Architecture Books

as an astrologer and dealing with symbolic lasnguage i found this book to be eye opening. for any one interested in meanings and purposes. i found the book written in a very straight forward and easy to read style. along with the hystory of the symbols, , it gives simple and practical advice of how to view the symbols.i recommend it highly, if you are interested in our country's history and its founders.

margie herskovitz,ca-ncxgr4,cap-ISAR,
CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL ASTROLOGER

Symbolism - each and every day everyone is exposed to it and it's inescapable - it's one of the things the United States of America was founded on. "The United Symbolism of America: Deciphering Hidden Meanings in America's Most Familiar Art, Architecture, and Logos" is an examination of the rampant symbolism that is entrenched in all of America's culture, focusing mainly on the monuments of historical significance - and why they are monuments of historical significance. "The United Symbolism of America: Deciphering Hidden Meanings in America's Most Familiar Art, Architecture, and Logos" is highly recommended for community library history collections and for any who want a bit of unconventional insight on our nation's history and design.

The United Symbolism of America, Dr. Robert R. Hieronimus, New Page Books, 2008

BOB's new book, The United Symbolism of America, is a long-awaited examination of our Nation's symbols and its unique symbolic legacy. Bob takes us deep into the womb of Lady Liberty who celebrates the individual human spirit, a celebration rooted in Reason and Compassion, and not the current nationalistic furor we have experienced the last eight years.

For too long the symbols have been exploited by politicians as excuses to portray their shallow patriotism without caring a damn about the historical and cultural nature of these symbols. Indeed, this is the last thing they want - an educated public aware of our own revolutionary heritage and intolerant of the ways of tyrants and crooks, especially those rifling our national treasury. They have succeeded because we seem to have forgotten our gift of critical thinking. We forget that our own brand of patriotism in America embraces the adage, Question Authority. Ever wonder how the symbols backed up this idea of freethinking and Reason -- that questioning authority is as American as apple pie; that it is every American's God-given right and duty to question our government without fear of being persecuted? To stand up and be counted?

Ahhh, those were the days.

So before it is all gone, get a hold of Bob's book to see what American spirituality is all about, and the sacred traditions they came from. United Symbols of America is your triptych to your own self-actualization, and towards a deeper understanding of that enlightened Idea our nation was founded on. With this re-emersion into the American heart, you will experience the way America is supposed to be, namely, a Verb to be practiced and acted out.

And who knows? -- Armed with the knowledge of our symbolic heritage, maybe we can save Lady Liberty from the tyrants, scoundrels and journalistic toadies on the right and the left who have abandoned and betrayed true American patriotism for the cold greed of their corporate masters and the war machine. It's your call. Do it now.

[...]

If the huge popularity of the _Da Vinci Code_ did nothing else, it showed how characters in a novel could become obsessed with obscure signs and symbols that had some grandly important but secret meaning. It doesn't take characters in a novel to do so, however, as has been shown by many of Dan Brown's readers who went on to retrace the paths of the characters and see the signs for themselves. For millennia, people have been making symbols, and gaining strength, unity, and purpose thereby; and for just as long, I suppose, people have been taking symbols the wrong way, and sometimes deliberately misinterpreting them. People declaiming Satanists, the Freemasons, the Knights Templar, the Illuminati, Bohemian Grove, Rosicrucians, or the International Jewish Conspiracy seem at times quite eager to latch onto the hidden meanings that can be found in, say, our national Great Seal or even the map of Washington, D.C. Robert Hieronimus has spent years researching such hidden meanings, and refreshingly, he does not deny that the hidden meanings are there. In _The United Symbolism of America: Deciphering Hidden Meanings in America's Most Familiar Art, Architecture, and Logos_ (New Page Books), he looks at familiar symbols and shows how our Founding Fathers and others used them to good purpose, and how the cranks and kooks have been able to subvert them to absurd ends.

