Why Buildings Fall Down: How Structures Fail Review

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(More customer reviews)Such is our morbid fascination that this book is inevitably more attractive than one called "Why Buildings Stay Up". That said, I think I have not only learned more about structural engineering than I would have done from a positive counterpart, but I have also learned vastly more about the other factors, human and natural, that influence the ultimate success or failure of structures.
The book is based on the same material as the late 1990s TV series of the same name, and having watched that series many of the incidents and issues were familiar to me. The advantage of the book is the ability to digest information at your own speed and refer back to earlier pages, but it has to be said that the TV series communicated some of the issues better, helped by animated graphics and by the better mutual support of both pictures and narrative.
Each chapter takes a topic, whether a human factor like the law, a type of construction such as the dome, or a cause of failure such as metal fatigue, and then illustrates the issues by consideration of a number of case studies, frequently including some notable successes as well as dramatic failures. In the case of failures the book always attempts to assess both the practical cause, and also any human cause, impact and implications.
The book is very well written, in an accessible style supported by some useful appendixes on structural engineering principles. However, sometimes the simple line drawings and verbal descriptions of a structure don't manage to communicate a full understanding, and more sophisticated illustrations might have helped.
Mario Salvadori died in 1997 (at the good age of 90), and the surviving author, Matthys Levy updated the book in 2002. My feelings on the update are mixed: the chapter on terrorism, culminating with the collapse of the New York Trade Centre towers on September 11th 2001 is excellent; but why did the author not acknowledge the brilliant success of efforts to stabilise the Leaning Tower of Pisa in the late 1990s?
Overall I heartily recommend this book to anyone with a serious or lay interest in structural engineering, and the many complex human and natural issues which influence it.

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Learning from Las Vegas - Revised Edition: The Forgotten Symbolism of Architectural Form Review

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(More customer reviews)Robert Venturi's study of the Las Vegas signage phenomena and it's impact on "architecture" is brilliant in it's scope. While written almost twenty five years ago, this book gains more and more pertinence as we as a society progress further into a "reality" of symbols, reproductions and representations. These words and thoughts are basically essential to the understanding of any city anymore, not just Las Vegas. Where this book misses the mark though is in the execution, as shown in Venturi's work, of these ideas. The projects put forth seem to pale in comparison to the implications the text actually has. These notions of architecture are by far some of the most relevant and important in modern theory today, it is unfortunate that their full potential could not be realized in these projects.... but maybe that is for you and I to do.

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Learning from Las Vegas created a healthy controversy on its appearancein 1972, calling for architects to be more receptive to the tastes and values of"common" people and less immodest in their erections of "heroic," self-aggrandizingmonuments.This revision includes the full texts of Part I of the original, on theLas Vegas strip, and Part II, "Ugly and Ordinary Architecture, or the DecoratedShed," a generalization from the findings of the first part on symbolism inarchitecture and the iconography of urban sprawl. (The final part of the firstedition, on the architectural work of the firm Venturi and Rauch, is not included inthe revision.) The new paperback edition has a smaller format, fewer pictures, and aconsiderably lower price than the original. There are an added preface by ScottBrown and a bibliography of writings by the members of Venturi and Rauch and aboutthe firm's work.

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Motel of the Mysteries Review

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(More customer reviews)This book was actually a gift from my Mother who knows I enjoy things archaeological and historical. Since she`s more than a trifle eccentric and has a marvelous sense of the absurd, I've a sneaking suspicion she was poking a little fun at me--which is something I probably need once in a while for my own good.
The Motel of the Mysteries is a wonderful send up of the fields of archaeology and history. It's aim is doubtless to entertain, at which it's vastly successful, but over and above that the book makes quite clear what archaeology legitimately can and cannot do. I think it also points out that what is taken as "The Reality" of the past is often as much a function of current cultural biases and of the personal motives of individual researchers as it is of what actually occurred in the past. (This was made quite clear to me when I saw Knossos on Crete for the first time and realized that a great deal of imagination had gone into the reconstruction of the "Minoan" buildings there).
My favorite parts of Motel were Archaeologist Carson's interpretation of the hotel bathroom as the inner sanctum of a religious structure and the subsequent depiction of his assistant--ala Heinrich Schliemann with the Trojan treasure and Leonard Wooley with the Ur III treasure--wearing bathroom accoutrements as religious paraphernalia.
The author also pokes fun at museums and at all of us, when he includes a collection of "Souvenirs and Quality Reproductions" available for sale at the end of the book. My favorite is the coffee set based on the "sacred urn" (toilet). Goodness knows I've purchased my fair share of quality reproductions on my travels throughout the world!
This should be suggested reading for every college history and archeology major and required for those seeking degrees over BA in these fields!

