Industrial Books

If anyone wants to learn the basics of Computer Vision, this book must be the starting point. No other go.. This speaks of the exceptional treatment of the concepts in this classic book. I very strongly recommend this indispensible book to anyone who wants to learn Computer Vision.

A classic book covering all the fundmentals. Recommend to those who want to know something about vision before doing some real research.

I have to admit that I read this book many years ago. This is not a book that should be read as a way to keep oneself updated on the latest research in the field. It should be seen as a comprehensive, but systematic introduction to basic machine vision techniques. As such, it is a great book, maybe a classic. Its focus is on such topics as Binary Image Processing, Optics, Image formation, Transforms, Filtering, Stereo vision, Optical flow, Noise reduction, etc. It is well organized, and it covers the fundamentals of many useful techniques.

When I first picked up Robot Vision, I was a bit concerned at the age of the book: the field of computer/machine/robot vision progresses at a fantastic pace, and it would seem a given that such a book would be so out of date as to be useless.

However, while this book might not reflect the latest research, especially the tight interweaving of computer graphics and computer vision as exists now or in areas such as active vision, it is a rich presentation of the core ideas of machine vision. In particular, it provides a mathematically rigorous presentation, focusing on core notions of geometric optics and calibration, as well as classic approaches to segmentation, edge detection, signal filtering, and the like.

I would strongly suggest this book as a text that every serious computer vision, robotics, or computer graphics researcher should own; of course, it isn't the _only_ book you should own, and the bibliography certainly won't let you in on the latest trends in vision. Nonetheless, I think the book is so well written that it will remain useful for many years to come.

This book does a good job of introducing the readers to the basics of computer vision - it really has nothing to do with robots outside of the last chapter, other than if you build one and need to give it vision capabilities, you need to know the information in this book. Physics equations via calculus and ODE are used to describe how light intereacts with solid objects and also with image sensors, the latter tieing in to the subject of robot vision. Therefore, the reader should have a good knowledge of first-year university physics as well as multi-variable calculus. As a reference for the geometrical and physical mathematics of light interacting with surfaces and the camera, it is particularly excellent.

Horn does a great job of deriving and providing the equations you need, and brings it all together with excellent narrative and very good illustrations. The book goes all the way from the basics of image formation, to simple matrix operations such as edge detection, to some more advanced topics such as shape from shading. The final chapter, on picking parts out of a bin, uses the ideas developed in previous chapters to come up with the basic design of a robot hand-eye system that is capable of picking up specific parts from a parts bin. It really is a very good unifying capstone to the entire book. The only drawback I can see in the book is that it pretty much stays in the domain of continuous mathematics. There is not much in the way of explicit algorithm steps - the author expects the reader to be able to do that based on his explanation and equations, and given the high quality of the text this is really not too rash of an assumption.

Because of its age it doesn't have some of the more modern techniques and algorithms, but if I had to choose between this older book and that more recently published waste of trees, "Computer Vision: A Modern Approach", give me this book every time. You get a firm foundation in the basics, plus a good understanding of some more advanced topics too.

I found this to be an excellent introduction to how to build a fully functional, autonomous robot. This book covers everything you need to build robots using LEGO Technics (think LEGO blocks plus gears, motors, etc.) and a Handyboard, a robot brain developed to get the hard digital electronics out of the way so you can concentrate on putting together a good design with motors and sensors and software intelligence.

As someone looking for how to break into robotics without first getting bachelors in Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering, this book was for me. I got the basics of the two topics covered and was able to dive right into the interesting "what can I do with my robot" scenarios.

This book also goes into some detail on inexpensive sensor components out in the electronics market and how to use them in robots. I found this to be a great source of ideas and instructions even when not creating robots using the Handyboard brain.

For those looking to dabble, be aware that this is a book best used in conjunction with real, live robot parts. (...)

This book presents an introduction to various aspects of robot building and planning. It is written as an undergraduate textbook, and contains numerous exercises throughout the text. The book assumes that students and other readers will have access to Handyboards and LEGO Technic equipment, as well as a desktop PC and hobbyist-level soldering equipment. The book walks the reader through analyzing a Handyboard, how to use it, how to build custom sensors and motors, and how to write programs in assembly language. All of this information would be very useful to first-year engineering students as it would help them put theory from many of their other classes into practice. Nevertheless, most of the tasks and programs described in the book could actually be built with a standard LEGO RCX brick. On the other hand, a person who masters the material in this book would be able to take advantage of the extra sensors and motors that the Handyboard supports and build far more sophisticated robots than would be possible with LEGO Mindstorms equipment. Anyone who builds robots using LEGO equipment, whether with a Handyboard or an RCX, will find information in this book about Braitenberg vehicles, LEGO design, control theory, and robotics contests quite useful. The introduction to Assembly language in Appendix A is also presented in an easily accessible style.