Repeatedly Hieronimus shows how interpreters he calls "fundamentalist-conspiratorialists" get their interpretations wrong, but they do so deliberately. They are "a sub-group of the religious right that believes everything that does not fit their strict definition of `Christian' is _a priori_ therefore `of Satan'". Take, for instance, the reverse of our satanic Great Seal. You have seen it plenty of times; it's on the dollar bill, and features that strange truncated pyramid capped with the eye in a triangle. Over and over in this book, Hieronimus demonstrates the proposition that what is strange symbolism to us was much better understood two hundred years ago. The strange pyramid and "all-seeing eye" were chosen for the seal not because they were occult or obscure, but because they were popular symbols, well understood at the time. Hieronimus shows examples of, for instance, the pyramid and the eye being used on money or church decorations long before they were put on the seal. The eye was the eye of God, of course, and the pyramid was a familiar symbol of endurance and unity. The seal was cobbled together, but it marked the first time that the eye and pyramid were placed together in this way, with a satisfying show of the spiritual and the earthly. The conspiratorialists who hate the Freemasons (and their hatred has gone back for centuries) insist that these are Masonic symbols that have been devilishly foisted upon our currency. Like everyone else at the time, the Freemasons knew the symbols of the eye and the pyramid, and used them in their own ways, but that is merely because they were common symbolic coinage. Of those involved in the committees who designed the seal, only Ben Franklin is known to have been a Freemason. There is no evidence that the artist who designed the seal, Francis Hopkinson who also is credited with the design of our flag), was a Freemason. The conspiratorialists also like to mistranslate the Latin phrases above and below the pyramid to make them seem satanic. There were Masons involved in getting the seal onto the back of the dollar bill in 1935, one being President Franklin Roosevelt, and although the conspiratorialists figure it's not just coincidence that disasters like women's rights and civil rights have boomed since that time, it seems unlikely that the Masons were managing any hocus-pocus to cause such changes.

Hieronimus regrets most of all that viewing these symbols with a fundamentalist religious or paranoid eye is not just erroneous; it tears at the fabric of society and it is a waste. 150,000 people wrote letters to the Proctor and Gamble company protesting their "satanic" man-in-the-moon logo twenty years ago, and the company had to change it. Hieronimus wonders what might have happened if all these letter writers had instead been indignant about pollution or unfair labor practices, real evils rather than imaginary ones. Viewing these symbols with an informed historical view can make the symbolism stronger, and, Hieronimus even hopes, help them inspire and bind our nation as they were supposed to. If so, his book will help in the effort.

Dr. Hieronimus' book, `The United Symbolism of America' opens our mind's eye to a way of seeing the symbolic messages encoded in our Nation's buildings, statues, paintings, logos, and money, in a way that informs and expands our consciousness.
Most Americans know very little about the art, architecture and symbols that depict our great nation. Dr. Hieronimus and Laura Courtner have taken great care to dispel many fallacies, superstitions and inaccuracies, often associated with these symbols.
Things we see, use and touch everyday can be reminders of those principles upon which our country was founded. I can't look at a dollar bill now, without thinking of the Great Seal and its symbolic images depicting a potential for a greater future of the United States and the world. I often exchange my $5 and $10 dollar bills for $1 dollar bills so I have more talismans in my possession.
As an artist, educator and Patriot; I highly recommend this wonderful researched and richly illustrated book that focuses on the greatness of America - past, present and future.

