Pen & Ink: Tattoos and the Stories Behind Them

by Isaac Fitzgerald, Wendy MacNaughton (Illustrator), Cheryl Strayed (Contributor)

Why did you get that tattoo?

Every tattoo tells a story, whether the ink is meaningful or the result of a misguided decision made at the age of fourteen, representative of the wearer’s true self or the accidental consequence of a bender. These most permanent and intimate of body adornments are hidden by pants legs and shirttails, emblazoned on knuckles, or tucked inside mouths. They are battle scars and beauty marks, totems and mementos.

Pen & Ink grants us access to the tattoos—and the stories behind them—of writers Cheryl Strayed and Roxane Gay; rockers in the bands Korn, Otep, and Five Finger Death Punch; and even a porn star. But it also illuminates the tattoos of the ordinary people living in our midst—from professors to thrift store salespeople, cafe owners to librarians, union organizers to administrators—and their extraordinary lives.

Curated and edited by Isaac Fitzgerald, who sports twelve tattoos himself, each story “is like being let in on . . . secrets by . . . strangers who passed you on the street or sat across from you on the train” (Strayed) and features Wendy MacNaughton’s gorgeously rendered full-color illustrations of the tattoos on black-and-white drawings of the bearer’s body. At its heart, beneath its colorful skin, Pen & Ink is an exploration of the decision to scar one’s self with a symbol and a story.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, Short Stories, Biography, Graphic Novels, Memoir, Adult

133 pages, Hardcover

First published October 7, 2014

About the author

Isaac Fitzgerald appears frequently on The Today Show and is the author of the bestselling children’s book How to Be a Pirate as well as the co-author of Pen & Ink: Tattoos and the Stories Behind Them and Knives & Ink: Chefs and the Stories Behind Their Tattoos (winner of an IACP Award). His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Best American Nonrequired Reading, The Boston Globe and numerous other publications. His debut memoir, Dirtbag, Massachusetts, is forthcoming in July, 2022. He lives in Brooklyn.

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

I worried about reading this book when I first received it. Thumbing through the pages, with the close-up line drawings of tattoos on bodies, the funky font that mixes cursive and capital letters, and the highly-personal stories. I assumed that this would be a collection of personal stories about why someone got a generic tattoo for some self-important reason.

But in reality, this is a collection of emotional stories, with a few comic items thrown in. It feels less impersonal than I originally assumed, and more like listening to a friend's story while sharing a beer. Some of the stories are a little too literary in their aspirations, and some are throwaways (like the one with the tattoo of "Pizza Party" on her toes - "I really f***ing love pizza"), but most are surprisingly heartfelt and real. Perhaps it is the nature of tattoos, but there is often something emotionally impactful or strange in the reason for the tattoo.

Take for example, the "Daddy" tattoo on a woman's forearm. She tells us:

I don't know how to tell this story. One day my dad was alive and we were on vacation and swimming in the ocean and making mermaids in the sand. And then we got back and I was at work and I got a call from my mom saying that there was an ambulance on the way to take my dad to the hospital. The last thing I ever heard him say was "who's that?" Mom said, "it's Ali." Dad said, "I love you, Ali. Don't worry. I'm ok."

And then I drove from San Francisco to Sacramento and he never woke up and I rubbed his feet while he died. I wanted to always have him with me so I mixed his ashes in with the ink."

It isn't a long read history of tattoos and it isn't a compendium of tattoo designs, but this is a rewarding book nonetheless. It provides you with an insight into a person's emotional reasons for their tattoo, giving you the back story of an image you might glance at and wonder about.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

A short but sweet book that asks a random collection of people the logic (or lack thereof) behind their tattoos. The narratives of love, loss, friendship and memories give surprising insight into how each of us forge our own sense of identity. The hand drawn illustrations by Cheryl Strayed add an appealing gravitas. It is strangely charming to learn the reasons tattoos become personal pieces of art for people you will never meet.
- Bethany R.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hook - I don’t have any tattoos of my own but often wonder, “What were they thinking?” when I see them on others. I ask this question in the nicest sense, as I am certain many trips to the tattoo parlor have stories behind them. Pen & Ink Tattoos & The Stories Behind Them gives answers to some people’s motivation.

