Book Description

So you have a great concept and all the fancy digital tools you could possibly require—what's stopping you from creating beautiful pages? Namely the training to pull all of these elements together into a cohesive design that effectively communicates your message. Not to worry: This book is the one place you can turn to find quick, non-intimidating, excellent design help.

Reviews (133)

Little book with BIG impact!
Don't let the small size of this book fool you... in here is all the information you need to start improving the way you design. Composition, positioning, alignment, font usage, and a host of other topics are concisely and simply explained. A section on color usage would have been appreciated, but would probably price the book out of its target audience. Williams's sense of humor may not be for everybody, but the information she presents is absolutely invaluable. Williams presents good design, bad design, and works to explain what elements make the former work. After reading this book, I started sub-conciously analyzing almost everything around me, from web sites to advertisements, and was able to identify well-designed ones from poorly-designed ones, and what they did right or wrong.

No, you will not become an award-winning graphics designer after one read, but your understanding of principles, and your ability to apply them will increase dramatically. An extremely worthwhile investment for the beginner who needs to suddenly improve his design skills.

Great gift book! Should be required reading in the office.
I won't bore you with detailed analysis of the book... many other reviews mention RW's elegant descriptions of the four page layout elements (proximity, alignment, repetition, contrast). What I will share with you is that I have given this book as a gift a dozen times. Because it is so clearly written and the principles are backed up with easily understandable examples, I give it to folks who don't have a lot of time to study page layout design, but who can benefit from knowing the four principles.

As more and more laypeople put words on paper (in newsletters, brochures, and especially websites), knowing these basic guidelines for why certain pages look better than others and how one can quickly improve a particular layout is timely and essential knowledge. If you need a little help communicating more effectively with your publications (of any kind) or know someone else who does, this would be the first book I'd hand to you. (The next would be RW's The Mac (or PC) is Not a Typewriter.)

Good
This is one of the basic books needed in any designer's collecion. Buy it today!

Terrific Book for Non-Designers
IÕm beginning to wonder if Robin Williams ever sleeps. She seems to have a new title out every couple of weeks. This is Ms. WilliamsÕ second offering of this title.

I have long said that the best thing about DeskTop Publishing is that it puts it in the hands of everybody and the worst thing about DeskTop Publishing is that it puts it in the hands of everybody. Some people just donÕt have an eye for design.

The fact is, because of DeskTop Publishing, many people with no formal training in publishing or design end up having to design something. They find they must create an advertisement, a newsletter, a brochure, a business card or a poster. Panic sets in for those who have no idea where to start, or donÕt understand the fundamentals of good design.

If any of this sounds familiar to you, The Non-DesignerÕs Design Book is your Ôrescue in a book.Õ I really like the many before and after examples she shows of web pages, brochures, business cards, etc. There is an amazing example of a tri-fold brochure before and after on pages 106-107, and a newspaper ad on pages 114-115.

She explains the use of typography very nicely, and explains when to use different kinds of typefaces. (Did you know that most people make the type on their home made business cards too big?)

This book is not a big, heavy tome that goes on forever on its topics. ThatÕs a good thing. It keeps things simple and easy to understand. Each topic is covered well and in an interesting manner. Pick it up at Peachpit with your User Group discount!

A Must Have Book
This is an invaluable reference for everyone. If you are a designer you should read this little book at least once a year. Without a doubt you have forgotten or not used many of the rules and precepts that are in this book. If you are new to design, learn it here and you will be set. The only thing you have to do is not fight your own urge to violate the ideas set out here and you can design print items that rule the world! The best best best book. ... Read more

Book Description

A practical, illustrated guide to the new International Building Code
With the publication of the International Building Code, the building industry is moving toward a single universal set of construction codes, rather than the three regional codes previously in use. Now more than ever, architects need an interpretive guide to understand how the building code affects the early design of specific projects. This unique reference blends the graphic skills of bestselling author Francis Ching with the code expertise of Steven Winkel. It closely examines the portions of the building code that are most relevant for the architect and provides a simple and practical interpretation through words and illustrations. All the changes in the new code are explained in simple, user-friendly language that allows architects to get up to speed on the new code quickly and easily.
Francis D. K. Ching (Seattle, WA) is a registered architect, a professor at the University of Washington, and the author of eight highly acclaimed architecture books, all for Wiley.
Steven R. Winkel, FAIA (San Francisco, CA), is a project manager at Field Paoli, and an expert in building codes and regulations. He is also an AIA Board Member and past president of the AIA California Council. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

ARE studying material
This is an excellent book to skim through for preparation for the ARE. I definitely recommend Ching's two books: Building Codes Illustrated and Building Construction Illustrated. After spending several dollars on studying materials for the exam, I found that I got the most bang for my buck from: the two Ching books, David Ballast's Study Guides, Larry Paul's ARE Practice Exam, and Archiflash cards. These were the the most useful tools to get through the multiple choice sections as they most closely reflected the material covered on the exams.

For those who had trouble reading the code book
I have alot of trouble reading any codes: BOCA, UBC, SBC...etc. I find it difficult to understand the language. After getting this book last month, believe it or not, I find reading code such a PLEASANT experience. It summarizes all the main sections of IBC, those you browse thru the most, into easy to read format with clear and good graphic illustrations. This is the first time I don't feel confuse anymore when reading the code. For best result, read it with IBC 2000 side by side. It's good buy, highly recommend.

