5 comments about Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis: Opportunistic Architecture.

1. I strongly recommend this book to not only those are pretty familiar with LTL's works but also some one who's just curious about what's going on in today's architecture/design world. The book is not big and there are not many projects in it. But each and every one is well delineated. The design thoughts of LTL is disseminated like a pin-up review at the end of a semester. It could well be a portfolio style reference for guys still struggling at arch schools or young professionals who's trying to impress the clients/employees by their design talents. Nice work, LTL.



2. I am a big fan of Lewis.Tsurumake.Lewis, so this book is like a full version. I really love it. The projects are interesting and the drawing is extremely nice.



3. A fantastically compiled and diagrammatically explained book. I highly recommend it to all design conscious students for its superfluously direct imagery. Well worth the $$'s .
   
   So what are you waiting for,, buy it!



4. If you are a fan of LTL's work, this monograph covers the vast majority of their work to date. Every project is presented by both good photography and/or the hybridized graphics LTL has become know for; as well as explinations as to how and why each was developed. While this is the typical format for an architectural monograph, it's not the main reason I am giving this book a high review. Ten pages toward the end of this book are dedicated to explaining, in detail, the 5 Tactics for an Opportunistic Architecture the firm uses as the basis for their work. These tactics provide for a much deeper explination into all of LTL's projects, and are published as a kind of "work in progress". Seeing an architect put their ideas out in print the same way a programmer publishes open source software is both refreshing, and inspiring.



5. Lewis Tsurumaki Lewis continue to go from strength to strength as they progress from unbuilt theory and competition entries to built work. I envied them in school, and I appreciate them now I'm working as an Architect. This monograph is a perfect follow up to the Pamphlet Architecture "Situation Normal". Some of the work is re-presented here but 90% of it is fresh and new. If you ever wanted to see a beautifully clean (even restrained) approach to presenting a project through renderings and fantastic perspectives - this is the book for you.

5 comments about The Chicago World's Fair of 1893: A Photographic Record (Dover Architectural Series).

1. I highly recommend this book, particularly as a companion to "The Devil in the White City." The only minor problem I had with it was the lack of photos for all of the state and national buildings.



2. I became interested in the Chicago Worlds Fair of 1893 through a friend and I bought this book for him and a copy for myself and was amazed by the beautiful and amazing buildings and the fact that all of these structures stood in my city and then were destroyed. I then read the Devil in the White City and pulled this book out as a reference and found the map of the exposition in the front of the book to be a cool way to look up some of the displays or events mentioned in the book (devil in the white city). As I understand it, Burnham only allowed the exposition to be photographed per his approval, therefore, there are only a limited number of pictures that any book could publish on the topic. I think that this book offers big, beautiful pictures and interesting facts about the displays.



3. this book by far is my favorite book on the worlds fair the detail and quality of the book is amazing. this is a great buy



4. Beautiful photos and thoughtful text. This book does a nice job of condensing the story and mood of the fair into a quick and easy to read format. I own several books about the fair and while some have more photos, this is still my favorite. A must have for those interested in the Columbian Exposition, Chicago history and architecture. The vastness of the White City is something I can scarcely imagine. I especially appreciated that the author details the fates of many of the fair's artistic treasures as well as discussing the changed landscape of the geographical site of the fair.



5. A beautiful collection of images, showing the wonders of the 1893 fair. A great look back.

5 comments about The Adult Learner, Sixth Edition: The Definitive Classic in Adult Education and Human Resource Development.

1. I found this book to be EXTREMELY verbose and hard to comprehend. I agree with other posters that it reads similar to a research paper with lots of citations and "borrowed" information. The overall meaning is lost when you have to read chapters 3 & 4 times to decode it.



2. If you're looking for a book which will enable you to grasp the concepts of adult learning in the 21 century then The Adult Learner is a must read. Covering the latest perspectives on adult learning this book contains practical information relevant to any field of education. The Adult Learner addresses more than just the theories of adult learning, it provides timely solutions to empower those who desire to transform the learning experience.



3. A little background: I am not a college professor or corporate HR director, so to some degree there are things in this book that were lost on me for that reason, HOWEVER...
   
   ...I am an author, an independent instructor for adult learners, and a college graduate with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications, so I do know something about good writing hopefully. I purchased this book to gain insight into the motivations behind adult learners. Why do some go back to college even when their job does not require it? What motivates them? How do they learn compared to teenagers, etc? What techniques are best in a classroom full of adults? And FWIW I have been able to glean some useful bits of information in these respects. But this book could be so much more, if the authors would simplify the writing style. Get out of your own way and tell the story! Let me explain further...
   
