The American Porch: An Informal History of an Informal Place

Book Description

A fascinating look at an American institution--a place where public life meets private.

Customer Reviews:

This book is a find ... .......2007-03-06

I stumbled across this delightful and improbable book recently and loved it. It's scholarly, it's profane, it's a personal walkabout that everyone(who lives in a pre-1950 house or New Urbanist enclave) can enjoy without leaving home.

Then I read your reviews and was suprised to see that every guest reviewer gave The American Porch 5 stars while two (philistines) gave 1 star.

May I be the first Amazon reviewer to review other reviews? (Probably not.) The 1-star reviewers are full of stuffing and probably could not tell a front porch from a port cochere, a Porsche 914, or Port-de-Paix, Haiti.

That said, I am enamored by Mr. Dolan's style (Jimmy Breslin meets and perhaps mates with Wytold Rybcinski). Yes he peregrinates but the side journeys are thoroughly enjoyable -- a creek with many fingers, each worth exploring, preferably by a canoe moving with the tides.

I just wrote that sentence to prove that Mr. Dolan is a far better writer than I. Has this man written another book?

Horrible.......2007-01-14

I could not get through this book on my favorite subject. The incoherent ramblings of this book caused me to finally put it down. I tried to skip ahead about half way through and could still find nothing interesting. This author has no self control and thinks that we should be interested in his constant asides that are not at all compelling. I love porches. I have one I wrote essays about them and have done my own extensive research. I was very excited to find that someone had written a book dealing with the history of my favorite architectural idiom and I was very disappointed by this book.
The one bit of insight I got from this book is that maybe the dominance of
European history and cultural on American society is not a grand conspiracy to oppress marginalized people. It is just a phenomenon caused by lazy writers who would rather travel to Italy than Africa. Dolan mentions that many notable scholars believe that the origins of the porch are found in African dwellings. He describes this for a little while with most of his information coming from a single interview. He then states that Italy also has places that kind of look like porches and then describes for two chapters his trip to italy to look at porticos. The coverage of the African roots of the porch was at best cursory and done in way that I felt was kind of gross in its part in continuing to marginalize forgotten history. This book is not worth the effort it takes to try to get through it.

Porches as Bastions of Liberalism?.......2006-08-14

Liberal slant and vulgar language? Well, I guess some people would see even topless statutes of Justice holding her scales in the cool, august halls of federal buildings as vulgar.

Michael's book is wonderful, and pretty much partisan-free. It's a very personal view he takes, but his wit and degree of research is what makes this book worth reading. I now have a much better understanding of porches and their history, and thanks to a previous reviewer of this book, I also understand why porches went away in the modern age, and why their return seems threatening to those who want to keep us divided and scared.

Disappointed.......2003-05-07

I love porches. I want one on my home. I was ready to read about porches. I couldn't get through the introduction of this book. The obvious liberal slant and the use of vulgarity just turned me off. I bet there is some really great information in this book but if I have to be bombarded by the above mentioned I will find my information elsewhere.

The pictures were above average. If I could rate the book on the pictures.... give it a 5.

Very Interesting read.......2003-04-30

I was moved by the book so much that I built a porch on my house too!

The American Porch: An Informal History of an Informal Place

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The American Porch: An Informal History of an Informal Place
Michael Dolan
Manufacturer: Lyons Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OLLX2Y

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THE AMERICAN PORCH An Informal History of an Informal Place
Michael Dolan
Manufacturer: Lyons Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RT8AYW

Book Description

For lovers of timeless classics, this series of beautifully packaged and affordably priced editions of world literature encompasses a variety of literary genres, including drama, fiction, poetry, and essays.

Los lectores tomarán un gran placer en descubrir los clásicos con estas bellas y económicas ediciones de literatura famosa y universal. Esta selección editorial cuenta con títulos que abarcan todos los géneros literarios, desde teatro, narrativa, poesía y el ensayo.

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TRATADO DE LA PINTURA
LEONARDO DE VINCI
Manufacturer: COLLECCION AUSTRAL
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UY0RE0

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Tratado de La Pintura
Leonardo da Vinci
Manufacturer: Distal
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Tratado De La Pintura/ Leonardo's Notebooks

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Tratado De La Pintura/ Leonardo's Notebooks
da Vinci Leonardo
Manufacturer: Distal
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Renaissance | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Artists, A-Z | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Spain | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Tratado De Pintura (Basica De Bolsillo)
da Vinci Leonardo
Manufacturer: Akal Ediciones
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Tratado De Pintura. Color, Pigmentos Y Ensayo

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Tratado De Pintura. Color, Pigmentos Y Ensayo
Unknown
Manufacturer: UNKNOWN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 8483383136

Laberinto. (noticias variadas; 7 de septiembre de 1998)(TT: Labyrinth) (TA: varied news items; September 7, 1998): An article from: Epoca

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Laberinto. (noticias variadas; 7 de septiembre de 1998)(TT: Labyrinth) (TA: varied news items; September 7, 1998): An article from: Epoca
José Apezarena
Manufacturer: Difusora de Informacion Periodica, S.A. (DINPESA)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B00098BTKS
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Epoca, published by Difusora de Informacion Periodica, S.A. (DINPESA) on September 7, 1998. The length of the article is 921 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: Laberinto. (noticias variadas; 7 de septiembre de 1998)(TT: Labyrinth) (TA: varied news items; September 7, 1998)
Author: José Apezarena
Publication: Epoca (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 7, 1998
Publisher: Difusora de Informacion Periodica, S.A. (DINPESA)
Issue: n706 Page: p24(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Tratado de La Belleza - Reflexiones Sobre La Belleza y El Gusto En La Pintura (Coleccion Tratados)