Up-to-date and clear
This books represents the latest and possibly the best attempt to explain the logic and art that goes into writing the new national model codes. It also explains through the insights of the authors how best to use the code and what to expect from it by way of future revisions and local interpertations. As a design professionsal I constantly struggle to explain to clients why, when life safety is involved, we cannot do certain things in buildings. This book will help inform both the professional and non professional interested user of the building code. Serveral attempts in the past have been made to cover this subject, but at the time there were several codes around the country. Now that we are catching up with the British in our understanding and use of fire science the IBC allows a new clearer understanding of what codes do. This book is simply the best effort in years to cover this material.

Not only the what, but the why
As someone who lectures regularly on codes and standards, I find the Francis Ching book a refreshing reference. The diagrams make sometimes confusing code language easy to understand, and the text deals with the background of code development and explains why the code evolved the way it did. ... Read more

Book Description

Offering an ideal balance of theory and skills, this book provides a solid grounding in the how's and why's of public speaking, placing particular emphasis on critiquing, ethics, and critical thinking. Written in a casual, lively style and clearly organized, this edition of Mastering Public Speaking builds on its previous success. The fourth edition retains its popular and distinctive emphasis on the ethical contract between speaker and listener and on the value of critiquing speeches to improve your own skills. Learn how to think critically as you choose speech topics, conduct research, organize content, select language, manage nervousness, and deliver speeches. For anyone interested in Public Speaking. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Disappointing
I'd considered buying this book from Amazon, and decided to first examine a copy at the Boston Public Library. I was unimpressed. The tone seems aimed at middle-school students, and the text is littered with patronizing "Dick & Jane" anecdotes. A quick glance through the table of contents suggests that Grice and Skinner address nearly every conceivable aspect of public speaking -- but a closer examination reveals a complete lack of depth. It seems as if they simply brainstormed ways to add pages without actually investigating their subject.

The most derelict example I found was the second chapter, devoted entirely to a discussion of ethics. This chapter includes a section on plagiarism, where Grice and Skinner define plagiarism and warn students that getting caught may result in failing a class or being expelled from school -- hardly the sort of information you'd expect from a college-level textbook. Meanwhile, Grice and Skinner lazily sidestep the most challenging issue -- the employment of speechwriters -- by confining its mention to a brief, rhetorical question among the chapter-end exercises. In other words: "Here's a complex issue. We've exhausted our space with rudimentary ones, but we encourage you to do some real work on your own!"

There are some informative, useful books on public speaking. Richard Dowis and James Humes have each written excellent books on crafting and delivering a speech. Virgil Anderson and Ann Utterback have written valuable books on training your voice, and Livingston Taylor and Keith Johnstone have written classics on stage performance. My suggestion is to skip this book. I was thoroughly disappointed with its lack of ambition, and I'd hate to be stuck with a professor who found it respectable. ... Read more

Amazon.com

By a recent count, the continent of Africa comprises some 1,300 cultures. Some of them number millions of people, some only a few families; some are thriving, while others are in danger of disappearing, the victims of acculturation or, in extreme cases, of genocide. This diversity--and the dangers to it--is little known outside Africa. PhotographersCarol Beckwith andAngela Fisher highlight both matters in African Ceremonies, an extraordinary two-volume collection of some 850 full-color images. The two artists have traveled to almost all the continent's 53 countries in the last three decades, documenting traditional tribal life in earlier books and articles for National Geographic, among other publications. Here they focus on the religious customs of several dozen peoples, combining stunning images with well-written essays to illustrate the enduring power of traditional beliefs.

Among the book's finest moments are a record of the Fulani cattle crossing, when for 10 days young males drive their herds across the wide Niger River to receive gifts from their grateful compatriots; a sequence showing a healing ceremony of the Himba people of Namibia and Angola, whose "wild women," possessed by lion spirits, are riveting actors on the page; and a remarkable series of photographs of Wodaabe courtship dancers, who compete to attract wives by charming them with exaggerated smiles and the skilled use of cosmetics. The authors note that, as women, they entered places men never could--and as foreigners, they were also often welcomed as "honorary males" and allowed to witness male-only ceremonies. Many of these rites are in danger of extinction as old ways are forgotten and in some cases suppressed. Beckwith and Fisher have captured them before it's too late. Beautifully designed and manufactured, African Ceremonies makes a fine companion toHenry Louis Gates Jr.'s Wonders of the African World, and invites leisurely reading--and constant revisiting. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Finally!A Nonethnocentric Perspective on African Traditions!
The New York Times Sunday Book Review section today had a wonderful review of this book (2 volumes in a slipcase). The documentation of ritual and people performing rituals as the seasons change in Nature and life cycles turn for People is a sacred task. The photographers appear to have embraced their subjects with care and respect - perhaps others will follow in this way in the future. What strikes me most about the book and the reviews is the genuine approach of the authors to the dignity, honor and respect of the African People they have photographed and documented. This alone makes the book a winner for me.

Regarding the book, I am particularly impressed by their treatment of sacredness without judgment and jaded lens. Indeed the art and form of ritual itself creates tradition. The music of these images is at once visual and alive celebrating the sacred as timeless expressions of culture and community.

