5 comments about Picture Perfect: Mowing Techniques for Lawns, Landscapes, and Sports.

1. Picture Perfect is a must for anyone who is serious about their lawn. I found this book to be extremely informative and helpful in achieving the ideal lawn. It is very user friendly and makes obtaining the perfect yard obtainable for everyone.



2. Our lawn is looking great this year thanks to following the care and maintenance instructions in Picture Perfect. David Mellor's easy to follow guidelines on mowing make our lawn the prettiest in the neighborhood. Why do people scalp their lawns?
   
   This book is not just about pretty pictures. David Mellor tells us about the facinating history of lawns. He shows us how to establish good grass from the ground up beginning with soil testing and fertilization and culminating with how to apply a distinctive design.
   
   I am giving a copy of this book to my sixteen year-old nephew who started mowing lawns this summer. It will give him and edge over the competition.
   
   After reading this book I see why David Halberstam called David Mellor "The Picasso of The Playing Field."



3. David Mellor shares his particular expertise with authority and in a straightforward way. I wanted to learn how to "design" my lawn like the pros and I got that and more from this book. It's a great supplement to your favorite basic lawn care guide (Mellor's other book, THE LAWN BIBLE, is a good one) and will have you mowing circles (or diamonds or stripes) around your neighbor's lawns.



4. I wish I could recommend this book! I really do. You know when your 13-year old writes one of his/her first research papers and repeats him/herself in every other paragraph just to create "filler"? Well, that's exactly Mr. David R. Mellor's problem in his book, "Picture Perfect": he repeats himself over and over . . . and over again. Holy cow!
   
   What IS a sign of a good "how to" book? Well, to me it is its thoroughness: you want to have all the info on the subject in one guide, right? (Or certainly, as close to it as possible.) Well, "Picture Perfect" is NOT perfect -- far from it.
   
   There are many problems with the book. One, Mr. Mellor is a bad writer. His aforementioned repetition of many facts does not create an appreciation for diligence; it signifies a sense of belittlement and ineptitude. Furthermore, although his writing style is accessible for the most part, it is confusing at times during THE moments when it should be the most simple and easy to understand: in the chapter in which he describes how to actually make patterns, he is far too complicated in explaining a simple task . . . such as mowing parallel, adjacent lines in opposite directions! In the first few chapters, Mr. Mellor uses bullets and subchapters to enunciate clear and important points. Great! Yet when he finally gets to discussing the actual techniques of pattern making in Chapter 12, he lumps all points into one, making for a poor overview: the main points don't "stick" out. That's really too bad.
   
   Two, the book is poorly organized. The first half -- yeap, half! -- is dedicated to A-Z lawncare. Come on! All he had to do was to state that there are many other books out there on lawncare, point them out, and get into the heart of THE subject. (That should have taken one paragraph.) And although very important, lawncare is NOT the subject of this treatise, right? (My favorite is Scotts.) Why try to outdo a book like Scotts in a few chapters . . . when the Scotts book covers lawncare brilliantly?! Makes no sense to me whatsoever! This IS, after all, a book on mowing patterns, NOT lawncare. All that Mr. Mellor had to do was to, perhaps, write an opening chapter of HIS advice, findings and nuances on lawncare, all of us having learned some from personal experience over the years. But no, Mr. Mellor tries to reinvent the wheel. In addition, to use black & white photographs in a book published in the 21st century is embarrassing! (No, not all photographs are black & white. But . . . ) Let me get this straight: this book deals with the visual sense, right? So wouldn't you want to use color photographs?! Get real! Furthermore, the illustrations in the chapter on making patterns are not used effectively: all mowing passes could have actually been shown in ONE illustration instead of several, thus making the instructions more accessible. Also, Mr. Mellor tells you that with practice, you will get better. OK, let me get this straight? I am supposed to pay $38.70 to be told that with practice I will get better at doing something? We already know that! That's the whole point of a "how to" book: it is supposed to teach you a subject so that you will decrease the amount of time for you to get good at something, right? Good Lord! (Nope, we're not done yet.) At the very end of the book, Mr. Mellor writes about some of his personal experiences when he worked at Milwaukee's County Stadium, one of which involved the chasing off of seagulls from the field. Again, let me get this straight: you are supposed to pay $38.70 to learn how another human being . . . chased away seagulls?! Mr. Mellor, you are very audacious! I thought this book is about making patterns on lawns? And finally, here is the greatest downfall of the book. The book is 160 pages long, yet ONLY 32 pages actually deal with creating lawn patterns. And actually, I am being too generous: only Chapter 14 deals specifically with pattern instruction which is . . . 18 pages long! So let me get this straight? You are expected to pay $38.70 for a book which only gives you 18 pages on that subject? Are you kidding me?!
   