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It is the year 4022; all of the ancient country of Usa has been buried under many feet of detritus from a catastrophe that occurred back in 1985. Imagine, then, the excitement that Howard Carson, an amateur archeologist at best, experienced when in crossing the perimeter of an abandoned excavation site he felt the ground give way beneath him and found himself at the bottom of a shaft, which, judging from the DO NOT DISTURB sign hanging from an archaic doorknob, was clearly the entrance to a still-sealed burial chamber. Carson's incredible discoveries, including the remains of two bodies, one of then on a ceremonial bed facing an altar that appeared to be a means of communicating with the Gods and the other lying in a porcelain sarcophagus in the Inner Chamber, permitted him to piece together the whole fabric of that extraordinary civilization.

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Why Buildings Stand Up: The Strength of Architecture Review

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(More customer reviews)Salvadori clearly explains, with the invaluable aid of lots of little pictures, how and why buildings stand up. There are chapters on cathedrals, the Eiffel Tower, the Hagia Sophia, bridges, domes, and so forth. The chapter on wind is particularly fascinating--I found out a lot of things I'd had no idea of. Other chapters, like "Form-Resistant Structures," were pretty deadly dull. Overall, though, the book was well worth reading. It's not always entertaining, but it's always informative, and sometimes tremendously interesting.

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Here is a clear and enthusiastic introduction to building methods fromancient time to the present day, illustrated throughout with linedrawings. In addition, Mr. Salvadori discusses recent advances inscience and technology that have had important effects on the planningand construction of buildings.
B/W line drawings

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Asterios Polyp Review

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(More customer reviews)Reading Asterios Polyp is a daunting experience. Or maybe not so much the reading, which can be accomplished easily enough, but the being able to speak sensibly about it afterward. I feel kind of like how I did after finishing Bolaño's 2666: A Novel, only not quite so out of my depth. Like Bolaño, Mazzucchelli's work here displays a breadth and depth that overtly requires multiple readings in order find ground solid enough to speak with any authority about the book.
But since I've only read the book once, you'll have to be satisfied with my initial thoughts. Asterios Polyp is, in the simplest terms, a coming-of-age story--one in which the fifty-year-old lead, celebrated architect Asterios Polyp, begins a quest to put away the childish things of his past and embarks on journey of both self-discovery and exploration of the world as it is rather than how he has intended to see it for so long. In this aspect, Asterios reminded me of Mr. Ryder from Ishiguro's The Unconsoled, a man at the top of his rarefied field who still must learn to grow up. And like Ryder, Asterios suffers from an inability to see the world as it is and is (really, like us all) victim to his own perceptions.
Reality, perception, and memory play a huge role in Mazzucchelli's work here even as they do in everything I've yet read by Ishiguro.
On top of this is layered the framework of Greek tragedy and specific allusion to the myth of Orpheus (this is pointed out through fistfuls of overt clues, not the least of which is a dream in which Asterios takes the role of Orpheus and his ex-wife Hana embodies Eurydice). We get narrative explanations from a meta-source in the Greek choral tradition. Comparisons to Dionysus and Apollo lead to an evaluation of dualistic systems (and perhaps systems generally) as Asterios gradually must free himself from systemic shackles in order to finally grow up. Of course we suspect if Asterios abandons one aspect he will be destroyed even as Orpheus was for abandoning Dionysius. As well, there are plenty of references to The Odyssey and this cross-pollination of mythologies only serves to enrich our experience of Asterios' journey.
The subject matter, by its summary, sounds simple enough but Mazzucchelli throws so much into this piece and exercises such deft control over the page that one can easily drown in the details. The art is very particular. Much is made of Mazzucchelli's use of colour through the book and, well, with good reason. The colouring itself offers storytelling that is available through no other means. In fact, so occasionally powerful is his use of colour that I worry for colourblind readers, that they might miss out on some of the book's more sublime moments.
On top of Mazzucchelli's tight reign over his colour spectrum, there is ample evidence that he maintains the same level of control over his linework and design. Asterios Polyp is a thoroughly designed experience, with every element from script to story to illustration to panel design to colouration to control of whitespace adding voice to the chorus of this performance. The battle between geometric and organic shapes gives the reader (who may not be familiar with all the names and ideas Asterios or his ghostly narrator reference) a hook on which to hang the interpreter's hat. One's experience of Asterios Polyp will no doubt be more enriched by a working knowledge of architectural history, familiarity with Greek mythology and Homeric tradition, and a smackerel of understanding of postmodern sculpture--but Mazzucchelli's conveyance of story through his visual sense means that even those with Asterios-sized gaps in their education can still get in there and have some deeper sense of what's going on.
As of this writing, I have only read Asterios Polyp once. Of course I still have questions. Of course I do. I think I understand the ending, but I'd like to reread and think on it again. I think I understand why he physically takes on the identity of his true last name in the book's final act (Polyp is only half his original surname, as the immigration official chopped in half the family name when his father immigrated to America). I sometimes understand what Mazzuchelli intends with his character names and sometimes not. I have the barest kernel of an idea why Mazzuchelli, in a mature work that depicts nudity and violence, insists on representing verbal obscenity with cartoony symbolic representation (e.g. "We made up a $#@*load of these"). I don't yet fully grasp Asterios' Ignazio dreams. I am certain, however, that many of these things will become more clear on subsequent readings.
As I said, I have only read Asterios Polyp once. And I can't wait to change that fact.