I have been reading Gene Steinbergs great computer books since I got my first bondi-blue IMac, which was the very 1st Apple IMac - the one that made Apple famous - again! Mine was the second revison of this great computer, made in 1998, and has had one repair under the 4 year aftermarket extended warranty. I finally upgraded to my current IMac G-5, the last of the ones with the old Motorola chips, before the switch to Intel chips. My trust bondi-blue baby - that I still miss - has been set up for a friend, after being serviced, even more ram put in, and set up - so 10 years later - it is still working!
Gene has a neat,simple way of communicating on how to do things - I may use a Apple product - but I am not a genius technical dude - and Gene can communicate to me about how to do things on my mac, and how to help prevent problems. I have also e-mailed Gene for years with problems I have had, and he is the only
author I can think of that has actually taken the time to answer my questions - above and beyond the call of duty for the author of fairly inexpensive books!
Today Gene is also known for his great e-mail newsletter The Night Owl, as well as the Paracast. Gene and his son Grayson are also the authors of "attack of the Rockoids" - a great sci-fi book, written when I believe Grayson was still a teenager.
Overall, a great computer book that you will use again and again, one to keep on a shelf near your computer!

I have had this book for just about a month now and have used it to upgrade my processor, level 2 cache, video memory, RAM, and change my clock battery. I am fairly proficient with Macs (14+ years) and I own 4, which I keep in excellent shape. This book is an excellent reference for the do-it-yourselfer who is not afraid to "get under the hood" of their Mac.

After skimming through other sections, I found many more tips on improving MacOS performance and Web browsing performance. When I think about an upgrade to any of my Macs, I look through my book to see what is involved, and if it is worth the trouble. When my Macs start "acting up" I can usually find the solution to the problem in my book.

All in all, this is an EXCELLENT book for any Mac product owner. It comes with its own CD of demo software and is well worth the cost. If you can find the "Mac Manuals 2.0" CD from James Engleby, you have a pretty complete collection of the tools, manuals, specs, and software you'll need to fix-up ANY Mac.

I can't believe you really read that book. I found tons of things in Mr. Steinberg's book that I didn't know and I've been working with Macs for years. I couldn't name five people who know how to really set up their monitors, for example, yet "Upgrading & Troubleshooting Your Mac" told me how to use the onscreen menus, what all those strange functions mean and how to calibrate the color. I don't know of any other book with this sort of information. Maybe that reader from San Francisco knew all this, but most folks dont.

Being computer litterate, but knowing just a few facts on Macs. This book has helped me through the transition from "the other platform" as Gene describes it. Easy to follow and fun to read(even for a non-native english speaker as myself). You feel as having an informal conversation with the author thougout. Hard to put down, you will want to finish it as soon as you read the first chapter. If you know a bit of hardware this book is a great guide for conecting and upgrading your Mac.

Our publishing company has 12 newspapers, (3 dailys) and all of them use > Macs for desktop publishing. We started using Macs in 1986 and I've been a > Macintosh systems manager for several years, but even an old dog can learn > a new trick now and then. You have taught me several during the reading of > your book (Upgrading & Troubleshooting Your Mac). > I look forward to your next one.

I received this book as a present, too add to my building library on books on European monarchy's and this book has quickly become one of my favorites. It is massive and I would recommend setting it on a flat surface, coffee or end table would be best I think.
It is filled with photos of random nooks and crannies within Versailles and of course photos and things we are all familiar with, like the Petit Trianon and all the beautiful fountains or gardens. It also includes a few photos that I find almost haunting or eerie, pathways engulfed in fog you almost expect someone to appear in it.
I think this book would be great for any one who loves beautiful photographs or enjoys all things French.

This book was absolutely gorgeous - arrived quickly and the price was right! Good job Amazon - as usual!!

Five stars PLUS! I have a new edition and it is very well bound - no need to worry about it falling apart! If you've ever been to Versailles this book will mist you up! If you're planning a return trip this book will be your bible... It is amazing how inexpensive this book is when you consider the spectacular colour photos.

Truth be told, and I am a hard-core Versailles-o-phile, this book left much to be desired in the history department. What, no reproductions of the Enfants de France? And where's Marie Therese? The binding was superior to what I'd been lead to believe by other reviews. Overall, an adequate addition to a casual collection of the Chateau de Versailles.

