No comments about Discrimination by Design: A Feminist Critique of the Man-Made Environment.

1 comments about Heavenly Mansions and Other Essays on Architecture (Norton Books for Architects & Designers).

1. Certain architectural writers are a pleasure to read. John Summerson is one of them, approaching "la creme de la creme." Few can match him in terms of erudition, clarity of expressed thought, and sheer elegance of language. I think all students - after their first basic history courses - ought to read the following chapters:
   
   "Heavenly Mansions: an Interpretation of Gothic"
   "Viollet-le-Duc and the Rational Point of View"
   "Architecture, Painting, and Le Corbusier"
   "The Mischevious Analogy"
   
   The other chapters are also all good, but the above will probably be the most interesting to those concerned with the development of modern architectural theory, giving an interested mind as much to think about as Complexity and Contradiction or Learning from Las Vegas (perhaps more than both combined).

5 comments about Theme Park Safety Failure$.

1. Fascinating read. I have felt unsafe on some rides in various parks across the country, but thought that I was just over-reacting. Now my feelings of fear are validated by Mr. Stoneking's book. I now think twice before spending big bucks to go on these dangerous rides.



2. Mr Stoneking has written a great book about a subject most us don't think about. When you visit a theme park you take for granted it will be safe and that your life is not in danger. His writing opens up your eyes to what is happening in the world of make believe and the realization that the rides are just machines. Going to a theme park shouldn't make you think about the safety, but Mr Stoneking makes you think about this controversial subject. This is his second book and look forward to his next book. He is an author who opens your eyes and make you think.



3. Some theme parks are much more than smiling children, cotton candy, and joyful cheers! Mr. Stoneking gives detailed behind-the-scene descriptions of what really goes on in America's amusement parks and reveals their darkest secrets. A must read before taking those you love to the place you used to love!



4. This is a Summer must read. It's the time of year where people are planning fabulous vacations and are ready to spend some quality time with their children. Theme Parks are a perfect way to spend that time, right? But beware! Danger clearly lurks at every corner and we as consumers are unaware. Mr. Stoneking has proven with his written word that we must look at our surroundings and be smart consumers.



5. First Superman, now Batman. This book will encourage all of us to take a closer look at this industry and ensure that quality, not quantity rises to the forefront of our priorities.

4 comments about Diary of a Madman: Ozzy Osbourne: The Stories Behind the Songs.

1. As a writer whose major influence has always been the writings of Ozzy Osbourne, I decided to buy this book, to learn about the stories behind the classics. I was elated to see the many photos the book contains-many of which that are rarities-but as for the book itself, I was disappointed greatly.
   
   First, I should mention that the stories for Ozzy's earlier work are inaccurate. Back in 2002, Bob Daisley started a feud with Ozzy over lost royalties. Daisley made many remarks about the music, including that he was the sole writer of nearly every Ozzy song from his first three albums, including the classic song "Suicide Solution" (Daisley claimed he wrote the song specifically about Ozzy's alcoholism, while Ozzy contends that it was written about Bon Scott, of AC/DC fame). The writer of this book used faulty information for most of Ozzy's solo career; the above was only one example of the book's errors. The book, itself, was written in 2002.
   
   Sadly, the book is also very incomplete. There are no stories whatsoever for the "Ultimate Sin" album-the book claims that there aren't many stories on it. That's still no excuse for not including any known facts about it. Most of the book is full of stories that everyone already knows (Ozzy fans-why was "Goodbye to Romance" written? How did Randy Rhoads die?) while it lacks depth in the so-called "unknown stories," filling up many passages with stories of the dove & bat decapitations and miscellaneous other well-worn tales. What's worse, many of the classics aren't even discussed in detail. I was hoping to read about the writing of "Waiting for Darkness" but I came up disappointed, as this book only mentions it in a sentence or two.
   
   Overall, this book is dreadful and a huge waste of money. If you want to see the many pictures it contains, go for it. But if you want to know about the real stories, save your money and make guesses. In comparison, they just might be accurate.



2. Diary of a Madman is a must have book for any Sabbath/Ozzy fan. Carol Clark takes you through "Black Sabbath" all the way to "Down to Earth" highlighting all the important band events along the way while providing interesting information on all the important Ozzy/Sabbath songs. This book is a easy and fascinating read. Even if your a die hard Ozzy/Sabbath fan you will still find many interesting tidbits in this coffe table book. It also contains a GREAT selection of pictures!



