Building Without Borders: Sustainable Construction for the Global Village (Natural Building Series)

Book Description

Building Without Borders describes pioneering efforts to create sustainable shelter for billions currently under-housed. It surveys projects around the world that are housing the homeless without destroying natural habitats to do so, by drawing upon local traditions such as bamboo, straw bale and earthen construction.

Highly illustrated and popular in style, it includes case studies, technical information, and the latest thinking on truly sustainable construction, and advocates education and training as the means to empower local peoples to create houses for themselves.

Joseph F. Kennedy cofounded Builders Without Borders, an international consortium of natural builders and architects serving homeless and under-housed populations. He teaches ecological design and natural building at New College of California, and co-edited The Art of Natural Building.

Book Description

Desde su aparición en 1955, esta extraordinaria novela del mexicano Juan Rulfo se ha traducido a mas de treinta lenguas y ha dado lugar a multiples y permanentes reediciones en los países de la lengua hispana. Esta edición, única revisada y autorizada por la Fundación Juan Rulfo, debe ser considerada como su edicion definitiva.

Customer Reviews:

If only he had done it.......2007-09-13

If only he had written a story that could be read with some continuity and insight. The opening sentence is great, and he follows through for 3 or 4 pages of a story that looks promising. But there it turns into jabberwocky as you try to figure what is going on and who is dead or alive. Finally, one gives up. If the writer does not communicate with the reader, what is the purpose of the writing? Perhaps if one could discover how the writer was managing to elude reality, he could partake of the same substance and enjoy this story. I don't care to take the chance.

Regrettably, Reading This Felt as If Time Had Turned Backward.......2007-07-22

Those who like novels where it often doesn't become unclear until the third or fourth read what's happening, who's speaking, who's listening, who's doing what, how most of the characters are related to each other, and how the series of events described are related to each other in time, would enjoy this novel. Otherwise, like me, they might not be able to appreciate it.

Mainly what I could grasp was that a man was looking for his father in a village that was a purgatory for dead sinners, where time turned backward. The father was the local landowner and a tyrant who'd committed many crimes. Eventually the searcher faded from the story. The historical background supplied by other readers is valuable and enlightening but is immeasurably clearer in their descriptions than in the novel itself.

The novel consisted mostly of dialogue, with the features described above. There were also descriptions of the village and its surroundings. The atmosphere of the hot, bleak land and death and of the hopelessness of the characters was powerful. But for this reader, the book didn't need to continue for 120 pages. I might've been able to appreciate this surrealist masterpiece if it had been something closer in form to a short story, like some of the works in the same author's The Burning Plain, such as "Tell Them Not to Kill Me!" or "The Man."

Marvelous Story.......2007-04-02

I first read this book in a university Spanish class. It is a classic that will endure forever and speaks to all people.

Del olvido al no me acuerdo.......2006-02-01

Gabriel Garcia Marquez said this was the best book ever written in the Spanish language after the Quixote, certainly many writers and even some novel prizes will not be able to write a book so simple and at the same time so deep and complex, full of delicate and exuberant poetry like this is. The extreme qualities of this book I think have been already described by so many good-taste costumers as well as denied by some confused spirits that would do best giving their opinion about cheap soap-operas, bestsellers (and with some restrictions),TV shows, the super bowl... (things that can stimulate their minds) but certainly not about literature. Nevermind. For those interested in going deeper inside the atmosphere from which Juan Rulfo subtracted his characters, the Independent low-budget documental "Del Olvido al no me acuerdo", directed by Juan Rulfo's son Juan Carlos Rulfo, can reveal a lot about Rulfo's work. The documental is in itself a micro-masterpiece that was awarded in several international film festivals.

