5 comments about Visual Grammar (Design Briefs).

1. I stumbled on this book at the local library and found it a very fascinating read. I've been involved in graphic production for years and can push the objects around on the comp, but never really knew the basics and foundation of visual language.
   
   This is a great primer to learn the basic concepts that lead one to want to learn the syntax and the structure of the visual nouns learned.
   
   This is something I will purchase and pore over until I learn the concepts.



2. Wow. Thats just it for this book. Seriously, someone wanted a publication and farted this thing out. I mean, it gives you the vocab of the elements...thats it. Im a college design teacher and this book would be great for a middle-school art/design class.
   
   If you want simplistic...this may be for you.



3. This book certainly takes the simplicity route. It is ruthlessly straightforward in regards to expressing it's information, in a layout that is without a doubt concise and efficient. The nadir? It also unfortunately reads like stereo instructions and the knowledge it tries to impart is thoroughly basic at best. Simple shapes and the like may be the building blocks of structure, but without any really tangible information to be gleaned we are left with an attractive skeleton. Yes there are some bits of wisdom in this book as well as some fetching Adobe Illustrator rendered graphics, but by and large we're just left with more white space than a snowstorm. I really do think people should form their own opinions about reference materials however, maybe you could learn a great deal from this work. Buy it, try it, but I honestly can't envision the need for this volume in light of so many other exemplary works on the subject.



4. Everything was excellent except the quality of the binding on the book. it isn't bad enough for me to want to return it but it is something to mention.



5. The standard for visual literacy was set by Dondis A. Dondis in 1973 with "A Primer of Visual Literacy". However, it was (is) a heavy read. Christian Leborg's "Visual Grammar" gives us a more visual approach to the subject. His thesis is that we cannot understand the visual images that assault our eyes unless we share a common understanding of the symbols involved. Leborg enlightens us with a symplified but nonetheless complex view of symbols that are abstract, concrete, active, and relative. It's an interesting exploration using only basic geometric shapes. This is a "must have" book for those who teach design and a desirable book for students. All you need to know is that it is published by Princeton Architectural Press. Princeton publishes some of the most important books on design. Their positive discrimination is evident in all of their publications.

5 comments about The Houses That Sears Built.

1. We moved in our present home 10 years ago. We begin searching for our home some knowledge reguarding if it was a Sears House. We began with The Houses that Sears Built by Rosemary Thornton. However we couldn't find it there but, we found a wealth of information on Sears homes. If you think you have a Sears Kit Home both of the books are must have for you to read, learn, and enjoy. I just learned that Rosemary Thornton was in Beckley WV this week, I'm so sorry that We missed her.



2. This book is fun!
   
   It's an excellent resource for those interested in learning about and identifying Sears' kit homes. Ms. Thornton has traveled the country in search of these remaining houses and she shares her wealth of knowledge regarding these wonderful kit homes. Her energy and passion shine through the pages as she brings us along on her travels.
   
   What also makes this book such a joy to read is it provides fascinating glimpses into real life, down to earth America during the first part of the 20th century. A high school or college history teacher could easily use this book as a springboard and practical resource for discussing and bringing to life the sociological, cultural, and economic trends and mores during this period of American history. Learning about Richard Sears' foresight and marketing strategy by seeing examples of kit home advertisements for and testimonials from kit homeowners is fascinating. It's an interesting way to learn about American culture through a discussion of our homes throughout the heartland. This book, however, does not read like a textbook or technical manual. Ms. Thornton's casual writing style matches the real life of her subject. It reads more like a fun adventure sprinkled with historical facts rather than a not-so-exciting technical document. Thank you, Ms. Rose, for an excellent contribution!



3. A nice overview of the Sears kit homes. A nice companion to the various catalogs that have been reprinted by Dover.



4. This is the book to spark your interest in Sears Homes. I am now motivatied to find the homes in my town. Great read.



5. This book should be in every American home... When reading this book you feel as if you are sitting and talking to Rosemary Thornton. I just love it!!

5 comments about Monuments: America's History in Art and Memory.

