Traditional Construction Patterns: Design and Detail Rules-of-Thumb

Book Description

* A hands-on, well-illustrated reference that helps architects and contractors avoid making common errors in traditional construction details

* Graphical approach allows users to quickly visualize design solutions

* Lists the rules-of-thumb for each detail, and correct and incorrect examples of how to design or construct each detail

Customer Reviews:

fabulous book!.......2007-07-12

I only wish I had known about this book six months earlier! We're attempting to build a period-inspired colonial house. I was so dissatisfied with the house plans I saw that I decided to just design the house myself using library books and determination. I wanted to build something beautiful and the "anti-McMansion". If only I had had this book earlier we would've done so many things differently: my second floor windows would've been shorter to accommodate all the stuff that's supposed to be under the eaves but now won't fit. I would've put the little stoop in a different spot. My dormers would have different proportions. The only problem with reading this book is that now when I look at our house I see all the things I did wrong.

Invaluable Resource.......2007-05-22

I am not an architect, but I am a city planner and frequently work with architects and draft zoning codes which govern architecture. To me, this book is worth the money simply for the "lexicon" at the beginning which describes and illustrates the key elements of traditional building construction. No other book I have used provides these descriptions in such a readily understandable way.

Most of the book consists of a listing of "do's" and "don'ts," illustrated with photos and small drawings, that explain how each of the details should be used and work together to form a composition. I agree with one of the earlier reviewers that some of the photos are hard to read, but for the most part, it works. You may or may not share the author's strong opinions--a lot of people seem to prefer McMansions to the simpler forms of traditional architecture--but regardless of your aesthetic judgements, this book will teach you like no other how the design details come together to determine the overall look and feel of the building.

Excellent Resource.......2007-04-05

I am using this book to assist in the detailing of my house, which we are renovating right now. I lent it to my architect and he says it is a great resource and time saver. He will be buying himself a copy. This book provides many examples of what to do and what not to do and will allow you to focus in on those details that make homes look "just not right" and correct them before costly mistakes are made.

Mediocre Architecture Explained .......2007-01-09

Modernism has been the dominant language of architectural schools since the late 1930's. Modernism has never caught on with most of the people who commission architects to design buildigns. They want more traditional buildings that are grounded in America's architectural history. Unfortunately, most architects were not taught to design traditional buildings. As a consequence, America's suburbs are brimming with grotesque Tudors, misshaped bungalows and ackward colonial revival homes.

In this volume, Stephen Mouzon assembles a thousand photographs of architectural details. By concentrating on specific building details, he gives examples of designs that are done correctly and others that are completely fouled up. At times, it is humorous and even a bit tragic to see just how illiterate an architect can be.

I am not an architect. My hobby is to look at architecture. When I come across real train wrecks, it is easy for me to understand why they do not work. However, I often come across buildings that don't work and I have problems putting my finger on what is wrong. This volume is a field guide to all that can go wrong.

Stephen Mouzon's target audience is architects. I would hope that any architect contemplating designing a traditional building will purchase this book. A little bit of study can help spare this country further examples of embarassing architecture. I only wish this book had been written sixty years ago.

A Must Have Book.......2006-09-25

Excellent Book.... Format and details are outstanding. It shows examples of what to do and what not to do.

I have bought additional copies for others.

Traditional Construction Patterns: Design & Detail Rules-Of-Thumb

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Traditional Construction Patterns: Design & Detail Rules-Of-Thumb
Stephen A.; Henderson, Susan M. Mouzon
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Professional
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OFKYNO

Book Description

Equally talented as a writer and painter, Wyndham Lewis (1882-1957) gained renown as the driving force behind Vorticism, the avant-garde movement that flourished in London before the First World War. This book provides the first critical overview of the visual, literary, and philosophical dimensions of Lewis's diverse works, from his abstract and representative paintings to his satirical novels and analytical essays.Published for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art

Customer Reviews:

A clear gaze on a murky fellow.......2001-10-29

Every reader knows of authors who were all the rage when they were alive and publishing, only to be forgotten or relegated to obscurity upon their death, if not before. They disappear for decades or generations, admired or consulted by those few who read in specialized fields; or they are the subject of intermittent articles in this or that journal. Thanks to the Internet they can be seen shimmering, a sort of astral projection, on web sites and list-serves with spotty attendances. In these venues situated on rural roads in the republic of letters they are argued with, championed, held up as the acme of what's misbegotten, or pegged as simply typical of a period. For fans, bitter consolation lies in their man or woman being reviled, as such shrill attention does indicate that the core of the oeuvre has not ceased to be dynamic, and perhaps threatening.

Occasionally authors have risen from the dust of library shelves, which is the closest we can now get to witnessing the Phoenix. These rescued figures become the product of cottage industries, but a well-timed nod from hollywood can escalate their reputations and swell their audience. Many of the latest literary finds are those whose work means something quite particular to current audiences - at times, but not in all cases, a retro chic - comprising enthusiasts, popular authors in a position to repay literary debts, scholars who have revisited past figures in search of their postmodern `nowness,' and because of groundswells of curiosity from disparate parts. There is a lovely unpredictability in the resurgence of these artists which fosters hope in those whose favourite choice has not yet bounced back into the limelight. (In an attempt at a shove back onto the stage, see my Amazon review of Lewis' _Rude Assignment_.)

It is unlikely that Wyndham Lewis will ever again receive the attention, negative or positive, that his paintings and writings garnered during his lifetime, yet if any critical work of recent years could restore his dented reputation and, more fruitfully, bring his ideas back into view for a fresh examination, then it is this book by Paul Edwards.

In his combination of literary analysis and art criticism Edwards writes with economy, clarity, intelligence and sensitivity about Lewis' paintings, drawings, short fictions, novels and a mass of philosophically-minded and politically generated essays and speculative works. One realizes that Lewis, perhaps the most probing Modernist in the anglo-united statesian family, left no major concern of the 20th century ignored, even if only to swipe at it with pen and brush. It is to Edwards' credit that he maintains a focus on his subject's wide-ranging thoughts and positions, especially as they are transformed with the passing of time and as events, historical and personal, transform Lewis.

Certain aspects of this book call for special commendation: the examination of _Tarr_, Lewis' first novel; the analyses of _Time and Western Man_ , the central non-fiction work of Lewis' writings, and of _The Human Age_, his last fiction; and the constant engagement with the art works. Art criticism is often written in an abstract and coded way, and academic criticism is often larded with unnecessary polysyllabic constructions, but a key benefit of Edwards' style is that one can argue with his conclusions or suggested interpretations because he has made himself understood. There is no dancing with words, or playfulness in a deconstructionist sense, to obscure his points.

In the aftermath of this book it was instructive, in a disappointing way, to read a review by irish novelist John Banville of _The Crisis of Reason: European Thought, 1848-1914_, written by J.W. Burrow, which appeared in _The New York Review of Books_ (October 4, 2001, pp.38-40). On p.40 Banville responds to what Burrow says about Nietzsche:

"[...] There is a study to be made of the influence on modernism of Nietzsche's thinking, which is insufficiently acknowledged even by the most philosophically-minded of the modernists - it is hard to recall, for instance, a single mention of Nietzsche's name anywhere in Eliot's prose criticism."

Banville is mistaken when he says Nietzsche was not regarded sufficiently by "the most philosophically-minded" modernists, for as Edwards makes plain throughout his almost 600-page book (not a page too long), Lewis engaged Nietzsche in a constant debate (and dealt with many others as well). Pointing out this error on Banville's part is not meant to cast a slur against him; it merely shows how far Lewis has sunk below the critical horizon.

The book's layout is very good. In most cases, when art work is discussed the painting or drawing is at hand without needless flipping through the book. While as a rule footnotes are preferable, in this instance the use of endnotes is justified.