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
HOW CAN ANYONE SAY THAT THESE CULTURES DON'T EXIST ANYMORE, OR THIS IS AN AFRICA THAT NO LONGER EXISTS. THEY TOOK THESE PICTURES WITHIN THE LAST 10 YEARS.. DIDN'T THEY ? DUH ? EVERYONE KNOWS THERE IS A COMMON EVERYDAY AFRICA.. GOING TO WORK GENERAL LIVING ( JUST LIKE US HERE IN AMERICA FOLKS) BUT STILL THERE IS AFRICAN TRIBAL SPLENDOR. JUST LIKE IN AMERICA INDIAN'S GET TOGETHER FOR TRIBAL POW WOWS. THEY STILL EXIST TOO. THE PICTURES IN THIS BOOK ARE SHOCKINGLY GORGEOUS...AFRICAN PEOPLE STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL. PLEASE! THE MEN ARE HANDSOME, THE WOMEN WONDEROUS. IT JUST MAKES ME WONDER WHY THE EUROPEAN STANDARD, HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE "STANDARD" OF BEAUTY. THIS REVUE MAY SOUND SHALLOW, BUT IF YOUR INTO THE HUMAN HAS ART FORM ...BUY THIS BOOK!!

See it before it disappears
A beautiful look at cultural conventions that may soon be relegated to the quaint and unusual.

An Africa that *does* exist, but that is vanishing
The "concise edition" of AFRICAN CEREMONIES opens with a preface by Dr. Malidoma Some, president of "Echoes of the Ancestors" and author of his autobiography OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT and THE HEALING WISDOM OF AFRICA. Malidoma is from the Dagara tribe of Burkina Faso. His name means "make friends with the stranger/enemy," and that is why he now lives in the West.

I have met Malidoma on a few occasions (participating in some of his rituals) and I corresponded with him for a time. He has been incredibly helpful and supportive in my own spiritual journey (he is an initiated shaman of his tribe and has recently become the youngest initiated elder), and therefore I trust what he says. Malidoma's preface makes it clear that, sadly, AFRICAN CEREMONIES documents a world that - unlike the claims of some - is not entirely gone, but that is quickly vanishing. Malidoma comments that these photographs are very important because they show the last time that some of these ceremonies will be performed in such elaborate nature, and perhaps they will never be performed again at all.

AFRICAN CEREMONIES continues the tradition of these well respected photographers by providing a beautiful volume of beautiful peoples.

Buy it for what it is
Buyers should understand what this is - a beautiful coffee table book. Beckwith and Fisher present their usual quality of brilliant, sensitive photography. But understand that this is, for the most part, capturing a memory, a fantasy. This Africa no longer exists. Don't buy the book to learn African culture. Buy it if you like photography. As a historical record, it's lacking. One can capture a visual from the outside, but one cannot capture a cultural understanding as readily. ... Read more

Book Description

In Book 3 of this four-volume work, Alexander presents hundreds of his own buildings and those of other contemporaries who have used methods consistent with the theory of living process.

Nearly seven hundred pages of projects, built and planned in many countries over a thirty-year period, illustrate the impact of living process on the world. The book provides the reader with an intuitive feel for the kind of world, its style and geometry, which is needed to generate living structure in the world and its communities, together with its ecological and natural character.

The projects include public buildings, neighborhoods, housing built by people for themselves, public urban space, rooms, gardens, ornament, colors, details of construction and construction innovation. The many buildings shown, and the methods needed to design and build these buildings, define living structure in a practical way that can be understood and copied.

". . . Alexander's approach presents a fundamental challenge to us and our style-obsessed age. It suggests that a beautiful form can come about only through a process that is meaningful to people. It also implies that certain types of processes, regardless of when they occur or who does them, can lead to certain types of forms."-Thomas Fisher, former editor of Progressive Architecture.

Christopher Alexander is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, architect, builder, and author of many books and technical papers. He is the winner of the first medal for research ever awarded by the American Institute of Architects, and Emeritus Professor of Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, where he taught for 40 years.

Book Description

The tools needed to create and manage a thriving interior design practice
This essential sourcebook provides all of the information needed to establish and manage a productive, profitable interior design firm. Filled with savvy business and career advice, Professional Practice for Interior Designers, Third Edition delivers updated and expanded coverage of the full range of legal, financial, management, marketing, administrative, and ethical issues faced by sole practitioners, firm principals, and managers.
This comprehensive reference lays out clear, practical guidelines on how to structure a contract and prevent legal problems; work with other designers, allied professionals, clients, and vendors; and calculate fees that are both fair and profitable. Recommended reading for NCIDQ candidates, it offers easy-to-follow tips and instruction on how to:
* Write and implement a successful business plan
* Choose the right form of business to fit specific needs
* Institute strategic planning
* Develop effective promotional tools
* Manage finances and set up a computerized accounting system
* Manage employees and team members
Establishing a comprehensive foundation for effective business practice, Professional Practice for Interior Designers, Third Edition is the one-stop resource that no interior designer can afford to be without. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Get It!
This book reads like a friend whispering all the good advice and secrets of the interior design business in your ear. I wish my Professional Practices class had used this text. It's a lot of information but Christine Piotrowski truly takes you by the hand and lets you know what you need to prepare for in a budding interior design business as well as how the interior design business is done in general. I will be referencing this book again and again. A huge thank you and bravo to Christine Piotrowski

Must Have!
This book was used for both Business Practice For Interior Design & Sales and Marketing. I had no need to consult any other source. "This is a great book" THANKS..