What an amazing book, it is nothing short of spectacular. The pictures are vivid and the book quality is of the highest caliber. The other reviewer was correct in noting that the reader has to been careful with this book, the pages are so heavy that it will pull from the binding if you are not careful when positioning the book. I have always had a facination with Versailles and this book really captures the chateaux, it makes you feel like you are stolling the gardens and taking in the sumptuous wonders of the palace. Unlike other books on Versailles this one is complete, it covers everything and in striking detail. I urge anyone with any interest in Versailles to buy this book, even used at 200 U.S., it is a bargain. I assure you you will not be disappointed in this book.

As a native New Yorker who formerly had a beautiful view of the World Trade Center, and now avoids looking at the painfully flat skyline every day, I have this fabulous volume to treasure instead. .............. While disappointed with the flood of tributes to the still unfathomable tragedy of 9/11, this book was a must have the moment I thumbed through for a quick cursory look. I was immediately impressed with all the gorgeous shots of the WTCs depicted in all the ways that I loved them. Shimmering in golden sunrise yellow, blinding in midday platinum steel, glowing in the ominously blue-violet dusk, and sparkling with the thousands of tiny lights that made the New York City skyline, the awesomely spectacular sight that so sadly, won't ever be the same. ................. The most wonderful thing about this book, is not only the terrific pictoral contents, with several posters included, but the informational text that accompanies it as well. If you are interested to know the complete history of the WTCs and New York City, you will see the city before the towers were built, how and by whom they were planned, the way they were built, when and why. Also covered, their effect on New York City, as well as their role in the media and Hollywood movies. Finally, you will get the brutally shocking photos of their horrible demise. Look no further for a truly complete tribute. Every single chapter goes into wonderful detail, and is accompanied by the most breathtaking photographic treasures ever seen, of these iconic masterpieces of lost architecture. Not only is this the absolute BEST book I've seen for anyone who wants to keep their memory of the WTCs alive forever, it's also one of the most reasonably priced. This volume offers a tremendous return for your dollar. It's all printed in sharp color, on thick gauge, glossy paper. There is not one page in here that will waste your time with filler. Author Pete Skinner, British born, but a longtime resident of Greenwich Village, had, like me, watched the birth of the World Trade Center, built and completed in 1973, and like me, watched it die. People all over the world felt the pain of this unprecedented loss, but those of us who were lucky enough to live among the Twin Towers for their retrospectively short lifespan, will treasure this book. ................... If you are looking for a book about the entire gamut of events that took place in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania, you may not find all of what you're looking for here. However, if you are like me, a person who will forever mourn the loss of these twin icons of prestige and success that defined the great soaring spirit of New York City, as well as the tragic loss of many wonderful hard-working New Yorkers who loved to work at the World Trade Center once upon a better time, then you have found the perfect tribute to a symbol of New York that will remain, forever in the American heart.

This book is the one to get, if you want fantastic photos, interesting prose, and just an overall great pictoral commemoration of the World Trade Center, which was destroyed in the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11.

With the War on Terror continuing, sometimes it is good to be reminded of why we are fighting and what it's all for. This book will bring the memories (and the resolve) flooding back.

An excellent tribute at a great price. Five stars!

The history of the WTC is traced from black and white photos and simple text regarding its design and architecture through the chilling events of 9/11. I have to say that the color photos of 9/11 capture the events totally and will leave you breathless.

I have purchased 6 copies of this book for family and friends and think it is the best WTC book out there.

I proudly keep a copy on my coffee table and leaf through it often and remember the beautiful buildings I once marveled at and loved.