1. Judith Dupre's book is a keeper, a volume to be read and treasured for generations. It's for those with a relative who fought in World War II, and those who have visited Gettysburg, seen the Liberty Bell and marveled at Mount Rushmore.
   Ms. Dupre infuses major historical events with glowing new life. She fills her pages with interesting facts and profound truths, explaining, for instance, why the triumphant Indian Americans were not commemorated in the first 120 years after the Little Bighorn Battle in Montana. Other battles -- from Gettysburg, World War II, Korea -- yield important cemeteries. Ms. Dupre's presentations range from the familiar (Statue of Liberty) to the unfathomable (Saint-Gaudens's monument to Clover Adams in Washington's Rock Creek Cemetery.) In a book that easily stirs emotions her description of New York City prisoners burying the unclaimed bodies of convicts at Hart Island ("the marginalized are interred by the marginalized with dignity") is especially poignant.
   The book will be valued by those with connections to these sacred sites, but it belongs in the collections of all who are tuned into American history.



2. Bravo! MUCH MORE than a "coffee table" book! Dupré's thoroughly researched and cogently presented text outshines the fascinating graphics. "Monuments" taught me more than I had intended to learn about the subject, and made me realize memorials talk about history in an unique way. I would recommend this book to any and all readers, especially those interested in getting a new and intriguing take on presidential and military history.



3. What impressed me of this work is how well it was researched. It has many side stories. Names and dates are carefully reported. The linkages to similar memorials or concepts are included in shaded boxes as ancillary threads. Was also impressed on the timeline, that reveals how the event that is memorialized eventually came into fruition of an actual memorial.
   
   My only criticism is not clarifying the geographical location of the monument (it assumes the reader knows where it is).
   
   The bonus is including ample space on the mass-conscious inpromptu memorials, such as leaving teddy bears, flowers, notes on the side of a tragedy or catastrophic event. I would add to that the silent and passive solitary memorials left by people along roadsides, memorializing a traffic accident. Or even the placement of a geocache, a box in the woods containing a logbook, such as the one in Western Pennsylvania in remembrance of two teenagers killed ["In Memory Of Clairenda and Loretta" GCQHZP]
   
   On the discussion of people mourning by leaving items at places such as the Vietnam Memorial, Oklahoma City, Columbine, the author however missed to mention that the same people that visit such memorials can actually take an object that is laying there. The items left are considered as abbandoned property by the National Park Service for 30 days, and only thereafter picked up and inventorized into the national museum system. In the meantime, the same item can be picked up by visitors, and the memorial acts as an exchange place. ... very much like a geocache.



4. This fascinating and unusual book is beautifully produced- it would make an excellent gift. It's a kind of treasury of richly detailed visits to a wide variety of different kinds of monuments. Dupre describes each one historically, evoking the powerful emotions behind the monument or memorial so that the original need can be felt and understood. The book gives us access to the people who created these monuments, and for whom they were created. Scholarly and also profoundly intuitive, Judith Dupre understands that a monument is by definition a labor of love, and has given us one.



5. Judith's books are always enjoyable but there is something especially wonderful about this one. It isn't just history or architecture, she finds the heart of why we remember, the purpose of these places. The histories are told with sensitivity and care, and the dozens of people that inhabit the book are portrayed colorfully and with close observation of their humanity, something usual lacking in ordinary history books. Having been to Manzanar several times and wandered over its acres myself, her narrative touched me and brought alive the people and the time.
   
   I would recommend this book to anyone with even the slightest interest in the human side of history.

5 comments about Decorating with Architectural Details.

1. This book provides not only good ideas but "how to" as well. It is an impressive collection of interior photographs illustrating examples of architectural details use in a range of styles from formal to casual and period to eclectic. It is entertaining as well as informative--a good read!



2. I am a custom carpenter in Metro Detroit, and have a large library of carpentry / trimwork detail books. I mostly use these books for discovering my customer's style and for generating ideas for their projects. This book is by far one of my 2 most referenced books in my library. It makes nearly every trip I make to a new customer's home. It contains great photographs of very nice architectual details. I highly recommend it, and will soon be buying my second, and possibly third, copy.



