Book Description
What are the unique characteristics that make a house Colonial or Craftsman, Modern or Deco, or any of the other approximately 20 styles of domestic architecture common in the United States? At a time of near-obsessive attention to home design and renovation, this compact, easily accessible guide-the only book of its kind with all color photography-makes the identification of house styles a breeze. Each style is described by author William Morgan, a Pulitzer Prize-nominated architectural historian, in a short historical summary, alongside a list of its distinguishing features. Multiple examples of each house style are provided-the book includes 350 houses from more than 40 states-so the reader can see the region-specific variations. Complementing the beautiful color photographs is a selection of line drawings highlighting each style's key attributes.
Both at the desk and in the field, for a wide audience of discerning house hunters, homeowners, and realtors; architects, builders, and students; and the ever-increasing public with a seemingly insatiable curiosity about residential design, this elegant, informative, portable volume will be an invaluable resource for years to come. AUTHOR BIO: William Morgan has taught at Princeton University, the University of Kentucky, and the University of Louisville. His articles have appeared in numerous publications, and he is the author of Abrams' American Country Churches. He lives in Providence, Rhode Island. Radek Kurzaj is a travel and architecture photographer based in Sczecin, Poland, and New York City. His books include Abrams' Living Large in Small Spaces, American Country Churches, and Treehouses of the World.
Customer Reviews:
a good guide.......2007-08-18
This book is a good guide to house identification as well as a pleasure to look it. The photographs are beautifully done, and in full color which I think is important for noticing details that help one identify a house. The text is helpful in explaining historical information, and there are quick reference charts for each house type that condense the major features of that type. Sometimes the distinction between early, middle, and late Georgian is hard determine, and I didn't find it very helpful there, but other than that it is a great guide and a nice coffee table book as well since the pics are so fabulous.
Predictable text, nice pictures.......2006-03-06
The color pictures are all new and the subjects very well chosen, and paging through this book is enjoyable. The concise text reviews the usual classifications in the usual ways, its academic tone partly redeemed by occasional wit.
He renames Richardson Romanesque as Richardsonian, Federal as Late Georgian, and says Queen Anne originated from Arts and Crafts rather than medieval styles, although I think there's a little of each. Like most authors, he discusses the white flat-roofed Modern examples as though they were the next in line to follow the Tudors and Colonial Revivals, despite the fact that they never amounted to more than an insignificant fraction of houses built, then continues with the Post Modern and Deconstructivist styles, pure "magazine architecture", marking an era in which architects begin to serve a new and powerful patron of the arts, the media.
But the countless postwar ranches and split-levels are never mentioned. Trying to keep it highbrow, I guess.
He returns to ordinary houses at the very end, to jump on the mock-the-McMansions bandwagon, using as examples, ironically, some of the prettiest houses in the book.
A few nits to pick:
* Medieval homes had steep roofs because they used thatch, not due to the narrow London streets.
* Le Corbusier's "machines for living" quote actually was intended to extoll creature comforts, not stark Modernism.
* The Arts and Crafts post-and-beam masterpiece, the Gamble House, is ordinary stud construction where it doesn't show.
* Beams are always horizontal, as are clapboards.
* It was Louis Sullivan who said architecture was set back 50 years by a late 19th Century exhibition, not some academic.
Still like the James C. Massey book, available used. But you may like this one for its pictures.
RE: "A Very Poor Effort"---An unjust criticism.......2005-09-16
Despite the unfavorable comments in "A VERY POOR EFFORT," I decided to buy this book and try it for myself. I'm so glad I did. This reviewer seems to be confused about this book. Of all the books on the subject, this is the only one that's written by a Pulitzer-nominated architectural historian, comprised of all-color photos, inclusive of the late-20th and 21st cent styles, designed like an art book, and packaged in a compact/portable format for taking it on the road. These 5 features are completely NEW to this genre! The unhappy reviewer's other point of criticism (that there are too many trees on the property of some of the photographed houses) is simply absurd. How can a photographer remove trees and foliage from a house's property before photographing the house? These houses are important examples, not slouches. The book states clearly that each picture was taken from public property. Should the photographer have given each house a fresh coat of paint, too, before he photographed it? Such a criticism is illogical. For my dollar, this is the best book in the genre and thus should be given a fair evaluation. I'm glad I bought it. As a realtor, I need this kind of book, and this one's the easiest to use of all of them.
