2 comments about Italian Splendor.

1. The book itself is a work of art. I actually have two copies of this book, the original first edition Hardcover in Italian, and the Hardcover reprint edition from 2004. Italia Meravigliosa, I bought with the idea that any text in its original language is better than anything translated. That would probably be true if my skills in Italian came anywhere close to what I would like to think they are.
   The book is a beautiful journey through Italy to places that you would never get to see, even if you lived in Italy. The book is laid out well with exquisite pictures on every page. A special bonus is the fact that the text accompanying the pictures is presented outside the picture itself so that the beauty of the picture is unmarred by text superimposed over it.
   The book visits 57 places, with historical background, things to look for in the pictures, and interesting little facts in the narration at the beginning of each new place. The pictures that follow are all relevant to the text presented, with enough information to enjoy and understand the pictures, without a lot of repetitive information. A lot of thought went into everything presented in the book. It is a refreshing change from similar books that present the same information over and over disguised in different versions of the same thing. There is a nice map that helps pinpoint the locations of all the places for you, so you never have to admit that without it, you would have no idea where these places were.
   Since I have both the original edition plus the reprint addition, I can provide the differences in the two. While they are both hardcover editions, containing the same amount of pages and the same information on the pages, there are some surprising differences. The original version is ½" thicker than the reprint edition and almost a pound heavier. The original version seems to be printed on better quality paper, and has a more solid binding. This would not be noticeable except for the fact that I own both copies and one is noticeably larger than the other. My advice: Take this book, get a glass of wine, wrap yourself in a blanket by the fireplace and you will be transported on journey through Italy. No matter how many times I have read this book and looked at the pictures, I always seem to see something in the pictures that I never saw before. It will definitely be a great addition to your book collection.



2. Italian Splendor is simply splendid, and much more than just a coffee table show-off. It is a beautifully produced book, dominated (as it should be) by the wonderful photography of Roberto Schezen.

   The descriptions by art expert Ralph Toledano are succinct and respectful and contain some interesting anecdotes. Best of all, they are short enough to just whet the appetite for the photographs.

   This book takes you into the fabulous homes of the rich and aristocratic families of Italy and Sicily. From the exquisitely simple La Rocca Pisana, Lonigo to the amazingly rich Palazzo Doria Pamphilij in Rome, each house is different and interesting. Some are astonishing, like the Palazzo, Panza di Biumo, which has a peculiar mixture of ancient frescoes and abstract modern art that works in an odd sort of way. Many are private homes not open to the public, and therefore not able to be viewed in any other way except through this book. Unless you happen to be royalty yourself, of course!

   The book was researched over 18 months by Jack Basehart, who must be incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to get to know all of these marvellous houses. Thanks for sharing them with us, Jack....

   ...And how about turning this book into a documentary series?

   PS. If you can get hold of it, I think the hardback is well worth the extra money. This is a book you're going to want to keep.

1 comments about Sustainable Urban Development Reader (Routledge Urban Reader Series).

1. The Sustainable Urban Development Reader includes a number of seminary writings by some of the foremost thinkers in sustainable urbanism, including Timothy Beatley and William McDonough. Even though "sustainable" and "green urbanism" are trendy hot topics, the readings in this book form the foundation of each field and become increasingly relevant over time.

1 comments about Cabaret Berlin: Revue, Kabarett And Film Music Between The Wars.

1. Unless you are fluent in German, you'll be greatly disappointed by this otherwise excellent compilation. MAJOR PROBLEM: There is NO libretto!! C'mon... Give us a German libretto to these songs at least!
   
   The re-mastered CD's are nearly flawless, no hiss & hardly a pop from these old recordings. The book is beautiful, well written with some great photographs. It's packaged like a Grand Opera... But where's the damn libretto!!!?? Some 'big-thinker' at EarBooks must have made an executive decision (to save a buck), that landed this album in the bargain bin at Amazon).
   
   Great Weimar atmospheric music... But I wish I knew the words!

2 comments about Morocco Style (Icons).

1. Love this little book.
   I first borrow it from the local library as the previous comment make me think.
   But now that I know how it is and I love it I'm going to buy it!
   Is a small book, so you don't need to bring around lots of weight.
   It has "only" pictures so, if you are looking for a book to read then this is not for you.
   But if you are looking for inspiration and great pics go for it.
   I'm a landscape designer and therefore find this little book very useful but I would suggest anyone who is interested in some inspiring pictures from Morocco to get this book as is cheap as chips and offers more than its price!
   Hope you enjoy!



2. Except for a few titles such as the Web Design Collection, Taschen's Icons book series have a very annoying habit of not being comprehensive enough in the material they cover and using a format much too small for a picture book. The low price one pays for them is not worth the expense. I rather spend more in other larger, thicker books Taschen publishes that cover the same subjects.
   
   The Morocco Style book is a tipical example of what I mean, much too many photos of the same residence or two, and a great deal of them having no architectural or photographic interest whatsoever.