As a native New Yorker who formerly had a beautiful view of the World Trade Center, and now avoids looking at the painfully flat skyline every day, I have this fabulous volume to treasure instead. .............. While disappointed with the flood of tributes to the still unfathomable tragedy of 9/11, this book was a must have the moment I thumbed through for a quick cursory look. I was immediately impressed with all the gorgeous shots of the WTCs depicted in all the ways that I loved them. Shimmering in golden sunrise yellow, blinding in midday platinum steel, glowing in the ominously blue-violet dusk, and sparkling with the thousands of tiny lights that made the New York City skyline, the awesomely spectacular sight that so sadly, won't ever be the same. ................. The most wonderful thing about this book, is not only the terrific pictoral contents, with several posters included, but the informational text that accompanies it as well. If you are interested to know the complete history of the WTCs and New York City, you will see the city before the towers were built, how and by whom they were planned, the way they were built, when and why. Also covered, their effect on New York City, as well as their role in the media and Hollywood movies. Finally, you will get the brutally shocking photos of their horrible demise. Look no further for a truly complete tribute. Every single chapter goes into wonderful detail, and is accompanied by the most breathtaking photographic treasures ever seen, of these iconic masterpieces of lost architecture. Not only is this the absolute BEST book I've seen for anyone who wants to keep their memory of the WTCs alive forever, it's also one of the most reasonably priced. This volume offers a tremendous return for your dollar. It's all printed in sharp color, on thick gauge, glossy paper. There is not one page in here that will waste your time with filler. Author Pete Skinner, British born, but a longtime resident of Greenwich Village, had, like me, watched the birth of the World Trade Center, built and completed in 1973, and like me, watched it die. People all over the world felt the pain of this unprecedented loss, but those of us who were lucky enough to live among the Twin Towers for their retrospectively short lifespan, will treasure this book. ................... If you are looking for a book about the entire gamut of events that took place in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania, you may not find all of what you're looking for here. However, if you are like me, a person who will forever mourn the loss of these twin icons of prestige and success that defined the great soaring spirit of New York City, as well as the tragic loss of many wonderful hard-working New Yorkers who loved to work at the World Trade Center once upon a better time, then you have found the perfect tribute to a symbol of New York that will remain, forever in the American heart.

I live in the Midwest (have never visited NY) but saw a review of this book on a website. I just had to have it so I ordered the book from Amazon.com. I received the book late yesterday afternoon. The pictures and information contained in the book are truly amazing. It is amazing to see what Lower Manhattan looked like before the WTC was built. The pictures of the various models of WTC that were built. There are pictures of the construction of the twin towers. The book has some very nice posters of the WTC and New York skyline. There are many pictures taken on September 11th and in the days following. This book is a must-have for those who are interested in the World Trade Center. It's truly a remarkable book.

I feel these books of stories and photos of the people who experienced this tragedy first hand is important for all of us.
The people who lived through it get to see what the rest of the world saw. A look of what they went through which can help them validate the emotions they are feeling.
The folks that witnessed it from a distance get a closer look of what our fellow americans went through.
All of it is a healing process that we need and looking at it through pictures or written stories of our friends will help us understand our human bond living in this beautiful country.

This commemorative photo book of the World Trade Center is a must have for all Americans. Remember these spectacular symbols as well as the hope they inspired in New York City and around the world. From the moment they are constructed to how the New York skyline looks today, we view the World Trade Center from every angle. We are not bombarded with images from September 11th, but instead are given the ability to remember these grand buildings at their most beloved state. The photographs in The World Trade Center Remembered are remarkable and no words can describe their passion and splendor. This five-star celebration of the World Trade Center is a must-buy.

This book was reviewed as part of the Lane ESD Book Review Program. To view the rest of our reviews please visit www.lane.k12.or.us/bookreview

Beautifully done. This book has a unique, high-quality collection of photos of the trade center and a well-written introduction about the architecture of the towers and its meaning, as well as the changing public attitudes toward the towers over the years. Recommended.

The pictures contained in this book offer a stunning tribute to the memory of the World Trade Center towers. The photos are taken from many different locations and angles and give the reader a well-rounded viewpoint of the buildings. All of the photos in the book portray the towers as they existed before their destruction, which makes the book particularly poignant. Additionally, there is a remarkable essay by an architechture critic which adds depth to the book. My only complaint with this book is that it is soft-cover. Of course, I knew this when I ordered the book, but oversize books of this quality are generally in hard-cover. Regardless, this is an amazing book.