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Programs and Manifestoes on 20th-Century Architecture Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is mandatory for the library of any architect or student of architecture. It is the point from which any discussion of Modern Architecture could begin. I am hard pressed to think of a notable architect Conrad has neglected to include in this handy little book. From these pages I have seen generated a good number of arguments and debates on the state of architecture today. This is a small price to pay for such a wide array of ideas, both good and bad.

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The present volume offers eloquent testimony that many of the masterbuilders of this century have held passionate convictions regarding the philosophicand social basis of their art. Nearly every important development in the modernarchitectural movement began with the proclamation of these convictions in the formof a program or manifesto. The most influential of these are collected here inchronological order from 1903 to 1963. Taken together, they constitute a subjectivehistory of modern architecture; compared with one another, their great diversity ofstyle reveals in many cases the basic differences of attitude and temperament thatproduced a corresponding divergence in architectural style. In point of view, thebook covers the aesthetic spectrum from right to left; from programs that rigidlygenerate designs down to the smallest detail to revolutionary manifestoes that callfor anarchy in building form and town plan. The documents, placed in context by theeditor, are also international in their range: among them are the seminal andprophetic statements of Henry van de Velde, Adolf Loos, and Bruno Taut from theearly years of the century; Frank Lloyd Wright's 1910 annunciation of OrganicArchitecture; Gropius's original program for the Bauhaus, founded in Weimar in 1919;"Towards a New Architecture, Guiding Principles" by Le Corbusier; the formulation byNaum Gabo and Antoine Pevsner of the basic principles of Constructivism; andarticles by R. Buckminster Fuller on universal architecture and the architect asworld planner. Other pronouncements, some in flamboyant style, including those ofErich Mendelsohn, Hannes Meyer, Theo van Doesburg, Oskar Schlemmer, Ludwig Mies vander Rohe, El Lissitzky, and Louis I. Kahn. There are also a number of collective orgroup statements, issued in the name of movements such as CIAM, De Stijl, ABC, theSituationists, and GEAM.Since the dramatic effectiveness of the manifesto form isusually heightened by brevity and conciseness, it has been possible to reproducemost of the documents in their entirety; only a few have been excerpted.

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Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture Review

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(More customer reviews)Like Longitude, one of my most favorite books, Brunelleschi's Dome is a small gem. Author Ross King tells the story of the building of the dome atop Santa Marie del Fiore in Florence and along the way, treats you to a rich slice of Renaissance history. Much more than a great story (filled with details about everyday life in 15th century Italy, i.e. what they were eating, how they shopped, how bricks were made) this is a story of a man who used his intuition, faith and genius to propose a revolutionary method of building this famous dome. He used no wooden centering or flying buttresses which was totally radical for the time and he really had no way of predicting whether his plan would work or not. But it did and beautifully. If you're planning on visiting Florence, climb the steps to the top of the dome to see Brunelleschi's handiwork first hand. For example, he and his bricklayers used a unique herringbone pattern when laying the bricks that is clearly visible today. The story is also a human story. All the naysayers, competitiors, political enemies are here along with backbiting, and plotting. Brunelleschi himself had a wily streak and wasn't above lashing out at his competitors. One of the joys of this book is you actually feel like you're getting up each morning to see a day's work on the dome. And it's a very enjoyable way to spend some time. If you're interested, you can visit http://www.vsp.it/cupolalive/ and get a live view from atop the dome in Florence. A fascinating book.

