No comments about Urban Design Reader.

No comments about The Tennessee Valley Authority: Design and Persuasion.

2 comments about America Town: Building the Outposts of Empire.

1. This book has missed the mark. What is written is not factual. For example, it is stated the LPP was signed after a tank incident when in fact it was signed 3 months before that accident. It is stated that China occupied Korea from 1639 to 1895, while the Mongols occupied Korea once and Japan occupied Korea twice China never occupied Korea. Another thing for example he talks interchangeably about Okinawa and Japan, while they are not one in the same. He talks about the US and its hold on Okinawa but never criticizes that Japan occupies Okinawa. It is indeed a separate nation and nationality from Japan. Many other issues stated as facts are wrong or inaccurate.
   
   The author never lived at any of these places and could never know what it's truly like to be a local citizen or a US citizen stationed there. Finally I thought that the author might have some ideas as to how to fix the problems that he mentioned but he doesn't. It's just 300 pages of how the US has treated other countries so poorly. If I didn't know better, I would think he was paid by some Korean and Japanese citizens to write the book.



2. As an American who has been affiliated with a few overseas military installations, I hoped that this book would deal with the sociocultural aspects of plopping thousands of middleclass Americans down in a different country and then tailoring their environment to make it seem as though they are still in Virginia or Illinois. America Town exceeded my expectations, as it provided a lot of new information that helped me to better understand some of the experiences I had in Asia, Western Europe, and The Med.
   I would say that this is a "niche" book, so if you are not curious about how the US designs its overseas military bases or have not lived on one, then you might find this either unbelievable or boring.
   Given our current controversial empire building in the Mideast, however, the way this book provides a history of how nations have always designed their occupations and then connects it to America would also appeal to anyone interested in geo-politics.

No comments about Space Fighter.

1 comments about Toward a New Regionalism: Environmental Architecture in the Pacific Northwest.

1. This just was not what I expected to get from the attached description. The book is not bad just not what I was looking for.

1 comments about Wwd Illustrated: 1960S-1990s.

1. I just finished reading WWD Illustrated by Michele Wesen Bryant, and found it an absolute joy. The book is exquisitely set out from typeset to illustrations and a pleasure to read. There is a wonderful range and diversity to the illustrations with extremely insightful connections made between fine art and fashion illustration throughout. With fashion illustration being so popular currently in many designers advertising campaigns it is invaluable to be able to put it into a historical context. I whole heartedly recommend this book from a visual as well as an intellectual and historical perspective.

No comments about Overlook: Exploring the Internal Fringes of America with the Center for Land Use Interpretation.

5 comments about Cities Back from the Edge: New Life for Downtown.

1. Those are the twin themes permeating Cities: Back From The Edge, a take-no-prisoners diatribe against America's strategic misplacement and overapplication of asphalt and the "bigger is better" mentality of all too many commercial developers.
   
   In this spirited, edgy work, Gratz and Mintz systematically explore how the Interstate System and its connecting routes helped weaken or destroy the commercial and residential viability of many U.S. downtowns, shifting the center of gravity in metropolitan areas and setting the stage for any number of revitalization plans founded on lack of imagination, the desire for a quick buck or graft. The authors describe some of these projects in detail and name real-life culprits while shining the spotlight on more far-sighted community activists, some of whom went on to develop micro solutions to their downtown dreams.
   
   The authors remind us that, in downtown revitalization efforts, size does not really matter; that even the most fledgling business in a particular niche, operating alongside similar startups or in collaborative fashion, can successfully engage in mass customization, grow, and incrementally assist in the sustainable rebirth of a downtown, reinventing a unique critical mass that not only serves friend and neighbor but also draws tourism. "Cities" offers some wonderful quotes from these entrepreneurs as well as some pithy quotes from third parties ranging from H.L. Mencken to Winston Churchill to buttress their arguments.
   
   A genuine bonus to this insightful work are the large number of crisp, black-and-white photographs of streetscapes, artist's studios and other manifestations of urban rebirth. Some have the decided look and feel of the first-rate photography to be seen in The New York Times before it went to color.
   
   "Cities" remains on my bookshelf for reference and inspiration. I'm not done with it yet.



2. The book is solid and devoid of ideology. A good read, with practical and useful advice as well as mini studies of redevelopment success stories.



