America the Abandoned - by Bryan Sansivero (Hardcover)

About the Book

"America is littered with abandoned homes, and all are subject to weather and natural decay. The furniture, decor, and personal belongings of the former inhabitants remain inside, even as ceilings cave in, mold grows, and dust settles. Photographer Bryan Sansivero has been uncovering these abandoned homes for more than a decade, traveling across the country to capture them on film before they crumble completely. The homes can be difficult to locate and traverse, and he's never sure what he might find. There are one of a kind relics, a tiger skin rug, a commemorative bicentennial piano, and a collection of mannequins, for example. But mostly, Sansivero documents the inhabitants' everyday living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms just as he found them, showcasing their unique furniture, clothing, books, appliances, toys, artwork, and other personal items, which often appear as if they were left just yesterday. The stories of the former inhabitants remain mostly unknown, but the images are beautiful, haunting time capsules, and a reminder that everything we own is temporary, and eventually will be left behind or forgotten. There is also an element of mystery and eeriness that this imagery evokes. In addition to those who are entranced by beautiful coffee table books, Haunted America will be enticing for those who love horror films and books, from Stranger Things to The Shining"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Peer into the mysterious world of abandoned homes across the United States with this fascinating photography book--a visual exploration of what makes up a life, and what we leave in our wake.

Photographer Bryan Sansivero has been uncovering abandoned homes for more than a decade, traveling across the country to capture them on film before they crumble completely, never sure of what he might find. Sansivero documents the inhabitants' everyday living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms just as he found them, showcasing their unique furniture, clothing, books, appliances, toys, artwork, and other personal items, which often appear as if the owners were just there a moment ago. The stories of the former tenants remain mostly unknown, but the images are haunting time capsules, and a reminder that everything we own is temporary, and eventually will be left behind or forgotten.

There is an element of mystery and eeriness that this imagery evokes. In addition to those who are entranced by beautiful coffee table books, America the Abandoned will entice those who love horror films and books--from Stranger Things to The Shining.

Review Quotes

"America the Abandoned captures an amorphous time between the past and the future at once frozen in time and ever-changing. Brian's vision of America is a place I want to curl up in and never leave."--Elizabeth Finkelstein, founder of Cheap Old Houses

"Bryan Sansivero illuminates all the haunted beauty of America's deserted homes in his new book. He finds unsettled spirits among the ruin, all of which he photographs in sumptuous color. In short, his photographs manage to inhabit the souls of the people who once lived there."--Laura Holson, writer, traveler, and founder of The Box Sessions

"The texture of ruin with the radiance of Technicolor. A classic in the urbex catalog."--Dylan Thuras, cofounder of Atlas Obscura

About the Author

Bryan Sansivero is a renowned and award-winning photographer known for his colorful, evocative, and unique pictures of abandoned places. He is a filmmaker whose eye for detail and his documentative style will bring the viewer on an emotional journey into places rarely ventured or seen.