   Now, having made this last point, let's look at it from a different angle. What does the fact tell you that only 18 pages out of a 160-page book actually deal with the subject at hand? Well, it tells me that the subject matter is NOT all that complicated! Look, if you have, or even HAVE NOT, any gardening experience, but are practical and use common sense, you can create lawn patterns. Sure you can! It ain't that complicated as Mr. Mellor would lead you to believe. I was successful on my first try . . . and so will you.
   
   Holy cow! Mr. Mellor, you need to seriously consider writing a second edition of this book in which you leave out the opening half on lawncare (and leave that to others), use color photographs only, and devote MUCH more effort and time to the actual subject: lawn patterns.
   
   So, if you have ANY gardening savvy and do NOT need your hand held, then I highly recommend that you do NOT buy this expensive book. If you DO need to have your hand held, then buy this book . . . I guess.



5. The book is very small. I expected a larger book with lots of pictures. There are a few pictures, but the book itself was disappointing.

5 comments about Design of Cities: Revised Edition (Penguin Books).

1. Design of Cities is a classic of Bacon in the study of the urban form. The new tendences in urbanism forget many times same of the principal conditions of the place. Bacon in a very simple and sensitive way offers us the keys of a original and elemental way. Writing in the sixties is current also today.



2. This book is an excellent introduction to the nature of urban design.
   
   It illustrates, in a concise and simple way, most of the major interventions in urban design beginning with early settlements, and finishing with modern cities. E.G the route to the Acropolis, the extension of the garden of Versailles, the reorientation of Georgian London.
   
   Every point is explained clearly using great plans, sections and photographs.
   
   The book features many references to the conceptual sketches of artist Paul Klee, which Bacon uses as comparisons for urban concepts.
   
   This book had a very positive effect on my understanding of architecture and urban design, and i would recommend it to anyone interested in the field.
   
   Bear in mind that it is not a standard history book. It is more light-hearted but that is why i enjoyed it so much.



3. A very informative and well designed book. I am currently a grad. student in architecture and the ideas presented in this book are very intriguing. It takes a very practical approach to urban design. If this book were coupled with Jane Jacob's The Death and Life of Great American Cities, one could get two different but relevant viewpoints regarding this very important debate, especially in the wake of Modernism.



4. This is my favorite book on urban design....how cities work, history of city design, and the key elements that make a city exciting, livable, and functional. A key insight of Mr. Bacon is the potential for the integration of various movement systems (train, car, pedestrian, etc.), and the vitality possible at the intersections and nodes of those systems.



5. This book changed the way I looked into the conception of cities. The command of urban spaces, with beatiful examples through history, put me to new design of cities or to renew existing city centers including new perspectives for the citizen or people that just pass by.

5 comments about The New Ecological Home: A Complete Guide to Green Building Options (Chelsea Green Guides for Homeowners).

1. Having been the first of it's kind I have read, this book is well-organized and readable. It seems good for the person brainstorming on what steps to take in the design of their eco-home. For more specific information to carry out the tasks, I would suggest other resources.



