Reviews (7)

A beautiful book about my favorite house
I really enjoyed FALLINGWATER: A FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT COUNTRY HOUSE. These are stunning photographs of a stunning masterpiece of a house. It's such a tranquil and organic work of architecture.

I am not an architect. Therefore, I didn't pay much attention to the text, but focused on photographs. I especially enjoyed the aerial shots of Fallingwater because it gives some perspective of how isolated this treasure is.

AWESOME!...
Fallingwater, in and of itself, is a name that commands awe and respect. This book epitomizes that notion.

Simply, this is it. This is the be all, end all of texts on this masterpiece by the late F.L.W.

I have been an admirer of F.L.W. since I was in the fifth grade, and had to do a report on earthquakes and buildings. Living in S.F., I guess this was a hot topic. But, in a showing (foreshadowing?) of extremely good taste---if I do say so myself, I chose F.L.W. and the TransAmerica building. For those of you out of the loop, that's the "pyramid" building you see when looking at (virtually every) snapshot(s) of the S.F. skyline. I hadn't yet discovered Fallingwater, but I would eventually be shown the way...

This is such an incredibly beautiful house. Honestly, I could not imagine the blessing of owning that house and living there. This text, however, sets it all out.

EXCELLENT photos, both inside and out....in different seasons as well.

VERY GOOD text and dialogue. Provides a great understanding of the dream, planning, undertaking, and completion of this masterpiece.

This is an incredibly text. I cannot urge you enough to purchase this one. In short, your collection is not complete without it.

Open this book, and dream....

A great book on a Great Building
What first draws one to this book is the wonderful new photographs presented. This is also what I keep going back to see after reading the text. The perspective of many of the downstream shots is not exaggerated as are the older black and white ones taken in the 1930's although when I visited the house I was unable to get the same view or position. They must have been taken with a special camera. I appreciate the helicopter photos as it really shows the site, a deep ravine. The house always seemed to be up on a promontory but is set deep into the forest. The lighting on the interior is a little misleading when the shadows and light direction are altered. These photos overall are the most naturalistic that I have seen and to see all the seasons represented makes me want to goback for the others. It looks as if the insect screens were removed for most of the photos which gave the house a cleaner, more modern appearance than in person. I only wish the breaker pages, the ones with the large green background, were larger although I believe I have seen the winter view on a recent calendar by the same photographer, Heinz, great work on his part. I always wish there were more books like this on great American buildings, especially on the photogenic ones by Wright.

Nice pictures; cute anecdotes; poor analysis; no criticism
I received the book as a gift, then visited Fallingwater, then re-read the book. It's not very good. The pictures are nice, but redundant and not comprehensive. Examples: no pictures of second floor guest room and bath, too many pictures of E.J. Kauffman's "dressing room." Mr. Kauffman, Jr., fondly (and, I would hope, accurately) recollects the brief history, but supplies very little analysis and absolutely no criticism, which is sorely lacking. No book published does justice to the antagonistic surfaces and cave-like interior spaces of the house, nor the terribly confusing bouquet of stairwells springing from the main floor. Nor does the author provide the context supporting the true genius of Wright's three-dimensional composition in the post-cubist age of international style and international turmoil. Lastly, why does the only author who has lived there fail to mention that the house rings with the crashing of the water? It literally sounds like the proverbial "machine for living."

Stunning - blows other Fallingwater books away!
This is a classic coffe table book that will endure for decades. It is chock full of color photographs, drawings, layouts and stories from the owner's son. The author was a pupil of Frank Lloyd Wright, his father commissioned several works from the famous man. The book is not about FLW; it does not discuss his other work, or even his contribution to architecture. Yet, it does tell stories. Stories about the house, the building, the site, the construction, the arguements, the leaks, and the repairs. It is a story of archeciture that is organic - one that is growing; one that grows on you.

This is a category killer of a book. It knocks other Fallingwater books out of the ring. It is large and beautifully photgraphed. It is simply and honestly written. And well it does not tell of FLW, those facts are readily available elsewhere.

This is a treasure of a find. A real keeper. One that you can look at again and again ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Hearth and home
"Frank Lloyd Wright's Fireplaces," by Carla Lind, explores one particular facet of the work of this great architect. This book is part of a series of "mini-books" devoted to Wright. But despite the book's small scale (5.25 by 5.25 inches, 57 pages), Lind has packed in a wealth of words and images.