5 comments about Frank Lloyd Wright Mid-Century Modern.

1. Comprehensive photos of the interiors and exteriors of Wright's homes.
   One is able to see the materials used, arrangement of furniture and colors he chose. Just what I was looking for. Beautiful book.



2. I approached this book with some trepidation, as I suspected there would be much duplication of the material presented in "Frank Lloyd Wright: The Houses". As approximately 60% of the houses presented here were given to us in the earlier title, these suspicions proved to be correct, yet I am giving this book 4 stars. Why?
   
   This time, unlike what was done in "FLW: Prairie Houses", there has been some effort made to present different views of the repeated houses. However, be advised that there is reuse of the identical photos in many cases. What redeems this book are the seldom published houses that are presented. To those very familiar with Wright the names Buehler, Hughes, Neils, Pearce, Brown, Berger, et al will ring a bell, but may not bring a clear image to mind. Now the images are provided and great images they are. Often full page views of this wonderful architecture.These photos will draw you into serene spaces that are at one with nature. Almost 50 years after his death the artistry of this man still amazes. So, pick up a copy, settle into a comfy chair and prepare to be amazed.



3. Wow what great photographs and the essay's are great too. What really put me off - infact it angered me, the incorrect name used not once but twice for Harold Price - it is listed as Herbert. I just cannot believe that through all the proof readings and all the eyes writing this book that this attrosity was not found. Bad publishing. Other wise the information and photos are great - just wish there was alittle more care put into the proof reading.



4. Very comprehensive with new photos not shown before. As new owner of the Dorothy Turkel House in Detroit I was pleasantly suprised with 6 pages on our house. There is so much interest in Mr Wrights houses i cant believe it. Very timely.



5. The description:
   
   "With lavish, new, previously unpublished color photographs and detailed plans"
   
   is not quite accurate. And while there are some new photographs, there are no detailed plans of any kind. And most of the photographs are really no different in content than can be found in some other books. In additon, there is practically no technical information in any of the photo captions.
   
   It would been nice to have other houses covered in this book that have not appeared in countless other books. Many of the subjects here have been beat to death.

No comments about The Project of Autonomy: Politics and Architecture Within and Against Capitalism (FORuM Project Publications).

No comments about Block by Block: Jane Jacobs and the Future of New York.

3 comments about Colors of the World: A Geography of Color.

1. This is a great coffee table book. It brings the colors and architecture of the world into your living room. The pictures are beautiful.



2. I'm tired of the fluffy books about color. Here is some concrete studies on color use in different cultures with relation to architectural color choices. This information is the perfect addition to my thesis research for grad school on the topic of cultural differences in color perception. Plus, it is so beautiful to look at! Really beautiful.



3. A Husband and Wife team bring their insights together in a book that exudes beauty and order in the natural and the built environments. The photos are meticulously color balanced, the natural hues in buildings are inspiring and life affirming. The book is so multi-faceted that it could have other titles as well, "Color in Geometry" and "Homes with Soul" would be appropriate. The book deserves a cloth cover, much like Christopher Alexanders opus "The Theory of Life. This is a book you will come back to when you need to recharge your soul with the beauty of man and nature in harmony. I smiled a lot while looking through the book. Give this book to your friends, it's that good!

2 comments about A Legal Guide to Urban and Sustainable Development for Planners, Developers and Architects.

1. Benjamin Franklin said, "Experience is the best teacher, and a fool knows no other." This book shows how to avoid the hundreds of mistakes (of design, contract and organization) frequently made by developers of urbanist communities, i.e., walkable, real estate developments and communities that follow pre-1940 design principles. Read this book to build a better project, avoid exasperation and litigation, and to improve sleep. The authors have more legal experience in this niche than any others in the country. It is pretty much a sure thing that some paragraph in it will save you from big problems. I actually think it'd be kind of dumb not to buy it. Reading it from cover to cover might be too much to chew. Instead, pick and choose the parts that relate to your project.



2. This work by Doris Goldstein and Dan Slone fills a large gap in the subject of law and New Urbanism, a gap particularly daunting for the non-legal mind. It is filled with practical advice, timely warnings, and digestible facts. A particularly useful document when in the hands of the non-lawyers among us.

1 comments about New Directions in Tropical Asian Architecture.

1. I'm an Architectural Designer that lives/works in Jamaica and Bermuda and I'm also a fan of modern/contemporary architecture. I own a number of books on the subject, but few tend to address basic climatic issues that we in the Tropics face (and rightly so, since they are about projects north of the tropics). I've just received the book from my freight forwarder and had a chance to browse thru it. It really looks interesting and certainly provides inspiration for projects that can be successfully executed in our hot, humid climate.
   The inclusion of architectural drawings (Plans, Sections, Elevations) is also welcome - too many books on Architecture neglect this very important point. I think this may be the telling factor for deciding whether this is to be another one of my coffee-table books, or a serious informative reference for ideas and inspiration. For now, I'm leaning to the latter.