Dian Hanson’s series explores the "American obsession" and global fascination with various body parts through a lens of photography and social history. Collection: The Big Book Series. TASCHEN

The "Big Book" series by Dian Hanson, published by Taschen, represents a massive and celebrated contribution to the history of visual culture, adult entertainment, and alternative lifestyle photography. Dian Hanson, a veteran editor and writer, has spent decades archiving, contextualizing, and celebrating various aspects of human sexuality and body types through these oversized, high-quality art books.

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The enduring popularity of the "Big Book" series lies in its dual nature. On one hand, it offers pure entertainment through vibrant, bold imagery and nostalgic storytelling. On the other hand, it serves as a lifestyle reference guide for designers, historians, and pop culture enthusiasts.

Some readers have felt the book crosses a line from “artistic or nuanced” to simply being pornographic. One notable review on Goodreads gave the book a low rating, arguing that many of the images are of “unknown” women, which the reviewer found “exploitative,” claiming the labor and bodies of sex workers were being “misattributed” and potentially not properly compensated. This is a serious criticism that touches on broader ethical debates within the world of erotic photography.