A beatiful book and a a very touching tribute to the World Trade Center. The pictures are stunning,unique and very moving. The dramatic pictures are from every vantage point in and around Manhattan. I know I will turn to this book again and again to remember how beautiful and majestic the World Trade Center was.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful....not only because I'm in it, (brother used me in one of his shoots for Village Voice campaign)...but, buying this book is a great way to see innovation and artistry normally slated for galleries...

Warren is the best there is when it comes to reviewing the current Ad scene. However there are some factaul errors in the book. i.e. He talks about the breakthrough work that PKL did for Smirnof vodka in the sixties... It was'nt for Smirnof, it was for Wolfschmidt Vodka. Even more important was the work PKL did to launch the first Xerox dry copier, with the famous "Monkey" commercial.
However, the most dramatic ommision was that there was absolutely no mention of Jack Tinker Associates, the InterPublic think tank that kick started Mary Wells into Wells Green Inc.
Otherwise, a great book.
Warren, email me, Ive lost your phone number.
George Parker

Hardly anyone outside the industry itself has a high opinion of advertising, and I'm probably no different -- most of the time. However, I've long appreciated the occasional high degree of originality and wit of which ad writers and artists have shown themselves capable, especially since the late 1950s. This fat volume brings all of them together, beginning with Volkwagen's groundbreaking "Think Small" campaign. There are chapters on the influence of European copywriting on American ads, the development of a new "visual language," the rise of backhanded "oddvertising," the growth of advertising as a reflection of (and finally an agent of) social change, and the advent of guerilla anti-advertising, each of them an entertaining and instructive mix of graphics and text. There's even a separate chapter on the ups and downs of the famous and long-running "Got Milk?" campaign. This gorgeous book will keep you studying the artwork and reading the discussions far into the night.

This isn't just a book for ad students and insiders, though I imagine they'd love it. I'm not an ad junkie myself, but I happen to love this book because it's a very different and interesting coffee table book, that you can spend hours looking at. The ads featured in the book are amazing - funny, clever, intriguing, sometimes works of art in themselves. And the captions explain what's going on, all that sly thinking and logic behind the ads. I find it's the kind of book that really gets people talking. But be forewarned - it's a huge book, so make sure you have a strong coffee table!

As the proud author, just wanted to share w/readers some of the recent press reviews for Advertising Today:
"An amazing book," says Esquire magazine; a 4-star rating from Maxim magazine; Village Voice says "media archaelogists will pore over it for decades to come"; praised on ABC World News; on her radio show, Joan Rivers called it "fabulous" & the hot new coffee table book; J. Walter Thompson pres. Bob Jeffrey says, "Never has a book captured the heart and soul of advertising as much as Advertising Today."

Wonderful art and historical images. Delivery was prompt and the book was in great condition.

Other reviewers have done a good job of describing this and I agree with them. I'll just add that this wonderfully illustrated book really brought the memories flooding back.

Eric Sloane is known to many of us who love traditional country things as the superb and prolific American artist and author who gave us books with good words and even better drawings. Sloane was an accidental historian of that era of American life when agriculture was king. I cherish my copies of his A Museum of Early American Tools and A Reverence For Wood.

The Age of Barns was first published in 1967. I saw this 2001 version lying on a table in a friend's house and begged to borrow it. The sub-title is An Illustrated Review of Classic Barn Styles and Construction. It is more than that as it also shows silos, root cellars, springhouses, sugarhouses, corn cribs and smoke houses. Also shown are tools of barn builders, construction methods, types of ventilation systems and even hinge design.