The Line – The one tattoo that spoke to me was Kriste York’s 40th Birthday Tattoo.
”I MARKED MY 40TH BIRTHDAY WITH THIS TATTOO, THUS BECOMING A HUMAN RV. “

If you've ever seen a map of places visited on an RV, you might get the picture.

Kriste concludes her essay explaining that the motto appearing on the banner above her tattoo is from her own state of Oregon:
SHE FLIES WITH HER OWN WINGS.”

Though I could post the image of Kriste’s tattoo, I’m hoping you’ll seek the book out and view it yourself.


The Sinker – The graphic format seems perfect for exploring the world of tattoos which are graphic in their own right. Not photos, but drawings in pen and ink make the tattoos somehow more personal. You could flip through this quickly or spend many hours exploring the details of the blend of image and words.

[Elizabeth A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm the only one of my siblings without a tattoo, and I'm supposedly the most unconventional one of the lot. Go figure. It's not that I have anything against tats in particular, it's just that I cannot imagine what I'd ink on my body that I would still love a decade from now. I see many people with tats, and I'm always curious as to the story of how they picked that particular design. There are tats I find attractive, and ones I'm horrified by, and when everyone and their mother seems to have one, the notion of tats do not seem that radical, or anti-establishment to me. But, that is just my opinion.

This little book is a collection of artist sketches/paintings of tattoos that people (some famous, some not) have inked on their bodies, and the stories behind them. I liked the art, and it did help me understand and appreciate the reasoning behind the urge to get one. However, this is a collection of images/stories that was compiled from a blog, and I found myself wanting more. Still, it is a fun, quick read for anyone who has a tattoo or two, or anyone interested in reading about the stories behind some of them.

[Olive Fellows (abookolive) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short collection of illustrations of real-life people's tattoos accompanied by the stories behind them.

While the choice to get a tattoo can sit anywhere on the scale of "bursting with meaning" to "a symptom of being young," every tattoo has a story. I loved seeing the illustrations of the tattoos next to the story of how & why that tattoo came to be on that person's body. I had to pick this book up at the library since I got my first (very meaningful & literary) tattoo a couple months ago. :)

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty and lovely. Saw this in a bookstore in London last year and was crushed I couldn't take it with me, because it was too bulky to transport back home. Found it last weekend in a remainder bookstore for $10. Love you, universe.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a wonderful, short read to break up the heaviness of the past few weeks. It's been difficult for me to hold attention on books with substance lately, but I've been yearning for some stories in an easier to digest format. It caught my attention a couple years back when it was published but I never got around to reading it--seeing it as a Scribd unlimited pick for July gave me the motivation. I'm glad I finally did!

This book is less about the tattoos and more about stories. For each person, there is a beautiful drawing of his/her ink, then an anecdote about the story behind their tattoo. The art is beautiful & colorful, and the stories, like people, vary from moving, to silly, to sentimental. It's a great balance & no story is longer than a page, so it's easy to pick up and leave off where necessary. Most importantly, this book is a great reminder of the diversity of humanity. We all have a story to share.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have this fascination with tattoos. Having none myself, I either can't make up my mind about the imagery/design, but rather being simply scared for the pain. And the regret that might come of having a permanent mark on my body. Which doesn't mean I can't still admire them on someone else.

This book has illustrated images of the wearer with the tattoo(s) instead of photographs, which enhances the art of drawing and designing tattoos. Each one has a story and meaning. Some deep, a few emotional, others just plain funny.

[Adrienne Michetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohhhhhhh so gorgeous: the stories, the illustrations, the people, the concept, the diversity, the experiences. This is a tremendous tribute to how people's ink defines them. I am so glad I purchased it; I will read it over and over again. I feel like this is a reference book, one that will stay on my coffee table for a good long while.