A Very Poor Effort.......2005-08-09
In the United States, there is a very rich history of producing field guides to American Domestic Architecture. So it was into this already crowded field that "The Abrams Guide to American House Styles" was published in 2004. In my opinion, if you are going to introduce a new book into an established field, you need to do something new.
This Guide has two features that are unique. First, all of the photos are in color. This is the first Guide that I have seen that has done this. I really enjoyed seeing the photos of the earliest American homes. Second, unlike most field guides, this Guide continues to the current day. I thought that adding examples of McMansions was a very nice touch. Most other field guides stop somewhere around 1950.
Field Guides can be divided into photo books and line drawing books. I prefer line drawing books because they help the reader concentrate on the architectural features that combine to make a style. I think photo books are less effective because they are too specific. Instead of concentrating on the stylistic details, the photos make the reader concentrate on a specific house. The other reason I do not like photo books is that photos are inherently distracting. Instead of concentrating on the architectural features, the eye is drawn to foilage, electrical poles, cars and people walking in front of the building.
The Abrams' Guides does a good job of cutting out most of the distractions but where if fails miserably is in the trees around the house. A good 10-15% of the images are ruined by trees getting in the way of the photographer. Either they block the full image or their shadow obscure key details. I can accept a few trees around a house but to have so many photos ruined is unacceptable. It as though the editors did not have enough photos and they were forced to accept poor quality photos to fill out the book.
If your tastes run to photos, purchase "A Field Guide to American Houses" by Virginia McAlester. If you prefer line drawings like I do, check out, "The Visual Dictionary of American Architecture" or Lester Walker's "American Homes".
Looking at old homes and determining their sytles is a great hobby. The Abram's Guide is a very poor introduction to this rewarding past time.
The Definitive Book On the Subject.......2005-01-23
I've always wondered how people came up with all the different names for house designs: Georgian, victorian, georgian and all the rest. I have periodically looked at a house and proclaimed it to be something, and been patiently corrected by people somewhat of a superior attitude telling me: "No, (with an implied You Fool), that's not a __________ it's a _________."
In this book Pulitzer candidate William Morgan definitively describes the fifteen house styles. Each style is presented in a short historical summary text along with a bulletid list of its distinguishing characteristics. Within each broac style, there are variations. Within Victorian, for instance he discusses stick style, queen anne, richardsonian and shingle style.
There are about 350 houses illustrated from more than 40 states so that region-specific details can be identified. Well over 400 pages, most with multiple photographs illustrate the details of the various styles.
Very enjoyable book.
Book Description
The follow-up title to the hit title Drawing Cutting Edge Comics, which has been translated into seven languages, this drawing tutorial shows artists how to draw the exaggerated musculature of super-sized figures in action poses. The guesswork is taken out of figuring out which muscles show through to the surface and how muscles appear through clothing. This instructional manual even gives both the Latin and the common terms for particular body parts such as scapula/shoulder blade. Hart covers all aspects of extreme anatomy. The book opens by providing detailed diagrams of all of the various muscle groups, including chest, back, shoulder, arm, and leg muscles. Then he covers many of the various extreme comic book types including good guy, bad guy, insane guy, punk, genius, and brute for men; and the heroine, bad gal, trashy gal, seductress, fighter babe, and cyber chick for women. As an added bonus, this book closes with two invaluable sections to all aspiring comic book artists. One provides a roadmap of all the steps an artist must take if he or she is going to get started in the comic book business, and advice on how the comic book business works. The second section features interviews with people from two of the most significant companies in the world of comics, Marvel Comics and Dark Horse Comics.
Customer Reviews:
Nothing useful at all........2007-10-03
This is really a boring book. It does not tell you anything about how to draw the human body at all. No depth, no advice on how large a figure should be, or perception. There is nothing here at all.
Great Book.......2007-09-29
This is a great reference book. I really like it, BUT for any really REALLY serious people who wish to really improve their drawings, Riven Pheonix "Drawing the Human Figure From Your Mind" lessons are key (google it). It shows you how to draw the whole skeleton - from your mind. Then the muscles - from your mind. The fruits are astounding. I completed all 227 lessons and must admit that reference books are much more helpful when you actually LEARN how EXACTLY mucles and bones look the way they look on people.
Great buy, Well worth the Money.......2007-09-18
I'm a beginner to drawing in general but the descriptions and pictures presented make reproducing presented information/techniques easy
Amazing book - totally recommended for any and all artists.......2007-08-24
For starters, this is written by Christopher Hart, so it's probably one of your best options if you are interested in the subject of the book...
