Universal Principles of Design

3 stars (good design support book) - i found the book to be a good support when approaching a design. it lays out a series of axioms which help the designer to look at various design stratagies at the initial design stages. 5 stars (With absolute certitude a future "classic" design book) - If you want to make some money, I recommend you buy a couple copies of this book now and put them away for 10 years. With absolute certitude the "Universal Patterns of Design" (UPOD) will be a future "classic" design book. There are very few books that fit this category, but this will be one. The author's have done an absolutely stunning job of condensing the patterns format in codifying 210 design principles which human beings need to relate to products and works of art. This book rivals ANY other design work I have ever read. Absolutely highest recommendation. 5 stars (Great Introduction to important themes) - This book is a great introduction to many themes relevant to all form of design. Many references are given for anyone wishing to further develop their understanding of the theme discussed. ...
Rockport Publishers :: Graphic Arts - General :: Dictionaries :: Design - General :: Design :: Art & Art Instruction :: Art :: Jill Butler :: Kritina Holden :: William Lidwell :: :: Universal Principles of Design

 

Harmony and Voice Leading

5 stars (Important text, but not for beginners) - One thing to understand about this book - it was not written with amazon.com beginners in mind. It is a college-level theory textbook, and is probably one of the few books that present basic theory concepts in a coherent, unified fashion. The "restrictions" some reviewers complain about, are actually part of a time-honored approach to teaching theory (think "species counterpoint"). To understand the book, a teacher needs to understand something of the ideas and approach of Heinrich Schenker (Schachter was one of Schenker's students). Unlike many theory books, which are into quick summaries and labels, this book is based on a deep understanding of how western tonal music works (at least from the Schenkerian perspective). Even basic concepts like scale degrees, intervals, and triads, are presented in such a way that important relationships among tones become evident. Chords are not merely chunks of notes that deserve a label, but are part of a larger, contrapuntal whole. Sticking with the early chapters, and especially getting a good grasp of the contrapuntal nature of even the most basic chords (insights gained into the similar "passing chord" functions of the V4/3 and viio6 chords, for example) are well worth the effort. Upon successful completion of the first 10 or 11 chapters, a student should have a new understanding of how tonal music works. 5 stars (A very strong text teaching the foundations of tonal music) - When I was a student at the University of Michigan School of Music in the late seventies and early eighties, we used the then brand new first edition of this book. I thought it was quite good then, and I believe this third edition to be an even better book. It treats the subjects of tonal harmony and voice leading quite well. There have been some solid improvements in the way a few things are explained and some changes in the musical examples. However, it is still fundamentally the same soun...
Wadsworth Publishing :: Music & General :: Religious - Gospel :: Music :: Instruction & Study - Theory :: Harmony :: General :: Edward Aldwell :: Carl Schachter :: :: Harmony and Voice Leading

 

Concrete at Home - Innovative Forms and Finishes- Countertops- Floors- Walls- and Fireplaces

5 stars (An excellent guide to incorporating concrete's positive qualities into a home) - Fu-Tung Cheng and Eric Olsen's Concrete At Home may sound like an unlikely mix for a home environment, but when used property, concrete can look and feel soft and warm while retaining extra durability. Cheng demonstrates how to mix colors and textures for this effect, from achieving a translucent effect to using thermal foam insulation to provide insulation to concrete, which typically has no insulating qualities to speak of. An excellent guide to incorporating concrete's positive qualities into a home. 5 stars (An excellent guide to incorporating concrete's positive qualities into a home) - Fu-Tung Cheng and Eric Olsen's Concrete At Home may sound like an unlikely mix for a home environment, but when used property, concrete can look and feel soft and warm while retaining extra durability. Cheng demonstrates how to mix colors and textures for this effect, from achieving a translucent effect to using thermal foam insulation to provide insulation to concrete, which typically has no insulating qualities to speak of. An excellent guide to incorporating concrete's positive qualities into a home. 5 stars (Mr. Cheng inspires) - Fu-Tung Cheng's latest book "Concrete At Home" is a wonderful journey to what is possible in home design using concrete as the expressive medium. It is full of wonderful photographs illustrating projects underway and in their finished appearance. I believe it's intent was mostly to excite and inspire and not be a step-by-step guide. With so many preconceptions out there about how things "should" look and be constructed, Fu-Tung Cheng has had the patience and inspiration to bring a whole new aesthetic to the discerning homeowner. While many projects showcased in "Concrete At Home" were for those with deeper pockets, I believe Mr. Cheng offers this timeless body of work as a place from which those of more modest means will be inspired to have the b...
The Taunton Press :: House & Home & Design & Construction :: Methods & Materials :: Materials :: House & Home :: Home Maintenance And Repair :: Home Improvement & Construction :: Dwel :: Concrete at Home - Innovative Forms and Finishes- Countertops- Floors- Walls- and Fireplaces

 

Understanding Construction Drawings

Understanding Construction Drawings ...
Thomson Delmar Learning :: Technology & Technical & Manufacturing Industries & Trades :: Technology & Industrial Arts :: Technology :: Structural drawing :: Science&Mathematics :: Dwellin :: Understanding Construction Drawings

 

How to Plan- Subcontract and Build Your Dream House- Everything You Need to Know to Avoid the Pitfal

