5 comments about Frank Lloyd Wright Field Guide: Includes All United States and International Sites (Frank Lloyd Wright).

1. I have used my guidebooks for years as a reference resource. Now having them all together in one place makes it much easier to work with and compare photos and notes. The tidbits of information are just enough to get an idea of the house, anymore would make it too difficult to work with as a 'field guide'. I definitely recommend keeping this book on your shelf.



2. This is not your typical Wright book filled with beautiful pictures for your coffee table. This is a Field Guide for the Wright aficionado who wants to see the buildings "in the flesh." It is meant to be kept in the glove compartment of your car or as a permanent part of your luggage. Maybe you should get one for both places. The star ratings indicate not only the quality of the design but also how well you can see the house from the street without treading on private property. In other words... it helps you decide if the trip to this site is worth your time and effort. The photos are generally of what you can see from the street, so that you will know you are in the Wright place! The descriptions that accompany each site are not just about the building, but usually more about the owners and their occupations and connections to other Wright clients or interesting people. You will not be able to find this historical information elsewhere. Other sites that will be of interest to the purchasers of this book are ones associated with Wright, like the Auditorium by Adler & Sullivan in downtown Chicago and some buildings that were built after Mr. Wright's death based on archived drawings. When the second edition comes out it should have a spiral binding.



3. A friend recently used this book as guide to search out homes in the mid-west and found it to be accurate and very helpful. A must have for all Wright enthusiasts.



4. I bought this for my dad who's building a prarie-style home and is the biggest FLW fan I've ever met. He loved it and said that he'd never seen anything like it. He's planning a future business trip around seeing some of the houses listed in this guide. I was surprised at what a hit it was.



5. The real value of this book is the detailed locational information, GPS coordinates, and information on how one can see the structures without tresspassing. If you are looking for historical info or pretty pictures, this isn't the book. But if you want to see as many of Wright's buildings as possible when traveling this book is the one to have so you don't waste your time travelling to places where the structures are completely off limits. Fantastic.

1 comments about Usonia, New York: Building a Community with Frank Lloyd Wright.

1. This is an excellent book: Well-written and thoroughly illustrated, it literally answered all my questions about this astonishing community in suburban NYC. Although I've walked through the community I now feel the need to return as a more informed observer!

1 comments about Frank Lloyd Wright: His Life and His Architecture.

1. This book is very good to understand the works of Wright. The biography put always in parrallel his life with his works, so it is interesting to understand why he makes one project or another at a certain time. the books has also a good selection of photography and drawings not seen in must of the others books.

1 comments about Frank Lloyd Wright (Design Monograph).

1. The photos fill about 58 straight pages with only a few taking up less than the full page. At the back there's 6 pages with miniture sized versions of the photos in the book with an accompanying informational couple of sentences. The photos are excellent with most being exterior shots but a few of specific furniture items, about 5 of chairs. There's a 12 page text only introduction that does a nice overview of the subject. I'm not sure why anyone makes a color photo book of FLW buildings that isn't 11" or larger but this is one sweet book. It's the quality of the photos and the full use of most of the pages with photos with no white paper borders to shrink the photos. It's a nice compliment to a big FLW photo book collection. Not essential, but pleasant.

5 comments about Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian Houses: Designs for Moderate Cost One-Family Homes.

1. It seems that this important phase in Wright's illustrious career has not been given the attention it deserves. As Frank Sergeant noted, Wright was most proud of his Usonian Homes and actively promoted his vision of a "Broadacre City." Unfortunately, Sergeant's book was the product of the 70's. He offers a good text, but poor photographs and mediocre illustrations that don't give the reader a compelling vision of these homes.

   Wright started with the Jacobs House, built in the late 30's, which got the ball rolling. With a lot of sweat and material contributions by the owners, they were able to keep the cost near the $5000 budget Wright had set. He wanted these homes to be affordable, clean, efficient dwellings that reflected his streamlined view of America. Wright abhorred the wasteful society America had become, and envisioned a "Broadacre City" that would satisfy Americans' insatiable appetite for detached homes, without destroying the landscape in the process. He incorporated many passive solar features into these homes, relied on natural materials, and as always created an open plan that characterized the democratic nature of society.