The book contains Lind's insightful text, as well as a wealth of illuminating sidebar quotes from Wright and others. There are many detailed, full-color photographs of stunning fireplaces. There is even a delightful historic black-and-white photo of Wright himself playing the piano near one of his fireplaces.

Houses represented in the book include the Hollyhock house, the Hanna house, Fallingwater, and many others. Each fireplace is a beautiful work of art which seems like an organic, integral part of the home. This book will surely delight fans of Wright, and of home design in general. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Frank Lloyd Wright's Imperial Hotel(DoverBooks on Architectu
This book is about the Imperial hotel built by Frank Lloyd Wright in Tokyo during the Meiji era. It has been quite famous after the Kanto Big Earthquake in 1923 because it was not collapsed by the earthquake. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

The Darwin D. Martin House in Buffalo, New York, is one of Frank Lloyd Wright's earliest and most important masterpieces. Built in the prairie style, this large residential complex was designed, landscaped, and extensively furnished by the architect. The history of its creation, recorded in over 400 letters exchanged between Wright and Martin, forms a fascinating biography not only of the house but of its architect and client.In this detailed account of the Martin House commission, Quinan mines the Wright-Martin correspondence, along with the physical artifacts and architectural remains of the house, which is currently under restoration, to investigate Wright's often-made claim that his buildings "portray" their clients. The author presents an account of one of Wright's greatest works of "architecture as portraiture" that lends new insight into the ambitions and working methods of this much-studied architect. Frank Lloyd Wright aficionados will join architects, preservationists, and fans of biography in appreciating the fresh perspective Quinan brings to our understanding of this great American architect and this exceptional house. ... Read more

Book Description

This legendary architect's vision wasn't limited to mere structures. Many of Frank Lloyd Wright's "organic" home furnishings have become bona fide classics, as well-known as the buildings for which he designed them. This stunningly illustrated survey of Wright's stylish interiors delivers an up-close look at his designs in furniture, fittings, ornamentation, lighting, art glass, fabric patterns, carpets, and even crockery. Informative text and fantastic color photography document the revolutionary methods, techniques, and materials with which the visionary 20th-century architect transformed the indoor spaces of domestic, public, and religious buildings ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Mr. Wright's vision lives on in Taliesin Architects
I had no idea of the quantity and quality of the work that has been and is still being brought forth by the Taliesin Architects! Projects that were not realized in Mr. Wright's time have been brought forth lovingly and true to his vision of "organic" architecture. Not to mention the breathtaking original homes, churches, auditoriums, nursing homes, banks, hotels, mobile homes (YES!) and other moderate cost housing. Not copies of the works of their inspiring teacher, Mr. Wright would not have that! They have found their own way of "organic" architecture that would make Mr. Wright proud!

The Wrong Stuff
John Rattenbury's 'A Living Architecture: Frank Lloyd Wright and
Taliesin Architects' is the kind of 'coffee table' book that gives the
concept of the coffee table book a bad name. The publisher's
advertising blurb seems to promise an intelligent and inclusive
examination of Wright's Taliesin Fellowship, founded in 1932. Instead
we get a brief mention of only 3 of the many apprentices who studied
at the architect's elbow, and little else regarding an in-depth
history of the movement. The blurb goes on to promise a substantial
survey of the designs of the fellowship's numerous graduates since
Wright's death, again to concentrate instead on the work, much of it
mediocre indeed, of only a few, the author himself getting the lion
share of the mention. Rattenbury also spends some considerable length
in a rehashing of Wright's definition of organic architecture, a
definition that can be found in dozens of published tracts by Wright
himself, all available for far less cost than this tome demands. The
definition presented is general, simplistic, often derivative, and
offers nothing fresh to the veteran admirer of Wright; while someone
coming new to that great architect would be far better served to
expose himself to Wright through far better - and far less expensive -
introductory works such as those by Scully or Hitchcock or Twombly. As
a former apprentice and now teacher for Taliesin Architects,
Rattenbury limits himself to mainly uncritical press agentry for that
group, in a format almost totally devoid of depth or
scholarship. Strongly not recommended for anyone but the most satiated
Wright fan looking for yet another expensive, 'skin deep' presentation
trading on Wright's name and glory.
... Read more

Book Description

After nearly one hundred years, both the Arts and Crafts movement and the man most closely associated with it-Frank Lloyd Wright-continue to enjoy extraordinary popularity. Created and championed by Wright and his colleagues, the Prairie Style is firmly rooted in the domestic architecture of the American Midwest, and its influence has spread throughout the country and the world. This elegant, profusely illustrated book captures the enduring spirit of Prairie Style, celebrating its indelible contribution to the closing century.

