But even though I'm a pictures-first kind of guy, the supporting text has to be informational and relevant. Again, by this measure, this book delivers. The text by Osterwold is lucid and perceptive, without being overly-academic (which is the downfall of many a pop art book). The translation from German was done expertly, for it reads well in English without any obvious awkwardness in style.
Prior to this book, the best overall historical discussion of the subject was found in Lucy Lippard's _Pop Art_ (also available on Amazon), first published in the early 70s and reprinted in 1985. That book remains a worthy addition to any pop art aficionado's library, but if you're only looking for one book as a general treatment of the subject, Osterwold's is the one to get.