I just finished participating in the MIT 6.270 Autonomous Robot Competition. This book really pulls together everything you need to understand how to build a robot from Lego parts, and interface it to the real world using a variety of sensors and actuators (aka motors). There is so much to be learned by actually BUILDING a robot - this is a great book to help you dig into your own project. You can order the same hardware and software used in the MIT class off the internet as well.

The basic content of this book is excellent. It provides a readily accessible introduction to the principles of engineering. This book could easily be used as the text for a first year course in a unified engineering curriculum including Computer Science. The one flaw with this book is that it appears to have been rushed out by the publisher. Many of the page references are to the wrong pages and some of the pictures are rather blurry. Finally, the instructions for creating and downloading ICB files to incorporate assembly language modules for interrupt side programming and similar purposes needs to be reworked in a future edition. I hope that a future edition will also have a chapter on electrical design and construction techniques to compliment the chapter on mechanical techniques. I also look forward to a third chapter on sensing and possibly a second chapter on control theory. Regardless, this is overall an excellent book and should be acquired by anyone interested in small robots.

After 12 years of running an engineering club, I finally found a helpful book. I work with students from 6th to 12th grades. My 8th and 9th graders have no problem following this book. As a matter of fact I can't keep it on my desk. It is frequently either checked out or on the floor with the "builder". Yes, it is a freshman college book but my kids seem to have no problems reading it. My students participate in BEST, FIRST and Botball.

This book is one of a kind, it was put out in the early 90s but the autobiographical essays are still valid. The quotes and newspapers tidbits are fanatastic as well. Format is reader friendly. If you have any interest in the working class, or human resources for that matter this book would be enlightening

This is not a book for employers, bosses, or anyone who represents authority in the workplace. (Although they might learn something from reading it.) No, this is a book for those who want to be reassured that they are not the only people who have ever lashed back at their employers. For those who are considering such actions, it gives some excellent examples of what can be done. There are also numerous quotes and news-clips about sabotage, employee moral, and the nature of work. The book is broken down by catagories such as office workplaces, entertainment industry, and the food services. Some anecdotes pale in comparison to others, but it is important to understand that Martin Sprouse collected stories from people from all walks of life. Some were more daring than others, but the emotions behind their actions are all the same. It is best read a few anecdotes at a time, otherwise the impact of each individual action is lost in a miasma of backlash. In all it is an enlivened book which speaks volumes as to the ways that the business place fails to inspire the loyalty or satisfaction which is so ofted touted as an essential aspect of productive work.

If you're in charge of workplace safety and security, this book will scare the hell out of you. If you're a wage slave, you will find many inspiring stories within. Whether or not you have what it takes to attempt to recreate these events, it is quite an entertaining read.

This book has HUNDRED of stories about "getting back" from people of all walks of life. Stories about the computer industry (deleting files, bugs), hotel, food processing, newspaper, office, military, government, retail, and many more. Well laid out, exciting stories and very informative. It has inspired me to write (edit) a spin off type book. I can't recommend it enough!

I read this book and dropped out of business school. I'll never respect another boss as long as I live.

This book starts with the framework for grass finished cattle production, then looks at day to day operation, followed by some more detailed points and problem shooting, before closing with marketing. This is a great guide and an enjoyable read. I liked it better than Pastured Poultry, but both are great books for those interested in the future of the farm buisness.

Ryan

This was a wonderful book. Not only was it extremely informative, but it was also very enjoyable to read. I recommend it highly!

Joel Salatin brings optimism and energy to this series of essays on how he raises beef (and other livestock ) on grass for direct market to urban consumers. He reveals his tricks in great detail, such as the egg-mobile, the pig-aerator, electric fencing, the warm winter hay shed, and how to promote the meat. A must for anyone looking for new ideas on raising livestock

I recommend Salad Bar Beef to anyone in the country that wants to produce beef worth eating. Salatin is extremely open and honest about everything he does on his farm, and is very passionate about green farming.