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Facebook Cookbook: Building Applications to Grow Your Facebook Empire Review

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(More customer reviews)This tutorial is for developers with a broad but not necessarily deep background in web development who are interested in building Facebook web applications. Although Facebook Desktop and Mobile apps are covered where applicable, the content of this book is about straight web applications. Material covered includes how to plan an app, API details and FQL calls, and how to market and attract users, so there should be something for all participants in Facebook app development.
The author assumes you already know your way around web development in the areas of HTML, CSS, PHP programming, and SQL/database design. You don't need to be an expert with any of them, and the author makes suggestions on good books on all of the supporting technologies. The following is the detailed table of contents for the book, which is currently not included in the product description:
Chapter 1. Introducing Facebook Platform - A general overview of Facebook, Facebook Platform, and an introduction to the opportunity it represents.
Chapter 2. Ideation and Strategy - If you don't have an idea in mind already for an app, this chapter helps you out by giving you some ideas for some applications that you can extend. Shows techniques for doing app design quickly and with the best possible results.
Chapter 3. Hello World - Walks you through the classic Hello World first programming example.
Chapter 4. Architecture and Design - Covers the best architectures for Facebook apps, provides some recommendations for database performance, and produces an overview of the design and user experience of some winning applications.
Chapter 5. Setting Up Your Environment - Learn about all the things you need to download in order to get started. Learn how to add apps to Facebook, how to set up a test account, and how to get information on the latest changes to Facebook.
Chapter 6. Facebook Markup Language (FBML) - FBML is the glue that holds the Facebook Platform together. Covers all of the tags, discusses some odd behaviors you might encounter, and explores some great tricks for building better frontends.
Chapter 7. Facebook JavaScript (FBJS) - This chapter explains why you can't just use regular JavaScript in your app, how to build great Ajax-like interactions using Facebook's Mock Ajax techniques, and goes into detail about all of the useful functions available to you.
Chapter 8. Facebook Query Language (FQL) - As FBML is to HTML, FQL is to SQL. This chapter examines the schema of the various database tables to which you have access, and catalogs some really useful FQL queries you can use in your apps.
Chapter 9. Facebook API - Digs deep into the code of the API that connects everything together. The chapter goes through each of the objects and methods you have at your disposal, and gives you some tips and tricks for desktop apps. The chapter covers the API using the official Facebook PHP Client, but it shouldn't be too hard to convert these examples into your language of choice.
Chapter 10. Marketing Your App - Supplies some general marketing options for Facebook applications and some techniques for measuring your success at attracting people to your app.
You should be able to use the book either by reading cover to cover or by skipping around in it. It is well-illustrated and the code is well commented. Highly recommended. Also recommended for those just starting out is FBML Essentials, since a good understanding of FBML is essential for success.

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Want to build Facebook applications that truly stand out among the thousands already available? In addition to providing easy-to-follow recipes that offer practical ways to design and build scalable applications using the Facebook Platform and its new profile design, this Cookbook also explains proven strategies for attracting users in this highly competitive environment. With plenty of examples and practical solutions, Facebook Cookbook answers some of the hardest questions Facebook application developers contend with -- including how and where to get started. This Cookbook will help you:

Learn to build an application that scales to accommodate a sudden influx of users
Explore changes from Facebook's old profile design to the new look and feel
Take advantage of new integration points in the new profile design
Get tips for designing applications with hosting and deployment costs in mind
Discover which widgets and controls to use for building the most attractive user interface design
Learn the differences between standard HTML, JavaScript, and SQL, and the versions used on the Facebook Platform
Target large, defined groups on Facebook, including those who want to find jobs, hire employees, market a business, advertise, and more

If you can build simple web applications with HTML, Facebook Cookbook will help you build applications with the potential to reach millions of users around the globe. Learn what it takes to design applications that stand above the rest.

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