5 comments about Small Log Homes: Storybook Plans and Advice.

1. This book is a great reference for the first time log home buyer. Many links to take you down other paths. Robbin outlines a few things that many new buyers should look out for in a compact way. There are also several nice photgraphs that will add to your idea database. The floor plans in the back of the book are great general floor plans to start and modify in your own way. I nearly used the entire book to plan my cabin project. Many thanks to Robbin for a great reference.



2. This book is a nice little overview of small log homes. It's not meant to be a "how to" manual, or provide detailed information. It's just a starter for those dreaming of building a log home.
   
   Some of the positives are that the book itself is high-quality, the photos are very good for the most part, and it does provide enough information to help determine if a log home really is for you. Some of the negatives for me are the photos are unrelated (there will be photos of the exterior of two log homes, followed by a photo of a kitchen, followed by a photo of a porch, followed by a photo of another kitchen . . . interspersed with text that may or may not have anything to do with the photos shown); I would have preferred groups of photos of one home at a time so I could understand the house better. And the plans and elevations at the back of the book are "stand-alones" for the most part; they are unrelated to the photos shown earlier in the book. It would have been nice to have plans and photos of homes actually built.
   
   It's a nice "starter" book, so I gave it four stars. For me personally, I would have given it three stars for its usefulness.



3. I'm trying to design some sort of floorplan for my future log home and I thought this might give me some ideas....it's not that great. In fact I'm disappointed from what I thought it would be and should have taken more of the reviews to heart. It basically goes over building a log home...ok - well I thought it would be focused more on its title: Small Log Homes: Storybook Plans and Advice. The advice it gives is probably stuff you've already heard before...and the plans are just more of the generic ones you see from all the log home manufacturers.



4. The pictures are beautiful, and there are a few floorplans at the back. The text however is useless, unless you need to be told that putting in lots of options will raise the price, create the floorplan based on your family's interests and that you shouldn't spend more than you can afford. It really isn't anything more than you could get with a 10 minutes trip to the website of a log home manufacturer, except that it has much less info!

   It tells you, for example, that you should make careful and deliberate use of all the space by planning it carefully, but does not show examples of good planning, give you thought provoking questions to ask yourself, or anything that could help you do it.

   The book mentions that there are 2 types of log cabins, names them and gives a few uncaptioned photographs, without even one word to tell you what the advantages of one over the other might be.

   It tells you that a complicated roof is more expensive than an uncomplicated one. Did you need to be told? It does not tell you what the choices are in roof styles, the advantages and weather reasons you might want one more than the other, dispite the cost, and it certainly does not tell you what the price differences are (even an approx % difference would have been a start).

   It does not suggest anything useful and should only be bought by someone who is on their way to the log home manufacturer in their area so that they can point to the pictures in the book and facilitate the teaching the company will then have to provide. This is for a person buying a finished, installed product, not building a home.

   I was very disappointed and would never have bought this book if I had seen it in a bookstore. It is meant for someone who buys magazines exclusively for the pictures and does not read the articles. This will not help you build a house.




5. A good, usable well-illustrated book for the everyday person..the middle class "dreamer". Not focused on millionare showplaces, but homes for the average family, homes under 2500 sq ft. Cozy photos and a nice selection of floor plans. A good working tool if you are considering a log home in your future.

5 comments about Batman: The Complete History.

1. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. As a Batman fan, I found it very interesting reading about the history of my favourite superhero - from the way he was created, through various evolutions over the years, and how he (and his comics in general) have developed into the modern style that I am most familiar with.
   
   There are plenty of pictures which are great, and help to illustrate the changes that batman has gone through.
   
   A few slight criticisms though: First, the amount of book dedicated to each era of batman seems disproportionate. As expected, there is a great deal dedicated to his origins and early days, and quite a bit on the campy batman of the 1960s TV show, however there seems to be far less focussing on the way he evolved into the modern batman, and his modern appearances. Specifically, the movies of Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher receive little more than a passing mention, when they could have been fleshed out much more to explain the Dark Knight's successes onscreen.
   
   Also, be aware that this book was written in 1999, and as such is almost a decade out of date in terms of Batman's recent appearances - the most obvious that I would have liked to hear about was the new imagining of batman for Batman Begins etc. However, this is not a fault of the book, but merely of time - but it is best to keep in mind that it is no longer a 'complete' history of Batman.
   