[KT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pen & Ink was essentially a grown-up picture book and I absolutely loved it! It offers short, intimate one shot stories behind strangers' tattoos that feel a little like people-watching and a little like striking up a conversation with a friendly person at a bar. There were also some recognizable authors and artists featured, which made a charming addition. If you're a fan of the Instagram account and photoblog Humans of NY you will enjoy this one.

Having gotten my own tattoos, I understand what powerful mediums they can be for capturing core parts of a person's identity. Some stories made me laugh, some felt like a warm hug, and some straight up made me want to call my parents to tell them I love them. Though the art style wasn't my cup of tea, this was a wonderfully varied collection and would make a great addition to a coffee table.

TL;DR—A heartwarming and fun collection! 4/5 stars.

[Jessica-Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the idea of a book all about the artistic representations of tattoos, which is why I was so instantly drawn to Pen & Ink. This book is very minimalist and allows each tattoo and the accompanying story to really shine on its own. Unfortunately, I was expecting a little bit more. The book was rather sparse for my liking and this fact is only emphasized by all that white space. Part of me thinks this would work better as a tumblr blog than a book because there just wasn't enough there.

If you're looking to check this out then I would highly recommend this. It is so quick and easy to consume that there isn't a bad side to taking a moment to flip though and really soak in each story. Just count on the read being very, very quick.

(On another note though, this might be a good gift idea for that friend who is thinking of getting a new tattoo.)

[Christopher Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charmingly unique tattoo gift book. This is such a breath of fresh air from all the typical books full of page after page of poorly lit photographs of the same type of tattoo over and over. Pen & Ink features fun line drawings of people's most personal tattoos, with short essays on their meanings that range from laugh-out-loud funny to deeply personal. If you put this on your coffee table, Pen & Ink is guaranteed to spark up a conversation.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sitting at the library today looking through books and found this ... the illustrations are fun as well as the stories behind the tattoos. I’ve toyed with the idea to have my kids names tattooed somewhere but my husband would NOT like that. He’s not a fan of tattoos; he says he likes art on paper or canvas. To each his own.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fun and sometimes heartbreaking exploration of people's decisions to get a tattoo. The illustrations are great, relatively simplistic with the only color being devoted to the depiction of the tattoo itself. Having the tattoos illustrated rather than just being photographs gives more of a feel of artwork, which is very fitting since I've always thought of tattoos as permanent art. Each tattoo has a short story behind why the person chose to get them and they verge from the silly "I just love pizza" to the heartbreaking "my dad fell into a coma and never woke up". If you like tattoos or are just curious about what makes people get them, I'd highly recommend it!

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because I love ink and stories and people's decisions to tell their stories through their bodies. Permanently. There's something poetic and romantic and bold about that. Anyway, this book is not a novel but it's one of those texts I wish I had conceptualized myself. Maybe someday.

I got this book for my birthday and I love birthdays too.

[connie]

This is an easy, flip-through, almost a coffee table book of side by sides of replicas of real life tattoos with the story behind the tattoos by the people who have them. The stories range from heartfelt, for people who have lost loved ones, to straight up whacky, but all of them have a story, and I love that. I was also very surprised to read Kirsty Logan's story behind her tattoo. It feels like everywhere I turn since starting her and Heather Parry's Teenage Scream podcast she's there, but I can't say I don't love it.

I'm actually considering getting my first tattoo, and a lot of the stories in this are of first tattoos, which is helping me decide what I want to get. Tattoos are permanent, sure, but I feel like we build up this fear of having them done when they probably aren't as terrifying as we first think? My dad was a tattoo artist when I was growing up, and him and my mum have quite a few, so I have less of that fear, but I just think it's fascinating. Definitely going to start looking for more books on tattoos and stories behind them.