3. I bought this book for my wife for Christmas. She likes it as an inspirational book to get some ideas of what we can do for some woodworking/trim for our house.
   
   We find it a little light on the "how to" sections, so we also ordered the Trimwork book - part of the same series.



4. This is the perfect book for someone in the construction phase of their dream home. There are so many pictures providing a pletora of innovative ideas. I really liked the construction pictures that depict how a few separate pieces of molding can create a spectacular design! I'm taking the whole book to my trim guy so he can have a 'visual' of exactly what I want. I've purchased a lot of books as a first time owner/builder, and I have to say, this was certainly one of the best!



5. I have found this book to be very helpful when I see architectural features in a house with which I am unfamiliar. When I am done with it, I share it with other new agents.
   
   The descriptions used by the author have helped us write descriptions of our listings on the Multiple Listing Service. We realty agents see varieties of architecture that must be described briefly to help sell the homes. The book provides some descriptive terms that help us beginners.

5 comments about National Geographic Guide to Americas Great Houses (National Geographic Guide to America's Great Houses).

1. Good book! Lots of info and great colored photos. Anyone interested in American architecture and history will enjoy this book. It's helpful to read about a particular house before going to visit it, and it's fun to read about it again after you've seen it. Recommend. Booklady



2. If you need a guide of historic buildings that are not described in common books of architectural history, buy this book. It works as well as a guide as an introduction to american architectural history. If you are not already an historian this pocket sized book with it's short descriptions and representative pictures will probably greatly extend your interest in american architectural history.



3. I enjoyed reading this book, I found the text quite interesting and the pictures where vivid and well framed. The authors did a commendable job of choosing the houses for the book, many of the mansions are famous, many where not, but all had an interesting story. I was surprised to see how many homes where covered, considering that it is not a large book, you really do get a nice bang for you buck so to speak. If you are someone who just wants a quick synopsis on lots of great American houses then I don't think you will be disappointed in this book, just realize that many homes are covered and as such, not a lot of time can be spent on each home.



4. I am 10 years old and I got this book as a present from my parents. I am a big huge fan of old things and this was the perfect book for me. If you like historical things like huge houses and fancy dresses this is the book to get. It lists a ton of houses - over 150!! So far we have gone to the biltmore estate (INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!) and plan on going to the hearst castle and others. I highly recommend this book for great family trips. It also notes important things like websites, phone numbers,gift shops, etc. I love this book!



5. We bought this book and have toured three homes so far. We found the book invaluable! It gives fantastic descriptions and points out what grand houses we would like to most visit. At Marble House, we enjoyed the most f.a.b.u.l.o.u.s butter cookies! But Marci (with and 'i') and I are on the Atkins high protein diet and could only have three. We each had one and split the third. D.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s! Word of caution for those visiting the Biltmore house in Ashville, North Carolina...if you happen to drive a Range Rover and happen to have two Legnanos (hand-made Italian bicycles) on the roof rack (a $650 option on a Range Rover, I'll have you know!:o)), DON'T drive under the grape arbor! Marci was shaking so badly with anger that she dumped grape juice in her lap -- not funny. But within a few miles she was okay and we were able to laugh it off. I swear our premiums went up by $200. After a long trip, it was nice to get back to San Diego. "Elsa", our Range Rover managed to get about 17 miles to the gallon...not bad for a $60,000 SUV! We hope you enjoy this book as much as we do. We're looking forward to writing more reviews as we visit more houses!

No comments about The Engineering Guide to LEED-New Construction (Green Source) (GreenSource Books).

2 comments about Textiles in America 1650-1870.

1. This is a reprint of a classic Textiles reference book. I'm happy to get a copy at the current price instead of inflated re-sale prices.



2. TEXTILES IN AMERICA 1650-1870 was first published in 1984 to become a celebrated, definitive study on the topic of textiles in early American homes. Its reprint here makes it an ongoing top pick and mention for any college-level art library holding: it draws on source material scrapbooks of cloth swatches offering period terms, dimensions, prices, and engravings of their times to reproduce both photos and information, adding historical background on decorative practices and textile use in both England and America. College-level collections strong in textile history and art can't miss this.