3. One thing that needs to mentioned is the rarity of the Black Sabbath pictures included. I've been a Sabbath collector for years, and have not seen most of the pictures included--live, backstage, and photo-shoot settings. Many of them are of Tony Iommi (Ozzy's arch-enemy of old), as it happens.
   As far as the actual commentary on the songs, in this subject matter it is hard to tell what is truly legitimate. Manipulated statements and entirely invented statements abound in the music journalism industry, so you have to take that at face value. Some comments attributed to Ozzy are rather articulate (not his style), and therefore one would have to wonder if they are really his own.
   There is one GLARING mistake in the pictures which tends to sap the already-low credibility from a publication of this sort: a photo of Brad Gillis (brief Ozzy guitarist) is next to a photo of Dave Spitz (brief Sabbath bassist), and the caption below them reads something to the effect of "Brad Gillis was replaced by Jake E. Lee", implying that the photo of Dave Spitz is really Jake E. Lee (which is strange since Dave is clearly holding a bass guitar!).
   This book is great for the rare old pictures, but it is still nothing more than one of a million books of questionable accuracy put together by bandwagon-jumping "authors" who most likely have little idea of who or what they're talking about and are trying to cash in on a current fad.



4. First and foremost, this book is a glossy, photo-packed, coffee-table tome. I originally purchased it because I was hoping for in-depth, analytical breakdowns of Ozzy's songs by himself and his band members. I didn't quite get it.
   
   While there are plenty of Ozzy, Sabbath and other quotes, they're pretty much the same ones we've been hearing for years. It also only covers Ozzy's hit standards (i.e. Crazy Train, War Pigs, NIB). None of my favorites were covered, but I can't blame the author for that, I suppose. It also covered the infamous (and so, so tired) stories of the bat, the Alamo, the doves.
   
   The saving grace of this book is the photos. It's absolutely overflowing with awesome pics of Ozzy, Sabbath, Randy Rhoads, Zakk Wylde and other band members. A lot of these photos are pretty rare, and I'm sure some of them are never-before-seen.
   
   It's not too shabby in the writing department either. Clerk is a lucid and fun author, and the format of the book is very eye-catching. The pages are multi-colored, the title fonts are trippy, and in every chapter, there's a paragraph that has been written backwards and upside down faintly apparent in the background (a shoutout to all those who believe in subliminal messages). The editors did an outstanding job of making it enjoyable to read, but not silly and overloaded with visuals.
   
   Price is very good, and the book isn't a disappointment for what it is. I'm very pleased with it. An essential for any Ozzy fan.

No comments about Zaha Hadid: Architecture.

No comments about GSW Headquarters Berlin: Sauerbruch Hutton Architects.

3 comments about The Manual of Below-Grade Waterproofing Systems.

1. A good book and very good in depth knowledge of proper installation of systems. How ever a previous review mentioned a non bias approach....I beg to differ...it looks to me that Mr. Henshell is very pro and friendly with certain manufacturers.



2. A good book and very good in depth knowledge of proper installation of systems. How ever a previous review mentioned a non bias approach....I beg to differ...it looks to me that Mr. Henshell is very pro and friendly with certain manufacturers.



3. With the oldest known waterproofing going back 4,000 years you'd think someone would have recorded the wisedom of the ages on how to keep water out of the building. Finally someone has! Justin's book is the best that is available. This book should be on the shelf of anyone that is in any way involved with waterproofing. This could be the text for a comprehensive college course if any professor were ever so inclined.

   Thank you Justin.

1 comments about Architects For The New Millennium (Profile).