   My biggest problem with this book is that it reads like a college thesis. I always value and appreciate a well annotated work that references other respected works, however this book goes completely overboard. In some chapters, almost every page is a pulled quotation from another work or book. There are so many references as to be distracting to the reader IMO. The original point being discussed (and its relevance to the person teaching adults), is often lost and you have to go back and read again so you haven't wasted your time.
   
   The information itself is sometimes helpful and enlightening, but buried among wordy descriptions, run-on sentences and frankly, verbal pomp. And though I recognize this book is geared towards those in HR development (companies that teach their employees IOW), there are clearly parallel lessons to be learned for anyone teaching adults, regardless of the environment (work, leisure or vocational). I think for instructors like myself this book is simply not approachable enough, though there are some very good nuggets of info to be found and applied to our work. You just have to dig and re-read more than anyone should have to, in order to process that information.



4. This book was in excellent shape. I received it sooner than I expected.



5. Malcolm S. Knowles is the founder of the theory of Andragogy (Adult Education), and I agree with him on many of the points he makes.
   
   The problem is that the book seems to have been written for academics to accept Malcolm's theories, and not written for students who wanted to learn to be better teachers in Adult Education.
   
   Unless you have to use this book for a textbook for a class, I would not buy it as your first introduction to Adult Education. I'm not sure which book I would buy, but someone must have written a better one to actually learn the subject!

5 comments about The Measure of Man and Woman: Human Factors in Design.

1. This book is an excellent resource for designing products that must accomodate various shapes and sizes of people. The charts provide a useful starting point for design. Some data, however, is quite old which dilutes it's relevancy. Also, do not purchase the instant, online access to this book. There are many dimesions and small details which can't be read due to the poor resolution of the on-screen viewer.



2. As a design student this is a very useful book. It makes assignments sound great when Information in this book is referenced. The drawings are very simple and easy to understand, however it is cramped full of numbers and stats (or 'data'). So u should only be buying this book if that's what u are looking for. It covers a diverse range of human factors in design like optimal reach, grip, vision length, working temperatures, noise, radiation, lighting, ect...
   
   This is exactly what i wanted so i am extremely happy with this purchase especially since it was in high demand in my uni library.



3. I'm studying furniture design and this book will be extremely helpful for me. It gives tons and tons of measurements throughout the human life span. All kinds of positions, arrangements, etc. There is section on every age, even infants and elderly. It's also just an interesting thing to read, regardless of being an awesome reference book. I loved reading about how different abilities/capacities develop at certain ages. This way you can know when humans are able to do what. This can help better understand human's needs, in a physical and spatial sense.
   
   Great book, just get it.



4. I found a handful of pages out of this book useful for space planning. Not worth fifty bucks unless you are designing equipment and products.



5. There's minimal reading in this book, which is nice since it's good for reference. The reading that it does have is very simple with bulleted paragraphs full of information that you can't get from looking at the diagrams.
   Great diagrams for industrial design students (I got this for one of my classes), gives you the measurements, reach, sight and motion range, pretty much any numeric info you need to know for the 1 percentile, 99 percentile, and 50 percentile man/woman.
   Also has nice chart of child development w/descriptions of what the ave. child can do at each age, as well as diagrams for the elderly (and in wheelchair). This book is essential if you are going for product design or interior design.

5 comments about Collage Discovery Workshop.

1. I am in a collage class at school and found this book a perfect supplement for all my collage projects. There is a variety of tricks- everything from different techniques for backgrounds and ways to transfer images to your collage. Plus the book itself is beautifully done. Nothing makes my heart twitter more than a fantastic collage...



2. . . . . there was paper and glue. This book is a "must" buy for the beginning artist who has decided to explore the world of collage. It has very simple explanations of incredible techniques that you can learn quickly and use over and over. You will find your favorites, but don't be afraid to try all of them.
   
   I also recommend this for "young" budding artists.



3. I just so love this book. It gets straight to the point, It is incredibly detailed plus for beginners like myself who are new to collage it makes perfect sense.



4. Book was in great conditon, but I purchased the book for a project and by the time it came... we were done with the project.



5. Without a question Claudine gives great advice and instruction in this book. Lots of ideas for scrapbooking, collage and just crafty folks. I would definitely recommend her other book "Beyond the Unexpected" as well. She also has DVDs that are awesome for those of us who learn by watching. She's a hoot!

5 comments about Frank Lloyd Wright The Houses.

