Book Description
This is a unique history that covers the complete life of the Twin Towers: the sky-high hopes during their planning and construction, the years during which they stood at the pinnacle of the Manhattan skyline, their symbolic meaning to the city, the nation, and the world-and, in a new chapter written for this edition, their heartbreaking demise on September 11, 2001.
The New York Times bestseller -now with photographs and a new updated chapter.
"Well-researched...gives us a sense of the historical richness and complexity of what we have lost." (New York Times)
"Brilliant." (Larry King )
"[A] thread to grasp as we unravel the meaning of the World Trade Center in history, and in myth." (Boston Herald)
"An absorbing account incorporating personal interviews and observation, exuding enthusiasm and empathy." (Library Journal )
"Offers a fascinating section on the engineering challenges faced by [architect] Yamasaki and the Port Authority project managers." (The Wall Street Journal)
Customer Reviews:
History of the Twin Towers.......2002-10-31
This book was written in 1999 as pressure was mounting for the Port Authority to turn the WTC over to a private agency. The book was reissued shortly after September 11 as the only scholarly history of the WTC. It's a fascinating study of political pressures and engineering feats.
It's impossible to discuss the World Trade Center Towers without first understanding the New York/New Jersey Port Authority. Conceptually, it was unique when it was created in 1921. Authorities - quasi-governmental agencies that were authorized to build projects and then levy user fees to pay for them - had a long and well-established history in England. What made this new authority unique in 1921, when it was created to build the Holland Tunnel, was that it was granted a charter to build facilities, i.e., multiple projects.
The idea for the WTC was conceived during a period of relentless optimism [Kenney] but "completed during a period of national gloom and retreat [Vietnam, 1970's, and Nixon's collapse.]" There were political aspects, aside from the desire to build the world's tallest building, and there was always the pressure from New Jersey to reduce bridge and tunnel tolls. A new project that would use these surplus funds would help to relieve that pressure. It was a project that was lauded by the critics at first, then reviled, only to be resurrected in the minds of New Yorkers, but never as an architectural triumph. It had the misfortune to fall between two architectural periods: International Style, with massive amounts of glass, and Postmodern, which represented a return to the more colorful and decorative building facades. Its Japanese architect, Minoru Yamasaki, used unique aluminum curtain walls that had been dyed to reflect light in unusual ways. The floor-to-ceiling windows were smaller, about the width of a large man, and set back from the curtain. This reduced heating and cooling expenses and eliminated the sense of vertigo that plagued other skyscrapers that had office space right up to the edge of the window, a more floor-efficient design. Yamasaki went through eighty iterations of the design, sometimes using three or four towers, but eventually settling on two. The spacing between them became critical because if placed too close together the winds sweeping down could create sympathetic vibrations in the buildings, destroying their integrity, i.e., a euphemism for causing them to fall down.
The engineering was incredible, and the building could not have been built without technologies developed in other countries. The "Kangaroo" cranes that hoisted themselves up the elevator shafts were developed in Australia. Nothing like them was available in the United States. They were needed to raise the very heavy steel columns that were the load- bearing walls, another unique design feature of the buildings, and the floors. It was initially thought that only U.S. Steel or Bethlehem Steel, the two largest steel companies in the United States, would be able to supply the enormous quantity of steel needed - the drawings for the steel construction weighed over 650 pounds - and Andrew Tobin, the Port Authority's director, thought that by involving them early in the design stage he would get a reasonable bid from them. Not so, and Tobin was so angry with their overbidding, which bore suspicions of collusion - a later investigation revealed no evidence of that - that he contracted portions of the steel to smaller companies, thereby saving over 30% of the anticipated costs. Going to different companies and subcontracting and bidding for smaller lots was to become the industry standard because of the cost savings.
Because the building was so close to the river and excavation for the huge buildings had to go deep down to hit bedrock (enough soil and material was excavated to create Battery Park, an eighteen-acre site that extended Manhattan Island an extra 700 feet into the river and creating additional real estate worth [$]), some method to keep the water out was needed that would not affect the adjacent structures. A slurry method imported from Italy permitted concrete and steel reinforcement for the huge "bathtub" that kept the water out. Slurry containing betonite clay was pumped in as the trenches were dug and then pumped out as concrete and rebar were placed to create the final walls.
The effect of sway on humans had to be tested. The buildings had to be flexible; any degree of stiffness could be built in, but it could not be changed after the building was complete. At its top the Empire State Building sways three inches in a one hundred-mile-per-hour wind. Swaying rooms were built to test people's reactions. Psychologists found that people would tolerate up to eleven inches of slow sway. That represented winds of 140 miles per hour, wind speeds that had never occurred in New York. The building was designed to withstand much higher gusts than that.
