for the enjoyment of artists, writers and anyone who delights in works of genuine imagination.” —L.K. Hanson, Minnesota Star Tribune

“My absolute favorite book of recent memory: an exquisite and delightful and peculiarly illustrated memoir about . . . well, the search for the meaning of life. I will be giving this book to everyone I know.” —Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love

About the Author

Maira Kalman is an illustrator, an author, and a designer. She is the author of And the Pursuit of Happiness, The Principles of Uncertainty, Beloved Dog, and Cake. She is the illustrator of Michael Pollan's Food Rules and the bestselling edition of William Strunk and E. B. White's The Elements of Style. Kalman's work is shown at the Julie Saul Gallery in Manhattan.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books; First Edition (October 27, 2009)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0143116460
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143116462
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.4 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.18 x 0.7 x 9.12 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #50,391 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5 in Individual Artist Essays
- #277 in Graphic Design (Books)
- #297 in Writing Reference

Customer Reviews:
324 ratings

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Maira Kalman

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Maira Kalman is an artist, illustrator, writer, and designer. She was born in Tel Aviv and moved to New York City with her family at the age of four. She now lives in Manhattan. Kalman has written/illustrated over 30 books for adults and children. She has been a frequent contributor to The New York Times and The New Yorker. Kalman has created textiles for Isaac Mizrahi and Kate Spade and sets for Mark Morris. Other collaborators include David Byrne, Nico Muhly, Alex Kalman, Michael Pollan, John Heginbotham and Gertrude Stein. Kalman's product design appears under M&Co, the legendary design studio created by her late husband Tibor Kalman. Kalman has won many awards and given numerous talks, including several TED talks. Her art has been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world. Her book agent is Charlotte Sheedy. Her fine art is represented by Mary Ryan Gallery. Portrait of MK by Kimisa H. Learn more about Maira Kalman at www.MairaKalman.com. Instagram: @mairakalman

Customer reviews

324 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's illustrations amazing, with one noting how Maira's words and drawings are unique. Moreover, the book is profound and inspiring, with one customer describing it as a playful picture book for grown-ups. Additionally, customers appreciate the author's talent and find the book heartbreaking.

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Art Thought provoking Humor Talent Character development Heartbreaking

48 customers mention "Art"45 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the book's art, describing it as charming and creative with amazing illustrations, and one customer notes that the paintings are very intimate.

"...Like a picture book for adults. Just fabulous. And her art does not dissappoint. A **lot** of her paintings in this book!!!" Read more

"...It is apparent through this beautiful book that she believes in the human connection, empathy and positivity...." Read more

"...Her simple illustrations and seemingly random observations about grass, fresh pickles, the weather or ruffled collars are so dense with energy and..." Read more

"I enjoyed Maira Kalman's lovely illustrations and her musings about the mysteries of the world...." Read more

31 customers mention "Thought provoking"31 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and profound, with several mentioning it inspired them deeply. One customer notes it contains light everyday philosophy, while another describes it as quite existential.

"...Her writing is fun. It’s a great, very eclectic book. Like a picture book for adults. Just fabulous. And her art does not dissappoint...." Read more

"...rendered, overly designed painting or wordiness but lets simple journal-like musings and her paintings speak volumes...." Read more

"...Her work deserves admiration for its honest portrayal of reality, but with the wonderful twist that a real artist can bring...." Read more

"This is an extraordinary book. Through the unusual medium of seemingly simple but powerful pictures and small pithy segments of text, the author..." Read more

26 customers mention "Humor"26 positive0 negative

Customers find the book hilarious and quirky, describing it as a playful picture book for grown-ups.

"This is a great collection of her work. Her writing is fun. It’s a great, very eclectic book. Like a picture book for adults. Just fabulous...." Read more

"...admiration for its honest portrayal of reality, but with the wonderful twist that a real artist can bring...." Read more

"In about 80% of the episodes in this quirky, imaginative, hilarious book, Maira Kalman looked into my soul...." Read more

"...random thoughts of a charming and reflected woman and it is filled with soft humor - the kind that makes you smile rather than break out in laughter...." Read more

6 customers mention "Talent"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's talent, describing them as a fantastic artist.