1. This is a great book for fans of FLW. We visited his house when we were on vacation in Chicago and saw several of the other homes he had designed. This book is full of superb photographs - not just of the exteriors but of the interiors too, so you can see the furniture and fixtures that he designed.



2. This is a lovely coffee table book with mostly spectacular color photos of most of Wrights houses, including many interior shots. There is not much historical information but this is covered in other books.



3. This book was a wonderful eye opener. It will appeal to the reader for crisp pictures in beautiful settings and landscapes as well as the various style phases Wright went through architecturally. For Wright aficionados, there is a detailed, but not too intense history of his style, works and personal history as he changes design elememts during his career. Grand interior shots only enhance the overall attraction. The book will add diversity to anyone's collection.



4. 
   This is a necessary book for all who study architecture. Why? Because the photography conveys something close to the reality of Mr. Wright's works, especially so when it comes to the interiors.
   
   When I was studying architecture in college in the 1970s, the BEST photography books about Wright's oeuvre were "In the Nature of Materials" and the very expensive Wendingen Edition. Both are presented in black and white and while that kind of pared-down quality may have suited the age in which the International Style was still in its ascendancy, it did nothing whatsoever to convey the true sense of a Wright space--specifically interior space. The intimately human scale of these spaces was missed.
   
   And color is so much a part of Wright's aesthetic, and without it, one is in dreary Kansas instead of Oz.
   
   Living in the northeast, it was not possible to see many Wright buildings first hand, until that trip to Chicago... and then what a revelation! These spaces were not cold grays but marvels of ochres and greens and wood tones and conveyed so much more serenity than those older photos could suggest.
   
   Happily, future years placed me in conjunction with many of the Midwestern buildings, and a day trip could take me to Wisconsin or Michigan or other less-frequently visited residential and commercial works by F L W. Friendships with original Wright clients or owners of Wright houses opened other doors--I have experienced about one third of the places in this book, so--trust me--the photos do them justice and are almost as good as being there.
   
   I would guess that anyone who has been in these places will tell you that this book gives a very fine representation of these spaces. And thankfully, more and more of these spaces are open on a regular or annual basis for the student or admirer of Wright to visit. Some residences are even now B&Bs. Wow!
   
   The fine articles that accompany the photographs are also most helpful and enjoyable.
   
   If you find this review helpful you might want to read some of my other reviews, including those on subjects ranging from biography to architecture, as well as religion and fiction.



5. There are many different aspects to highlight when studying the work of one of Americas' greatest architects. The part of his work that is probably the most accesible, are his private houses. It was great to see all these houses together in one beautiful volume. The photographs are stunning, and it is great to see so much attention paid to the interior of these houses, as Wright was responsible for most interior design too.
   As a professional or just a fan, when you love Wrights' work and want to visually enjoy it to the fullest, this book is a must have. The only thing better is to buy one of his houses...

5 comments about Architectural Graphic Standards, 11th Edition.

1. This was a waste of money.
   
   They have eliminated a section of the book that holds some very valuable general information and dimensions that are a great reference to have when designing. Everything from dimensions related to the body in standing, sitting and sleeping positions to car parking and manouver dimensions and radiuses. I used that part of the book regularly. Now, when I finally got my own copy, I find myself with a "heavy book" that is lacking some of the most basic information needed for proper design, yet gets specific about some other aspects that are very particular like parking requirements for a mosque!
   
   Any one looking to buy my copy??



2. A standard reference work on building components and design considerations - with many excellent diagrams. Although the book has a technical focus, a little perspective on the constructability and suitablity of componets and systems for specific applications would add value.
   
   Also, some additonal treatment of new chemical related technologies that are now mainstream, such as chemical anchors and carbon fiber reinforcing, would be helpful.
   
   Choosing Project Success - A Guide for Building Professionals



3. The new version of Architectural Graphic Standards is an impossible book to use. It reflects a component approach to putting a building together instead of looking at the totality of a building. The Eleventh Edition omits basic information, for example, like the exhaustive catalogue of material and electrical symbols found in previous additions. The book now has an attitude that follows the mantra of the American Institute of Architects with regard to issues like sustainability and visitability. Any architect with a conscience incorporates these values into actual practice, so to have whole sections on these subjects is like preaching to the converted. The book is really an editorial snow job on the profession. The metal plate on the front cover is truly pretentious while the pages inside have been physically downgraded to an almost tissue-like quality.
   
   By changing the format of the book so radically from the previous organization (without any kind of cross referencing) of the construction divisions that guided the profession for decades, looking for information is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
   
   If, as a practicing architect with 30 years experience, I find the book problematic then I would not even want to fathom how a young practitioner could wade through this disorganized, inadequate mess. If Ramsey and Sleeper, the original authors, saw this book today I think they would be rolling in their graves.