Fantastic!
Outstanding, fabulous, fabulous book. Extremely helpful to me in starting my own firm. Well written. Well organized. Invaluable.

A must-read
This one is a must read if you are considering a degree in interior design. I found it extremely helpful in planning my career path.

It's all about color picking, right?
FINALLY, a book that was written for the trained interior design professional. The author explains in detail how to legally and financially start and run a professional interior design business. The author is affiliated with the NCIDQ and definitely understands the difference between decorating and designing. Excellent read for anyone seeking or even just curious about the ins and outs of starting a business. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming is a spiritual adventure story. A chance encounter with a poster depicting a detail of Rembrandt's The Return of the Prodigal Son set in motion a chain of events that enabled Nouwen to redefine and claim his vocation late in his life. In this book, which interweaves elements of art history, memoir, Midrash, and self-help, Nouwen brings the parable to life with empathic analyses of each character. Nouwen's absorption in the story (and the painting) is so complete that the father's challenge to love the son, and the son's challenge to receive that love, become Nouwen's own. And Nouwen's writing is so clear and his tone is so appealingly frank and humble that readers--no matter how far from home--will find hope for themselves in the prodigal peace Nouwen ultimately achieves. --Michael Joseph Gross ... Read more

Reviews (50)

1/2 New Insight and 1/2 Recycled Themes
I have read about 6 books by Henri Nouwen so far, and this one was probably the hardest one to stay focused on and get through. However, there are also a couple of chapters in the book that were real gems and shouldn't be missed. The first couple of chapters about Henri's fascination with Rembrandt's painting of the prodigal son are average. Even when he goes through the two brothers in the painting (the elder brother and the prodigal), there is nothing here that is extraordinary or newly insightful. Anyone who has done a group study or personal meditation on the passage likely already thought through the implications of being both the young son who is welcomed home, and the obedient elder son who is resentful of the father's welcome to his younger brother. These are certainly wonderful things to ponder, but Henri is far from the first to explore them; so that section of the book is a bit laborious. However, if you have never really thought a lot about the story of the prodigal son, the beginning and middle sections of the book should prove quite interesting. However, what I found very insightful and compelling in this book was the way Henri explored how we are to become like the father. It is a powerful exhortation to accept our homecoming as the younger son, but also to become welcomers ourselves. This book may not hold your attention as well as many of Nouwen's other books, but in the end, it's worth your time.

A wonderful book; a simple but profound message
What an incredible book. What a simple message, deeply explored and wonderfully exposited.

Henri Nouwen is a master of reflection, study, self-knowledge, and of writing beautiful, profound books. This book is amazing, perhaps life-changing. It has spoken to me in profound and deep ways, and I am deeply thankful for it.

Nouwen's main message, I think, is the unconditional, unfailing, all-surpassing love of the Father, this love that meets all needs easily. He puts himself in the place of the younger son, the older son, and the father, and considers this love - and the things that keep us from fully experiencing it - in all of these places, places that ring universal.

The media of realization here is the parable of course, but also Rembrandt's painting, Return of the Prodigal Son. It is profoundly helpful, fun, and provoking to consider this representation of the story and let it work spiritually in us, as it has in Father Henri. This book has more than opened my heart to the love of my Father, it has given me a new love for art, and a side education on Rembrandt and one of his most famous paintings.

In short, this is another truly rare, truly wonderful book from a modern mystic. Nouwen will be remembered, I hope, alongside Augustine, Lewis, and others I have yet to discover but now believe exist.

A sample:

"Home is the center of my being where I can hear the voice that says: "You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests"-the same voice that gave life to the first Adam and spoke to Jesus, the second Adam; the same voice that speaks to all children of God and sets them free to live in the midst of a dark world while remaining in the light. I have heard that voice. It has spoken to me in the past and continues to speak to me now. It is the never-interrupted voice of love speaking from eternity and giving life and love whenever it is heard. When I hear that voice, I know that I am home with God and have nothing to fear. As the Beloved of my heavenly Father, "I can walk in the valley of darkness: no evil would I fear." As the Beloved, I can confront, console, admonish, and encourage without fear of rejection or need for affirmation. As the Beloved, I can be tortured and killed without ever having to doubt that the love that is given to me is stronger than death. As the Beloved, I am free to live and give life, free also to die while giving life."

If you'd like to discuss this book with me, or recommend others, or just chat, e-mail me at williekrischke@hotmail.com. I'd love to talk with you.