Prairie Style opens the doors to 24 homes, ushering readers into beautifully restored and creatively furnished spaces that radiate the warmth so closely associated with Wright and the Prairie School of architects. More than 200 full-color photographs offer full room views as well as close-ups of remarkable furniture and decorative objects. In keeping with Wright's devotion to natural settings, exteriors and gardens are also pictured, placing each house in the context of its environment. These sheltering houses-low and rambling with refreshingly open interiors-inspired generations of houses to come, and changed the shape of suburban America. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Pulskamp
This book does have a very nice blend of photographs and reproductions of sketches and interior / exterior images, but I was not impressed with the cross over into other architect's work that, in my humble opinion, do not come close to approaching FLW's ability. Overall it is a good resource, but hardly a definitive study on Wright and his structures.

Great Interiors
This book varies from most books on Wright and the prairie style architects in its extensive use of interior photos. Many of the prairie homes are somewhat unremarkable from the outside, while inside they have a distict beauty and grace. "Prairie Style" beautifully portrays the interior as well as the exterior of homes by Wright, his students, and contemporaries.

Nice pictures, no floor plans...
This book covers more than just Wright. It also gives you some insight to others that came out of the Prairie School and others that were redefining the American style near the turn of the century. The book has wonderful pictures, but as an architect, I wish it had floor plans so I could more easily understand how the spaces worked together. It's still a nice addition to my library.

Timeless Design
The great thing about the Prairie Style is that elements of it can fit into so many different other types of designs and times. Even though I have a very modern, contemporary home, I got plenty of ideas from this beautiful book. Contains loads of beautiful pictures of home interiors by Wright & his followers. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

True Wright Scholar
This book is an edited version of the FLW Companion by the same author. Lacks the floor plans, some of the text, but adds color pictures. This man knows all the architect's works intimately, and he finds something interesting to say about each one. You may find some of the entries insignificant, like a design for an exibition or a remodeling for a shop. Spends much of each house's description on the arrangement of rooms, which is difficult to follow without the diagram that was meant to go with it. Even so, it's probably the best choice for the average reader; anyone desperate for the plans can get the other version through his local library.

Finally !! After many months the 3rd edition is now here -
This book is just what it says it is, A complete catalog of the
works of Frank Lloyd Wright built during his life time. The text for each structure, in most cases was taken from Mr. Storrer's book The FLW Companion except where new data has been added since the original publication. Each site is illustrated with a photo. Even lost or demolished works, and most are in color. In many cases new or additional photos are included. For me, the main benefit of this book is the Field Guide Maps section at the end. As clearly stated in the text the scale of the maps is compressed for ease of display, BUT the actual site locations is
so accurately shown that you can determine which side of the street the structure is on and if visable from public property.

Why "out-of-print" and when it will be back
The reproduction quality provided by MIT Press was substandard. A new edition, with color of the extant work, is in the works for Spring 2001 publication. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wright is an Architectual Genius.
In this book, Wright expounds upon his innovative and groundbreaking ideas about architecture - specifically, that architecture should be organic in nature. Spanning his entire career, including blueprints and sketches for buildings never constructed, In the Realm of Ideas give anyone with even a passing interest in architecture the grounds to understand the architectural revolution that occurred in the early part of the 20th century. Wright was an integral part of that revolution; he stood at the center. In the Realm of Ideas provides his thoughts and reflections on the nature of architecture, something we all should consider in today's world of chrome and glass buildings that jab at the sky and crowd the center of our cities. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Of interest but ultimately unsatisfying
My objectives in reading and collecting books about domestic architecture generally focus on gathering information about how I might approach the design of the internal and external details for use in my own (dream) home.

Frank Lloyd Wright is a constant source of inspiration in my endeavours as he designed and built many wonderful houses... and one of his most famous works is the subject of this book.

My initial impressions of this book were good, although I was probably taken-in by the wonderful photo on the cover of the book more than anything else. Upon having a quick flip through the book, I found there were some lovely photos of the house and it's surrounds and there was some mention made of how the house was created to suit its environment and how it was an example of Frank Lloyd Wright's "Organic Architecture".

However, upon a detailed reading of the book, although I found a few more interesting photos and some thought-provoking philosophical quotations, the detail was practically non-existent and the book was ultimately unsatisfying. No mention was made of what sort of thinking went behind the design of the house and why things were done the way they were... and there weren't even any significant diagrams or floor plans of the house included, except for a simple site layout on the last page of the book, which looked like it was added more as an afterthought than as something that would be informative to the reader.