   More enticing books are now available on Usonian homes, but Sergeant's book is a good place to start in getting an impression of the quality of these homes, and how they came to shape America's suburban lifestyle.




2. This book was one of my earlier books on FLLW and used heavily in my undergraduate class at Iowa State University in my early 80's tenure there. The bbok had no other precedent at the time and is still to be considered the most complete text with the reader going away from the book with a good understanding of the usonians unique place in history. The construction method and inclusion of the Oskaloosa IA home is very helpful in understanding the mid 50's time period in America and the people's thoughts and images before them of available home plans at that time. I think the layout was fairly well done and photos were a little poor exposure, blurry, dark on some --however considering the originals were used as photos I don't think it's too badly done. It doesn't have ALL of his work and certainly doesn't show the 'projects' he designed that weren't built however more complete than any current titles which have the words 'USONIA' in them currently. Even though I own the newer 'USONIA' books also they aren't as fulfilling as this original book by Sargent. I'm sure you'll agree.



3. I asked a Usonian "fanatic" about buying this book, and he told me that he owned it, but "never could get through it." I bought it anyway, and now I see what he means. Excerpt from page 62: "Symmetrical implications of the wig-wam roof-form of the living area are immediately combated by the off-center core and built-in seat and table."
   
   WHAT? After five minutes of staring at the floor plan, I finally deduce that this must be some reference to a group of unmarked "things" there in what must be the living room. Of course, nothing is marked, and I still can't be sure what this sentence means because there are no useful photos or sketches to clarify the point. Lack of decent illustrations makes this book a nightmare to read. Another example, Page 68: "... utility... sensations...and...materials all make the Pew house, for me, the greatest of Wright's late career." This is accompanied by a single 3" x 5" high contrast, B&W photo of the house from a distance, partially obscured by trees. The author calls it the greatest work of Wright's career, and it is impossible to tell what it looks like.
   
   Thank goodness I also bought "The Frank Lloyd Wright Companion" so I can actually see some decent photos and floorplans. This book could just as well be written in Braille.



4. My impetus for purchasing this book last month was a visit to the home my parents built in 1956 in New Jersey. They designed it themselves with a bit of help from books by Frank Lloyd Wright and others (his "Natural House", for instance), but the interpretation was their own. I was a middle-aged adult before I realized that the house could be classed among the "Usonians", although it was not a Wright commission, and this visit stimulated my desire to know more about the "real" ones. I bought this book as a start and agree with the other reviewers here that the book is a bit too "design-driven" to answer all one might want to know. But it is a basic book on the subject (published 1984--about when I discovered the Usonian possibility), and it covers well the principles of the Usonian: affordability, open plan on a grid, built-in essentials, and underfloor/radiant heating. The book's many appendices allow the reader to see how Wright organized his business and related to his clients. Twenty-two years after it was published this book is still a good starting point for learning about the Usonian house and Wright's commitment to 'everyman/woman'.



5. This is a very good book for the purpose it was written for. Nice historical information about the development of Wright's Usonian homes.

5 comments about Frank Lloyd Wright Mid-Century Modern.

1. The description:
   
   "With lavish, new, previously unpublished color photographs and detailed plans"
   
   is not quite accurate. And while there are some new photographs, there are no detailed plans of any kind. And most of the photographs are really no different in content than can be found in some other books. In additon, there is practically no technical information in any of the photo captions.
   
   It would been nice to have other houses covered in this book that have not appeared in countless other books. Many of the subjects here have been beat to death.



2. Very comprehensive with new photos not shown before. As new owner of the Dorothy Turkel House in Detroit I was pleasantly suprised with 6 pages on our house. There is so much interest in Mr Wrights houses i cant believe it. Very timely.



3. Wow what great photographs and the essay's are great too. What really put me off - infact it angered me, the incorrect name used not once but twice for Harold Price - it is listed as Herbert. I just cannot believe that through all the proof readings and all the eyes writing this book that this attrosity was not found. Bad publishing. Other wise the information and photos are great - just wish there was alittle more care put into the proof reading.