Grace for Prodigals and Other Sinners
The Lord God has broadened my horizons in recent years, causing me to read works by authors I'd previously have dismissed. Henri Nouwen, much to my amazement, has become one of my spiritual mentors. In this little gem, Henri offers meditations on a very familiar (perhaps too familiar) parable. Countering the strong tendency to focus almost entirely on the prodigal, he also gives touching insights into the responses of the Father and of the oft-overlooked, prideful older brother. Any of us could find ourselves reflected on one of the three!
The Return of the Prodigal Son is written with Nouwen's characteristic sensitivity and willingness to allow his own doubts and fears to be examined. Having read it, I found that I better understood the incredible grace of the God who could receive a prodigal such as me and I've been better able to deal with the arrogance of those "older brothers" whose gracelessness and legalism have often caused me increased pain in the midst of life's trials.
Far from being a "brick" as another reviewer avers, this book is a balm, a soothing and healing medicine gently applied by one who has felt the same wounds. My list of books that have had a major influence on my life has grown beyond the possibility of a "top ten" now, so I'll just say this one is easily in the top twenty. I highly recommend The Return of the Prodigal Son for Prodigals and other sinners who need a touch of God's forgiving, receptive grace.

The Father Judgeth No Man-John 5:22
Someone from my church recommended this book to me, and it's another book that will be an eternal, spring cleaning survivor in my house! I read this book several years ago.

At first, I was skeptical of the book's content. How, I thought, could an entire book be written upon a short, but well-known parable of Jesus and a painting of Rembrandt's? What else could I learn about this parable that I hadn't learned already? No telling how many sermons or sunday school lessons I've heard in my lifetime on this parable.

It's really a beautiful book. Hang in there; I had a hard time at first getting interested in it. I loved his analyses of each of the three characters in the painting and parable, the father, elder son, and prodigal son. There is something in all of us resembling the character of the two sons, which is usually the take home message from Sunday service. For me, the take home message from Nouwen's book, which was novel to me, was his understanding of the father, whose character is synonymous with God the Father, and how God wants us to model that character in our own lives. Nouwen's analysis is really beautiful; believe me the book is a keeper.

Best Religious Book Read Yet
This book was recommended by our priest. It was easy to read, and not terribly long. It told a beautiful story and gave several new dimensions to one of the most told (and I would now say least understood) parables. ... Read more

Book Description

Illustrated with over 300 photos, Art in the Elementary School, Fifth Edition, provides prospective elementary school teachers and art teachers with a thorough knowledge of art curriculum, production, and appreciation. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Getting "Real" With Art and Kids
For those working in the schools and who value the joyful impact of art with children, this book has it all!It is a power-packed manual for professional teachers, aides and anyone needing more guidance to open the creative doors for themsleves and children. You will find the source's guides in the back of the book worth the price alone.The clarity in the text is especially to be appreciated; no "gobbeldy-gook and no nonsense" here! The presentation of ways to incorporate art into total curriculum is one to open our eyes and to value its potential for carrying any other subject matter.Full of ideas for projects with morsels of philosophy about the arts tucked in, it allows teachers to open their own minds and rid themselves of their own "art blocks." I would say no teacher should be without this book. Good for you Marlene Gharbo Linderman! At last a book for us all who love and cherish art in schools. ... Read more

Book Description

This book includes some 100 of the artist's paintings - the first step in the unique Rizzi 3D print - making process.A large percentage of these paintings have been produced especially for this volume, as has the jacket design, and some of these images may become the three dimensional limited edition Rizzi prints of the future.All Rizzi's intricate, light - hearted, and comical works reflect the artist's overwhelming enthusiasm and zest for life, and make it impossible to suppress a smile. ... Read more

Book Description

•The hands-on sourcebook for creating or restoring a stylish bathroom in the Arts & Crafts spirit.

In this sequel to the best-selling Bungalow Kitchens, Jane Powell and Linda Svendsen turn to the second most complex room in the house. As reflected in these pages, the bathroom can—and should—be a beautiful extension of the home style—and what better examples than those from the Arts & Crafts era.

Though it may seem a self-evident feature of the Arts & Crafts style, bungalow bathrooms are truly artistic endeavors. They go beyond the traditional pedestal sink and claw-foot tub to some of the most beautiful tile work, woodwork, fixtures, and decorative elements available. Bungalow Bathrooms is a guide to restoring or designing a period-style bathroom for a bungalow or other early-twentieth-century house. It provides a wealth of information about flooring, cabinets, countertops, fixtures, faucets, and all the other elements that make up a bungalow bathroom, as well as advice on how to integrate modern technology while maintaining the bungalow look.

Jane Powell, the author of Bungalow Kitchens, is the proprietor of House Dressing, a business dedicated to renovating and preserving old homes, particularly bungalows. She is the former president of the historic preservation organization in her hometown of Oakland, California.

Linda Svendsen, a graduate of Music and Art High School and Parsons School of Design in New York, specializes in architectural interior and exterior photography. Her work has been seen most recently in Camps and Cottages, Bungalow Kitchens, Old House Journal, Old House Interiors, Victorian Decorating, and Lifestyles Magazine. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Bungalow Bathrooms is BOSS!
If you are even thinking about restoring the bathroom(s) in a pre-1940 house, this book is a "must have" for you. Jane Powell put everything you would ever want to know in there. This lady knows so much about antique bathroom fixtures it's SCARY! Written with a touch of humor reflecting this most personal of rooms. Just a hint of sexual innuendo mixed in with illustrated and narrative factual detail. Everything is included from hundreds of great photographs of period fittings and fixtures, floors and walls, to detailed text describing the nuances and subtleties of such things as tile, windows and doors, lighting, Fuller-ball faucets, bathtub restoration, angle stops, plumbing code issues, wash-down, wash-out and syphon-jet toilets featuring lions and dolphins, and much, much more. There is the most complete listing of resources for everything you need for a period bathroom restoration at the back of the book as well. As in Bungalow Kitchens, the camera work was handled by Linda Svendsen and it is Super too! In summary.......GET THIS BOOK!!