Wind can cause other problems. On a gusty day, the buildings twisted and moved so much that the freight elevators could not be used. They were the only elevators to go all the way to the top - all the others had shorter runs to assorted lobbies where commuters changed cars - and the 1350-foot cables would slap around too much. Everything had to be inspected daily. The elevators made 450,000 "movements" (one person on one trip) per day.
The Port Authority has its own police force, and forty-two officers were assigned to the WTC buildings. It is a unique force in that the officers have bi-state authority, the only police force in the country to have such authority. In fact, their jurisdiction lies in a circle with a twenty-five mile radius from the Statue of Liberty.
It's impossible to recount all the riveting (not a pun, since no rivets were used) details of the gargantuan buildings. It's a fascinating story of a building, and, aside from the enormous human tragedies of September 11, it was a great engineering loss as well.
The Complete History of a Tragedy that was bound to happen.......2002-10-01
This book gives a inside view of the birth and the death of the World Trade Center. It shows how the rush to construct this late edifice led to many defects that were exposed on 9-11-01.
2-star coffee table book becomes 4-star window into history.......2002-04-03
Let's be honest. If September 11, 2001 doesn't happen, this is a two-dollar steal at a Kiwanis Club book sale. But now, Mr. Gillespie has given us a nicely written obituary of a monument to urban America. Pre-9/11, I wouldn't have given this book a second look. Now, I'd recommend it as a necessary part of any person's library.
Good book.......2002-03-26
This book describes what went into the desigin, planning and construction of the World Trade Centers. If you like to find out what goes on behind the sceens to make things happen, get this book and remenber a great land mark.
The Port Authority's WTC.......2002-02-25
Twin Towers is one of the few successful endeavors to capture the spirit of the World Trade Center. It is not a photo album, and it only contains a few black and white figures. Nevertheless, it gives a comprehensive description of all aspects of the Trade Center project, from the political motivation that lead to its construction to the way architectural trends evolved in the seventies and caused the Twin Towers to be despised by most architects. It also depicts the Port Authority as an ambitious success-driven and proud agency and the Twin Towers as an American icon. Given his biases, the author does not linger too much on the grievances of the tenants that were dislodged from the WTC site to allow its construction nor does he question the legitimity of such a project. He merely states the facts: progress is mercyless.
The colorful style of the book makes it easy to read and anecdotes and quotes of some of the people who actually participated to the construction of the center abound.
What can be regretted is the book's absence of cohesion at times: it seems like each chapter has been written separately, resulting in numerous repetitions from chapter to chapter. Twin Towers also looses some marks for its endless description of the author's attendance to an introductory course to world trade, which could have been better incorporated within the text.
Overall, the merit of Twin Towers is that through the pages of the book, the reader discovers the World Trade Center through the eyes of those who were directly involved with its construction; the grievance is that this is mosly a Port Authoriry's view of the World Trade Center project.
Book Description
This volume presents an overview of the arts in the Western tradition; within the contexts of the philosophy, religion, aesthetic theory, economics, and politics surrounding them. It is an historical introduction to the humanities yielding a basic familiarity with major styles and their implications, as well as a sense of the historical development of individual arts media.
Chapters present and discuss a formal analysis of works of art in the following periods: the Ancient World, the Aegean and Archaic Greece, Greek Classicism and Hellenism, the Roman Period, Judaism and Early Christianity, Byzantium and Islam, the Early Middle Ages, the High Middle Ages, Early Renaissance, High Renaissance, the High, Renaissance and Reformation, the Baroque Age, the Enlightenment, the Romantic Age, Realism, Impressionism, Modernism, and Postmodernism.
For art history enthusiasts and those interested in a familiarity with major styles and their implications, as well as a sense of the historical development.
Customer Reviews:
very good book.......2006-12-24
a very good introduction and simply introduced art from different eras ,what i like about this book its very well organized
Average customer rating:
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The Creative Impulse in Human Progress: The Creative Impulse in Human Progress
William Kingston
Manufacturer: Leonard R. Sugerman Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Creativity & Genius
| Psychology & Counseling
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Psychology & Counseling
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
Occupational & Organizational
| Psychology & Counseling
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
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General
| Industries & Professions
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
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ASIN: 0972648429 |
Product Description
Custom Edition for University of Phoenix
Average customer rating:
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Creative Impulse
Andrea Lugli
Manufacturer: Gingko Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Graphic Arts
| Graphic Design
| Design & Decorative Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 8886416253 |
Customer Reviews:
Great Stuff!!!!!!.......2003-06-05
Wonderful book about the great filmaker who gave us such masterpieces as THX 1138,Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars. . . .very rich and well done with beatiful colored pages, and comments from other filmaker on the movies of George Lucas. . . . a wonderful edition that would look great on anyone cofee table,so go out and buy it today.