"...Finally, the illustrations are comical and very well done. This is really what makes this book more than anything else...." Read more

"...It's funny, witty, and heartbreaking, and a remarkable achievement from an artist of great humanity and wit, but most of all, heart and feeling...." Read more

"Maira Kalman is a fantastic artist" Read more

"...I also wished I lived in the same building. What a wonderful talent!" Read more

5 customers mention "Character development"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one review highlighting the unique woman portrayed and another noting the humanity of the images.

"...but I was gratefully surprised at the delicacy, poignancy and humanity of her images...." Read more

"...light everyday philosophy and random thoughts of a charming and reflected woman and it is filled with soft humor - the kind that makes you smile..." Read more

"...She's like the intelligent, amazing and awesomest aunt that you wished you had." Read more

"great used book. tho a bit of wear, it us full of character and beauty. I love it love it love it" Read more

4 customers mention "Heartbreaking"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartbreaking.

"...It's funny, witty, and heartbreaking, and a remarkable achievement from an artist of great humanity and wit, but most of all, heart and feeling...." Read more

"...I am a huge fan of Maira Kalman, and she is at her best here. It is heartbreaking and beautiful, minute and profound. Definitely worth a read." Read more

"Endearing, heart-breaking, beautiful, utterly delightful and must-read for Kalman fans, or fans of life, love, travel and uncertainty." Read more

"A brilliant mind for observation...sad, funny, lovely." Read more

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JanW
For Artists and Writers alike.
Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2024
Verified Purchase

This is a great collection of her work. Her writing is fun. It’s a great, very eclectic book. Like a picture book for adults. Just fabulous. And her art does not dissappoint. A **lot** of her paintings in this book!!!

Read more

JanW

For Artists and Writers alike.

Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2024
This is a great collection of her work. Her writing is fun. It’s a great, very eclectic book. Like a picture book for adults. Just fabulous. And her art does not dissappoint. A **lot** of her paintings in this book!!!

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2 people found this helpful

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Cassia Lupo
Humble inspiration
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2009
Verified Purchase
An illustration student myself, I fell in love with Maira's style of painting when I was introduced to her by a great professor. She is now a huge inspiration for my own work.
It is apparent through this beautiful book that she believes in the human connection, empathy and positivity. She does not put herself above the viewer with overly rendered, overly designed painting or wordiness but lets simple journal-like musings and her paintings speak volumes. She lets herself be unaffected by opinion as we used to be as children scrawling out whatever came into our heads and appreciating the colors we made. Her paintings are very intimate and inviting for those reasons. Though her style comes from that childlike reaction, her experience and sense of design is apparent. Short of wanting us to show up on her doorstep and be her best friend, she seems to be reaching out for connection with us. More broadly, I believe she wants us all to connect with each other and to be able to empathize with the stranger because we are all weak in so many similar ways and strong in others. We're all the same really. This book is really wonderful. I wish I could sit in the kitchen with her drinking tea, eating cake and looking at her collected treasures but after reading this book, I feel like I have.

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11 people found this helpful

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Sulin Lau
Celebrates the Magic in the Everyday
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2010
Verified Purchase
Maria Kalman isn't just a genius. She's the best kind of genius there is.

The painter-illustrator-storyteller widow of Colors magazine founder Tibor Kalman is precisely the kind of person you'd imagine as your fantasy next door neighbour.

Someone who thinks nothing of wearing feathery pink hats on warm summer days. Who invites you over for gingerbread biscuits and music. And tells you why she's had a lifelong crush on Abraham Lincoln. Her simple illustrations and seemingly random observations about grass, fresh pickles, the weather or ruffled collars are so dense with energy and joy they force you to take quiet pauses in between pages.

Whether you flip through her books, or follow her "visual column" in the New York Times […], you can't help but look at the world a little differently. You may even spot a few more butterflies and ladybugs than you're used to.

My favorite page in "Principles of Uncertainty" is this:

'On the wall was a dress i embroidered. It said "Ich habe genug", which is a Bach cantata. Which i once thought meant "I've had it, I can't take it anymore". But I was wrong.
It means, "I HAVE enough".
Which is utterly true. I happen to be alive. End of discussion.
(But i will go out a buy a hat).'

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23 people found this helpful

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I.
Read a few pages before bedtime
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2025
Verified Purchase
Especially now.