A Classic Novel, Haunting & Poignant. A Must Read!.......2005-05-08

Author Juan Rulfo's extraordinarily powerful novel, "Pedro Paramo," captures the essence of life in rural Mexico during the last years of the 19th century, and the beginning of the 20th, like no other work of fiction. Here, in a mere 124 pages, the author vividly portrays the radical social and economic changes which spurred the dramatic migration of the campesinos from ranchos and villages to the urban slums, where they could no longer live off the land, nor find work. Ghost towns mark the places where many had once flourished. I first read this masterpiece in English while living in Guadalajara, Mexico, over 25 years ago. I was absolutely captivated by the haunting story and by the fascinating characters. I reread the book a few years later, in Spanish, and was able to appreciate, first-hand, the authors skillful, nuanced use of language. After a series of surrealistic dreams, which turned my thoughts southward, I recently picked up another copy and began to read once more of the dry, deserted streets of Comala and the man who doomed the town and its inhabitants. I am amazed that the novel remains as fresh, magical and poignant as it did the first time around. I think Juan Rulfo's masterpiece takes on depth and texture with each reading. And it certainly proves true the maxim, "Good/great things come in small packages."

Pedro Paramo, the son of failing landowners, was consumed with love for Susana San Juan. This intense passion lasted a lifetime. Eventually, Pedro's aging father and family died, and Susana moved away. Alone and lonely, he assumed control of the estate and unscrupulously did whatever he had to, fair and foul, to amass a fortune and build his empire. He married the heiress Dolores Preciado, took possession of her land and wealth, and sent her to live an isolated existence with her sister. His ranch, in Comala, the Media Luna, expanded with great success at the expense of others. However, the manipulative, exploitive patriarch would pay dearly, in spades in fact, for his greed and for the sorrow he brought to Comala and her people.

Dolores Preciado, on her deathbed, extracts a promise from her son, Juan, to return to Comala to find his father and claim what is theirs. Juan narrates and guides the reader on his journey to the dusty, desolate village, now populated by ghosts, lost souls who murmur to him, sighing and complaining in desperate voices, until he believes that he too is dead. The story of Juan's experience, his search for identity and his heritage, is interwoven with the tale of his father, Pedro Paramo, and that of sad, beautiful Susana San Juan.

The novel was first published in 1955 and has become a classic, not only in Spanish speaking countries, but worldwide, for its themes are universal. This is a literary class and a truly great book. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
JANA

Pedro Paramo Y El Llano En Llamas (Coleccion Narrativas)

Average customer rating:

De los mejores cuentos mexicanos....
Precursor del realismo mágico
An amazing story
Una de las mejores obras
Ya es un clasico mexicano

Pedro Paramo Y El Llano En Llamas (Coleccion Narrativas)
Juan Rulfo
Manufacturer: Editorial Planeta, S.A. (Barcelona)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 8408001795

Customer Reviews:

De los mejores cuentos mexicanos...........2006-02-01

Pedro Paramo, de Juan Rulfo.

La historia de un cacique pueblerino, de nombre Pedro Páramo, de un pueblo mítico llamado Comala , al cual acude Juan Preciado, bajo promesa en lecho de muerte a su madre, de cobrar las afrentas del olvido de su padre: Pedro Páramo. De las mejores novelas mexicanas del siglo XX, del mexicano Juan Rulfo, uno de los grandes narradores de la narrativa hispanoamericana. La célebre linea con que inicia la novela "-Vine a Comala, porque me dijeron que acá vivía mi padre, un tal Pedro Páramo-"posee la fuerza profética de las obras maestras. En efecto, Juan Preciado, el narrador de la novela, no dice "fui" sino "vine": se dirige a nosotros desde las profundidades de Comala, todas las palabras que estamos a punto de escuchar, más que de leer, provienen, de los labios de un muerto. Empeñado en rastrear la verdad, Juan Preciado, pagará su osadía con su única herencia...la vida.

En el camino a Comala, Juan Preciado va recorriendo laderas y montes, para encontrar ese pueblo y a su paso se encuentra con un hombre con el cual entabla una conversación:

"-Hace calor aquí, dije.

-Sí, y esto no es nada-me contestó el otro. Cálmese. Ya lo sentirá mas fuerte, cuando lleguemos a Comala. Aquello está sobre las brasas de la tierra, en la mera boca del infierno. Con decirle que muchos de los que ahí se mueren, al llegar al infierno regresan por su cobija.

Vaya descripción, como queriendo decir, que en verdad ese pueblo era desolador y pleno de calor intenso, el calor precisamente del aire envenenado, la soledad y el fatalismo. Confundiendo la realidad con la alucinación. Y bueno, hablando de calor intenso, suponganse un calor de esos de verano en la región huasteca potosina, y multipliquenlo por 2 o 3.