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Tratado de La Belleza - Reflexiones Sobre La Belleza y El Gusto En La Pintura (Coleccion Tratados)
Antonio Rafael Mengs
Manufacturer: Direccion General de Bellas Artes y Archivos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Criticism | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Tratado de la pintura /Treatise on Painting

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Tratado de la pintura /Treatise on Painting
Leonardo Da Vinci
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Renaissance | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Drawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Spain | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Tratado De La Pintura/ Paint Treatment
Leonardo Da Vinci
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Must have Stereoview history guide

The World as It Was, 1865-1921: A Photographic Portrait from the Keystone-Mast Collection

Manufacturer: Summit Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 067125376X

Book Description

First Edition

Worldwide documentary of life from 1865 to 1921. Prints made from original stereoscopic negs. Glass negs. from Keystone View co. collection donated by Mast family to Un. of Cal., Riveride, museum of photography.

Customer Reviews:

Must have Stereoview history guide.......2001-11-20

Excellent photographs and an easy read. 219 beautiful black & white photographs of the fantastic stereoviews of 1865-1921. Many great examples of the wonderful historic photographs captured in stereo depth. Highly recommended for your stereoview history library and goes great with your William Darrah and Paul Wing books.

THE WORLD AS IT WAS 1865-1921 A PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT FROM THE KEYSTONE-MAST COLLECTION

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THE WORLD AS IT WAS 1865-1921 A PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT FROM THE KEYSTONE-MAST COLLECTION

Manufacturer: Summit Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HZTWNY

The world as it was, 1865-1921 : a photographic portrait from the Keystone-Mast Collection / edited and with text by Margarett Loke ; foreword by Paul Theroux

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The world as it was, 1865-1921 : a photographic portrait from the Keystone-Mast Collection / edited and with text by Margarett Loke ; foreword by Paul Theroux
Margarett (ed.) Loke
Manufacturer: New York : Summit Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000WASVNG

Book Description

This book will help business owners get the most from technology, one step at a time.

Book Description

Living with the South Carolina Coast is the latest volume in the Living with the Shore series that comprehensively investigates the status of a specific state’s coastal region. Completely revising a previously published work in the series that dealt with South Carolina, this book not only brings up-to-date a wealth of information on migrating shorelines, selection of building sites, and pertinent regulations, but also reflects an expanded concept of the coast to include a broad range of coastal hazards.
Powerful storms have always played a major role in coastal processes in South Carolina, and the effects of Hurricane Hugo, the storm that ravaged the area in 1989, are thoroughly discussed. A series of Coastal Risk Maps are also included. These maps, graphically depicting areas of predictable erosion and storm damage potential, have been provided for every developed beach or barrier island in the state. Beyond the threat of hurricanes and coastal erosion, South Carolina, home of the Charleston Seismic Region, is also at risk for earthquakes. An entire chapter is devoted to earthquake-resistant construction, and the great Charleston earthquake of 1886 is examined in detail. Fires and floods are discussed. The Beachfront Management Act of 1990—the first state legislation of its kind that provides a system for dealing with migrating shorelines while preserving beaches for future generations—is also explained.
Covering everything from a history of the development of South Carolina’s coast to recommendations on how to select an island homesite, this book will be a resource to professional coastal planners and managers, residents, prospective homeowners, and naturalists.

Customer Reviews:

South Carolina Coast.......2002-02-18

For any person living or planning to live on the South Carolina I truly recommend this superb book. It is a perfect example of a strong combination of science and practicality. Of particular interest is the work of, Matthew Stutz. Stutz is a budding young star whose breakthrough work will we certainly be hearing more about in the future. I highly recommend you pick up this book for the knowledge of the South Carolina Coast and to get a preview of the genius of Dr. Stutz.

Required Reading.......2001-06-14

This book should be required reading for anyone contemplating a purchase of property on the eastern coast. While the "pulpit preacher" tone gets tired, we are seldom aware of just how much change occurs over a relatively brief period of time. Pay your money now or a million when your lot is under water in another 30 years.

Beach Visitors Beware.......2000-08-28

I read this book while vacationing at Folly Beach, South Carolina. I loved the factual information especially the history of the development of the barrier islands However, the doom and gloom undertone predications got a little heavy handed after a while. It seemed like the book was a warning to anyone thinking about moving the the coast to stay away. Upon further inspection, it turns out that the "living with the coast" series was underwritten by FEMA!. An enjoyable read anyway.

Living With the South Carolina Shore (Living with the Shore)

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How to live at the beach without washing away

Living With the South Carolina Shore (Living with the Shore)
William Neal , and W. Carlyle Blakeney
Manufacturer: Duke Univ Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0822305240

Customer Reviews:

How to live at the beach without washing away.......2000-12-16

There are more books in this series. These books are about beach migration and practical (and impractical) ways to deal with it. Each book begins with the science of barrier islands and man's efforts to control the beach. Each book ends with how to build or buy a beach house. In the middle there is a complete analysis of each inch of shoreline. Sound dry? If you like maps and want to know some geology about your favorite beach, these books are required.

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Living With the South Carolina Coast
Gered Lennon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JR74IK

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