   All in all though, an excellent book for the Batman fan, or anyone with an interest in superheroes or the comic book industry.



2. 
   This book is very thick, nicely done, and chock full of -Holy History Museum, Batman!- lots of amazing photos and comics. It tells you everything you ever wanted to know about Batman. If Bat-History were to be a subject in school, this would be the book in all the desks.
   
   The reason that I only gave it four stars is because there is one very sick-minded and disgusting comic towards the back of the book, that's all about man/woman stuff that no kid should be reading. I tore it out as soon as I saw it, because it's a flaw in this otherwise amazing and beautifully constructed book on the Dark Knight. Also, go through this book with a black marker before giving it as a gift- there are some pictures in it of women who need to learn how to dress themselves better!
   
   All in all, a PRICELESS volume.



3. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Les Daniel's history of the Batman concept as expressed in comic books and strips, television shows (animated and live action) and movies. As a young child I took great delight in the Adam West TV show--blissfully unaware of how really campy it was--the comic books, of course, and all of the Batman paraphernalia that was available in the 1960s. I picked up this book for nostalgia's sake, and did not expect it to be a very sophisticated treatment of the subject. It just looked visually like a lot of fun.
   
   So, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Daniels takes his subject very seriously indeed. He plumbs the cultural antecedents of the Batman concept, and describes its realization in the comic book. He meticulously details the process in which the comic book stories and art for Batman were accomplished over the decades, paying particularly close attention to the key artists and writers involved in the process. He carefully explains the changes--subtle or not--made to the Batman concept over time, and reveals the business and artistic philosophies behind these changes.
   
   It's fascinating to see how this cultural icon evolved over time, like a pendulum moving back and forth from the dark and creepy to the silly and campy. Daniels reveals Batman's role in the 1950s debate over the morality of comic books, and he explains how Batman's creative team sought to deflect criticism that Batman and Robin's relationship was suspect by introducing a "family" for Batman, including a Batgirl and a Batwoman.
   
   Daniels deftly addresses both the art and writing of Batman and the hugely popular cultural phenomenon Batman has been over the decades. It might have been tempting, from a commercial standpoint, to have given a lot more attention to the live action television show and the recent movies, but Daniels treats all manifestations of the Dark Knight rather evenly.
   
   I can understand the concern, expressed by others here, that the busy layout of the book distracts the reader. Admittedly, as I mentioned above, it was that eye candy that attracted me to the book in the first place. And, for me, I did not find all the illustrations and sidebars unpleasant distractions in a book devoted to such a primarily visual topic.
   
   I highly recommend this delightful, and well researched and written book, to all readers who have an undying fondness for the Batman cultural icon.



4. This book chronicles in great detail the history of the Dark Knight, from his comic book debut in 1939 to the various media incarnations of today. While this book does not include Batman Begins or the Justice League animated series, everything that came before is laid out in vivid detail, with some excellent photographs by collector Chip Kidd, who previously collaborated with author Daniels on Batman: Collected, a book about the various Batman products that have been marketed and sold over the years. This is an excellent item to own for fans of Batman of any age (reading skills desirable). Final grade - A



5. This is a real tough book to describe. It's packed with great comics art, paintings, photos, animation art, rare interviews and information. There's a ton of Bat-material from every media, and a comprehensive chronology of the Caped Crusader's comic chronicles. BUT--the layout is strictly a frenzy of "look what I can do with Quark!" Copy jumps several pages at a time to accomodate ridiculously enlarged Bat-heads and sidebars, completely derailing the reading experience. I know some may consider this chaos trendy and artistically modern, but its just the same old "pop art" condescension towards "kiddie books." Obviously readers cannot cope with page after page of words and relevant illustrations, so the "Award Winning Designer" has pumped up the volume with lots of big cropped images and 7-inch wide columns of copy in reverse-type sidebars (the nuns should whack his knuckles with a ruler for that alone--"BAD, BAD, designer.") Content is definitely A+. Presentation is strictly art school C-. This book is worth it for the rare and exciting artwork, but it really could have been so much better. When will the comic companies stop being so ashamed of their product? Books like this just contribute to the presumption that comics are hyperactive adolescent trash and the readers are unsophisticated cattle with the attention-span of gophers who will buy any incomprehensible crap that insults them. Wait a minute...
   