This book has given far greater pleasure than many others recently. For those unfamiliar with Lewis it is an excellent primer; for those just stepping into his sea of words it is an invaluable guide; and for those who are well acquainted with Lewis' concerns and motifs there is much to deliberate on, and hopefully respond to, in Edwards' original findings and his engagement with other critics.

Paul Edwards deserves more laurels than he is likely to get for writing about an artist who is underrated, over-scorned, difficult, and not very likely to experience a surge in popular appreciation. He also merits praise for writing in a direct manner, tackling the contentious aspects of Lewis' life and works head on, for his generally even-handed treatment of others who write on Lewis, and the zest underlying every sentence. His discerning enthusiasm will urge a reader to read Lewis' books again, or for a first time. Not many academics or critics achieve that notable goal.

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Wyndham Lewis: Painter and Writer; Perfect Moderns: A History of the Camden Town Group. (Reviews of Books).: An article from: Albion
Anthony Lacy Gully
Manufacturer: North American Conference on British Studies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B0008FIKMC
Release Date: 2005-07-30

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Albion, published by North American Conference on British Studies on March 22, 2002. The length of the article is 1119 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Wyndham Lewis: Painter and Writer; Perfect Moderns: A History of the Camden Town Group. (Reviews of Books).
Author: Anthony Lacy Gully
Publication: Albion (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 2002
Publisher: North American Conference on British Studies
Volume: 34 Issue: 1 Page: 157(3)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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Wyndham Lewis: Painter and Writer
Paul Edwards
Manufacturer: Yale University Press / Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000ORRP66

Book Description

All over the world, women in developing economies improve the lives of their families by creating and selling exquisite, indigenous crafts. The Ndebele beaders of South Africa, the weavers of Guatemala, the flower painters of Poland, the dollmakers of Turkey, the mirror embroiderers of India, the batik artists of Indonesia contribute to the future of their cultures. In Her Hands: Craftswomen Changing the World is a beautifully photographed documentary of ninety women in twelve countries on four continents, revealing their diverse lives and surprisingly universal aspirations. Often driven by the harsh realities of poverty, little education, and even a lack of basic health care, female artisans are motivated by the desire to provide for their children: to dress them properly, to feed them well, and, most of all, to educate them. The need for social contact and a sense of community brings craftswomen together into small groups, which in turn gives rise to new micro-enterprises in developing countries. Many political and social organizations, including the United Nations, provide guidance and economic support, most often in the form of very small, short-term loans; thus cooperatives are created that strengthen and enrich their cultural heritage as well as individual lives and fortunes. Authors Paola Gianturco and Toby Tuttle have spent five years photographing, interviewing, and writing about craftswomen for this amazing collection. The artisans' individual voices are featured throughout the book as the authors describe their encounters with the craftswomen; amusing, affecting journal entries relate the authors' own experiences and reflections. In Her Hands celebrates a different kind of women¹s movement sisters, grandmothers, and friends join together to create beautiful crafts that contribute to a better life for themselves, their families, and for future generations.

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic , Beautiful, Inspiring, Sacred Book No Less!!!!.......2006-04-12

This book is absolutely all that the other readers have said. It is precious and very important for all the reasons above. In addition, it has excellent Cooperative and Fair Trade resources. I left my copy in Brazil for others,am now in Mexico, and must have another copy to share with others, and for my home. This book lives in my dreams and adds color, meaning, and celebration to our world. Thank you!!!!
Sakanta Running Wolf

This book does make a difference!.......2001-02-19

The glorious color photos and stories have inspired me to meet the craftswomen. I took the book with me on assignment in Guatemala with women weavers and watched the delight and pride from the weavers as they enjoyed the pictures of women like themselves. Each story is a challenge to all of us to seek out these crafts and use them in our daily lives. The well written stories by Paola and the personal essays by Toby are inspirational. They captured the reality of life and the possibilities. I left my copy in Guatemala and just ordered two more as gifts. This is a beautiful book.

