Charles M. Schulz's approach to cartooning was to take out the extraneous details and leave in 'only what's necessary.' For fifty years, Schulz wrote and illustrated Peanuts, the single most popular and influential comic strip in the world. 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.

Reproducing the best of the Peanuts newspaper strip, all shot off the original art by award-winning photographer Geoff Spear, the book features ancillary images from the archives, including exclusive, rare and unpublished original art and developmental work-many never seen before their inclusion in this book. Only What's Necessary is sure to give Peanuts fans the world over a reason to celebrate.