This book does not contain simple homesteading information; it is a manual on how to maximize profits, production, and soil fertility, while decreasing disease and stress(both cattle stress and farmer stress). When I said it does not contain "simple homesteading information", I did not mean that this book is complicated. Salad Bar Beef is actually one of the easiest agricultural books to comprehend.

Although easy to comprehend, you can not by any means read this book with a conventional mind. Pretend you do not know anything, and carefully consider Salatin's points.

If you begin reading this book and get the feeling that Salatin is strong in the way he presents his points, that's because he is. Many do not like being convicted, but the truth is, if you're never convicted, you never learn. Salatin makes his views clearly seen in his books, and every one of them are good and practical. Personally, I do not like reading a book in which the author is weak in his presentation of views.

I have never read agricultural books as good as the ones that Salatin has written, and I recommend them to anyone interested in farming naturally. The books are high-priced, but worth double that. Before long I will raise poultry and cattle using Salatin's methods, using Salad Bar Beef as a manual. Too bad I can't give Salad Bar Beef six or seven stars.

This is a great book with a lot of ideas. He is a little extreme for me, but all of his points are quite valid. I love his experience and his families experience and how he gives such great advice based on experience.

No truer words were ever spoken when it comes to summarizing the content of this magnificent book. Eric Sloane describes the seasons of the early American way of life in a most revealing and splendid fashion. Beginning with the month of March: spring - the New Year according to the seasons; Sloane takes the reader through a year full of the sowing and reaping of the harvest in its season.

"Possibly as a result of long dependence upon strong electric lighting, we seem to have much poorer night vision today than the average man had a century or two ago."
It's this sort of historical information that brings the past to life. As a social historian (not accredited, mind you, but I'll go against most any so-called history major), I spend much time and money searching out tid-bits of this type to help give me the understanding of the ways and lives of times past. Seasons of America Past by Eric Sloane is an excellent source of American life in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Taking the reader through a full year of everyday life - month by month - Mr. Sloane shows through his many sketches and fluid writing so many aspects of the lives of our ancestors (including what was most likely considered mundane by those who lived it!) that most supposed historians do not even touch upon. Put into a seasonal order, one will see how each of our four seasons affected the lives of our long past relatives.
Here are a few more bits of information strewn throughout this book:
"May was once the season for sending May baskets, now a forgotten custom. The first spring flowers were gathered by young girls and left in baskets on the doorsteps for their parents..."
"The American farmer...drank cider daily at his table instead of water or milk..."
"Plow Monday was the first day after the end of Christmas festivities, when the back-to-work spirit started with getting all farm equipment in shape."
"Stump pulling was one of the few cash businesses, and at twenty five cents a stump - the standard price in 1850 - a man could pull twenty to fifty stumps a day and make a most exceptional living."
"Independence Day...was first ushered in by bell-ringing and shooting. When Chinese firecrackers entered the scene of Independence Day (in the early 1800's), bell-ringing vanished."
"Today the word PICKLE brings to mind a prepared cucumber, but pickle in the old days was a verb that referred to the...process and not to the actual product."
149 pages filled with everyday life of times gone by. Winter clothing, ice houses, broom making, sugaring time, seasonal cooking, wells, farm sleds and sleighs, spinning wheels, gathering of splint wood for baskets, herb dyes and the colors they made, and so much more packed into an easy to read format.
With this and other books by Eric Sloane, as well as the wonderful 'Everyday Life' books (such as 'Expansion of Everyday Life') one can almost feel as if they can live in a different time.

This is the second Sloane book I've had the unique pleasure to read and I liked it every bit as well as the first. Mr. Sloane is as learned in his subject matter---daily life in the rural American past---as any professor. I love the illustrations and the attention to tiny detail. Truly these books are treasures that preserve information about our past that is so in danger of being lost in the hectic pace of twenty-first-century life. To read this book is to place one's mindset in another era and circumstance. Yes, existence in the past was more physically difficult compared to today but in their own way our forebears lived richly in a world that was every bit as complex and rewarding as our own. This is a book for children, for adults, for anyone open-minded enough to look backward without condescension. I think any thinking person will be greatly impressed.

