Reading too mechanical

The writing was a passionate depiction of a valuable force in any culture: architecture. But the narration was spoken as if the words had no meaning. Cut through that flaw, and the subject is worth hearing over and over again.

4 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Good Read, for professionals and regular readers

Reminds professionals the fundamentals and purpose of our profession. Regular readers not versed or familiar with subject will find their views realigned and see great works of architecture around in a different light with more profound appreciation.

3 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

unfortunate match between content and narrator

I have enjoyed Michael Prichard narrations in the past (though I don't think I could say he ever sounds quite as interested in what he's reading, as in the sound of his own voice), but this particular combination is HORRID. Goldberger's extended essays are worth exploring so I'm managing for now to get past the mismatch with the speaker, but I would never recommend this version.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

A decent book about why Architecture Matters

Wasn’t totally satisfied with the reader’s tone of voice. Seemed a bit too matter-of-fact.
The content was ok, using a number of examples to give insight about how the elegance and simplicity of design, and sometimes seemingly harsh structures, impact our lives in subtle and even consuming ways.

light touch on architecture

good book, good themes, light on academic architecture. my only and largest critique is the lack of photos! :P

Great content, poor performance

Goldberger packs this little book full of buildings, architects and ideas. You could probably get an architecture degree by reading through all the references and visiting just half of the buildings. Great place to start as a beginner or architecture enthusiast. However, the reading by Prichard makes this book very difficult to synthesize. I suggest reading the book, not listening to the audio version.

Somewhat dry topic made drier by the narrator

I enjoyed the content of the book because it had many interesting perspectives and observations about architecture, including the author's description of the way his childhood influenced his relationship with buildings. Architecture is defined from several perspectives and subsequent chapters explore architecture as form, function, space, and in relationship to movies and art. I do think the book would benefit from a more dynamic narrator since the writing is not always very engaging. There are passages which are essentially lists of architectural features that were difficult to stay focused on due to the gravely voiced narrator. The author provides mostly Western examples (especially the Eastern US) and is fairly traditional in his views--not a post-modern or iconoclastic treatment of the subject.

What a waste of time.

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I have no idea who would enjoy this book. Grand job beating around a bush. It is so void of content I don't see why architecture was chosen as a topic, could have written just as well about yogurt.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Next listen will be a book that addresses people's concerns about architecture, the future outlook, and just about anything relevant to humankind. I'd listen to anybody who has something burning to say on the matter. This book is going back for a refund.