Must Have if you are doing a bungalow renovation!!!
I am doing a bungalow renovation, serving as the designer and general contractor ALTHO I have no experience in either area. I was all done, so I thought, but during the process made the decision not to replace the circa 1995 vinyl squares floor because I couldnt fine anything better. Voila! The room was all done, but - the floor looked totally yuck/wrong because rest of the room was in beautiful new correct bungalow style . I turned to this book for inspiration- and studied all the pictures- evening after evening. The right answer came! light grey 4" hex tiles! I am so thrilled even tho some of the work had to be redone... the floor pulled everything together.. like a little exclamation point. "BUNGALOW BATHROOMS" saves the day!

A must for those restoring or remodeling a bungalow bathroom
This book is a wealth of information for anyone restoring or remodeling a bungalow bathroom! All the information I have been searching for is right here in one book. We demolished a BAD 70's remodel, and are in the process of restoring our bath to it's original (1926) condition. This book covers it all beautifully!
Especially helpful are the sections labeled 'Obsessive restoration' and 'Compromise solution'. These give you choices on how historically accurate you would like to be. These sections have kept my husband and I out of marriage counseling!
I would highly recommend this book. I liked this book so much I want to get the others available from these authors.

How did that bathroom REALLY look? Read on.
A valuable resource for anyone considering options for the period restoration of a bathroom. We fell in love with this book as we've tried to solve our own first floor bathroom dilemma. From tile to wainscoting to fixtures to lighting to colors to ideas on decoration, this book is PACKED with great photos, an unsurpassed section on history, and guidelines for both the average and "obsessive" restorationist. The best thing about the book is imagining what it will be like to actually have an (attractive) working bathroom some day!!

Yes, this book is about how to _live_ with old stuff...
... and that's what makes it so wonderful. If you're considering re-doing a bathroom in a 19th or early 20th century house---whether you'll be restoring an original room or destroying a 70's "renovation"---you need this book.

The author has a comprehensive awareness of both the stylistic and the practical issues involved. She also has a sense of humor about it all.

I was particularly impressed by the pictures. Several of the historical rooms are studied in careful detail, wth closeups of many features---not just the major plumbing fixtures. Also, all the photos were taken specifically for this book; so many bathroom-advice books feature mostly manufacturer-supplied photos that bear little relation to the text. ... Read more

Book Description

Whether a marketing campaign or a museum exhibit, a video game or a complex control system, the design we see is the culmination of many concepts and practices brought together from a variety of disciplines. Because no one can be an expert on everything, designers have always had to scramble to find the information and know-how required to make a design work until now.

Universal Principles of Design is the first comprehensive, cross-disciplinary encyclopedia of design. Richly illustrated and easy to navigate, it pairs clear explanations of every design concept with visual examples of the concepts applied in practice. From the "80/20 rule to chunking, from baby-face bias to Ockham's razor, and from self-similarity to storytelling, every major design concept is defined and illustrated for readers to expand their knowledge.

This landmark reference will become the standard for designers, engineers, architects, and students who seek to broaden and improve their design expertise. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A must have for every serious designer
---"The best designers sometimes disregard the principles of design. When they do so, however, there is usually some compensating merit attained at the cost of the violation. Unless you are certain of doing as well, it is best to abide by the principles" from the Introduction.--- Really a cross reference whether you are designing for screen, print or industry, to tune and power up your designs. Simple 100 design principles laid and explained clearly by example. You will be amazed how instantly it works out. But if you are looking for an inspiration look for other items like "Big Book of Design Ideas"

Better for the Coffee Table than the Design Desk
Much of Universal Principles of Design lacks depth. The reason for this is that the text needed more colloboration than it appears to have asorbed. For something that aspires to be a sort of objective compendium, the topics (and particularly the examples used) are grounded firmly within the author's sphere of knowledge. I correctly guessed both where the authors lived as well as their occupations long before I had finished reading merely because they use so many examples from Houston and software. Unfortunately, this lack of research and colloboration outside of the two authors and their own knowledge creates a shallow, uninformed book.

Universal Principles of Design is far less academic and objective than it proports. For example, if I had based one of my principles on an example I would have researched it beyond merely using internet heresay (DVORAK v. QWERTY, for example). That's not to say it isn't enjoyable, as the text itself is neat, modernist, clean and is, at times, interesting and informative. However, Universal Principles of Design lacks the academic depth needed for usability and never extends beyond introductions and formalities. The book is something that aspires to belong more on the coffee table as a chic relic of interest in design than as a usable, practical text to earmark, underline in, and really utilize as a day to day guidebook.

Exceptional
Wonderful resource, well-written and attractively designed. I can't imagine any designer in any field not finding this invaluable. Ideal for any experience level as well. Hopefully this will become a standard book.