All of the Sloane books are worth reading and owning. As a boy in the 1960s I was very impressed with the pen and ink drawings, more impressed than with the color paintings. (I still am.) I even built models of some of the buildings for grammar school dioramas. In the 1980s, I bought all the titles that were still in print (or remaindered). Buy the Dover reprints and any other editions you can find before they disappear again. Abebooks.com is a good source for OOP books.

Another one of Eric Sloane's great historical narratives on the development of America with this book focusing on the seasonal nature of farming.

Thankfully most of Sloane's books are available as reprints as anyone interested in learning about the American way of life, from 1650 to 1900, will find these books real treasures. The text is straight forward, very informative and shows a reverence for all aspects of American farming, craftsmanship, invention and "common sense". The book is illustrated with great sketches and shows the modern urbanite how the rural Americans survived, thrived and prospered.

Any Sloane book is an essential part of a library for those individuals who are feed-up with the urban ratrace and are seeking a simpler, self-supporting, rewarding experience.

I'm a fan of Turkle, so I just loved it. It's just one of the first deep books written about human-computer interaction.

A classic in the field of human/computer interaction, it suffers a bit from its age (although I was delighted to read about the way children interacted with Merlin and Simon, given that I was a child who had interacted with both of the above). Children are so much more saturated with computers and computer technology than when the book was written, that I wonder how the observations will have changed.

_The Second Self_ is divided into three parts:

Part I: Growing Up with Computers: The Animation of the Machine
Part II: The New Computer Cultures: The Mechanization of the Mind
Part III: Into a New Age

This is "the" book that described the true origin of "hacking" as in "pushing the edge of the envelope" by writing a complex program in six lines of code instead of ten. This is a really superior piece of work about computer cultures and the people that belong to them. It is a wonderfully readable book with magnificent insights into the psychology of the young people at the bleeding edge of the computer frontier.

Update of 31 May 08 to add links:
THE HACKER CRACKDOWN: LAW AND DISORDER ON THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER
Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution
Information Payoff: The Transformation of Work in the Electronic Age
Collective Intelligence: Mankind's Emerging World in Cyberspace (Helix Books)
The Unfinished Revolution: Human-Centered Computers and What They Can Do For Us
The Wealth of Networks: How Social Production Transforms Markets and Freedom
Collective Intelligence: Creating a Prosperous World at Peace

Has it already been twenty years since the first edition of this book came out?! When it did so, it was soon regarded as a classic. The intervening years have done nothing to diminish that assessment. Turkle has updated it to form this second edition.

By and large, her analysis in 1984 proved on the mark. As computers have improved in power, and become smaller and more portable, their users tend to identify with them. And here it should be said that the cellphones of today are considered, and are indeed, computers in the context of this text. Certainly, a typical cellphone has a raw computational capacity exceeding the personal computers of 1984.

To some readers, the most puzzling thing may be why some users so identify with their computers, or half-jokingly, attribute personalities to them. There seems to be some innate urge in many people for this.

Needless to say, suppose we project out another 20 years. The trend is for more such behaviour. The sophistication and personalisation possible in those future mobile machines makes this inevitable. And this is even NOT assuming any breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, which might endow the devices with true personalities.

Turkle's seminal text examines the social implications of our increasingly computer-suffused lives. With a strong emphasis on individual interactions with computers, this ethnography describes an emerging post-modern computer culture, and goes on to interpret it in philosophical terms. A bit utopian, very smart, acts as a bit of a pre-quel to her recent work, Life on the Screen

By Jeffrey W. Bennett, ISP, author of ISP Certification-The Industrial Security Professional Exam Manual and Under the Lontar Palm
Excellent resource! As a Facility Security Officer for a DoD contractor complany, I find it to provide multiple layers of security or "security in-depth". This book offers insight from a retail environment that is very applicable to government and contractor security. Add this to your library.

In this latest edition, events after 911 is depicted thus the updated book reflects new security trends and concerns after the terrifying 911. Packaging arrived in nice shrink wrapped, without any dents or scratches. A must have for those taking ASIS exams.

Because of this book I was able to jump into Loss Prevention after Leaving my job as a Deputy Sheriff and I Doubled my yearly income. I just followed the the outline layed out in every chapter on conducting Security assesments and evaluations and then made recomendations. The customers keep referring other customers. I have plenty of work.

