5 comments about Greene and Greene: Masterworks.

1. A superb look a the Greene Brother's masterpiece ultimate bungalows. It includes some of the best Greene and Greene photography I've ever seen, and has a very good look at the details of the architecture, and the internals of the Greene and Greene houses. This book focuses more on the houses themselves, and the fixed appointments therein, rather than the furniture itself. Influences on the Greenes are coupled with a well laid out timeline give you a real view into the evolution of their style.



2. Excellent! The best book on this subject I've ever seen...



3. Superb photoraphic illustration depicts the design genius of the Greene brothers. A comprehensive study of leading architects of the Arts & Crafts movement...a high compliment to the monumental craftsmanship of those who executed their designs.



4. The book is beautiful, filled with both architectural ideas and furnishing ideas for items done in the craftsman style. I purchased the book for these ideas and was delighted with all the pictures. Some of the stonework illustrated is breathtaking in its beauty.



5. We were very disappointed at the quality of printing, inferior paper stock, and lack of clarity in the photographs. At the "coffee table" price we were expecting much higher resolution in the color photographs and better quality paper.

1 comments about Residential Interior Design: A Guide to Planning Spaces.

1. As a textbook purchased for class its great. It works great as a reference guide when your doing a project.

5 comments about Stories in Stone.

1. Need something to do? Grab this book and head towards the cemetery! Being more than just a final resting place, cemeteries offer so much more for the living than just a place to visit our dearly departed. There is so much history and symbolism in cemeteries and I can't think of a better tribute to those who lie beneath the stones than taking the time to understand who they were. Hanging out in a cemetery isn't creepy, it's a learning experience. This book is the perfect size and the photos and research really show the authors passion for this subject.



2. An outstanding book about the symbolism of tombstone art. It shows an enormous amount of research and conveys the meanings in everyday vernacular. 5 stars for sure



3. This is the book I've always been looking for, and just didn't know it. Not only is this a fabulous reference book for taphophile, but it's also just good reading. As much time as I have spent wandering and working in cemeteries, I've learned some interesting facts. The book is also quite lovely, and well organized. And the facts seem well researched, and gives quotes from the appropriate religious texts when appropriate. It also gives more than the Christian context for many of the symbols and seems well balanced for an overview of American cemeteries. I knew within seconds of browsing this book I had to have it, and it's been nothing but wonderful since.



4. This book is excellent for anyone interested in cemetery symbolism and/or genealogy. The photographs make it all the easier to understand. I highly recommend this book...it's one of the best of it's kind that I have found.



5. I found this a facinating book. It was ordered for one particular cemetery display but was found to contain some amazing monumnets. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cemetery or religious art.

3 comments about Meier: Richard Meier & Partners, Complete Works 1963-2008.

1. This is a very large book with excellant photos of Meier's work. It also includes some very current work; like housing in Venice Italy. Plans of all the projects are also printed in high resolution.



2. Richard Meier is most talented contemporary architect in the World. His architecture based on human scale, gold proportions and organic design. His Getty Center still is the Worlds most beautifully designed complex, organically integrated to the natural landscape. The complex is so dynamic that walking through the complex opening hundreds of different points of view, fantastic perspectives. Same way designed all Richard Meier publications, all of them very well proportioned (basically squared) with beautiful layout of the pages; each page could represent individual art work.
   However this particular publication is gigantic in size: 17.8" x 13.5" x 2.6". This book is extremely heavy and is not fitting any bookcase cells. This is more like architectural poster book. Unfortunately the human eyes can not oversee the poster size photographs from the reading distance. I wish this book could be published in more Human Scale, as all previous Richard Meier's publications. Book pages have been beautifully designed and have excellent composition of photographs and drawings. The photographs are very sharp, beautifully laid out on the pages and in focus despite of large format.



3. This really is the definative book on the singular Richard Meier. The images are vivid and the text is well researched and respectful to his work. Meier's signature is, of course, the crisp, white, modern, with lots of glass and steel and this book shows these structures at their most advantageous. If you have any interest in Meier, or just appreciate fine books on breathtaking subjects, then I can't imagine you being disappointed.

No comments about Marmol Radziner + Associates: Between Architecture and Construction.

5 comments about Managerial Economics & Organizational Architecture.

1. Rarely do I feel inspired to write about technical books, or my graduate school textbooks, but this one is so good that I just can't resist.
   