3. In this text, Gratz and Mintz set out to establish guidelines and tips for city leaders, community activists, businesspeople, and regular citizens who seek to improve the status of their communities. They carefully outline what works, what does not work and why. Anyone interested in revilatizing downtown areas, setting up shop in a city, or running for office in an urban area should read this book as it will undoubtedly be helpful in creating a better understanding as to how cities can thrive in a new modern era.



4. This book is disappointing in that the content is well-researched and important, but the organization is quite poor. It just rambles all over the place. I would suggest picking up a copy of Suburban Nation or something by Calthorpe or Moe, for more user-friendly tomes, and of course it is always helpful to reread Jane Jacobs and Christopher Alexander (Pattern Language).



5. very informative. some experts may not wish to hear the truth in this book.

5 comments about What Would Walt Do?: An Insider's Story about the Design and Construction of Walt Disney World.

1. for had I paid money for this book, I would be quite upset. The book is written as if the reader has an IQ of 50. There are many typos and poor sentence construction. These typos are even evident on the back cover of the book. I am surprised an editor would have let this book go to publication in the way it stands. Even worse, the author uses a supposed history book about WDW to rant about his own political views. I don't care what one's political thoughts are when I am supposed to be reading a book about the design and construction of WDW. Several pages are devoted to the author's views about unions and past presidents. He states that Walt was anti-union, and then takes this opportunity to write a few pages on why HE is anti-union. Who cares? Then there is a favorite quote of mine on page 22, "Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as President, and he seemed to me to be a real jerk." Again, what does this have to do with the topic on hand? There are many other great books about the creation of the theme parks and Disney's vision. Do not waste your time on this one.



2. Being a Disney fanatic, I always seek out books about Disney and Disneyland/World. This book was very interesting in the fact that it was more about the author's life during the construction phase of WDW. It did contain some interesting nuggets of information regarding the park but it was mostly a personal story about the author, his family, friends and coworkers during the construction of WDW. Not exactly what I was hoping for but it was an interesting read.



3. What Would Walt Do? is a first hand look through the eyes of a young civil engineer into the contruction of Walt Disney World from Walt's Seventh Premliminary Plan to Opening Day, 23 October 1971. It's a good read for engineering students, "wannabee" engineers and lovers of all things Disney. Readers will smile at the story of Levi, the arm wrestling champion of champions; the author's night on the town with an "Acadian Queen" and amused when engineers and technicians are dumped into a very cold Reedy Creek from a supposedly all terrain (including water) 4 wheel drive vehicle called a "Coot." The Coot was hoot!
   
   Although the author had never met Walt Disney who died in 1966, he learned through the leadership of Walt's brother Roy and others with long standing at Disney to apply to difficult construction decisions, union conflicts, contractor disputes, quality control issues the question: "What Would Walt Do?" In their considering that question, the ideal always sought was to apply Walt's standards of quality and safety to accomplish even the smallest details in the spirit of Walt's Dream. The ultimate compliment came on opening day from Walt's widow Lily who said, "I think Walt would have approved."
   
   Other accounts of this remarkable engineering/construction feat may be more technical or more historically accurate. However, WWWD gives insight not only into the day to day operation, construction ups and downs, but also into the personal lives of the men and women who helped to bring Walt's dream into a reality. They were a very special team who soon realized that after the gates had opened, the Boston Pops had played and Mickey had paraded....they had left a part of themselves in the dirt, steel and cement that covered hundreds of acres of Central Florida called Walt Disney World.



4. A very short book. No pictures. Lots of fluff. Information about the author that has nothing to do with Walt Disney takes up pages in the book. Stories about mean foremen and inspectors. Boring.

   What would Walt do? He'd do it right no matter what the expense. There. Save your money and buy a good book on Disney.




5. The book was an easy read BUT was really an autobiography of the author and his life. It's about his working days, especially while working on the constrction of WDW. Besides the very infrequent mention of the title "What Would Walt Do" there was next to nothing in the book about Walt's philosophies, work ethic and thought processes. Not what I exptected or what the title infers.

1 comments about The City Assembled: The Elements of Urban Form through History.

1. When I ordered this book I'd already knew that it's good, but it surprised me! It is different of the other books about urbanism history. Kostof have always a special point of view in his works. Here he shows the history of the city from a different angle, someway from the inside to outside. It don't analise the city from its form (from the outside), but from the elements that fills it. The street, the public space and other city elements tells about the city more than you think, because it is a mirror of the city and citizen culture. This book give to you a new point of view of the city. A must have to any architect and entusiast.