3 stars (Voice of experience--good advice) - The best part of this book is its easygoing style. Written seemingly entirely from memory, you'll understand and remember every word. The author skips the commonly available info and writes about the crucial nuts-and-bolts problems of building a house: what do you do if you've drilled a hundred foot well and come up dry? (Keep drilling.) His advice on some details, vapor barriers for example, is OK but you'll want to check the latest thinking on the topic too. Some harmless misinformation is passed along, like that Palladio, eponym for those short-tall-short windows, "invented" them. (He may have invented residential architecture, but those windows date to antiquity. In his day they were known as serliana, after the architect Sebastian Serliano.) The scientific explanations fall a bit short, and the chapter where he disparages Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's engineering does not show him in a good light. However he does caution you that drywallers, more than any other trade, will try to rip you off with a high materials estimate. Stuff like that you can't get anywhere else. 5 stars (Great first source) - If you want to have a house built, this is a great book to start with. The author is a general contractor who has seen it all and wants to educate readers about the building process. His intention is to prevent others from the pitfalls and scams of building, and simultaneously he explains the science behind plumbing, electricity, sewarage, insulation etc. He also discusses the attitudes and scams of subcontractors and local bureaucrats. This is not a how-to book; the purpose is to educate you enough so that you know what questions to ask as your house goes up. He begins with purchasing the land and ends with the final detailing of the house. He includes interesting anecdotes to make his points. I was impressed his ability to go from the abstract to simple things usually overlooked. Although I was lost in th...
Trojan Homes :: Superintendence :: Subcontracting :: Houses :: Dwellings :: Design and construction :: Building :: Architecture :: Domestic :: Amateur's manuals :: Technology :: Selectio :: How to Plan- Subcontract and Build Your Dream House- Everything You Need to Know to Avoid the Pitfal

 

The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair- With 350 Projects and 2300 Photos Black - Decker

5 stars (Invaluable Resource) - We recently purchased an old home with lots of "problems". I borrowed this book from my local library (along with Black & Decker's Home Improvement) and was amazed at how clear and detailed it was. I think the best part is how they use real photos of everything, and not sketches. There are well over 2000 photos. Within days, I was dealing with and solving basement issues, plumbing problems, electrical outlets, and many more things that I did not even thing of. The books helped so much that I decided to go ahead and purchase them here on Amazon. There are countless home improvement books out there and some rank better than others. From what I've seen, the Black & Decker series ranks at the top and are an invaluable resource. It literally pays for itself with all the money saving tips and instructions. I recommend this book, along with Black & Decker's Home Improvement and Outdoor to anyone looking to save money on home repairs. 5 stars (My new favorite home repair guide) - A good home repair guide is an absolute requirement for those of us who know very little about home repair but feel the urge on occasion to tackle some of those odd jobs around the house. While there are many guides on the market today the best ones have an abundance of photographs or detailed illustrations to help the reader see what they are supposed to be doing. With over 2,300 photos Black and Decker's The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair is the epitome of this class of books. Processes and techniques are described step by step in detail with no prior knowledge assumed. Everything is so well done anyone can complete any of the projects if they can read and follow directions. I've had several home repair books, but this one just became my top choice for the one I want to have around as my primary reference. The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair is a very highly recommended book for every homeowner or handyman. ...
Creative Publishing International :: Repair :: Remodeling & Renovation - General :: Maintenance and repair :: House & Home :: Home Improvement & Construction :: Dwellings :: Do-It-Yourself - General :: :: The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair- With 350 Projects and 2300 Photos (Black - Decker)

 

Insulate and Weatherize - Expert Advice from Start to Finish Taunton-s Build Like a Pro

5 stars (Essential reading for every homeowner!) - Insulating your house is fraught with dangers and there are lots of sharks out there only too delighted to take your money and ruin your house. Although I am still learning this stuff, I'm still confident that I know more than most of the insulation contractors that have come through my door. Scary, isn't it? The dangers of doing it wrong aren't just a waste of money. There is a real risk of mold in the short term and rot in the long term. Read this book, but let it be your first step. See the Taunton forums at their web page, the Building Sciences Corp web page, and do your homework before you let anyone do anything to your house. I agree with a previous reviewer that a weakness of this book is its lack of step-by-step guides, and as a complete novice on house construction I had to look elsewhere for some of the terminology. But I'm still giving it 5 stars just because it has so much important information, to counteract all the misinformation and misconceptions out there. 3 stars (Very useful overview, but not a step-by-step manual) - This was one of the first books that I bought after purchasing an older, leaky home. And not having insulated a house for ten years or so, and knowing many people with rigid-insulated McMansions, it was a relief to see a book that treats insulation as something to be planned, like any other infrastructural component, not just done ad hoc. Like other Taunton publications, this one is nicely laid out and designed. However, as an amateur, I wanted to see a game plan that I could follow, including which tasks I could be expected to do reasonably well myself, and which things should be left to a professional. Sure, this advice is scattered in the content, but having something like a checklist and timetable would make this a great reference, not just a great overview. 5 stars (Clears up common misconceptions about insulation) - I am very pleased with this book. In addition to covering...
Taunton :: House & Home & Reference :: Sealing (Technology) :: Repair :: Insulation :: House & Home :: Home Maintenance And Repair :: Home Improvement & Construction :: Dwelli :: Insulate and Weatherize - Expert Advice from Start to Finish (Taunton-s Build Like a Pro)