[Jordan B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love tattoos, I have three of my own, of various sizes and some have more elaborate personal meanings to me than others. I really like the idea of this book as I love hearing stories, big and small about other people's tattoos but the font in this book was kind of nauseating to read as it mimics handwriting. The drawings are quirky and cute though and I thought it was a nice enough book to flip through.

[Courtney Mosier Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am interested in tattoos that people get and why they get them from an almost anthropological perspective. This book was beautiful in its communication on that exact subject. A lovely and light read.

[Brittany Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you pick a book because it’s short and has pictures, although Pen & Ink: Tattoos and the Stories Behind Them is much more than just a quick read. It reminds me of "Humans of New York" with its brief but often intimate glances into a stranger’s life.

[DW]

Whimsical, varied one page stories and statements from all sorts of people and why they got the tattoos they did. The images of the tattoos are illustrations and not photographs but it really works for the material. Yep. Now I want another tattoo.

[MK LaFs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of those stories made me cry. I don’t have any tattoos but maybe I’ll eventually want one.

[Donna Clay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely drawings and stories as to the reason behind the tattoos. I'm not "into" tats so much but admired the art and stories!

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I don't have any tattoos yet, I am fascinated by tattoos that people select and what they mean to them. However, the heart of this book is the stories of people and how they are depicted through gorgeous illustrations.

[Conan The Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy interesante, muy interesante y algunas de las historias son muy emotivas en verdad

[Tracey Allen at Carpe Librum · Rating 3 out of 5]

* Copy from Allen & Unwin for review *

I've noticed more and more people seem to have tattoos these days, and although I've had mine for more than 16 years, I might be thinking about getting another one.

Whether I do or not, I always enjoy looking at other tattoos and of course pondering the stories behind them. Isaac Fitzgerald is the editor at BuzzFeed Books and has put together a book of tattoos from people from all walks of life and the personal stories behind each one. Illustrated by Wendy MacNaughton, the result is Pen & Ink: Tattoos & The Stories Behind Them.

I'll admit it was unusual to read a book about tattoos without colour photographs of the artwork, but I'll admit a certain pleasure seeing the drawings of the art instead; no trouble with poor lighting or distractions from the human canvases.

Pen & Ink: Tattoos & The Stories Behind Them. would make a great Christmas gift.

[Marathon County Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

People have been tattooing their bodies for thousands of years. Some tattoos are thought about for years and others are spur of the moment decisions. I have always been fascinated by the stories behind the art and so this book was a perfect find. Each tattoo is artistically recreated and accompanied by the person's story. Some stories are funny, others emotional, but all are as unique as the individual and their tattoo. Whether you have ink, are contemplating it, or just appreciate the art, I highly recommend checking out this book.

Bettina P. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.

[Swan Bender · Rating 4 out of 5]

My feelings that tattoos are a very personal thing for each individual did not change after reading this book. I thought I would find some hidden gems but what I found were the personal connections people felt or reasoned for having tattoos that meant more to them than they ever could to an outsider looking in. I also was mildly disappointed by many of the stories as they paled against the desire to mark oneself for the rest of life. The bigger disappointment for me with the book was the depiction of the tattoos as I was expecting more vivid imagery.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

While some people, such as my dad, continue to declare all tattoos "trashy"--they're just like any other way of adorning the body--they are what you make of them. Yes, a few of the tattoos in this book are stupid and have stupid stories behind them, but the majority are touching and hold far deeper meaning to their owners than someone simply trying to "rebel." (And honestly, if you are doing something nearly half of the rest of the population is doing, are you really rebelling?)

[Eve Martinson-McQuaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bodies with tattoos are so beautiful, interesting, and delicate to me. And there's always some kind of story behind one, so this book is genius.

The idea to recreate tattoos as another form of art in drawings is SO GREAT. And the drawings are so simple and beautiful. I don't think a picture could have done what these drawings do.

Some of the stories broke my heart, and others made me laugh. This was a quick but inspiring read.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by this book. Some of the stories were funny, some were touching, some were both. I really enjoyed the style. I loved that the pictures were drawings instead of photographs. Appropriate.