A wonderful holiday gift for all my female friends.......2000-10-10

In Her Hands: Craftswomen Changing the World is a gorgeous photojournalistic volume about women around the world who make indigenous crafts. The crafts, varied and wonderful as they are, are sold at market so that the women can have an income stream to improve their economic situation. Money earned this way is most often used to pay for children's education and improved nutrition. These are often women who live in abject poverty, many without the help of income-generating husbands, who are passionate about giving their children better lives. One admires their focus, their intelligence, and the joy with which they live their lives, as documented by the two author/photographers, Paola Gianturco and Toby Tuttle. This is a wonderful coffee-table sized book with glorious images for anyone who loves crafts, travel, photography and for anyone who thinks and cares about the lives of women around the world. Well-done! I've already bought three!

Truly Great Book!.......2000-10-07

Amazing photography and unique insight into far lands and distant peoples. "In Her Hands" takes you on a journey to the places you've always wanted to go and into the lives of the people you wish you'd meet when you travel. Women around the world, working to create art and improve their lives. No flashy get-rich-quick success stories, no explosive dot-com egos, but real people who truly earn their success, day by day. The book deals fairly and honestly with complex issues of traditional societies around the world, as women invest their own money in the education of their children and change their local economies.

Beautiful, color-rich images help tell the tale all along. Like photography from LIFE magazine or National Geo, the photos make stories of In Her Hands almost leap from the page.

I highly recommend this to anyone and will be buying many copies as gifts for the holidays!

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From the Publisher

In Her Hands: Craftswomen Changing the World: A Book of Postcards (Postcard Books)

Manufacturer: Pomegranate Europe Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0764917552
Release Date: 2001-08-01

Customer Reviews:

From the Publisher.......2005-11-13

"Using traditional craft methods (sometimes passed from mother to daughter, sometimes lost and reacquired), impoverished women the world over are improving the quality of their families' lives. To get clothing, food, and an education for their children, they create superb objects--baskets, garments and other textiles, pottery--that draw on tradition to enhance the future.

"This book of postcards features thirty glowing images of art helping to overcome adversity.

"Pomegranate's books of postcards contain thirty top-quality reproductions bound together in a handy, artful collection. Easy to remove and produced on heavy card stock, these stunning postcards are a delight to the sender and receiver. Note: postcards are oversized and may require additional postage. ISBN: 0-7649-1755-2; size: 4 3/4 x 6 7/8"."--© Pomegranate

In Her Hands, Craftswomen Changing the World

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In Her Hands, Craftswomen Changing the World
Paola & TUTTLE, Toby GIANTURCO
Manufacturer: The Monacelli Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OTABQU

Average customer rating:

Doing What's Right

Excellent Book

Miller Tells The Stuff That They Want Covered Up Forever

Sour grapes

Inspirational!

Teaching Amidst the Neon Palm Trees
Lee Ryan Miller
Manufacturer: 1st Books Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Educators | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1403331863

Book Description

The funny and moving story of a young professor in Las Vegas who inadvertently gets caught up in a whirlwind of intrigue and corruption. A fast-moving true story featuring bizarre characters reminiscent of Berendt's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Customer Reviews:

Doing What's Right.......2006-08-28

This book, while using the trials and tribulations of Academia, isn't about Academia at all. Its about doing the right thing, for the right reasons, no matter what. Lee Miller went the extra mile, and showed what he is made of. He could have been a Marine, or a Bus Driver. The message is still the same.

Excellent Book.......2006-07-31

Lee Ryan Miller deserves an award for exposing political corruption in academia. His first person account of his experience as a professor in Las Vegas, enables us to better understand the term, "Sin City."

This book read like a novel. As each page unfolded, I became more intrigued with the story. Facts read better than fiction in this case. He is a gifted writer. Let's hear more from him.

A first rate book from start to finish!