This is great for learning how muscle groups work, since it focuses on different parts of the body for both men and women, and how the skeleton structure is set up, not only in general, but in different positions, explaining how muscles move with the different poses, and which ones 'pop' depending on the pose. It's a great book for any beginning artist to start getting a sense of how the body is put together, and great for more advanced artists to make their pictures more and more realistic. Also gives great ideas for characters.
A great buy even if you are not overly enthusiastic about the graphic novel; if you love drawing, you'll love this book!
Drawing Cutting Edge Anatomy: The Ultimate Reference for Comic Book Artists.......2007-07-24
Great book for muscles... I had problem drawing muscles and this book helped great book
Customer Reviews:
Good start for new comic drawers.......2007-09-18
The clear examples make the starting drawings easy to start. The book as a whole is a little more advanced for me as I am only a beginner, but will come in very handy once I get in more practice.
Cutting Edge Not Deep Enough.......2007-08-18
Although Hart's talented, his book will not improve beginners' skills because he does not fully develop each section. Cutting Edge needs to be twice its size to cover its topics. A person can spend years getting anatomy down. I had hoped for more step-by-step methods to his style, but Hart jumps from A to Z, expecting the reader to understand the huge gap inbetween. Get drawing experience before reading this, or you'll be disappointed.
Drawing Cutting Edge Comics.......2007-07-24
Awesome book you can learn alot from this book even if you are a beginner
Good! A must have Reference Material........2007-04-07
The book breaks down information in a very organized manner.
Here you learn step by step on how you draw the human figure from simple forms then placing the muscles or details on top of them.
The book teaches you drawing faces, arms, legs, chest, eyes, shadows and different types of muscle types (normal to extreme). Also gives you tips about coloring and the animation and comic industry.
Great!!.......2007-01-16
This is a great item to get into my collection. Definately a buy that is well worth it.
Book Description
•Third title in the fabulously popular Cutting Edge series—more than 1000,000 sold
•Ideas and inspiration for fans of manga and American-style comics
Christopher Hart is the top-selling cartoon and drawing author of all time
American comics once dominated the world. Now the balance of power is changing, as anime (Japanese animation) and manga (Japanese comics) have exploded into the mainstream of American culture. Drawing Cutting Edge Fusion is the first-ever tutorial that shows how to draw American-style comics with a manga influence. With this book, artists learn to assimilate Japanese aesthetics into new-look comics: how to turn supermuscular bodies leaner and more athletic; how to make facial features more angular and elegant; how to draw hair in up-to-the-minute spiked or long styles. This dynamic fusion of cultures brings together exciting storytelling ande sophisticated design. Now artists can capture the best of East and West with Drawing Cutting Edge Fusion.
Customer Reviews:
A fun book for fans of both.......2007-08-24
For starters, this is written by Christopher Hart, so it's probably one of your best options if you are interested in the subject of the book...
This book is great for fans of both manga and graphic novels; it goes into how the two genres differ (fusion vs graphic novel) and also the different styles in the fusion style (cartoon vs comic). Also gives huge amounts of character concepts and ideas; a fantastic buy for those who like both styles (not recommended for those who are fans of one and hate the other)
christopher hart does it again!.......2007-08-24
Like all of Christopher Hart's "cutting edge" comic and other cartooning instruction books, "Cutting Edge Fusion" is clear, concise, informative, and just plain enjoyable..i personally own several of his books, and every one of them has helped me fine-tune my artistic abilities and keep up with the changing styles of modern cartoons and comic styles...this book, like all his others, are well worth every penny!
Good book.......2006-10-27
This is the better of the Hart books: good solid information into a genre of comics/animation full of mis-conceptions.
I personally think Fusion style marries the best of these two styles. Anyone wanted to create a comic would be wise to adopt THIS style and make it your own.
As with most of the Chris Hart books the sections on who how construct panels and tell stories w/ pictures is EXTREME helpful.
Excellent way to learn about the fusion drawingstyle .........2006-03-23
Pro- looks cool, great illustrations, clearly written, basically has the stuff I was looking for. Excellent addition to my other books, most of which are from Christopher Hart, and this one is as good as he usually makes them. Excellent way to learn about the fusion drawingstyle .
Con- I want more, what else can i say?
Cheers
Good Art Book, Few Caveats.......2006-03-05
Chris Hart's books are hit or miss, but this is one of his better ones. If you're interested in drawing "Fusion Style" comics, a style pioneered by Rob Liefeld than this book is for you. Like most Hart books, this book is filled by illustrations from various artists with Hart providing an occasional illustration. While I like his books, I find Hart's style is poor. Thankfully, illustrations drawn by the author are kept to a minimum.