En el camino hacia su destino se encuentra con Damiana, Damiana Cisneros, la vieja que le ayuda dandole posada en su casa, y le pregunta que ha sido de su madre, la que le cuenta detalles de la vida de Pedro Páramo y de propia mamá:

La alucinación, la soledad, el calor..los motivos, Juan Preciado, se encontraba en su paso con personajes míticos, personajes del pasado, que nunca se habían ido y que a su vez vivían en el pasado de su pasado. Que existían solo en el pasado de su propia madre, ¿acaso es que ella, ya estaba allí, también? ¿O el mismo era parte de esa fantasmal realidad? Quizás era la factura que había que pagar por los perjurios que su padre Pedro Páramo había hecho en su pasado, y reencarnado en él..luchaba con su propio yo con sus "meas culpas".

Los invito a integrarse a ésta viaje, éste marvilloso viaje de lo real e inexistente, el viaje de los parajes desolados, de los personajes míticos, de los cuales siempre aprendes algo nuevo, donde existe todo, donde nada existe. El lugar donde solo manda una persona y se hace lo que el cacique dice..Pedro Paramo hizo escuela, cuantos Pedros Páramos tenemos que afrontar en nuestras vidas?, seremos nosotros acaso, los que paguemos las deudas contraídas en el pasado de nuestros antepasados Pedros Páramos? O Nosotros mismos, en nuestro subconsciente emulemos sin querer, las ganas de llegar a tener ese estatus de poder , privilegio y dominio..como el que en su momento Pedro Paramo tuvo en sus regiones... Alguna similitud con la vida real, es mera coincidencia. Calor intenso, caciques mal hechos, abusos de poder, la sumisión por convicción, la sumisión por tradición, personajes fantasmagóricos..ubiquémonos, cada uno de nosotros en los personajes de Rulfo..nos encontraremos...y quizás un día un Juan Preciado, busque cobrarse las afrentas de lo comprometido en lecho de muerte...no pidiendo, si no exigiendo lo que le corresponde y cobrado...caro.

Los invito a integrarse en ésta lectura..ojalá y nos demos la oportunidad de caer cautivos de su letra y su enseñanza, si no lo conseguimos, al menos aburridos, no estaremos...

Precursor del realismo mágico.......2005-06-22

Si cree que el boom literario latinoamericano empezó con Gabriel García Márquez, piense de nuevo. Este es el libro génesis. El que inspiró a muchos autores, incluyendo a GGM, a seguir la línea del realismo mágico que revolucionó nuestras letras. Antes de que Cien Años de Soledad fuera lo que es, Juan Rulfo y sus Pedro Páramo y El llano en llamas, existían.

An amazing story.......2005-04-02

This book I have read many times in the last two decades and it has never lost its magic. A tale that will bring chills and provoke thought. A must-read for anyone who loves to dream.

Una de las mejores obras.......2002-12-18

El lenguaje empleado en el libro es facil de entender. Y, precisamente, la genialidad radica en este aspecto. A pesar de no emplear palabras elaboradas, la novela es extremadamente compleja por la anacronia. La mezcla de los diversos recursos literarios para describir la situacion hacen al lector pensar en el significado de lo qye Juan Rulfo trata de decir.
Otro aspecto interesante radica en que la novela retrata con fidelidad la cultura mexicana, desde la muerte hasta por el lenguaje y forma de actuar de los protagonistas de la historia. Sin duda alguna, este libro es un precedente de lo que despues seria el premio nobel de Mexico: Laberinto de la Soledad por Octavio Paz.

Ya es un clasico mexicano.......2002-07-09

Decidi leer esta novela al enterarme de que es la favorita de por lo menos siete de los escritores hispanoamericanos mas reconocidos del siglo que recien termino. Lo que lei me gusto muchisimo. La genialidad de Juan Rulfo al describir la relacion del pueblo mexicano con el tema de la muerte es indescriptible.
Indispensable leer este libro para tener una vision completa de la literatura hispanoamericana.

