Way back in 1964, when the editors at SPORTS ILLUSTRATED first dreamed up a swimsuit issue, they were merely trying to keep their readers warm in the midst of yet another cold and boring February. Little did they know that they were launching a national insitution. That first issue had two models and devoted six pages to swimsuits; 37 years later, the SI swimsuit issue is seen-devoured, studied, savored-by more than 60 million people worldwide.

This book presents the best of the exotic-and often erotic-images taken for SPORTS ILLUSTRATED by some of the world"s most acclaimed photographers. Included are photographs of Cheryl Tiegs, Christie Brinkley, Kathy Ireland, Heidi Klum Paulina Porizkova, Elle Macpherson and Tyra Banks.