Sloane shows the evolution of this most important structure with examples large and small and from many places. Medieval, English, German, American barns. Small and large log barns. The Appalachian overhung-loft barn built on two cribs, decorated Pennsylvania barns, a Georgia barn, a Maine barn, a Tennessee saltbox barn. Pent roofs, gambrel roofs, extended bays, threshing bays. Connecting barns, built so the farmer could do a winter day's chores without going outside.

I have known two barns intimately. The barn on our Wisconsin farm was a classic two-story bank barn built of stone on the lower level with hand-hewn posts and beams above, a cupola topping it off. The farmer whose death allowed my parents to buy the farm had been an alfalfa producer so the barn had huge mows that were filled both from the outside using a hay hook and from the inside where teams and wagons were taken straight in and through. The dairy herd was housed in the lower section next to the sixteen-foot silo. I pulled a lot of, um, teats in that barn.

The humble hillbilly barn at Heartwood in Missouri has two sections separated by a drive-through. In barns this design is called double-crib; in houses it is called a dog-trot. The construction is of hewn oak logs with half-dovetail corners. The logs are held off the ground only with loose stones, so early deterioration was inevitable. When the barn was still in pretty good shape we took a family photo one Fourth of July. My cousin and I hung the huge American flag that was hand-sewn by a grandmother for Lincoln's inauguration and we all posed in front of it on the ground.

Born in 1905, Eric Sloane died in 1985, walking to a luncheon in his honor celebrating his memoir, Eighty: An American Souvenir. His fine books will live on long after him, a legacy of focus and craftsmanship.

Sloane's books capture the romanticism of the past better than any picture books, and that is certainly true for his An Age of Barns. The beautiful line drawings range from evocative perspectives to working sections, giving you a good idea of how these barns worked. There are Shaker round barns, traditional gambrel barns, Amish barn raisings and a wide variety of outbuildings associated with the early American farmstead. He lovingly focuses on hinge details, stairs and ventilation openings. Sloane's eye never missed a detail, and for anyone who loves old barns this is the book to get.

This has some interesting history of early barns, especially those of New England. Drawings are well done, as usual. If you are interested in barns west of the Mississippi look elsewhere.

People say design cannot be taught. However, drawing tools and drawing types & techniques can be learned. In fact, they are essential for designers to understand and apply them so that they can visually communicate their ideas effectively. This book includes introduction to drawing tools and comprehensive drawing methods & techniques, like sketching, shadowing, perspective drawing, and rendering, etc.. I think students and beginners will find this book extremely helpful in transforming their design thoughts into visual drawing formats. As a young architectural professional and intern, I find the abundant and creative presentation formats and rich graphics in this book being good references for projects. I also gain insight into the differences and diversity of the book's architectural illustrations from students, professors, and architectural professionals from around the world. In addition, with globally renowned architects' drawings as examples, this book is also an incredible source of inspiration to architects of all levels.

This book is fantastic. I use it as my architectual Bible. It is not only good for educating Architects, drafters, and artists, but it is also a great book to use as a reference.

Easy to understand, thorough examination of a range of methods used for architectural drawings. Clear, concise descriptions as well as clear graphics depicting methods and processes. Extremely detailed reading while avoiding the mash-up of other technical manuals.

This is one of the best recent books on architectural graphics. Rendow Yee's book is replete with illustrations from successfull architects as well as students which turned out to be an excellent way of presenting design work of various levels and generations. I would recommend this book as a reference for both professionals and students.

An excellent process driven guide to architectural graphic presentation; supported by great examples from students as well as practicing professionals. I use this book constantly as a reference on all projects.

This charming book offers an escape from the reality (and banality) of contemporary travel. Long before Trip Advisor and Facebook, photo albums were a form of self-expression that travelers shared with friends and family. Against all odds, some of the best adventures have endured and been reproduced in this elegant book.

There was a time when travel was daring, exotic and glamorous, and Around the World captures the excitement and wonder of it all. Highly recommended.