Miller Tells The Stuff That They Want Covered Up Forever.......2006-04-07

Lee Ryan Miller's Book is a perfect text book to clean up waste and what is ineffective about our Comunity College System. I can see that a henchman was sent to discredit.... but read it for yourself and see the patterns of the "underbelly." I could add book # II to his list and maybe we're redy for the recepie. This book takes you into the bowels of the system and tells you where the next volley of shots will be fired.... you bet they don't want you to read this one, as it will change community college elections all over the US.

And by the way..... go ahead and run for a public office like a board position and see how many "Sour Grapes" pop up.. you'll also get a chance to meet the true "underbelly" of the educational system and their buzzards that they keep circling for each and every little crumb and and :chink" in your "metal"... but keep the course and proceed as it will never change unless you take a grass roots approach and start with the drudeous tack of cleaning up the "underbelly"!

Sour grapes.......2006-03-31

The author is a flaming liberal. We spend the entire book wondering why he is getting this rough treatment from superiors / colleagues which he documents in such painstaking detail. Amazingly, it is not until page 169 of this 175 page book that he casually reveals that the answer is AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. He explains that CCSN wanted to hire more Hispanics and that his supervisor was told to replace him with a woman. Incredibly, the author seems to sympathize with this goal and then quickly moves on to another topic. His downplaying of this issue is odd, because he mentions a dozen times that he felt his idea of free travel scholarships for poor students was a good idea. Hey, I think everyone could benefit from his class trip to Europe, but why in the world should taxpayers and the other students be forced to pay for those who didn't save their money? Tuition at CCSN is already greatly subsidized and all students have the opportunity to find a job and save money. Besides, maybe their choice of assistance would be something more essential than a free trip to Europe! The author also complains that he didn't receive money from taxpayers (in the form of unemployment compensation) because he didn't teach over the Summer. As a part-time CCSN teacher, I can verify that Summer jobs are not plentiful. Why in the world would a part-time teacher expect to receive a Summer teaching assignment, ahead of all the full-time teachers? If he was truly an educated and talented person, I'm sure he could have found work here, given our 3.5% unemployement rate and our conducive atmosphere for starting a business. He mentions that CCSN's budget for international student recruitment was $270,000, but doesn't seem to find anything unusual about this. Why are taxpayers paying this much money to bring foreign students here? We already have plenty of foreigners in this community... just look around. He briefly comments on the firing of Mike Meyers for using a possibly-derogatory nickname to describe Zelda Williams, but he fails to mention the biggest scandal of all at CCSN: Zelda received a $50,000 payoff by the CCSN President and Chancellor, even though a judge threw her case out of court and CCSN attorneys advised against awarding any money until they could investigate her claim of "emotional distress". The author also fails to mention the outrageous, multiple scandals where Wendel Williams abused his authority to take advantage of CCSN. The lesson to be learned here is that we should privatize the education system and stop abusing the taxpayers.

Inspirational!.......2005-07-10

The spiritual journey of a very inspiring educator. This book is exciting and inspirational. Fantastic!

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Teaching Amidst the Neon Palm Trees
Lee Ryan Miller
Manufacturer: Authorhouse / 1st Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KUMT4A

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We Can Teach You to Play Hockey
Esposito Phil and Tony with Kevin Walsh
Manufacturer: Hawthorn Books, Inc. 1972
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K5SITK

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The Brothers Esposito
Phil and Tony Exposito
Manufacturer: Hawthorn Books, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K6PURC

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The Brothers Esposito
Phil; Esposito, Tony; Moriarty, Tim Esposito
Manufacturer: Hawthorn
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HYZHCA

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Phil and Tony Esposito (Superstars)
Charles Morse , and Ann Morse
Manufacturer: Creative Co (Sd)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Sports & Activities | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Sports | Sports & Activities | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Hockey | Biographies | Sports | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0871913445

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Phil and Tony Esposito's Illustrated Ice Hockey rules
Phil and Tony Esposito
Manufacturer: Associated Features
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000ND7TZ8

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We Can Teach You to Play Hockey
Phil and Tony Esposito
Manufacturer: Hawthorn
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O5S8JQ

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