   DC also released a calendar book using the same design aesthetic. Guess what? Same cluttered, crappy, childish look. My advice? Don't buy either product and let them choke on a couple thousand copies. Problem is, they won't blame the design, and will just assume that the Batcraze is over. You really can't win, because the "designer" probably has an MA, and we're all just stupid comic fans. Guess who can't be wrong?

3 comments about Design for the Other 90%.

1. I was already familiar with the catalog, but needed additional copies. I was pleasantly surprised to find the Amazon selling price was even lower than at the venue. The catalog contains links and resources to follow-up on all the displayed items and their authors.
   
   The shipping time was relatively long, but express shipment outside the US would have been too expensive.



2. "Design for the Other 90%" was published for the exhibition of the same name at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum at the Smithsonian. More like a review of an exhibition than a definitive text, the book is a nice brief review of some very interesting designs that are useful all over our planet. The book does not seem to be intended to teach you how to build, but rather to inspire you to think about building differently.
   
   The book contains a collection of inventions - most of them quite simple. Examples are a "pot-in-pot" cooler which uses evaporative cooling to keep food from spoiling, a portable water filter for drinking water, a communal solar-powered kitchen, a gravity-powered drip irrigation system, and small-scale photovoltaic lighting. There are many more interesting ideas within these pages.
   
   You won't learn the details of construction from this book, but you will be stimulated to think more broadly about designs that are useful for the majority of humans on our planet.



3. Excellent book. Besides many, many good ideas, the concept of Designing for the other 90% of the population is inspiring. If you've ever seen how people in developing nations live, you know how important and needed innovative ideas like these are.
   
   In the lines of "Poverty is our greatest common enemy", if people started designing products like these to help improve the lot of the rest of the world, the larger part of the world's problems would be solved.
   
   The only thing I'd like to see in this book is more good ideas..

No comments about Industrial Design: Materials and Manufacturing Guide.

5 comments about Frank Lloyd Wright: A Biography.

1. It was a gift for someone (most of my purchases are), but the person said it was a wonderful book.



2. 
   Wright the man is chronicled here, in one of the two best biographies of the architectural superstar. One would also want to read Brendan Gill's "Many Masks" as a companion to Ms Secrest's treatment of F Ll W - just to get the harmonizing flavors of opinion.
   
   Ms Secrest does magnificent research and shares it in a narrative that flows easily and keeps one's attention. Her information about Wright's family tree, as well as the family background of his wives and Mrs. Cheney, is more thoroughly presented than I have seen elsewhere.
   
   One must not expect a thorough critique of Wright's buildings here -- there are too many works to be considered and there are many other resources, old and new, for such explorations. "In the Nature of Materials" leaps to mind. However, this book does flesh out the man and in some ways dispels some of the outlandish tales and outright fabrications about his life, toward which Wright was oft inclined.
   
   Yes, do read his disingenuous "An Autobiography" (1943) as well, and some of the family books - "The Valley of the God-Almighty Joneses: Reminiscences of Frank Lloyd Wright's Sister, by Maginel Wright Barney, 1986, and his son, John Lloyd Wright's "My Father Who Is On Earth", G P Putnam Sons, NY, 1946. . But consider this a more reliable guide to Mr. Wright's long and theatrical life.



3. Biography is very thorough, but the writing is somewhat difficult to read due to organization.



4. This is an excellent book by Meryle Secrest on Frank Lloyd Wright. It traces the career of America's foremost builder from his days in Chicago as a resident in fashionable Oak Park to his final days on the Arizona desert. Ms. Secrest does not specialize in architecture, but this appears to be an asset. While there are plenty of books that can go on (and on and on) about building techniques, this is intended for the lay person who is interested in Frank Lloyd Wright in general terms. This book provides an excellent introduction to both the man and his work.



5. It's often pointed out that autobiographies are to a considerable extent works of fiction. It's less often pointed out, but equally true, that biographies are also to a considerable extent works of fiction. "Frank LLoyd Wright: A Biography" is a case in point. Now, it just so happens that the author of Frank Lloyd Wright's AUTObiography was a great artist, and it shows not only in his archecture, but also in his stylish, accomplished and original handling of English prose. This BIOGRAPHY, on the other hand, is dull, drab, and perfunctory, and its information is second-hand (at best). If you're going to read fiction, I say read GOOD fiction.

