2 comments about The Ethical Architect: The Dilemma of Contemporary Practice.

1. I was excited to read an investigation into the ethical dilemnas surrounding changing our environment through building, but instead got a dime store review of philosophical positions and how one might make a decision using those positions. That coupled with non-committal statements about buildings such as the Guggenheim in New York - how can one reconcile their admiration for the building with the knowledge that it doesn't function as well as it could- left me wondering if the whole point was that ethics is a personal choice based on experience, personal preference, beliefs and values. While, that may be true and is surely fine conversation over a drink at the local pub, it's kind of weak for [$$$]and 200+ pages.

   I found myself pondering my positions on the case studies presented and wondering if Spector's arguments might sway me, but there were never any arguments, just possible positions, permutations and effects. Spector quotes from "Utilitarianism and Beyond"

   "It can be argued that rational choice base on an incomplete ordering requires only that a not inferior alternative be picked. This would have required Buridan's...to pick either haystack, but not neither, which was clearly an inferior alternative."

   By choosing to not take any position, the author falls into his own "inferior alternative". After all, we all make value judgements and decisions each day that form the basis of our own personal ethics, but none of us need to buy a book to tell us that.




2. A very serious aproach to the core of the most basic questions about the architectural profession. A book that openes many questions that architects should ask themselves more than we do today if we want to gain back credibility which our profession lost somewhere in the recent past. This will be a hard job to do and this book is a good start for everyone.

5 comments about Take Stock: A roadmap to profiting from your first walk down Wall Street..

1. What an excellent book. Well written, clear, and easy that read that gives great insight. Ellis Traub has written a superb text on investing. I thoroughly recommend this book to all those interested in successful investing.



2. This book gives a simple, yet time honored approach to selectiong stocks. It uses fundamental analysis to select quality growth companies. So don't look here for technical analysis. Look here to find good stocks for the long term.

   With the included Take Stock software you can now access online data (subscription required) and have the forms all filled out for you. You can manually fill them out also at no other charges. The program applies conservative judgments and gives you a analysis of the company's quality and the risk reward benefits of buying the stock from the current price. What could be simplier.

   Also included is a demo copy copy of Mr. Traub's other software he writes for the NAIC called Investor's Toolkit which is a full blown stock evaluation, stock selection, and portfolio management tool. It requires more understanding than the Take Stock program does, but the online help screens do a good job of explaining its purpose.

   My only complaint is that many of the stocks I've romanticized about are not quality companies. At least they are not companies I'd invest my money in for retirement.

   I've read this book several times and learn more each time.

   Mr Traub has mentioned the NAIC & AAII investment organizations and I recommend both of them to further your investing education.




3. This book gives a simple, yet time honored approach to selectiong stocks. It uses fundamental analysis to select quality growth companies. So don't look here for technical analysis. Look here to find good stocks for the long term.

   With the included software you can now access online data (subscription required) and have the forms all filled out for you. The program applies conservative judgments and gives you a analysis of the company's quality and the risk reward benefits of buying the stock from the current price. What could be simplier.

   My only complaint is that many of the stocks I've romanticized about are not quality companies. At least they are not companies I'd invest my money in for retirement.

   I've read this book several times and learn more each time.

   Mr Traub has mentioned the NAIC & AAII investment organizations and I recommend both of them to further your investing education.




4. The book does not really go into any investment process and is confusing. I prefer Value Investing Today or Ben Graham's books. Avoid this one.



5. Benjamin Graham is a classic on investment. Years from now folks will be buy "Take Stock" as another one of those "must have" timeless classics. Ellis's book is the best I have read that explains things in plain (non-technical) English with examples most people can easily grasp.

3 comments about Electrical and Computer Engineering: Sample Exam (Pe Exam Preparation).

1. ... I hear the book has mistakes, and I hate how each problem builds on the previous one... Will the exam do that? If you miss one, you miss them all? I don't think that is fair...



2. I took and passed the PE in 2006. Along with many other books, I used this one to prepare mainly for the afternoon session on Electronics, Communications, and Controls. A few of the problems were marginally helpful, but as the previous reviewer mentioned, there are mistakes. To help others with this test, I created my own sample test for the morning session. It available for free (no catches), with solutions, at my site (klkaiser).



3. A good practice book for the exam. I would say the problems in this book are a little bit harder than in the real exam, which is good to practice. However, this book still has many errors. A second edition is definitely needed.

No comments about Games of Architecture (Architectural Design Profile).

1 comments about The Art of Architectural Drawing: Imagination and Technique.

1. you don't really know what you are getting until it shows up. i was hoping that a book on waterCOLOR illustrations would have primarily COLOR illustrations! silly me! this book does have a lot of illustrations - too bad probably 85% of them are in black and white. it would be nice if amazon would list the number of color and b&w plates along with the rest of the info they give you on a book, but until that day comes, its buyer beware. if you are looking for a lot of nice examples of waterCOLOR illustrations, this book, even at the discounted price is no bargan. however, if you like lots of poorly reproduced black and white images of watercolor illustations, then this is the book for you!

1 comments about Accessible Housing by Design: Universal Design Principles in Practice.

1. Forty of the 120 pages are Checklist and Graphic Guidelines. It is nice to have them in one place; they are detailed, incorporating issues such as the environment. Accept for grab bars, etc. there is not much that I would consider of "modest or no additional cost," as the book jacket purports. Focus is on open floor designs, but also has tighter schemes. Great photos are matched with good information, that I haven't found elsewhere.

No comments about Chip Multiprocessor Architecture: Techniques to Improve Throughput and Latency (Lecture).

1 comments about Civil Engineering: Survey Review.

1. Not a bad book at all. Challenging problems that much more closely represent the CA PE questions than the rubbish PPI has for civil surveying. You might want to consider a review course or study group additionally as the real test is a minefield.

3 comments about Practice Of Architecture: The Builder's Guide.

1. For one researching, restoring, repairing houses (and public buildings) built from 1800 to about 1870, this is a treasure. Asher Benjamin's illustrations were copied verbatim or served as inspiration to carpenters, especially in the northeastern US. Benjamin's text is full of his own opinions, practical considerations and fun: in one place he suggests we remember to place columns far enough apart that plump people won't get stuck between them!
   One should probably own his 1st(1798),6th (1827), or 1830 books (widely available in paper back and cheaper) before buying these later (1833 and 1845) pattern books. But if your house and community were built before the Civil War, you may find your ancesters copied Asher Benjamin.



2. ..., this book is not intended to be a current architectural resource.

   It is a presentation, for research purposes, of two books that at one time served as the 'conceptual' blueprint of house building in the cities of America.

   The introduction is clear and to the point, and the layout of the books well-handled.

   I recommed this book to anyone interested in the history of architecture in America; I cannot recommed it as a practical builder's guide.




3. This book has a 20 page introduction on Asher and then about then about 20 pages of picutures and drawings. The rest of the pages are copies of two books written in ancient english that is very hard to understand even for an engineer. The drawings included are mostly cross sections of moldings, pillars and some truss diagrams (the truss section was interesting). It the kind of book you would thumb thru and say that is sorta interesting and then never pick it up again. I am returning it.

No comments about Building Environments: Perspectives in Vernacular Architecture (Perspect Vernacular Architectu).