2. This book could very easily serve as a textbook for a green building course. It's not a coffee table book - the photos are small, and black and white - but very useful in supporting the text. This is a serious book about alternative building written by and about a group of people who have been creatively, responsibly, thoughtfully building for a very long time. It's a good choice for builders who want to learn more about sustainability, students who want to go into the field, or homeowners who are looking to build. It's not so much glitzy and inspirational as it is informative and useful: comprehensive from site selection and design through building options and techniques, to landscaping, it also contains a great resource guide.



3. During the planning phase of building our first home, this book was very helpful. We liked the emphasis right at the start on site selection -- what to look for in everything from the overall community to aspects of the land itself and how to environmentally protect that land during construction. A comparison checklist for assessing lots is included. Even though ours will not be a "natural House" (rammed earth, straw bale, etc.) and though those types of construction are covered, there was plenty of solid information on building a more energy efficient, and less wasteful, home of wood and concrete. Also included are chapters on design, using green and non- or less toxic materials, sustainable approaches to water and waste, environmental landscaping, and enery-efficient design, heating, and cooling. As this will be a retirement home, we especially appreciated the chapter on accessiblilty and ergonomic design.



4. Author Dan Chiras has produced a series of amazing books on green building, including The Natural House, The Solar House, Superbia!, and The Natural Plaster Book. His books are extremely well written, well organized, comprehensive, and extremely well illustrated. He's truly one of the best, if not the best, writer in the green building field.
   
   The New Ecological Home is no exception. In fact, I think it is one of the best books he has written. Although the cover is pretty drab, the book is a beauty inside. The book is engaging, easy to read, and full of interesting and helpful information that will assist those who want to explore the many options for building homes that are good for people, the planet, and the economy. This book should be read by all who are considering building a new home as well as those who are thinking about remodeling their homes. It is also a valuable resource for architects, builders, and students of architecture. Adding to its value, this book has a detailed resource guide that adds considerably to its value.



5. This book was a little bit hard to understand, especially if you are not knowledgable on the subject. I would recommend something more clear and easier to read.

No comments about Large Parks.

1 comments about Residential Landscape Architecture (5th Edition).

1. Very informative and usefull both for the beginer and experienced designer. It is a little high priced but worth it if you are in the design profession.
   Mike

5 comments about Backyard Idea Book: Outdoor Kitchens Fireplaces Sheds & Storage Play Spaces Pools & Spa (Idea Books).

1. The book clearly states that it is a 'Backyard Idea' book, not a how to or a design book. So for the 2 star review before, it is just plain silly. However, this is a great book if you like to sit back and dream ideas for your backyard. It has some ideas that may be out of reach financially for some, but it also has some budget tight ideas as well. And you can create a combo of both if you'd like! I love designing my own backyard landscapes and this book certainly adds to even more ideas. Recommended for those who sit in their yards dreaming what they can do to make them fun and relaxing.



2. This is a wonderful book with beautiful photos and great ideas. It is not a how to book, but it does inspire!



3. I'm satisfied. More than enough pictures with detailed analysis for each. There is nothing missing.



4. This book has excellent photo's of backyard ideas. It is a great book if you are just looking for ideas. I had expected a book with a little "how-to" mixed in.



5. I haven't finished reading it yet but so far love it. It has many photos along with a paragraph about why/how this works - the type of landscape and things to make sure you do/don't do. I am buying a copy for my sister for xmas.

1 comments about Recovering Landscape: Essays in Contemporary Landscape Theory.

1. Recovering Landscape: Essays in Contemporary Landscape Architecture, proposes that when landscape is considered solely as a noun, its active role in the everyday lived experiences of humankind is lost. In this light, the volume seeks to recover landscape as not only a verb, "as process or activity," but also to recover the role of idea and the imaginary in landscape. To this end, Recovering Landscape is primarily directed toward the practicing landscape architect and how he/she can invoke this concept into his/her training, design and activities. Scholars of applied landscape who are concerned with turning idea into artifact will undoubtedly find this volume informative in guiding their practice. At the same time, theoretical landscape scholars who are interested in understanding and interpreting landscape as both cultural artifact and cultural process will also find much of interest in this volume.