The Good: Some good fusion style faces. From all angles this time. Thanks! More turnarounds including 'generic ones.' Excellent
The bad: Why oh why did hart have to draw the muscle charts? This illustration is very poor, and one of the worst in the book. Also, whoever drew the female figure on page 29, did not draw it in fusion style. Pages 22-33 were really bad, and just did not do the book justice. Since these were key proportion illos I was disappointed.
Overall, if drawing "Fusion" is your bag, you can't go wrong with adding this to your collection.
Book Description
8 books in 1 - your key to terrific digital photos!
Your one-stop, full-color guide to creating digital images with "wow"
From picking your camera to posting photos on the Web, here's what you need to know about digital photography in eight easy-to-use minibooks! Packed with full-color examples that will get your creative juices flowing, this guide helps you take better pictures; edit, organize, and share them; restore vintage prints; and more.
Discover how to
- Choose the right camera and software
- Compose and shoot great pictures
- Edit images with Photoshop and Photoshop Elements
- Scan old prints and repair them
- Print your photos or share them online
Download Description
- An 816-page All-in-One guide designed for both beginning and experienced digital photographers, offering seven minibooks on everything from buying a camera and choosing the right equipment to editing with high-end tools and restoring photos digitally
- Includes chapters on basics such as point-and-shoot photography, with later chapters exploring editing, printing, and shooting portraits or high-speed action
- This new edition covers the latest technology changes in digital photography, including Photoshop 7, new low-priced SLR cameras, updated storage and output options with DVD technology, and how each of these changes affects photography techniques
- David Busch is the author of more than fifty technology books, most covering digital photography, image editing, and digital restoration
Customer Reviews:
"Aim" is off.......2007-07-21
The book is filled with info, but it "focuses" on the digital SLR, rather than the point and shoot. There should have been a warning in the description. It's still useful.
Digital Photography for Dummies.......2007-03-23
This book is huge and covers most anything one can think of on this topic. I bought it for my husband who has recently acquired a digital camera. He hasn't begun to even scratch the surface but has already found it helpful and knows it will as he tries new things.
Great book for beginner through expert.......2007-01-17
I'm a beginning digital photographer and not particularly techno- proficient, yet I've been able to understand the information in the early chapters of the book. As I get more proficient and curious, I will be able to delve into the later chapters and learn about photoediting, etc. This book really represents 7 different digital camera for Dummies books.
I got this book for the great price of $9.67 from CBC-Sales, and it is worth every penny. If you are a beginner in digital photography who hopes to increase your photography skills, then this book is for you.
This book has everything!.......2007-01-06
This book is a delight for me, an amateur photographer! It is very well written and has lots of great illustrations. The author covers complex information with basic, easy to understand explanations and subtle humor make it more entertaining. Along with useful information about expensive photography equipment for best results, I really appreciate that he offers simple and inexpensive means to achieve the same professional results.
7 in 1 has it all. A total encyclopedia in one........2006-02-19
This is truly an excllent reference book. I was in the process of buying a scanner and upgrading a digital camera. It was helpful on both counts.
A great reference as well as instruction book.
Only one suggestion I would make to the author when he updates.
Explain the pro's and con's about 3 or 4 in one machines. For instance is the scanning as good as a stand alone scanner.
All in all a wonderful investment. Makes my other books on the subject obsolete.
Book Description
9 books in 1 -- your key to Element-ary success!
Your one-stop, full-color guide to every aspect of Photoshop Elements
Photoshop Elements is a powerful image editor that helps you create, edit, fix, organize, and share photos in hundreds of creative ways, and this book puts the power at your fingertips. Manage your images, work with layers, retouch less-than-perfect pictures, create cool special effects, share your work in print or online, and have fun doing it!
Discover how to:
* Navigate the Elements workspace
* Acquire images from digital cameras, CDs, and scanners
* Correct exposure and color
* Replace the background in a photo
* Prepare images for display on the Web
* Create sharp and colorful images for printing
Customer Reviews:
Elements is a Surprisingly Strong Package.......2006-07-03
You might consider Photoshop Elements to be Photoshop CA Lite. The price for Elements is very light when compared with Photoshop. Checking Amazon's price for Photoshop CS - $575.99, and Photoshop Elements is $84.99. In my view, probably wrong, I consider that Elements is what Photoshop was a couple of revisions ago. It is probably not really the several year old code, but Photoshop CS code that has had a few features removed. If you're a full fledged professional whose livelyhood depends on software, buy the high priced version. If you're really only an advanced (even very advanced) amateur, save the money. Elements has grown so that it is really quire powerful.