A dictonary of design guidelines
This is one of the best books I've seen lately, combining theory from usability, perception and design. The book consists of small explanatory texts on the left pages, with examples on the right. The chapters of the book are in an alphabetical order; this means for instance that principles from the Gestalt Psychology are devided over different chapters (closure, constancy, good continuation etc.) However, on the bottom of every page is a 'hyperlink' to related chapters. To categorize the chapters the book has a categorical table of contents, with categories like perception, learnability, usability, appeal and design decisions. Students from technical courses, to whom I showed the book, immediately liked it.

Concise and Complete
This is the **most essential design book** I've had the pleasure of learning from. If there was only one book I could only recommend to design students or for client education, this would be it! The organization of the book follows it's own principles, the content is specific and accurate, and it cites and gives credit where due (also promoting deeper study of a subject/concept). I truly value it because of the quality summaries of design principles I've learned elsewhere consolidated into one book. The ONLY thing I would change about the book is to use a Serif typeface on the body texts for better readability.
Excellent writing, excellent topical content, and excellent diagrams and examples.

My compliments to the authors, as well as Rockport (whose books I usually despise for lacking substance despite their nice graphics). ... Read more

Book Description

George Omura, the all-time best-selling AutoCAD author popular for his personable and cogent style, has just updated his book for the latest releases of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. For the first time, he is combining meticulous coverage of both Autodesk products in one volume. This new version of the de facto industry-standard for AutoCAD books, is ideal for all levels of users. It leads novices through their first drawing; shows intermediate users how to work with attributes, external databases, modeling and imaging; and introduces advanced users to rendering and animating 3D drawings, customizing, and VBA. The CD offers files for all the drawing exercises in the book, plus general-purpose utilities for better productivity with AutoCAD including symbols libraries and demos. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Everything I hoped it would be
I've been an Autocad user for 9 years going back to version 12. I've used every version since. Let me state right off the bat, whether you're a beginner or a very experienced cad user, BUY THIS BOOK. This book will give you a solid foundation for every area of Autocad. The book is structured from beginner to expert and includes 4 appendixes.

For the beginner (I read the beginner chaps just for fun and to see what's new in 2004) excellent walk-thru exercises with great pictures and easy to understand instructions should have you drawing in no time as well as building your confidence with each chapter.

For the more experienced user who wants to delve in to the 3d features and customization capabilities of Autocad (ex. database integration, VBA, Lisp, Web dev, sys vars, etc.), excellent coverage including walk-thru's of these areas will provide you with the solid foundation to do whatever you want. I was particularly impressed with the coverage of the 3d environment as Omura devotes 4 chapters to this topic with each one being a must read.

The inclusion of good screen shots throughout the book allows you to read and understand while away from the computer.

Very satisfied with the purchase of this book!!

Omura's Books
I love Omura's books about AutoCAD.I have all the versions from AutoCAD13 to AutoCAD2004, it is wonderful, easy to read to Understood to deal with, since I am an architeact& a lecturer in University, I this book very helpful in my work& teching.
Thank you
Arqem

One page is worth the price of the book
Page 963 alone is worth the price of the book if you are an advanced user. I learned how to set up all my blocks into a custom tool palette. Tool palettes are a new feature in 2004.
I started at chapter one, and learned about features I have overlooked although I've been using AutoCAD since version 10.
I can't praise Mr Omura enough, he even gives his e:mail address and invites suggestions for improvements. There isn't a better book on the market for new users of AutoCAD, or experienced users either. The writing style and exercises are so easy to follow. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Gardens are unique creations, reflecting not only the landscape, flora, and climate of their environments but also the heritage-the history, architectural styles, and influences-of the cultures that made them. From the fountain gardens of the Iranian desert to the whimsical "Garden of Cosmic Speculation" in Scotland, from the Zen gardens of Buddhist temples to the Impressionist gardens in Giverny, the huge variety of gardens around the globe is a testament to our age-old desire to tame and refashion nature.

In The Most Beautiful Gardens in the World photographer Alain Le Toquin celebrates the diversity of these manmade landscapes, capturing 31 of the greatest public and private gardens on five continents, including Majorelle in Morocco, the Versailles gardens outside Paris, the Keukenhof flower show park in The Netherlands, and the Huntington Gardens in California. With more than 150 images and 12 gatefolds featuring spectacular panoramic photographs, this gorgeous book will captivate travelers and garden admirers alike, and will inspire gardeners themselves with fresh ideas for design, horticulture, and use. AUTHOR BIO: Alain Le Toquin, a former specialist in ornithology and animal ecology at the Natural History Museum in Paris, has been a photographer specializing in both culture and nature for more than 20 years. Jacques Bosser, a writer and translator for design and photography books, was a contributor to Abrams' The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World. Michel Baridon leads a history and research group for the French National Council of Parks and Gardens. He has published several books on gardens. ... Read more

Book Description

This text provides your students with the powerful combination of exceptional skills development backed by a unique attention to the research and theory of today's most prominent communication scholars. Your students will be continually engaged while finding everything they need to strengthen their public speaking, group, and interpersonal skills-and enrich their appreciation of communication's constant value to their lives. With wonderfully integrated attention to diversity, a narrative tone, and the most integrated and current technology package available, your students are sure to understand human communication. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good 1st Yr. Speech Book
I had to have this book for my first year college speech class. It was interesting to read, but I wish that I didn't have to actually read so much of the book to get the meanings. Part of that is not knowing HOW to read a college text book.