4. I approached this book with some trepidation, as I suspected there would be much duplication of the material presented in "Frank Lloyd Wright: The Houses". As approximately 60% of the houses presented here were given to us in the earlier title, these suspicions proved to be correct, yet I am giving this book 4 stars. Why?
   
   This time, unlike what was done in "FLW: Prairie Houses", there has been some effort made to present different views of the repeated houses. However, be advised that there is reuse of the identical photos in many cases. What redeems this book are the seldom published houses that are presented. To those very familiar with Wright the names Buehler, Hughes, Neils, Pearce, Brown, Berger, et al will ring a bell, but may not bring a clear image to mind. Now the images are provided and great images they are. Often full page views of this wonderful architecture.These photos will draw you into serene spaces that are at one with nature. Almost 50 years after his death the artistry of this man still amazes. So, pick up a copy, settle into a comfy chair and prepare to be amazed.



5. Comprehensive photos of the interiors and exteriors of Wright's homes.
   One is able to see the materials used, arrangement of furniture and colors he chose. Just what I was looking for. Beautiful book.

5 comments about Cut & Assemble Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House (Cut & Assemble Buildings in H-O Scale).

1. This is not a book for young kids, with more than 100 pieces to be cut from the book and assembled, but for those with a steady hand and an Xacto knife, this is a fun way to see some of the detail usually missed in photos of the Robie House.



2. I worked diligently according to the instructions but when I reached piece 57 (of 130+ total pieces), I found that the instructions for assembly were wrong, or that the piece was printed incorrectly -- very frustrating experience!



3. If you're a fan of the works of Wright, and have experience with detail oriented hobbies, you will likely find this a challenging but "do-able" project. For example, I've built plastic model kits for over thirty years, and it took me about three and a half months to complete the house, working on the standard hobbyist schedule (i.e. nights and weekends when I felt like it). Be aware that even with careful assembly, the finished product reflects the limitations of card stock - the long, thin pieces (notably, the wall around the front of the house) tend to become a bit wavy when folded and glued. Still, if you have the patience, and are comfortable with the investment of time involved, you'll end up with a nice replica of an architecturally significant home.



4. Agree with other reviews. Emphasize that this is for an advanced modeler with modeling patience. Card stock is difficult when use to other material. Some of the referenced difficulties may be avoided by careful and thorough scoring. No idea as to the modeling accuracy, but the presentation looks real good. Especially when presented with the book, FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S ROBIE HOUSE.



5. If you are even attempting to take on this project, you are likely a fan of Wright's work. It helps to know Wright's style and history. There are some flaws or omissions in the instructions (see ref to part #57 in other review) and one or two errors in the printing. Not for kids or the impatient. As you gain experience the task becomes easier as you are able to anticipate how things will come together. The finished product is very attractive and unique. An inexpensive project for cold, winter nights.

4 comments about Drawings and Plans of Frank Lloyd Wright: The Early Period (1893-1909).

1. A republication of the of the work first published by Wasmuth, Berlin, 1910. Plate headings are translated into English and there is a glossary of the German terms found in the ground plans. There is an essay by Wright, "Studies and Executed Buildings", written in Florence, Italy, 1910. These are the early houses and commercial buildings by Wright which even today remain modern and relevant; with the incorporation of up-to-date bathrooms, they would eclipse most of what is being designed today by leading architects. No color, and all line drawings, but you can spend hours studying the plans and admiring the elevation drawings.



2. We were fortunate to find one of the original prints while visiting a Chicago gallery. Unfortunately owning more than one print was well beyond our price range. This book captures the entire collection beautifully. These prints do Frank Lloyd Wright and his work justice, and the details are so interesting.



3. Una raccolta di disegni da non perdere, in cui la cura del dettaglio e la ricerca estetica invitano a scoprire il lavoro minuzioso di Frank Lloyd Wright. Un libro che non può mancare nella collezione.



4. This books brings an insight into the early designs of Frank Lyod Wright. The drawings are consisce and well represented. It is a must for any student of home design.