   This book is all about the quality of the content rather than the flashiness of the typeset. Colors are few on these pages, but the instructional quality in the text is really superb. When I read this book, I feel like I'm getting a real, fundamental analysis of what a firm really is, and why the basic principles of microeconomics are so important and robust. Mathematical content is relatively thin (though not absent) in this book, the authors favoring a visual, conceptual approach to this highly technical topic. It works beautifully, especially for those of us who want to understand the concept of the firm but come from non-technical backgrounds. Potential readers should not get the idea that all this means that the book is "dumbed down" in any way. The three authors, all distinguished economists at the University of Rochester, maintain the highest standards of intellectual rigor. Chapter 3 is the most lucid summary of essential economic theory I have ever read. But keep in mind that this is a textbook, intended for student use. It is NOT a penetrating analysis of the leading edge of research in economic theory.
   
   The whole thing comes off a bit like a "philosophy of the firm," with abundant historical context, modern minicases, and lucid behavioral insights. I waited almost two years in my MBA program to come across this one, and my confidence in the academic business literature is restored!
   
   As you know and expect, this book is hideously expensive. It's worth the cost, but if you can find a way to buy it used or at a discount... But, by all means, get the latest edition. Books like this go out of date rapidly.



2. This book is very easy to follow and gets straight to the point. It has allow me to develop a very good understanding of how organizational makeup can impact the progress of an organization and its stakeholders.



3. I'm a consultant and this book is quite good in order to improve my performance during my job.



4. This book has two real aspects.
   
   First is is a good general introduction to economics that might be used at the upper undergraduate or MBA level. Note the title says that it is 'Managerial Economics.' This book is aimed at the student following a management track rather than a professional economics track. The concept of the book is to give an overview of all aspects of economic theory without a heavy concentration in any one particular area.
   
   Second, this is the fourth edition of the book. This was made necessary because of the great changes that have occurred as a result of Enron, Arthur Anderson and the other companies that collectively made great changes in the business environment. One such change is the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, discussed at length here even though it is still too new to realize its full implications.
   
   The case studies that are included reflect these new times: Arthur Anderson, Barings Bank, Interwest Healthcare, Property Right Security in Russian Deprivatization, eBay.com, iTunes, Wal-Mart.com and others that could come directly off of today's headlines.
   
   This is a new and up-to-date edition of a well received book.



5. I just finished a Managerial Economics MBA course that used this text. I found it to be very well written compared to textbooks I've read for other classes. I think it does a good job explaining supply and demand, intro to pricing, and intro to strategy and game theory. Examples are used to improve the reader's "economic" intuition. I talked to a friend who just finished a differnt MBA program who used this book. He recommended the book and especially liked the strategy segments and the prisoner's dilema.

5 comments about The Art of Painting Animals on Rocks.

1. I purchased this book for my father who loves to do painting and other art work as hobbies. The pictures and the descriptions are very good. I recommend this book.



2. It is realy an art. I guess practice is what makes this rocks look beautiful.
   You must love to paint, plus you need talent. At the end the time and effort is worthy. Get this book if you really feel a passion por painting animals in rocks.



3. Fast shipping. Book smells like mildew.
   Lots of good fun with this book.



4. Love this author. This book is outstanding. Can not wait to get started.



5. I enjoyed this work from the moment I opened it. This book is not only "pretty," it is actually useful. The illustrations are perfect and uncomplicated. The text is easy to follow. Even someone with minimum artistic tallent, such as myself, can actually creat something quite pretty and eye catching. The author offers step by step instructions which even includes how to choose your rock. She gives examples of quite simple projects (like lady bugs), to more complex projects. I simply cannot see how you could go wrong owning and using this one. It has given me a lot of pleasure. Highly recommend this one!

5 comments about Treehouses & Playhouses You Can Build.

1. This book is exactly what I was looking for. It has several treehouses to choose from and great step by step directions. It even has extra's that may be added. I love the creativity and great ideas in this book! Also the shipping was fast.



2. ...if you plan to build a treehouse yourself. If not this one, than any other from same author.
   It's that simple.



3. This is the latest installment in a long string of wonderful books from David and Jeanie Stiles. Inside you won't find glossy, double page spreads of extravagant treehouses ... this is not a coffee table book. Rather, it is a how-to book, and the best one available for those that want to build their own whimsical play structure. Inside you will find excellent line drawings and readable explanations of intelligent, creative, and well though-out designs.
   