Here is a book that is a must for all security supervisors in the contract and private sector in security. We all have to start with the basics when training new security supervisors and officers. Here is a book that can aid greatly to the end result that we in the industry are striving for well trained and knowledgable Security Supervisors and officers. All chapters of this book can be set to lesson plan for classroom study or chapters can be assigned to all and have them answer the questions at the end of each chapters. Teaching how and when a security survey should be conducted and explaining to the client the findings and the recommendations that were found during the survey. If you have the book keep it if you do not get a copy ASAP it will only make that much prepared for the changes in the industry that will taking place today into the next century and beyond. Good Luck. Dennis Medick

The book is well organized, and covers a wide breadth. I recommend this for anyone wanting a thorough overview. It is a textbook, so it is more academic than hands-on. It is also a great source of references for a wide variety of organizations and standards.

In you have one of these cars this book will refund your its cover price the first time you do any task covered within.
The Shadow Companion makes a complicated car a lot less daunting. Even if you don't do your own work, this book will assist you by explaining in clear terms the work involved n most tasks required with these cars and will make you a smarter and more knowledgeable owner and that should save you money at the shop. It breaks down many jobs simply enough that it will tempt you into trying things yourself you may have thought were beyond you and like the Muir's famous VW book, if you follow the directions you won't get into trouble. An essential for Shadow owners everywhere.

Really useful book for the DIYers, in order to help keeping our cars on the road. Very clearly explained with helpful pictures

I am a reasonably talented amateur mechanic, and a long time car enthusiast/restorer. I was always a bit nervous about buying a Silver Shadow, because I know they are complicated, and very advanced (for their time) automobiles. This book completely explains all of the intricate working of these cars, and more importantly, shows how the home mechanic/enthusiast can take care of most of the regular maintenance, and smaller repairs themselves, rather than having to pay specialists for all of the required work. There are even sections on restoration of woodwork, paintwork, etc. Much more than just a shop manual supplement, this book is absolutely essential for the current owner or anyone contemplating the purchase of one of these Rolls-Royce. It is the best money you will spend, before, during, or after your aquisition of a Silver Shadow.

I have read my recently purchased Shadow Owners' Companion book and have found it very informative. I have been relying on my Owners Handbook for all these years and it is nice to have something that has more in depth information. I apprecaite the author sharing his time and effort in detail for the rest of us to learn from.

If you have a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow or are thinking of buying one, this is your #1 must-have publication. It's the only step-by-step manual on how to maintain them. The factory service manuals are great, but don't explain the how and why of some of the systems and they certainly don't explain how to actually perform some of the necessary tasks. This book is a bargain at $40.

What use is a Web site if no one uses it? Too many Web design books and development tools provide cut-and-paste solutions to design problems without providing the developer with an understanding of fundamental principles.

This is where Dr. Badre's book enters the scene - in a big way. "Shaping Web Usability" does just what it promises, providing clear, cogent instruction in designing sites for people in all their needs and diversity. It promotes a robust methodology for Web design that can adapt to user requirements without sacrificing logic or cohesion. Badre's process also helps one communicate methodology and design issues to others. This book gave me the grounding I needed to explain to clients exactly why I had made a particular design decision and how it would benefit the site users.

If you are concerned about your site being used once it is published (and who isn't?), take a look at this book. It can't make your Web site for you, but it can help you identify and satisfy an online audience better than any other book on the shelves.

Dr. Badre has written an interesting work which thoughtfully examines two important concepts: genre and cultural context. In addition to plenty of solid HCI theory and empirical data, Dr. Badre provides clear examples of how close attention to the genre of one's site and the cultural context in which it is most likely to be viewed will provide a more useful and pleasurable experience for the user. With these simple and powerful concepts, Dr. Badre provides some excellent guidance to new and experienced website designers.

This book is unlike many other web usability books. It goes well beyond the cookie-cutter guidelines for fast web usability, and gets the reader thinking deeply about contexts of web usability. It focuses on the real important issues and concepts. However, it is not an abstract or theoretical book. The author illustrates the concepts and explanations with numerous real examples from the web. This book is a must read for web designers, information architects, and web usability engineers.

This is a serious work on Web Usability that attempts to define in detail the user context and to construct a user-centred methodology based on that context.

There are so many books on web usability these days and most of them are about web pages first and people second. Doctor Badre's approach, though, is firmly grounded on the human side of HCI and some of the material in this book is outstanding.