This book changed my perspective on history and its photographs. I, too, am an "armchair traveler" whose formerly suppressed fascination with the past and travel has now been stirred up. Though I treasure the "travels" I made while viewing "Around the World..." the greatest impact it made on me was my renewed desire to value and preserve the few photographic momentos from my own family's history. Having come of age during the Internet and all of its endearing nuances, there is nothing to compare to our forebears' efforts to memorialize their lives. This book is a true gem.

You almost feel like you took part in the various trips, which are illustrated by anonymous snapshots in this wonderful book. It takes you back in time, to a somehow easier, more adventurous life. Go down the Nile and visit the pyramids, travel by ship and play shuffleboard on deck, experience exotic adventures in the Orient. You will be enchanted with every turn of the page and perhaps inspired to create your own travel album during your next trip. 5 Stars!

An hour with Around the World is like an afternoon in a beautifully curated exhibit on travel photography. As human beings, we are reminded that point and click had its origins long ago in our desire to turn the page and enter another world without ever leaving the comfort of our armchair. Turn off your monitors and open a page of this book! It's a delight!!

Lose youself in this book and be transported to a time when the world was large and travel was an adventure. The slightly voyeristic feel of viewing strangers' photo albums enhances the strong sense of time and place. Its the perfect book for a long winter afternoon (and a pot of darjeeling tea.) I'll be sending this to several people on my xmas list.

My son who is 2 and half years old loves this book. In fact, he wants us to read him this book over and over again. What a great and humourous way to introduce the very young to the world of art!

SAKE. NO FAME OR FORTUNE FOR ART DOG....JUST HIS LOVE OF PAINTING THE WORLD IS ALL HE DESIRES! It's really a beautiful book visually and meaningfully. ART DOG makes the world beautiful for others . Isn't that a wonderful thing to teach a young child?

I've read this to my six-year-old since he was a five-year-old - he doesn't get tired of it, and mercifully, neither do I. The idea of a hero who uses _painting_ instead of punches to win the day is so cool it makes me wish I'd written it.
Also, I take my son to the children's floor at Berkeley Main Library, where they have a kid's size version of the Brushmobile (you'll have to read the book to know what that it) that he's loved to 'ride in' even before we'd found the book. The day he no longer fits behind the palette, I think we'll both cry.

By day, Arthur Dog, Dogopolis Museum of Art security guard, and lover of paintings by Vincent Van Dog, Pablo Poodle, Henri Muttisse, and Leonardo Dog Vinci. By night, Art Dog, masked grafitti artist painting the city in beautiful color. "No one knew who Art Dog really was... until one night at the museum." Yikes! Someone has stolen the Mona Woofa! After being falsely accused, Art Dog paints his way out of jail, lifts his nose in the air..."I can smell art a mile away," and saves the day in superhero fashion..... Thacher Hurd has authored an entertaining, wacky picture book that's sure to tickle the funny bones of young and old alike. His delightful, high-spirited text begs to be read aloud, and is full of terrific sound effects, wordplay, and dog puns. But it's his bold, bright, and splashy illustrations that really make this book stand out and sparkle. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Art Dog is a funny, engaging, rip-roarin' adventure you don't want to miss. "Who was Art Dog? Who was this painter in a Brushmobile, catcher of crooks, bringer of light to the Dogopolis night?" Only readers will know!

"Art Dog" is a wigglin' fun story book about Arthur Dog, the security guard at Dogopolis Museum of Art. He lives a secret life as a graffitti artist who finds himself being blamed for the stolen "Mona Woofa". However, he is able to paint his way out of...well, I can't give away the story here! (This detective dog sure is smarter than Scoobi Doo!)

The story is very short, quick, and barkingly fun. Not only will kids love it, but adults will love the depictions of Vicent Van Dog, Pablo Poodle, Henri Muttisse and others. It is dog-gone worth the few bucks for this book. This sure is a good book to sniff out.