   David starts with the basics: tools. From there you follow a complete and logical progression to completed treehouse. In between you'll get solid building advice. David has built his designs. He knows how to make life easier for you by using common materials and minimizing cuts. The building advice is spot on throughout.
   
   The huge, huge, huge problem with this book is the 20 or so options David gives you for connecting lumber to tree. They are almost all bad. Never girdle a growing limb with rope or cable. Never use nails. This leaves you with only lag bolting. To be sure, there are other ways. But the only safe and tree-friendly way presented in this book (and any of his other works) is to use lags.
   
   This is the by far the best book to give to a young builder and is probably a treasure to any 8 or 9 year old lucky enough to have a copy. It will get their mind working. The crazy schemes they come up with will amaze you.
   
   The ideas inside this book are great. Fun, imaginative, unique. If you know a young boy (or girl) with a tree, get him this book. And when it comes time to actually build their creation, call an arborist and he'll set you straight about properly attaching it to a tree.



4. Tree house building is complex.
   This book will help you decide.
   Ideas are informative; but skills are needed.



5. I built the Treeless Treehouse on page 81. During the project, I found the instructions lacking, and sometimes incorrect. Dimensions critical to building were many times left out. There might have been a bright side to this, as I now know my trigonometry, which was critical to getting lengths right. I also found that the recommended decking was heavy and hard to work with. They recommended 2X6 in order to reduce the number of floor joists. A bad trade-off in my opinion, as these are heavier and harder to work with than a 1X6. They recommended installing the railing posts inside the deck as opposed to the outside. A bad recommendation in my opinion, as it necessitated cutting patterns out of 2X6 which is hard to do. In fact, they recommend using a jig saw for this. I used a skill saw and a hand saw. I don't think a jig saw would cut it. I recommend looking elsewhere for a do-it-yourself book.

4 comments about Hariri and Hariri Houses.

1. This book is a woonderfull piece of art. lots of photos and explanation. highlly recomended for those who like contemporary art as well as a good point of view for the city life/



2. Excellent collection of stunning photos by incredible team! I can look at these photos for hours and still find something to admire!



3. Somewhat of a coffee table type book - not much technical stuff...nonetheless the pictures of the great homes are worth the price of this publication. Nicely photographed material that provides much design inspiration.



4. To word it simply, the houses designed by the Hariri sisters are the most dramatic small buildings I have ever seen. Here you will not find gigantic homes built to use size to impress. The Spartan House, built in the Hague, Netherlands was required to have a house footprint no bigger than 26 by 33 feet. Yet even in that small a space their house standa out.
   
   More than just the exterior design, Hariri houses have an integrated feeling that the rooms flow from one to another following the function that is needed with a minimal disruption to the esthetic sense.
   
   Their houses are modern, some even ultra modern, combining the look of steel and glass with the natural look of wood and rock. All appear to be designed to have an absolutely minimal amount of maintenance and a lifetime that will be close to forever.
   
   Some of the houses shown here are just design studies, the Digital House, where the walls are made of LCD's. Others have been built literally around the world.
   
   When you are getting ready to do your new beach house in Miami, here would be a good place to start looking.

5 comments about Practical Pole Building Construction: With Plans for Barns, Cabins, & Outbuildings.

1. This book is fine, as far as it goes, but does not address the trend towards using cast concrete pole bases and untreated poles rather than using direct-burial treated poles.



2. This is a very complete book that doesn't leave the reader asking for details like so many others. It's written so beginners can understand it and it contains all the design criteria, load tables, joint details, and so forth that an experienced builder needs to get a building permit and construct a building. Seddon inlcudes practical "how to" answers beginning with construction of a temporary frame to lift tall poles into holes in the ground without killing yourself trying. Framing and jointing details, connections, siding, windows and finish are all here. I built many stick frame homes over several years and was looking for information on construction of a pole frame home. I found it very useful and practical.



3. Although the book had some helpful hints I was looking for more practical instructions on how to build a pole barn. The book did not go in deepth enough and had little information on pole barns. I was looking for ideas to help setting the floor grade and where to get started after lay-out is finished



4. This book is very good. The information is presented in great detail in a very useable way. I found myself wanting to build with poles! Highly recomended.
   Sincerly, Adelbert M. Vinal Jr.



5. I'm 2/3 done with a garage that's based on a plan in this book. I'm using this book for pole barn-specific info, and "Building a Multi-Use Barn : For Garage, Animals, W..." for the rest. Together, these two books give me enough information, without going overboard. Good luck to you; I'm having a blast!