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Linda Shapiro
Poignant and thought-provoking fun
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2008
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed Maira Kalman's lovely illustrations and her musings about the mysteries of the world. Having read many of her children's books, I was not surprised at her trenchant observations about the more grown-up parts of life, but I was gratefully surprised at the delicacy, poignancy and humanity of her images. Her work deserves admiration for its honest portrayal of reality, but with the wonderful twist that a real artist can bring. The Principles of Uncertainty is structured around the journal or diary form and I think it benefits from being read that way rather than reading it from front to back. It's hard to stop,once you start, but save a little for later!

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6 people found this helpful

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Madwoman in the Attic
Secret Life of Me
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2013
Verified Purchase
In about 80% of the episodes in this quirky, imaginative, hilarious book, Maira Kalman looked into my soul. She is a fabulous satirist, subtle and accurate.

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Kathleen Dale
I carry the paperback with me…
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2024
Verified Purchase
in my purse in case I’m out and need some cheering up.

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One person found this helpful

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Diane U
the author offers us a way to capture fleeting moments of joy in a world where sorrow often lies not far ...
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2015
Verified Purchase
This is an extraordinary book. Through the unusual medium of seemingly simple but powerful pictures and small pithy segments of text, the author offers us a way to capture fleeting moments of joy in a world where sorrow often lies not far beneath the surface. Kalman brings us into her special universe of oddities, the honey cake with which her family celebrates holidays, her oddball box collection, hats people wear, bizarre hairdos. She invites us to make our own serendipitous mental collection as a distraction from discord or sorrow. In some ways we already do that in our family, pick out the bizarre moments in daily life, but Kalman expands those moments into a program for living: We humans are special, even in our frailty.
I immediately bought 4 more copies as gifts for those close friends and family members who have the gift of gentle humor and quirky observation.

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6 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

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Vivi Figueira
Prazer de ver/ler...
Reviewed in Brazil on March 1, 2018
Verified Purchase

Para quem gosta das ilustrações da artista, o livro é um verdadeiro presente, um prazer de se ver.

Para quem ainda não conhece, Maira Kalman é uma ilustradora americana, nascida em Israel, bastante conhecida pelas suas ilustrações tanto em livros infantis, como em revistas, capas, etc. Suas ilustrações são bastantes coloridas e tratam situações/interesses do cotidiano. Há também frases, pensamentos, como um diário.

Este livro é o resultado mensal, de um ano de trabalho para o blog "The Principles of Uncertainty", para o New York Times, e recebe o mesmo título.

Dos seus livros infantis, ainda não tive o prazer de compra-los/ve-los. Por conta destes já foi nomeada para o ALMA, que é um prêmio na área de livros infantis, reconhecido mundialmente.

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Vivi Figueira

Prazer de ver/ler...

Reviewed in Brazil on March 1, 2018
Para quem gosta das ilustrações da artista, o livro é um verdadeiro presente, um prazer de se ver.

Para quem ainda não conhece, Maira Kalman é uma ilustradora americana, nascida em Israel, bastante conhecida pelas suas ilustrações tanto em livros infantis, como em revistas, capas, etc. Suas ilustrações são bastantes coloridas e tratam situações/interesses do cotidiano. Há também frases, pensamentos, como um diário.

Este livro é o resultado mensal, de um ano de trabalho para o blog "The Principles of Uncertainty", para o New York Times, e recebe o mesmo título.

Dos seus livros infantis, ainda não tive o prazer de compra-los/ve-los. Por conta destes já foi nomeada para o ALMA, que é um prêmio na área de livros infantis, reconhecido mundialmente.

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JNG
Lovely
Reviewed in India on May 18, 2017
Verified Purchase
Wonderfully illustrated, hilarious and original. It makes you think and makes you smile. Joyful.

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Alexandra
Me encanta
Reviewed in Mexico on March 28, 2016
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Sí quieres un libro lleno de ilustraciones y frases este es el indicado! Excelente calidad de impresión. Es una excelente opción para regalar.

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RYURYU
宝物になりました
Reviewed in Japan on November 25, 2015
Verified Purchase
とても刺激的な本でした。
人物も物も文字も美しくて、どっぷり世界に浸れます。
ソフトカバーで持ち運べるのもうれしいけれど、こんな素敵本ならハードカバーでもよかったかも、と思いました。

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sarah wilkins
Arrived in perfect condition
Reviewed in Canada on November 14, 2024
Verified Purchase
Bought as a gift. Book looks lovely and very pleased that it arrived in perfect condition.

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