No comments about Morocco: Courtyards and Gardens.

5 comments about Mechanical and Electrical Equipment for Buildings, 9th Edition.

1. used as a textbook, but even if not would make an excellent companion to any elec mech class.



2. If you want to know more than most Architects and Engineers about how to design the guts of buildings this is the book to use. It's a fat guy though! Sometimes the text seems to weigh you down. Most architectural students consider it a sloug! But, once they graduate, they use it throughout their careers as design professionals. If you want to know how to develop a regional climatic response strategy for your building or development, calculate passive ventillation rates or heat gains and losses on unique configurations of wood, siding and insulation; size gutters or a rain water catchment system or plan for an elevator, this is the book for you.



3. This is the best reference for Architects and students studying mech. & elec. equipment



4. If you are an engineer engaged in the design of mechanical and electrical systems for commercial and institutional buildings, you may find this your most valuable reference for an overview of theory and best practices for the entire gamut of building systems.
   
   I did find a bit too much enthusiasm for environmentally friendly and energy-conserving new ideas. Many of these technologies are worth following but have economic results that will not serve your clients well.
   
   I am a professional engineer (leading my own firm) with 40 years of experience and have a huge library including the eighth and ninth editions of this book; it's one of my favorites.
   
   It's must reading for a new engineer because you will be able to understand the basics of areas that are new to you with an hour or two of study.



5. My part of this book (mechanical and plumbing) is designed to first show how to minimize the need for mechanical equipment by designing with the climate and site firmly in mind. First configure a building to optimize daylighting, solar heating, and various climate-appropriate passive cooling methods. Also, to store rainwater when appropriate. Then, proceed to choose and size the back-up equipment. In this way, designers conserve non-renewable energy, utilize natural (on-site) energy sources, and also help building occupants stay in touch with the outdoors. I believe that we'll tend to care more about a clean outdoor environment if we are kept aware of its condition.
   For a summary of this approach, read Chapter One. I hope you enjoy this book, even when it is your textbook! That was my object. Suggestions? I'm at jreyn@darkwing.uoregon.edu

1 comments about Golden Gate Bridge: History and Design of an Icon.

1. It's quite cheeky of architect Donald MacDonald not to include a single photograph of the Golden Gate Bridge in his little 128-page book about what is considered one of the modern wonders of the world. Instead, he provides seventy of his own color illustrations to help him and co-writer Ira Nadel tell the history of one of the most beautiful examples of bridge engineering, both in terms of structural design and aesthetic appeal. How the Golden Gate Bridge manages to maintain its iconic status - attracting nine million visitors annually and 1.8 billion vehicles since its opening - is due to what the co-authors describe simply as "geometry". Six brief chapters cover its genesis from the City Beautiful movement showcased at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition through a diverse rang of design scenarios through the treacherous construction in 1933-37 and then finally to its enduring survival through the 21st century. I was surprised to discover the pervasive Mayan influences in the structural engineering and how the ultimately Art Deco-inspired design really served to showcase the simplified detail behind its impressive continuity and monumental verticality.
   
   Although one would have expected the use of gold given its name, the bridge's arresting shade of "international orange" was the result of extensive debate. MacDonald uses the creative latitude of his illustrations to show what colors and patterns were seriously considered, including some truly ugly striped patterns meant to allow the military greater visibility during heavy fog conditions. Even the height of the towers was a source of controversy as original designs had them rise to nearly 1,000 feet, or the equal of the Eiffel Tower, versus the final 746 feet. The turbulence of the weather conditions was a key consideration, and as it turns out, the bridge's elastic suspension has been successful in responding to gale-force winds. Particularly interesting is the last chapter on the bridge's current state wherein efforts are focused on earthquake retro-fitting and suicide prevention barriers. MacDonald should know since his firm has been instrumental in the redesign of the toll plaza, the seismic retrofit and the various proposals for a suicide deterrence barrier. This is not the most comprehensive look at the Golden Gate Bridge, but I find MacDonald and Nadel's insights never less than interesting.