Average customer rating:

Pedro Paramo (Coleccion Popular 58)

Manufacturer: Fondo De Cultura Economica
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Spanish | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Pedro Paramo
Juan Rulfo
Manufacturer: Editorial Rm Rio Panuko
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 9685208557

Pedro Paramo Y El Llano En Llamas (Novela (Booket Numbered))

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Pedro Paramo Y El Llano En Llamas (Novela (Booket Numbered))
Juan Rulfo
Manufacturer: Booket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

ASIN: 8408066439

Pedro Paramo (Coleccion Literatura Siglo)

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Pedro Paramo (Coleccion Literatura Siglo)
Juan Rulfo
Manufacturer: Editorial RM
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Average customer rating:

How to handle Ghosts in literature

Pedro Paramo.
Juan Rulfo
Manufacturer: Suhrkamp
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

All German Books | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 351801434X

Customer Reviews:

How to handle Ghosts in literature.......2007-02-05

One of the most challenging parts reading this novel is to keep the characters in the period where the action takes place. It is a clear example of juxtaposition of periods (time frames); somehow giving the reader the illusion the main character is on every page. Nevertheless, if you want to give your brain some exercise, be my guest is a great read, from an excellent South American author.

Pedro Paramo/El Llano En Llamas (Coleccion popular)

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Pedro Paramo/El Llano En Llamas (Coleccion popular)
Rulfo
Manufacturer: Editorial Planeta, S.A.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Average customer rating:

A Classic Novel, Haunting & Poignant. A Must Read

Pedro Paramo

Manufacturer: Random House Mondadori
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

A Classic Novel, Haunting & Poignant. A Must Read.......2005-07-13

Analisis Arquetipico, Mitico Y Simbologico De Pedro Paramo (Coleccion Polymita)

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Mito y literatura mexicana: caso Pedro Páramo

Analisis Arquetipico, Mitico Y Simbologico De Pedro Paramo (Coleccion Polymita)
Nicolas E. Alvarez
Manufacturer: Ediciones Universal
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Spanish | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Customer Reviews:

Mito y literatura mexicana: caso Pedro Páramo.......2000-12-05

Nicolás Emilio Álvarez ha escrito con acierto un trabajo sobre una de las novelas más aclamadas de la Literatura Mexicana del siglo XX: Pedro Páramo. Tal trabajo es una lectura crítica de esta novela a partir de las resonancias mitológicas y literarias del mundo occidental, de manera que se establece un diálogo con una serie de referencias que ayudan a comprender el significado que Rulfo le dio a su obra, en especial cuando Álvarez nos hace evidente el universo simbólico de Comala. La novedad en el libro de Álvarez reside, a mi juicio, en su propuesta de análisis: conjunta de modo inteligente las áreas literaria, mitologica y semiótica bajo el espectro de la literatura comparada. El resultado es un estudio profundo acerca de las raíces que alimentan la novela rulfiana. En fin, considero que para los estudiosos de la Literatura Mexicana y en especial para aquellos que se interesan por Rulfo este libro resulta indispensable. Y a nivel metodológico vale la pena también revisar lo propuesto por Emilio Álvarez.

David García

Book Description

Leveraging the Private Sector offers the first sustained analysis of public and private sector initiatives designed to encourage firms and industries to use their own management expertise to improve their environmental performance. Cary Coglianese and Jennifer Nash bring together original empirical studies by the nation's leading experts on recent public and private sector experiments. Do management-based strategies lead to improved environmental outcomes? What kinds of strategies hold the most promise? Leveraging the Private Sector addresses these questions through studies of state pollution prevention planning laws, private sector purchasing requirements, and federal risk management regulations, among others.

The contributors show that efforts to leverage private sector experience and knowledge can have a distinctive contribution in the future of environmental protection. Ultimately, a firm's broader management practices shape its environmental performance. Public and private sector strategies that seek to influence these practices directly can help bring about further environmental improvements. This book breaks new ground by investigating a new and promising approach for advancing the economy and the environment.

Customer Reviews:

An outstanding survey........2007-02-06

Leveraging the Private Sector: Management-Based Strategies for Improving Environmental Performance is a 'must' recommendation for any college-level or business collection serious about titles on environmental business responsibility. It offers analysis on how to think about and evaluate corporate behavior and responsibility, considering alternatives to traditional problems between allowing a free market system and regulation, and also offers firms details on how to develop practical management-based strategies that compliment environmental protection goals. An outstanding survey.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

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