In short, although the book gives me about a dozen new photos of Fallingwater, it doesn't really add to my knowledge of Frank Lloyd Wright's design philosophies and, given the price of this book, I would suggest this book belongs on the corner of a coffee table, rather than in an amateur architect's reference bookshelf.

Beautiful Photographs!
My family went to see fallingwater, and all of my dad's film was ruined! I bought this book for him, and it serves as the perfect reminder of our trip. It includes gorgeous photographs, fitting quotes, a plan of fallingwater, and a bit of the history. If you're looking for tons of information, this is definitely NOT the book for you. But if you're looking for beautiful pictures and a precious keepsake, this is a wonderful book. ENJOY!

Gorgeous Photographs and Great Quotes to Show the Wright Way
Fallingwater is considered by many to be Frank Lloyd Wright's greatest home design, and by many others to be one of the very finest American homes ever built. Perched atop a waterfall in southwestern Pennsylvania in the Allegheny mountains, the site is visually stunning . . . and the home's organic connection to the site will astonish you.

Fallingwater was designed for the Edgar Kaufmann family of Pittsburgh to be a weekend retreat away from the bustle of city life. One of Frank Lloyd Wright's comments about homes is that they must be "integral to site; integral to environment; integral to the life of the inhabitants." Judged by that standard, you will agree, if you are like me, that Fallingwater is his best work. The Kaufmanns wanted to have a romantic experience in the house, and he certainly provided them with one. The siting allows a Southern exposure for almost all of the rooms, a view of the waterfall and/or woods, and the constant sound of the waterfall. The final design captures nicely his sense of Nature's dual character, "unrestrained . . . power in contrast to its subtler, ordered beauty." The material and colors are drawn from the area as much as possible, and in some views, the home seems like simply part of the rocks it is perched on.

The quotes are usually attached to specific photographs that catch the various views you see of Fallingwater from any ground position or perspective and the views from Fallingwater. They capture ideas from Wright and nonarchitectural thinkers as diverse as Thoreau and Ruskin.

The photographs are the best part of this book. Since you will probably not be one of the 160,000 visitors who come in most years, these images are the way you can know the home. Almost all are in color, and are nicely distributed throughout the four seasons. My only complaint is that the book's page size should have been larger to permit a stronger connection between the viewer and these remarkable scenes. If you are like me, you will hear the water as you commune with the images.

Through the essay and quotes, Fallingwater curator and administrator Lynda S. Waggoner does a marvelous job of using Fallingwater to also demonstrate the essential concepts of all Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture and interior design.

After you read and enjoy this book, think a little about where you live. How have you made nature more accessible? What else could you do to make your living there to be more relaxed and natural, and to balance the rest of your life?

Feel connected to all the life and natural objects around you . . . and be refreshed!

Excellent introduction to FLW
I have found that developing an interest in architecture is principly one of exposure to excellence. This book does that with a minimum of text(although very concise and informative) and a beautiful arrangement of photographs in a manageable size. The brief history of the family and Wright's involvement is excellent! Thank you Linda Waggoner. ... Read more

Book Description

This famous and important study offers a richly illustrated overview of Wright’s extraordinary early works: Unity Temple, Robie House, the Imperial Hotel and many more. Included are essays on Wright by Louis Sullivan, Lewis Mumford and other critics, as well as five essays by Wright himself. 136 photographs, 63 floor plans.
... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Wright house for the rest of us!
This is a beautiful short introduction to the late and often smaller houses built by Wright after 1935, appropriately published in a purse-size book (part of a series). While less well known than his Prairie houses, these Usonians are the houses that YOU and I could afford! (Well...the smallest gem, Goetsch--built for $7,137.23--just sold for c.$225,000.) You will see here the beginning of many cliches of "modern houses:" single storys, open plans, lots of glass, dinettes, carports, etc. Only, these look beautiful! Why? Some idea of the awesome power of integrated design, inside and out, even at a tiny scale, is given in the small pictures of rich color. No "interior decoration" for Wright! Carla Lind is an extraordinarily evocative writer on Wright, and distills deep aesthetic insights into a brief focused text. If you like the magic you see here, then be sure to get Sargeant's book (Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian Houses) to understand how these are designed and built (or seek Susan J. Bandes, Affordable Dreams. Kresge Art Museum Bulletin 6. Michigan State University. 1991). Enjoy. ... Read more