The chapter on "Older Adults" is a great example. Badre is fastidious enough to consider the different cognitive needs of people in this group and to consider the implications of those needs for the designer. Elsewhere he considers personality variations, the role of affect (or emotion), and many other individual differences.

In contrast, however, Badre has a strong leaning toward standards and predictability, which seems to contradict his comments elsewhere. Having identified the myriad reasons the web audience is uniquely diverse he nevertheless finds traditional HCI evaluation techniques attractive, and sometimes fails to bite the bullet.

For example, Badre insists that "Testing conditions ... should approximate the actual situation in which ...visitors are likely to find themselves." Yet he does not display any distrust of laboratory testing, questionnaires and all the artificialities of user testing that would suggest a more ethnographic approach.

The material on the test methodology is therefore somewhat weaker, but does not detract in any way from the main part of the book, where Dr Badre's experience in Human Factors allows him to illustrate with considerable skill the way design features can be adjusted to meet the cognitive abilities of real human users. In this arena, Dr. Badre is a leading authority, and it is for this, the main body of the work, that I would strongly recommend this book to web and usability professionals alike.

Clear and rigorous, Dr. Badre's book is an essential resource for the serious Web practitioner. Going beyond the usual lists of do's and don'ts, he gives the reader a strong grounding in the field of usability and how its principles apply to the Web. Web designers and implementors who read Shaping Web Usability will not only know what to do, but why -- so they can respond successfully to new and complex design challenges.

The fact that this book comes with real explanation and plans of the proyects is why it was chosen above all others... arquitects don't read pictures, they read plans...

the work of this interessant japanese architect, it's a demonstration of a continuated and progressive developmente of an architecture beautifull and deep.

Excellent book,interesting, useful not only for architectors but for anybody. good print quality.

Shigeru Ban is famous for his innovative use of building materials, structural rigor and pureness. This book captures all these quintessential attributes of this ingenious architect.

The editor did a great job of organizing Ban's projects according to the building materials (i.e., paper, wood, bamboo, prefab, and skin). Multiple projects in each chapter form a coherent and articulated presentation of how Ban took advantage of the uniquessness of certain material and incorporated it into his architectural philosophy and aesthetics.

The text is technical oriented which often includes the characteristics of the materials and the issues concerning structural engineering. At the end of most chapters, you can find detailed technical information and test statistics of the building materials used in the featured projects. Moreover, at the beginning of the book, Ban also contributed an article on the whole building process of building his classic work: Japanese Pavillion, which is very informative and instructive.

Another noteworthy strength of this book is that it reveals the connectness of Ban's different projects and shows how the architect developed and built his own architectural style programmatically (e.g., How he developed, refined, and matured the paper architecture, the furniture house idea, the ivy structure, and the universal floor plan through several dozens of projects).

Put together, this is a well-organized, thoughtful, and informative book about Ban's contribution to the international architectural community. Bravo!

The book itself is almost the perfect monograph. Each project is described concisely, and it has all the drawings and photos to orient the reader to the site, the program and the idea. The drawings and photos range from the finest detail to the biggest gestures, and doesn't isolate the projects like they're pristine objects. The photos often emphasize the construction or assembly of the work, though the finished photos and model shots are expressive and informative too. The pages with experimental and test calculations are well-organized and relate back to specific projects and details, using graphs, tables and pictures or drawings of the elements or details in question. For a non-engineer, it's all rather clear and convincing. I've never seen ideas and processes presented so rationally and convincingly. Nothing here seems superfluous and Ban reveals his process and interests completely to the reader.

Of course, the projects themselves are fantastic. John Hedjuk's influence is all over the work, and I dare say that Ban's actualized projects are now richer, have reached greater depth and are more expressive and informative than his mentor's. On one level, you could imagine that Ban's preoccupation with wood products, "green" construction and sustainable design started as a bad pun that served as the basis of his student thesis. ("Paper Architecture." Ha-ha.) But the rigor and depth that he brings to each project break through any temptation to show self-conscious irony or superficiality. At the end of the day, he's an architect's architect who controls proportion and light, defines space and considers human scale in all his work. He makes Calatrava look like "just" an engineer. And his works aren't just formal exercises with nine square grids and such. His ideas and works begin to touch on politics without seeming pretentious or partisan with his refugeee shelters and other more recent work (although those private houses do present a counterpoint to the socially-oriented work in more ways than one).

Anyway, great book, great work. I'm totally convinced of Ban's skills and talent.