   Also: I've read a number of biographies of composers, and I find that they are almost always written by professional musicians. It seems to me that a biography of Frank Lloyd Wright ought to have been undertaken only by someone with a professional knowledge of architecture.

5 comments about Understanding Construction Drawings.

1. The book does not match with the drawings that are included. It has a lot of type-Os. It's very difficult to understand.



2. The book came on time however there was a page of the plans missing. Other than that everything was good.



3. The book is very informative how ever i feel some of the questions could have been a little more precise in what they were asking. I needed the book for my construction management class when i was taking another class on materials and methods for construction so a lot of information overlapped which helped concrete it in.



4. The book itself is generally good quality and well-written. I'm learning about construction & drawings for the very first time, so some info was hard for me to really understand - not enough explanation and, oh yeah - the DRAWINGS that are referred to throughout the ENTIRE book - uh... are NOT included! I HOPE someone sees this comment so that perhaps an addendum to the book's description could really warn buyers what they're in for by trying to save money on the used book. Honestly, you really lose at least half the value by not being able to refer to the plans...so: BUYER BEWARE!



5. This book is laid out like a text book course of study, which I like, however one important thing to note is that there is no answer key for the tests. The answer key is a seperate book and I have been unable to locate it. Fortunately I work for a General Contractor and have been able to have my co-workers check my answers for accuracy. But as far as being a good source for systematic learning, this book definitely is.

No comments about The Art and Architecture of Ancient America, Third Edition: The Mexican, Maya and Andean Peoples (The Yale University Press Pelican Histor).

2 comments about 50 Great Kitchens by Architects (By Architects).

1. I enjoyed the concept of the book however the level of detail was not what I would have wanted. I wish the pictures were a little bite larger so that you could see the connection details of the tile, wood, and metal.



2. This book presents fabulous photos of awe-inspiring kitchens based on modern architecture. The newest materials and looks are emphasized. What is also great is the functionality of many of them. The ones by CCS-architecture are particularly noteworthy because this firm specializes in modern restaurant design in San Francisco. This volume gave us some great ideas.

5 comments about Painting Weathered Buildings in Pen, Ink & Watercolor (Artist's Photo Reference).

1. Even though I use oil and acrylics I can use a lot of the techniques in this book. A awesome reading.



2. I have started back into drawing since I have retired and have been working in pen and ink and have discovered this book. It is a great aid in my work. I review it all the time and have used it to help me get back into the swing of things. Great book!!!!



3. Excellent book with clear instructions,many illustrations to follow and am looking forward to a trip to the countryside to draw some old buildings.I am sure all art studentts will find this book extremely helpful.



4. I really love this one.It has helped me understand alot about drawing and painting in watercolor.



5. I am a budding watercolorist and this is a great reference book on technique and application. I find inspiration in the illustrations and cannot wait to apply them to my next drawing/painting.
   Full of step-by-step illustrations and explanations. Love it.

5 comments about The Abrams Guide to Period Styles for Interiors.

1. This is a great book to use as a reference for INTERIOR STYLE. It's small enough to carry, and there is no sifting through needless information (text is straight to the point). It has wonderful pictures of interiors and furniture. I highly recommend this book as use for reference, great for interior design students too.



2. First, understand that this is primarily a furniture book, not an architecture book. No real examples of window or door trim, crown molding, etc. As such, it's not really a companion to The Abrams Guide to American House Styles. I thought it would show the interior architecture that accompanied the exterior architecture characteristic of different periods, but no such luck.
   
   Second, while the book may be fun (for some) to browse, it shows itself to be surprisingly incomplete once you start to look for specific periods. What I was looking for was Greek Revival. A fairly prominent American style, and yet not even mentioned in the book.
   
   Overall a disappointment for someone who wanted to see what architects did on the inside to complement the outside of major American architectural styles.



3. I ordered this book having never seen it - based soley upon the reviews and description (which was risky). I must say, however, that when I received the book I was pleasantly surprised! It is a nice size (to carry to project sites - it is not too large), yet it has a ton of information packed into it's 424 pages. Beautifully assembled and high quality of printing. Many color photos. Separates each period, gives examples of colors for the period, home furnishing examples and architectural details.



4. The perfect reference book. Judith knows her stuff and doesn't mince words when trying to relate distinctive styles. Expert comparisons and differences between periods and countries. Superb photography.



5. Beautifully conceived and designed, with great images and concise cogent texts. An engaging introduction to elite furniture and interior styles.