Book Description

Although Frank Lloyd Wright designed more than 1,000 projects during his long and prolific career, Auldbrass Plantation, in Yemassee, South Carolina, is the only plantation he ever designed. It is also one of the largest and most complex projects he ever undertook. Wright had an unusually intense commitment to Auldbrass, and worked on it, off and on, for more than twenty years, from 1938 until his death in 1959. Because Auldbrass was private and because it fell into disrepair in the 1960s after the owners' death, it was rarely photographed or studied, and as a consequence little has been known about this major work. Now, with the completed restoration and new photography, this book affords the first opportunity to see one of Wright's greatest works, as the master himself originally envisioned it. Through photos, plans, and drawings, we see what Wright planned, and how it has finally all been either restored or realized for the first time. In 1986, film producer Joel Silver (Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, 48 Hours, Predator, Romeo Must Die, The Matrix, and over forty other films) bought Auldbrass. He had earlier bought and meticulously restored Wright's famous 1923 Storer House in Hollywood. Now he has again collaborated with Wright's grandson, architect Eric Lloyd Wright, who restored the Storer House, to restore the Auldbrass Plantation.
... Read more

Reviews (2)

Magnificent Work
I have a huge collection of books by and about Frank Lloyd Wright. This goes right to the top of the list. The information is well presented and the photography is breathtaking. The photographic artistry matches Wright's vision. If you have any inclination toward Frank Lloyd Wright or architecture you will not be disappointed!!

Auldbrass book a great credit to all involved, must reading
I enjoyed reading this account of the design, construction and reconstruction of this project almost as much as my visits there. Prof. DeLong has presented a tremendous amount of information concerning this unusual Wright commission in a captivating way that left me unable to put the book down. It will surely be listed as one of my favorite books on Frank Lloyd Wright. The book tactfully represents the views of several owners of the property and places the design within the context of Wrights work as well as the history of architecture in general.
The photography in the book is superb! Recent photos of the completed sections of the estate give the reader the illusion of being at the property as many angles are shown in crisp well composed color views. Historical photos add to the understanding of this complex design. Historical drawings are reproduced but slightly too small to be completely understood. The text is well written although several typographical errors were noticed on my first reading.
In general this book is a great credit to all those involved in its development. Being involved in the restoration of a sizeable Wright designed estate near Buffalo, NY, I greatly appreciated the level of detail presented about how decisions were made about reconstruction and the complex process itself. This book will be a cornerstone in any complete library about Frank Lloyd Wright. Thank you Prof. DeLong! ... Read more

Book Description

What began as a simple letter--a mid-career architect's comments to a young writer--turned into a 32-year correspondence, by turns amusing, inflamed, and conciliatory.

Frank Lloyd Wright and Lewis Mumford, two pivotal figures in 20th-century American architecture and urbanism, were both passionate writers, keenly aware of world events. Their 150 letters from 1926--1958 covered a wide range of topics, including Wright's position in the history of American architecture and contemporary practice, their friends and rivals, the invention and spread of the International Style, and political events in Europe and the US.

A fallout over isolationist politics in the early 1940s led to a 10-year gap in their exchange, and when it resumed, the two were on an entirely different footing: Wright, the elder dean of American architecture at the height of his creative powers, and Mumford, an established critic in late middle age deeply committed to rebuilding a humanist outlook in the aftermath of World War II.

Frank Lloyd Wright & Lewis Mumford offers an intimate look inside the minds and hearts of these two cultural giants, deepening our understanding of the men and the society they helped shape. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

B&W elevations & plans of early houses 1st publ Germany 1910
A republication of the of the work first published by Wasmuth, Berlin, 1910. Plate headings are translated into English and there is a glossary of the German terms found in the ground plans. There is an essay by Wright, "Studies and Executed Buildings", written in Florence, Italy, 1910. These are the early houses and commercial buildings by Wright which even today remain modern and relevant; with the incorporation of up-to-date bathrooms, they would eclipse most of what is being designed today by leading architects. No color, and all line drawings, but you can spend hours studying the plans and admiring the elevation drawings. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

BEWARE - This book is physically tiny
I obviously did not have read the reviews close enough. This is
a tiny book with pictures so small that it's useless to me.

Wright+glass=beauty
"Frank Lloyd Wright's Glass Designs," by Carla Lind, is one of a series of "mini-books" devoted to the work of one of the world's greatest architects. This volume, which explores Wright's interest in glass, contains many praiseworthy features: Lind's concise yet informative text, a wealth of stunning full-color photographs, fascinating sidebar quotes from Wright and others, and a useful bibliography for further reading.