   The volume itself is divided into three sections: "reclaiming place and time" which explores the temporal, habitual, physical and cultural influences on the context of landscape; "constructing and representing landscape" which explores several different methods for representing landscape and how these methods can be used to approach and design landscape as a process or verb; and "urbanizing landscape" which presents what can be considered as, more or less, case studies invoking the above ideas, drawing them out in specific contexts.

   The concept of understanding landscape as a process, or an activity, rather than as an object offers an unique perspective to landscape scholarship, similar to the ideas introduced by W.J.T. Mitchell in Landscape and Power (1994). This perspective brings more fully to the forefront the temporal, habitual and cultural processes that not only effect, but are integrally a part of landscape. Too often landscape is seen not only as an object, but as objective, something which exists apart from the individual and something which is larger than the individual. This notion is reversed in Recovering Landscape. The essays demonstrate that the role of an individual (as well as society) has the ability to significantly affect landscape, whether it be the landscape architect who actively designs landscape, the individual who habituates and experiences landscape, or the scholar who contributes representations of landscape. All of these are important considerations for the field of landscape study and, as such, Corner's volume articulates the various ways by which the above aspects can influence the understanding and interpretation of landscape.

1 comments about Italian Villas and Their Gardens: The Original 1904 Edition.

1. My sister read about this book in a recent magazine and we are totally delighted to see that it was available as a reprint from the original plates. Maxfield Parrish, the painter, did the illustrations and they are wonderful in their dreamlike qualities. And the prose by Ms Wharton are flowing and typical of the turn of the last century.
   
   I would recommend this book as a coffe table book, a piece of art and a conversation piece all in one.

1 comments about The Penguin Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture: Fifth Edition (Dictionary, Penguin).

1. From Aalto to Ziggurat, the bounty of information provided in this well illustrated and value priced volume will keep you informed for a very long time. A great general reference of architecture and landscaping for both the student and the home owner alike.

5 comments about On Garden Style.

1. I am an avid gardener and an avid admirer of Bunny Williams. This book was a perfect combination of both. It is filled with gorgeous gardens, but it has ideas and suggestions that will fit any size of garden or budget. I particularly loved the way that the book was organized. For example, if I want to look for ideas garden design, garden walls or containers, I can go to a chapter dedicated to the subject. When you read the book, you also have a strong sense of Ms. Williams' love for gardening and her commitment to a healthly environment. She inspires you to dig in the dirt and enjoy the glories of nature. To top it all off, it's a beautiful coffee table book that, in my house, will show that it is well used!



2. You can look at a garden in many different ways. As a renown interior designer and president of one of the country's leading interior design firm, Bunny Williams views gardens as outdoor rooms. She applies the universal design principles that are common to architecture, landscape architecture and interior design to her garden design and achieves amazing results.
   
   "On Garden Style" has five parts that includes 15 chapters. It covers a number of topics including imagine (personal style and putting your dreams to work, etc.), good bones make good rooms (garden walls, floor and passageway, and roof overhead), furnishing the garden (containers, ornament and furniture), planting with style (inspired planting, kitchen garden, and maintenance), the gardener in winter, selected gardens, garden guides, plant lists, and container planting schemes.
   
   In "On Garden Style," Bunny Williams and Nancy Drew explain complicated design principles in plain and simple English and introduce them to ordinary garden lovers.
   
   "On Garden Style" has 288 pages and many beautiful interior photos. It is a great garden design book in plain and simple English.
   
   Gang Chen, Author of "LEED AP Exam Guide" & "Planting Design Illustrated." LEED AP, AIA
   



3. I love Bunny Williams but this book is a big let-down. Maybe I was spoiled after reading "Affair with a House".



4. This book is a must read. It is fabulous. Lots of helpful information. Makes you see your yard in ways you never thought of before.



5. A typical garden of the rich who are possessed with image and lack of originality. The photos are very nice.