2 comments about The Real Thing: Imitation and Authenticity in American Culture, 1880-1940 (Cultural Studies of the United States).

1. Orvell's THE REAL THING is the sort of book I wish I'd written. It is entertaining, wide-ranging across many cultural genres, and offers a coherent and stimulating account of American culture in the late 29th and early 20th centuries. It is especially acute on such complex and difficult-to-classify cultural phenomena as the rise of department stores and mass-produced consumer goods, the "aestheticizing" photographs of the machine-age city (and even of machine parts themselves) by such artists as Alfred Stieglitz and Paul Strand. An outstanding study I return to again and again.



2. This is not a casual reading book. In order to enjoy this book you have to be interested in Imitation and Authenticity before you crack the cover, because Mile Orvell does not attempt to make the topic friendly. He is well researched, but his writing style is dry, and it feels as if Orvell is trying to show how intelligent he is, rather than adding more to this promising topic.

4 comments about Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie Houses.

1. A sequel to the early collaboration of Alan Weintraub and Alan Hess on Frank Lloyd Wright houses, this work focuses on a series of houses the Wright office completed at the first decade of the century, dubbed "Prairie Style." The book contains some brief essays, prefaces, and then a series of phenomenal photographs of what are arguably the most influential group of houses of the twentieth century.
   
   Ironically the impact of these Prairie houses was spread through the lithographs of the "Wasmuth Portfolio" - line drawings of these houses that captivated the European modernists when published in 1910. These line drawings are still the way this group of houses is often reproduced, taught, or shown in slides in art history class. This book stands as an immediate corrective to that.
   
   These photographs are extraordinarily rich, and must be said to complement Wright's work quite well. They include luminous photographs of the interiors, beautiful examples of the exteriors, really these are the next best thing to a trip to Oak Park to see the work directly.
   
   I would highly recommend the book to anyone interested in Wright, or architecture, and this book sure would make a perfect gift.
   
   As a very minor complaint, compared to the previous book where the subject was Wright's entire career of houses, as this one focuses on the Prairie Style it would have been nice to have some comparisons to the Prairie work other architects were creating in Chicago. Also, the authors make no acknowledgement that Wright created these houses in the context of an architectural studio practice, and so the efforts of his talented contributers such as Marion Mahoney go unmentioned.



2. In the wake of the magnificent "Frank Lloyd Wright: The Houses", this followup volume disappoints on several levels. I expected some duplication with the earlier book. Certainly, extended coverage of the iconic works such as Dana, Robie and Coonley was warranted. As pointed out in my review of the previous book, many houses received coverage only via a thumbnail photo appendix. I anticipated these works would receive expanded coverage here, for the most part I was wrong. What we get instead is much duplication with "FLW:The Houses": of the 22 houses presented here 15 were in the previous volume. There is also reuse of many of the same photos, sometimes cropped slightly differently sometimes identical. Also disappointing is the size of the new volume. It is quite a bit smaller in format with the resultant lessening of impact by the still great photos.
   To sum up, if I had to buy only one book it would be "FLW: The Houses". This holds true even if my major interest was the Prairie period alone. Will a followup Usonian era volume provide the same needless duplication?



3. Given the the high quality of Frank Lloyd Wright The Houses, this book was disappointing.



4. Frank Lloyd Wright's work around 1900 developed what are called the Prairie Houses. These houses split off from traditional American architecture to establish themselves as the start of what is truly American. These houses are open with horizontal lines that reflect the prairie from which they get their names.
   
   One surprising thing about the Prairie Houses is that they still look so modern that they could fit into any new sub-division being developed today. They certainly formed the foundations from which the Bungalow designs which followed.
   
   Another surprising thing about the Prairie Houses is that so many of them remain standing, and that so many of them have remained or been restored to as new condition. After all, these houses are a hundred years old, and many of their light fixtures, cabinets, things that get a lot of ware are still around.
   
   The book is beautifully printed and cloth bound. Another recommended book on a Wright Prairie House is Frank Lloyd Wright's Rosenbaum House which describes the house, but also the effort that it took to restore the house to its original form. The house took $14,000 to build, over a half million to restore.