The plentiful photographs truly capture the genius of Frank Lloyd Wright. We can see his bold work with colored glass and geometric patterns in windows of many different shapes and sizes. It's marvelous to see how each glass creation complements the larger architectural space of which it is a part.

Houses represented in the book include the Darwin Martin house, the Schaberg house, the Roberts house, and many more. But my favorite photograph is a breathtaking two-page spread of the second Jacobs house. If you love Wright, if you love glass, or if you love the art of home design, you will certainly love this excellent little book.

Good things come in small packages
I ordered this book to get glass design ideas for my new house. It's tiny but worth its weight in gold. Sharp photographs (32/57 pp.) and minimal description provide just what I needed.

Wright at a Glance
Great coffee table book (despite its size). Lots of photos that give a quick oversight to the breadth of work by this architect/artist. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Reviews (4)

complete but black and white pictures
This is an historical books about this house but all the pictures are in B & W. And it's so sad for such a masterpiece of frank Lloyd Wright.

The Awful Problems of Turning Genius into Reality
This book is one of the best I have seen for describing in detail the challenges of creating one of America's architectural landmarks. Anyone who reads this book will be reminded of Thomas Edison's comment about genius being 99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration.

Fallingwater came as a commission after one of the longest dry spells of Frank Lloyd Wright's career. Despite having no work to do, no money, and few prospects, Mr. Wright dawdled with the project while trying to sell his client, Edgar Kaufmann, as many other projects as possible. Contemporary accounts suggest that Wright only began sketching something on paper when Mr. Kaufmann was about to arrive at Taliesin in Wisconsin, where Wright did his work.

Mr. Kaufman was not an easy client. He was the head of a major department store, and was used to getting his own way. Client and architect often clashed, with bent feelings on both sides. Independent "experts" got involved who also added to the controversy, mistakes, and misunderstandings. Mr. Kaufmann deserves credit, though, for sticking with Wright as the costs soared way above the original budget for this most unique house.

Interestingly, the two were brought together by Mr. Kaufmann's son who had come to study with Wright in Taliesin. The book contains a brief introduction by Edgar Kaufmann, Jr. who ultimately gave the home to a local nature conservancy.

Even without the challenges of the human relationships, Fallingwater was a most ambitious commission. In a remote part of the Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania, Fallingwater is sited on top of a waterfall. The potential for the water to undermine the house is enormous. Mr. Wright also wanted to keep as many of the original rocks and trees as possible. The site survey was often wrong, and the designs had to be adjusted to reflect the reality. The design also provided other unusual problems, and the first cantilever was built incorrectly due to changes made under Mr. Kaufmann's direction.

The book contains a wealth of maps, letters, summaries of interviews with those who worked on the project, drawings, plans, and photographs of the work in progress in black and white. This detail brings the challenges to life in a very real way.

The fascinating part of this book to me is that Fallingwater's final effects are the opposite of its creation. The home seems to float above the water, like a mirage. It seems to exude tranquility and peace. Yet, its every stage of movement toward becoming a reality was like a Sumo wrestling match with enormous heavyweight egos and ideas colliding at high speed and with little regard for the impact on the other fellow.

As much as I love Fallingwater, I love understanding more about how it was created even more. Anyone who wants to leave a mark of greatness behind should read this book.

After you finish thinking through the implications of Mr. Wright's vision and ways of implementing it, I suggest that you think about your own personal life and work. Where are you lacking in vision? Where are you lacking in the processes to implement worthwhile visions?

Turn your dreams into beautiful realities . . . for everyone!

History book on Fallingwater
Of all the books on Fallingwater, this is the best when you want to know about how the house came into being. I have 2 copies of the book, one that accompanies me on all my travelling, and one to keep in my library. I have at least read it 8 to 10 times, and already look forward to the next time. The black and white photography is quite good, although the book would even be better with some color takes. Hoffman did a great job researching on the subject, and reading the book, it occurs that this was no easy task to get everything in order, chronoligically.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater: The House & It's History
There are a number of books on Fallingwater, considered to be the most famous private residence next to the United States presidential White House. The book written by Donald Hoffman, with an introduction by Edgar Kaufman, Jr., son of the owner Edgar Kaufman, is informative with details about the history and geographic location of the house in Western Pennsylvania. The book includes preliminary drawings of the early phase of the project and letters written between Wright, Kaufman and the builder describing problems encountered during construction. Over one hundred photographs picture the construction and its exterior and interior detailing. ... Read more