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My Christmas present
It's the best book of the year and not just because it was my Christmas present. It's The Phaidon Atlas of 21st Century World Architecture (good photo excerpts at the link). The book is 812 pp. and also several times larger than a normal book so it is like getting a 2000 pp. book or more. (That's why it costs $122!) It is very heavy to carry around and it comes in its own plastic case.
The book offers photos and information about the splendid works of architecture that have opened since the beginning of the millennium. It's amazing how much there is (1037 structures, according to one review) and also you can compare one locale to another; why for instance has Medellin been so active in building innovative structures?
Unintentionally, the book is a paean to the now-passed global real estate bubble. It is an amazing feeling to turn the pages and see how much effort and creativity mankind has put into building. Homes were considered profitable investments and state and local governments had plenty of funds for public buildings. Today, many projects are on-line as half-baked cakes but, overall, the next eight years won't be anything like these.
Highly recommended.
Posted by Tyler Cowen on December 26, 2008 at 06:50 AM in Books | Permalink
Comments
Just think how much a book like that will cost once the e-book market takes 60% plus market share
Posted by: Matt at Dec 26, 2008 11:19:25 AM
u may like this: www.lonelyengineer.com
Posted by: heath at Dec 26, 2008 1:00:08 PM
But does it show the works of Howard Roark?
Posted by: Brandon Robison at Dec 26, 2008 1:35:05 PM
Hey Cowen,
Your wife calls my member "the Stimulus Package."
I call her privates "the Liquidity Trap" because every time I nail her it's so wet.
Posted by: Jack Buhtfuykken at Dec 26, 2008 1:58:02 PM
but does it have the shape of a building? Seinfeld has raised the bar.
Posted by: unacoder at Dec 26, 2008 7:52:11 PM
If an economic contraction means that somewhere a Frank Gehry building gets permanently cancelled, then at least some good will come of it.
Posted by: RJ at Dec 27, 2008 11:09:29 AM
