Only What's Necessary

Charles M. Schulz's approach to cartooning was to take out the extraneous details and leave in only what's necessary. For fifty years, from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, Schulz wrote and illustrated Peanuts, the single most popular and influential comic strip in the world. In all, 17,897 strips were published, making it "arguably the longest story ever told by one human being," according to Professor Robert Thompson. In Only What's Necessary: Charles M. Schulz and Peanuts, renowned designer Chip Kidd assembles the long-awaited follow-up to Peanuts: The Art of Charles M. Schulz, by focusing on Schulz's artistry-not the merchandise that was featured in his first book. Reproducing the best of the Peanuts newspaper strip, all shot off the original art by award-winning photographer Geoff Spear, the book will feature ancillary images from the archives, including exclusive, rare and unpublished original art and developmental work-many never seen before their inclusion in this book. Timed for the 65th anniversary of Peanuts and the theatrical release of their first-ever 3-D CG-animated feature film, Only What's Necessary is sure to give Peanuts fans the world over a reason to celebrate.