George is great, but still misses sometimes..........2002-03-07
We all love parts of Star Wars, but why settle? For example, he could take a novel like Defenders of the Holy Grail and make it as magical as Lord of the Rings. His fantasies miss connections with the modern world His studio could be making real statements about the human condition instead of lightweight _______.
Highly Inspiring.......1999-08-08
This book gives you a sequence of events in Lucas' creative empire. It also contains interesting quotes from the man himself as well as other significant contributors to his work. It may come as a surprise to some of us that Lucas' goals are quite similar to our own; the only difference is that he has a very strong will to make it all come true.
Contained in this book are his projects that touched many who will never imagine the same way again.
TRUE JEDI MASTER.......1999-03-31
George gave us visions of a future never before seen - this book is a chronicle of his works. The full page images and stories behind the ideas will leave you with a better sense of how this incredible universe came to be.
A GREAT BOOK!
An in-depth look at the man behind the mogul.......1998-08-02
George Lucas: The Creative Impulse is a great book which gives the reader a view over George Lucas and his life and filmography. The book introduces in sections Lucas' "early years", his films and also briefly his companies (ILM, Skywalker Sound, LucasArts) and also takes to a tour around Skywalker Ranch.
Although there isn't as much behind-the-scenes info I would have hoped for, the book was really interesting with lots of big photographs taken during the production of Lucas' films and other neat stuff.
Great book.
Average customer rating:
- An Amazing Road Map Of Life's Twists And Turns
- Brutally Honest
- Self-Absorbed Drivel
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Creative Impulse: True Memoirs of a Terrible Son
Jack Swint
Manufacturer: AuthorHouse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Authors
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1425956947 |
Book Description
Looking back over his entire life there is only one question. How can one man from rural West Virginia cross so many paths with such a diverse group of peers, friends and enemies. Or have they all somehow been entwined together for some unforeseen reason that has caused his life to be such an incredible but destructive journey. His actions have either completely demolished the careers and lives of people he has encountered or he has selflessly exposed his own self to ridicule, poverty, prison and attempts on his own life just to help someone he felt needed him.
Customer Reviews:
An Amazing Road Map Of Life's Twists And Turns.......2006-10-03
Jack Swints life has been a road map of twists and turns that is impossible to believe that even 10 people could have lived in a lifetime, much less 1 person.
This book takes you through the true journey of a young boy who was adopted and raised into the perfect upper middle class home with 2 loving parents. In the blink of an eye this child went from the perfect son to one who uncontrollably began a life of lies, deceit and stealing from family and friends. Behavior that no physician could diagnose back in the 1970's.
Once I began reading this story I found I could not put it down until I was finished. Parts made me cry and then laugh at how his creative & impulsive behavior placed him in almost unbelievable circumstances. Not just in the criminal world but in his everyday life that all entwined together for an alarming look into the life of a man who crossed paths with every conceivable walk of life from homeless people to the rich and famous.
And the one twist of fate that surpasses all the rest is how he was finally diagnosed just 10 years ago with having an impulsive and borderline personality disorder while in a federal prison. Now at 51 he is reliving his own terrible life history in hopes that it will bring attention to the mental disorders that can effect children, teens and adults if gone undetected.
The authors memoirs leave little to imagine as to the pain and suffering he caused his parents, friends and others that he came in contact with for the 30 some years he impulsively led his life. The books dedication to his parents along with the first few pages show the heartfelt sorrow and remorse he now demonstrates for his prior actions. There also are numerous newspaper articles about his troubled past and medical facts about the disorders that ruled his life.
A story that has something of interest for everyone. Its a modern day Jekyll and Hyde with more shocks then anything I've ever read.
Brutally Honest.......2006-10-02
This book is a real life "Catch Me If You Can Meets Forrest Gump". Jack Swint was very much a terrible son and career criminal but he appears in the book to have turned it all around 10 years ago after being diagnosed with a borderline personality, and impulsive disability. His being brutally honest now about his own mistakes took a lot of courage to write. There are a few rough areas for spelling and grammar but he states up front he is not a professional writer.
The most intriguing plot of this novel is that when he wasn't committing crimes Swint actually exposed corrupt Judges, Law Enforcement Personnel at the city-state and federal levels. And Celebrities and Politicians up to and including the former Mayor of Charleston WV on federal cocaine charges. All of which he includes the newspaper articles and other documents to back it all up.
If what he now says is true about lobbying to parents, doctors and the courts to bring attention to these types of disorders is true? Then my hat goes off to him. This book leaves you asking the question was he really just a terrible person or was he also destined to cross paths with and deal out his own brand of justice to people who abused their authority on others.