This book is written with the assumption that you know very little about digital photograph editing. It starts with the very simple, i.e. installing and making Elements work on your PC. From there is progresses to every more sophisticated, ever more complex techniques.
It's an interesting cross between a tutorial, step-by-step book and a reference book. If you're starting out on Elements, this would be an excellent place to begin your journey.
Book Description
- Covers the most popular PC applications and tools available today, fully revised to include Windows XP, Office "X," Works 7, and basic Internet, digital photography, and home networking
- Walks the reader through setting up a computer, navigating the Windows desktop, using e-mail, exploring the Internet, and much more
- Convenient minibook format makes it easy to find desired information quickly
Customer Reviews:
PC All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies.......2007-01-11
Received in timley manner. It was in excellent shape and I'm very pleased with the content. Thanks
A Must Have For The Technolgy Challenged.......2006-03-11
I have a library of the Dummies books. I have a rule, if I have to renew it at the library more than once, I buy a copy.
Really all-in-one, just as advertised.......2003-09-12
This book covers a wide range of topics. Nothing is left out for the novice PC user. Step by Step instructions for networks - basic Office XP - hardware upgrades - troubleshooting - Windows XP - Microsoft Works - Internet security. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who has wanted more out of their computer, and needs the big picture!
Book Description
Yes, it's the long-awaited third collection featuring all of the Duelist magazine strips, plus some never-before-seen strips, a new eight-page story by Phil and rare card parodies from Inquest magazine.
Customer Reviews:
Better than Sex and D&D!.......2000-12-10
Foglio has always been a wonderful, and uproariously funny, writter and artist. His works are the best! And "What's New 3" adds even more credit to my claim that he is one of the funniest men alive! As a continuation of the "What's New" comic strips that were origionally run in "The Dragon" - the magazine for the legendary Dungeons&Dragons roleplaying game, our comical narrators, Phil and Dixie, move on to work for the Mammoth sized company Wizards of the Coast. There instead of bringging out the humor of role playing they bring a whole new light to the game that swept the nation - "Magic - the Gathering." I couldn't put the book down, it was too funny! I would often find myself on the ground rolling in laughter as Phoglio briliantly played off the humorous nature off all things fanciful. This is a MUST HAVE for any gamer in the world - whether traditional roleplaying gamer or neostyle card gamer. Sadly, not being a Magic player I missed a few of the references to the Magic game, but you really don't have to play to laugh! I don't think I can express the genius and humorousness of this collection! The art is outstanding as always, and the jokes are unbeatable, buy this book! It is a perfect continuation of The first two What's New collections.
Books:
- The Architect's Studio Companion, 3rd Edition
- The Dream Palaces of Hollywood's Golden Age
- The Edifice Complex: How the Rich and Powerful Shape the World
- The Gothic Enterprise: A Guide to Understanding the Medieval Cathedral
- The HOK Guidebook to Sustainable Design
- The Inner Harmony of the Japanese House
- The Natural House: A Complete Guide to Healthy, Energy-Efficient, Environmental Homes
- The New Cottage Home: A Tour of Unique American Dwellings
- The Phenomenon of Life: The Nature of Order, Book 1 An Essay of the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe (The Nature of Order, Book 1)
- The Poetics of Space
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Ike's Final Battle: The Road to Little Rock and the Challenge of Equality
- Extraterrestrial Contact: The Evidence and Implications
- The Second X: The Biology of Women
- A Question of Evidence: The Casebook of Great Forensic Controversies, from Napoleon to O.J.
- Botanical Illustration Course: With the Eden Project
- Growing Great Employees: Turning Ordinary People into Extraordinary Performers
- Cooking With Patrick Clark: A Tribute to the Man and His Cuisine
- Bungalow Basics: Living Rooms
- What Is Oma: Considering Rem Koolhaas And The Office For Metropolitan Architecture
- Leaves in Myth, Magic & Medicine
General
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
The Abrams Guide to Period Styles for Interiors
A Field Guide to American Houses
The Elements of Style: An Encyclopedia of Domestic Architectural Detail
American Homes: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Domestic Architecture - A landmark reference with more than 1,000 illustrations, elevations, and palns
The Visual Dictionary of American Domestic Architecture