Being a Media & Public Communications major, and I can see how this book is really useful for incoming freshman. Most have only given speeches in high school and need to develop the skills for giving good speeches and presentations in college and beyond.

This book really lays out the process for speeches and your behavior. What kind of non-verbal cues are you sending? There is also a pseudo-outline (you actually have to pick out the details from the reading) for laying out a speech.

wrong item sent
I received a book that I didn't even order. The one I ordered is yellow and white ( 3th edition). THis isn't the one I ordered; therefore, I need a refund.I sent the book back and I know the seller received it on 8/19.

Very interesting!
This book makes comminication fun and interesting. I am using this book for a speech class, but I find that it is an interesting read outside of school. The writing is very clear and examples pertain to every day life. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sexy, modern, and unabashedly consumer-oriented, Art Deco was a new kind of style, flourishing at a time of rapid technological change and social upheaval. Lacking the philosophical basis of other European design movements, Deco borrowed motifs from numerous sources--Japan, Africa, ancient Egyptian and Mayan cultures, avant-garde European art--simply to create novel visual effects. Art Deco 1910-1939 surveys the sources and development of the popular style with more than 400 color illustrations and 40 chapters by numerous design specialists. The authors track Deco around the globe, from Paris to the United States—-where it got its biggest boost from mass production—-to Northern and Central Europe, Latin America, Japan, India, and New Zealand. The book's broad focus encompasses industrial artifacts (the Hindenburg blimp, the Burlington Zephyr locomotive), as well as architecture, furniture, accessories, fashion, jewelry, typography and poster design. Despite the existence of other prominent artistic movements during the 1920s and '30s, the authors tend to hang the Deco label on virtually any object that portrays the effects of technology or employs color, luxury materials or artificial light in striking ways. It does seem a stretch to include Man Ray's photographs, Sonia Delaunay's textiles and the movie King Kong in the Deco pantheon. But the great strength of Art Deco 1910-1939 is that it reveals the social context of Deco, not just its pretty face. The book accompanies an exhibition (organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London) at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto through January 4, 2004; subsequent venues are San Francisco and Boston. —Cathy Curtis ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The greatest book on Art Deco!
This book is an absolute triumph. First, it is positively gorgeous - the images just leap off the pages. Second, the essays are more in-depth, engaging, and informative than any other book I've found on the subject. This book discusses every facet of Art Deco as well: it explores the origins at the Paris Exhibition in 1925, goes through the influence in East Asia, Latin America, and South Africa, not to mention Europe. A great chapter on Deco in Hollywood; also explores all of the sources, iconography - and all of this on top of covering every aspect of the movement - ceramics, jewelry, fashion, architecture, glass, photography, graphic design, bookbindings, travel and transport, and so so much more - with stunning visuals. A fantastic read, a great resource, a beautiful work, and an absolute MUST for anyone interested in the subject! Well worth the money, and a fantastic addition to any library. Highly recommended!

The first and last word on Deco.
A sumptuous coffee-table book of this exuberant art style and I think it could well become the standard book on the subject. The forty essays are divided into four sections, Sources and Iconography, 1925 Paris Exhibition, Spread of Deco and finally Deco World, and I liked the way, especially in Sources and Iconography, that the authors explain how various art styles were moulded into deco art which culminated in the very influential 1925 Paris show.

I thought the last two sections were a fascinating coverage of how Art Deco spread around the world, mainly as architecture and fashion, though in Europe also as a fine art style. In North America, it influenced a huge range of commercial products. Perhaps this was the only art form that was truly democratic in that it was available (as streamlining) to be seen or bought on any Main Street across the Nation.

The design and printing are excellent. Many of the photos, especially color, are presented whole page, the rest are all well sized, and they all have captions. The back of the book has a very comprehensive bibliography, fortunately listed as relating to each chapter rather than just an alphabetical list, the index is divided into two, Names and Subject. I was very impressed with this attention to detail and with the excellent text, images and production surely 'Art Deco 1910-1939' will be read for many years to come. ... Read more

Book Description

"Male Desire entertains, stimulates, seduces, enlightens: it is the perfect art history course, slide after delicious slide, with piquant, smart commentary." -Wayne Koestenbaum

Examining the history of homoeroticism in American art, Male Desire surveys how the male body has been portrayed for the last century and a half. From the academic-style paintings of Thomas Eakins in the 19th century to Félix González-Torres's conceptual works in the "age of AIDS," this fascinating book by the well-known art historian Jonathan Weinberg highlights specific artists while illuminating the artistic and cultural contexts in which they worked.

Accompanying Weinberg's engaging text are 170 compelling images of the male physique by such artists as George Bellows, Marsden Hartley, Paul Cadmus, Andy Warhol, and Robert Mapplethorpe, works that address the theme of the homoerotic in vivid and often contentious ways. While they range widely in style and content, these artworks all share a quality of excess in the way they represent the male figure. Sexy, beautiful, edgy, and thought provoking, this important book is a must-have for every art-book collection, as well as the library of every gay man.

AUTHOR BIO: Jonathan Weinberg, Ph.D., is a painter and art historian. He is a recipient of a 2002 Guggenheim Fellowship and is currently a fellow of the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts. His paintings are in many important collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Weinberg lives in Connecticut. ... Read more

Book Description