1. This coffee table book is nothing more than a cumulation of CVs of prominent architects around the world. The cover of the book is impressive enough but as the saying goes, never judge the book by its cover. It simply has one page introduction which does not explain in detail why the architects chosen were the architects of the millennium. All I knew was that those architects chosen were involved with the Publishing Company for the past 18 years but even that was doubtful. Anyhow, the CVs of every & each architects were laid out in such manners: the firm's contact info with a potrait picture, pictures of their more well known works, a list of projects that have been undertaken & underway, a brief illustration of their beliefs. That's it! Anyway, in my view, architects of the millennium would be someone who have changed how architecture is conducted or who have brought architecture to a new height but many of the architects in this illustration are so-so & by looking at their projects, they are regional based. Having said that, should they be regional based but thinking internationally, they definitely worth mentioning in the book but unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Subjective the choosing could be but I would expect the Publishing Company to do a better job than this. For readers out there, flick thru the book if you may but buying it, emmm, there's something better out there. Just to illustrate how weak this book is, it doesn't mention about Richard Meier and Eisemenn despite the other Big 5 are. Then, there's also the omission of Ren Koolhaas, the present laureate of the prestigious Pulitzer prize, Glen Murcutt of Australia, I M Pei's firm, Isozaki & many others...

5 comments about Drawing Cartoons (First Step Series).

1. This is a great book for beginning cartoonists. Mark Heath's "Drawing Cartoons" is the first "how to draw" book to help me learn how to "think like a cartoonist." Most drawing books I've seen in the past give the reader step-by-step line drawings to copy. While this approach often results in a flashy finished-product for the reader, the beginning cartoonist is left without the "tools" for creating drawings from scratch, on his or her own. Mark's emphasis, in contrast, is on arming the beginning artist with the means to create his or her own cartoons from the ground up. For example, he advises, "cartoons don't perfect detail, but rather, suggest detail." Advice like this helps the budding cartoonist think like a professional. In addition, Mark's warm and witty sense of humor make for a enjoyable first, second, and third-time "reads." I really like it!



2. The book is only worth about $5. It has only a hundred or so pages that are more of the author's cartoons than any practical advice. On the last page of the book, the author points out all the mistakes he made in the book but decided to leave in so that he could point them out to us. I'm interested in cartooning/comic strips and I feel that I am no closer to being able to do that than I was before I read the book. I don't understand how this book got all great reviews. Don't be fooled like I was!



3. I got this as a gift. A great book. The author's funny, honest, inspiring. I'm not a great artist, but this book showed me how to make the most of what I CAN do.



4. As a beginning-intermediate cartoonist, there is absolutely nothing to learn in this book that hasn't been done 100 times better somewhere else. Half the time, the writer seemed more interested in cartooning himself in joke (?) situations. Crude drawings compared to others. Don't waste your money, stick with C. Hart books instead. I so disappointed with this book, I am returning it.



5. I have absolutely no talent for drawing, but I write books for my first graders and was tired of cut and paste stuff. I found this book about cartooning, and since I felt that the only thing I could possibly do was something very basic, I decided to try it. I have been drawing now for about 6 months and am really thrilled at my progress with cartoons. Best of all, the kids love the stories and the stupid little cartoons I draw! Okay, Bob Books, move over!

1 comments about Early American Architecture: From the First Colonial Settlements to the National Period.

1. I picked up this book inexpensively, secondhand, to use as a reference because it has a lot of very good photos and floor plans. But I glanced at the first page and was hooked. It's an incredibly well-written, well-balanced, unbiased, well-organized, and informed view of colonial architecture extant in the U.S. in the mid-20th century, when the book was written.

   Morrison tells in the introduction that his goal was to write a comprehensive history of the topic. And he's done a stellar job. It's the first such book I've seen that gives significant treatment not only of the Spanish Southwest (with separate chapters on each of those states and what distinguishes each state's architecture from that of the other S.W. states) but also devotes a significant portion of its pages to French Colonial architecture, not just of New Orleans, but also of the entire French Mississippi Valley and parts of the Gulf Coast.

   A bit about the composition of the book: Morrison devotes entire sections of chapters or entire chapters themselves to the background of a particular style (e.g, Dutch colonial in the New York area), but then gives a major portion of the text over to descriptions of prime examples of the styles he's just described. Several houses and public buildings are discussed in each section, almost always with photos, often with floor plans and interior shots.

   Morrison's unbiased and comprehensive coverage of a very wide-ranging subject is extremely well done, with the exception of just one rather amusing bit of editorializing: he doesn't seem to like dormers, or at least seems to prefer 17th century gables to dormers. Other than that funny (and seldom-appearing) idiosyncrasy, the book is a wonderful educational tool and reference book for the layperson. The fact that this book was originally published more than 50 years ago and is still in print is an amazing testement to the fact that it's so well written.