4. For over 70 years, architects have been using a valuable reference book, "Architectural Graphic Standards."
   
   "Architectural Graphic Standards" (11th edition) is organized roughly per the UniFormat(r) classification system, i.e., by function instead of by product or material. This new edition has expanded and new content covering contemporary issues, such as LEED standards, green materials, sustainable construction, recyclability, new building systems, structural technologies, universal, and accessible design strategies, computing technologies including Building Information Modeling (BIM) and CAD/CAM, etc. It may take you a while to get used to this new format, but the information is still valuable and current.
   
   "Architectural Graphic Standards" has 1120 pages (9.7 x 11.6 inches large format) and numerous line drawings. It is a must-have for architects, landscape architects and urban planners, interior designers, engineers or any other building-related design professionals.
   
   Gang Chen, Author of "LEED AP Exam Guide" & "Planting Design Illustrated." LEED AP, AIA



5. I'm really disappointed to find that my big, beatiful new edition of Architectural Graphic Standards does not contain everything that previous editions did. I was so happy to have my very own copy and now will have to also buy a 10th edition to get everything. Check it out before you buy!

5 comments about The Fifty Dollar and Up Underground House Book.

1. This book is phenomenally wise, useful, easy to read, and plain inspiring. I picked it up this morning intending to get back to it tonight and ended up not putting it down at all.
   
   I have bought and read a number of underground building books as well as log cabin books, and would sort them into three categories:
   
   A Expensive log homes for the really rich
   
   B Moderate earth-covered (not quite underground) homes for the middle
   
   C This book, for those who truly want to integrate innovation and low cost with deep Earth comfort and resilience and all the good stuff that goes with it.
   
   This book, in short, is in a class of its own. Most will notice that it was first offered in 1978. As the USA goes through a major financial crisis that proves nothing has changed--Wall Street and the two "parties" it has bought down to their lost souls are still here, still looting the commonwealth--this book proves that it is timeless.
   
   There is indeed a great deal of land across this great country where one can still afford to "dig in," and this could not be a better time to be thinking about renting what you have now in the close in fragile areas, and setting up alternative housing with adjacent land for a basic Life Garden.
   
   As I went through each chapter I found the list of materials, the prices, the diagrams, and the text all coherent, concise, and totally "on target." Black and white photographs throughout, and a handful of color photographs in the middle, round the book out.
   
   The book ends by discreetly recommending a tape series on design as the key element for success, and one that professional architects generally overlook (as we are all learning, the "experts" in finance and other areas are really "credentialed" but NOT experts).
   
   I LIKE THIS BOOK. As an afterthought, it is recommended by just about every major alternative living, green energy, and sanity outpost (Vermont, Oregon, Washington State) reviewer. This book is a "good deal" and inspiring to boot.



2. This is the best book I have read on alternative buildings. The author is very sensible about the whole project without being to much of a hippie. If my wife hadn't threatened divorce I would be building one of these houses right now. I HIGHLY recommend it!



3. First off, the reason for four stars instead of five. It's because the author was very narrow minded in what he thought you would be reading the book for. The title makes it very clear that it's going to be a cheap house, but it still came as a surprise to me that it is not about making a modern house. The most modern thing in the houses described in this book is a polyethylene layer for waterproofing. He does not describe the use of anything that cannot be found on site (excluding polyethylene). This has its merits, but I quote him out of the book saying "cement has no soul" And his total refusal to see the use in a design he dubbed the "first thought design" which would easily work as well as his own "basic design" if only you use a slanted roof. (a method he chose not to consider mentioning.
   
   Now, what this book did cover I thought it did very well at. It describes with photos and clear instructions how to make a house with natural or easily obtainable supplies at a low cost. He has some very good ideas like his uphill patio which eliminates the force of the hill pushing down on your home and puts the load on a much easier to maintain retaining wall. Also, a feature he calls clerestories (basically windows that are put in a sudden drop of ceiling height) make the interior much brighter.
   
   All in all it's a very good book on how to make your own fallout shelter or summer cabin, but not a good manual on the finer points of making an underground home. The houses in this book exhibit many features that you would need in a modern home, but they are not a replacement for your current house.



4. I bought this book based on other reviews and was disappointed in the author's narrow mindedness and intolerance for anyone who thinks even a little different than he does. The author gives ammunition to the very people he despises to rightfully call him a "wacko". It's sad that he can't just let people see this for the beautiful idea that it is and not a political statement. Still, if you look past the seriously disturbed rantings, this is an interesting "how I did it" book with some consideration for how you can do it too.