Self-Absorbed Drivel.......2006-10-01
A poorly-spelled, badly written mea culpa from a self-admitted con man. Gives dysfunction a bad name.
Average customer rating:
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The Creative Impulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0536753687 |
Book Description
Filled with elegant designs and clever tips, A Japanese Touch for Your Home offers bold and exciting ideas for remodeling your home or redecorating your apartment. The author, architect Koji Yagi, explains the basic elements of Japanese interior design and shows you how to use them. Install tatami mats and shoji doors--cardinal elements of Japanese interior design--and see how beautifully they respond to the Western home. Change the size and shape of a room easily and tastefully with bamboo screens and movable partitions. Build a simple Japanese-style alcove, decorate it with something special, and then flaunt it. Try some Japanese lighting techniques--low, soft, and beautiful. Change the mood of a room, and change your way of looking at things. A Japanese Touch for Your Home includes much more. Practical, approachable, and authentic, it is written by a prominent Japanese architect concerned about the demands of contemporary lifestyles, and the answers that traditional Japanese design has to offer. Over 120 color plates taken by a leading Japanese photographer accompany the informed text. In addition, over 200 black and white sketches, floor plans, and a section on do-it-yourself projects make this a book that will pique your desire to be creative and then show you how to fulfill it. A practical guide for homeowners, interior designers, and people who like to work with their heads and their hands, this book will introduce you to a new way of living.
Customer Reviews:
The Title is Misleading.......2004-07-31
Although it is a GOOD book with great quality pictures, it does very little to add a Japanese Touch for Your Home. It graphically explains the areas of a Japanese style house but it does not help you integrate the oriental with the western style of living, which is what I thought it was about.
Further more the couple of projects for building Japanese furniture a pretty basic, you can find better one for free in the Internet.
It is a good book to read but for me it didnt have any practical use.
A New Hunger........2002-12-17
This book has created a new hunger in me to find and devour every book I can get my hands on dealing with Japanese architecture. I can now see where Frank Lloyd Wright got a lot of his inspiration from. This is the first book I have read on the subject so far, and it seems to cover a bit of everything with lots of nice photos. If your looking for a book on organizing and storing stuff like only the Japanese can do, then get "Small Spaces: Stylish Ideas for Making More of Less in the Home" by Azby Brown
Great Primer for the Novice to Japanese interiors........2002-08-17
This is the first I purchased on the subject of Japanese interiors, which I crave. Yagi and Williams cover the essentials of what you need to know, provide excellent photographic examples of their topics, and intructions on do it yourself projects. I rate it a 4 because I wanted the book to have more!
EXCELLENT !.......2001-08-25
I and many friends have enjoyed this book-not only because it has excellent photos of examples on how to give your home or apt a touch of Japanese tranquility/simplicity but also because it gives you exact details on how to build or create the area. Even if you're not interested in making changes in your home it's the kind of book that can transpose you to a more tranquil space via the excellent photos and drawings
Got a lot of money?.......2001-08-06
This book has beautiful photos of very lovely Japanese-style homes, but I wouldn't say that it's full of ideas for how to find more space in your home, or how to easily incorporate Japanese design or features into your already existing home. I would say if you have a lot of money, a lot of space, and at least some land, you could use this book to rebuild and create the perfect Japanese home. And you're going to have to get rid of all (and I mean all) the tchatchkes, or else cram them all in your new storage space. Which is not a bad idea for us Americans (getting rid of them, that is). I would like to see a book with ideas on how to use Japanese interior design ideas to help create more space and beauty in any home, using the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi.
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The Question of the commons: The culture and ecology of communal resources (Arizona studies in human ecology)
Manufacturer: University of Arizona Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
General
| Real Estate
| Business & Investing
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General
| Social Sciences
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Human Geography
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| Nonfiction
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Sociology
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| Rural
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| Social Situations
| Social Theory
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| Urban
| Women
ASIN: 0816509727 |
Books:
- Validation of Exceptional Longevity (Odense Monographs on Population Aging Vol. 6)
- Venice Against the Sea: A City Besieged
- Why We Believe What We Believe: Uncovering Our Biological Need for Meaning, Spirituality, and Truth
- A Book of One's Own: Developing Literacy Through Making Books
- A Guidebook for Teaching Biology (Guidebook for Teaching Series)
- Adp-Ribosylation Reactions
- Advances in Discrete Tomography and Its Applications (Applied and Numerical Harmonic Analysis)
- Advances in Invertebrate Reproduction, 5: 5th International Congress of Invertebrate Reproduction, Nagoya, Japan, July 23-28, 1989 (Advances in Invertebrate Reproduction)
- Airway Mucus: Basic Mechanisms and Clinical Perspectives (Respiratory Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy)
- Animal Toxins: Facts and Protocols (Methods and Tools in Biosciences and Medicine)
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