5. I enjoyed this book very much and used it as a basis for designing an underground building for my plantation resort in India. Mike goes into good detail concerning how to build an inexpensive home using his techniques and there are plenty of pictures to help you understand the procedures. I haven't seen anything else out there as good as this for underground building...if you do please let me know.
   
   Michael Skowronski
   Author of Unforgettable: A Love and Spiritual Growth Story

5 comments about The Designers Complete Index (Boxed Set).

1. the designers complete index is a must have for all designers out there in the field.
   it includes an idea based book to get you started, a layout based book for format and a color based book, all to make the designing process seamless.
   kudos to jim krause!



2. This set is well worth it. If you are into graphic design this belongs in your book case just buy it you wont regret it. Very helpful and inspiration set.



3. Great, easy to use and comes in a cute clear plastic carrying case. Although these are meant for graphic design, I use them for ideas for my oil paintings. My boyfriend uses it for graphic design and he has said it has spurred on several ideas.
   
   I also bought the design essentials index. It comes in a tall slim yellow box and two different books included and and updated book on color.



4. I am a design student and use these books on an almost daily basis. While some aspects of them are some what simple as long as you are not going to be using these books to get ideas but rather improve upon an existing idea that you already have then these books are great. Overall there are definitely other books out there that will do the same thing but they wont be able to do it as quickly or as easily.



5. Just received this boxed set today. I expected much more. The type and examples are very, very small, with many "thumbnails" less than one inch square. The designs in the Layout Index are poor quality, in my opinion. The Idea Index contains 400 pages of lightbulb graphics and over-use of metallic ink (and I'm normally a big fan of metallic ink.) PMS colors are not mentioned anywhere. Anyone can buy a computer and call him/herself a designer, and these books prove that point well. I'm certainly glad I only paid the discounted price, because these books are certainly not worth $60.

5 comments about Construction Drawings and Details for Interiors: Basic Skills.

1. This a great book for the basics of how to create Construction Drawings. It has everything you could have questions about as an Interior Designer learning how to create Documentation for a project. I highly recommend this book. It lays everything out in an easy to understand format and has great pictorial examples.



2. This book made all the difference for me in my Interior Design studies. The course that I took was intensive, and if I had not discovered and utilized this book, I would have probably scored much lower on my desk-crits, and my practical exams. Because of it's wonderfully portable size, I take it with me everywhere. It is easily carried, yet filled with pertinent information from cover to cover. Construction Drawings and Details for Interiors contains a wealth of information, and I am grateful to the author for having written this book. It is, and will remain a cornerstone of my Design library.



3. This book has been very helpful for me. It reviews perspective drawings, elevations, and sections before leading into the construction documents. It provides sufficient examples to match the text explanations. I consider this a good buy. It has served as a great reference/instruction guide for me.



4. This is a handy reference tool that goes over the basics and more, covering equipment, title blocks, various tags and elevation markers, material representation, and graphic representation of everything from doors and windows to wall sections. There are separate chapters on Floor Plans, Elevations, and Sections. Later chapters go ino Reflected Ceiling Plans, Electrical Plans, Furniture Plans, Finishes, and Schedules. There is a checklist of things to remember following every type of construction drawing discussed; this serves to reinforce the most important information in any given chapter. I found the check lists to be a great learning tool, and used them to double-check my class assignments before turning them in.
   
   One of the things that I appreciate about this book is that it was written clearly and was easy to understand the first time through, but with additional readings I continue to get more out of it. It is the book I find myself returning to when I need answers. Some of the more complex information is formatted into tables and these tables can be particularly helpful--there is a terrific section on paraline and axometric drawings, for instance. There are even step-by-step instructions on how to create one- and two-point perspective grids.
   
   Some of the illustrations are a little dated, and some information is not as complete as I think it should be. The information on lettering, for instance, is particularly light, and I found myself needing to purchase another book to really understand how to develop my lettering technique. The information on material representation is also not as complete as it probably should be. Still, this is a very worthy reference book. It is the only required textbook in at least five classes and with good reason: it provides the basics and more, enabling it to continue to earn its place on the bookshelf well after one has completed Drafting 101.



5. I have many years of architectural drafting experience. Although this book says "Basic Skills" on the cover, it is much more than basic. It's an excellent reference book, covering everything that is needed for interior design drafting: from line weights to scale, dimensioning, plans, elevations, sections, checklists, furniture and finish schedules, contract documents, and the list goes on. I highly recommend this book for students of interior design and practising designers alike.