Books Received: Fall 2008

Shana Tova!
Have a great Rosh Hashanah everyone.

Those are some nice books! Especially curious about Data Flow... Maybe you could review some of these books in the future??

Obvious salesmanship allows us to tune out an ad. For instance, frequently on radio talk shows there are ads placed which you might believe are part of the show, they feature a host and guest. These ads force me to listen only to be disgusted in the end.

On the other hand, an ad like the Head On commercial we are all familiar with has gone over the top. Sure, I can try to tune it out, but usually fail.

The previous post was meant for another topic and was accidentally placed here. SORRY!

"New books have been piling up again at Design Observer."

Where, exactly, is Design Observer?

I would love to know.

Great list. Thanks.

Just curious if anyone is reading fiction/literature/poetry at Design Observer, and if you have any recommended picks.

I've been searching the blog to figure out to recommend a book that I think epitomizes the purpose of design and designers:

Design Like You Give a Damn: Architectural Responses to Humanitarian Crises, by Architecture for Humanity, Kate Stohr, and Cameron Sinclair

It's a beautifully designed book, published in 2006 (so, yes, doesn't belong on this list, but didn't know where to put it). What's interesting about it are the politics that can surround even humanitarian design efforts. It also addresses some really interesting design parameters -- how do you design a shelter that is cheap and easy to build in a harsh environment -- by women who's main resource is sand? While in the meantime, local men are angry as they are out of a job. It's fascinating and I believe that these are the problems that we as designers were put on this earth to solve. These are not "design competitions." This is life.

Another favorite published in 1995 (yes, that far back) is:

Material World: A Global Family Portrait by Peter Menzel, Charles C. Mann, and Paul Kennedy (Paperback - Oct 3, 1995)

Another beautifully designed, photographed and written book. Peter Menzel (the photographer) went around the world asking people to put all of the possessions in their homes on their "front yards," with the most important in front, and the least in back. Universally, peoples' most important possessions are their photographs. The materials the constitute a life in different parts of the world are fascinating. I'm also fascinated by cultures that DESIGN everything they have, even though they have next to nothing. That and the notion of what is "art" and what is "design" when taken from a global perspective is something I think is worth addressing -- by someone! Maybe me, someday.

Hi Judith,

Thank you for these! I would be interested in chatting with you on this topic. Please fee free to get in touch with me.

This is for Eric Heiman-- I read tons of fiction, non-fiction and literature that I'd be happy to recommend, but not on this blog as I don't believe that's the point of this blog (feel free to email me at jhoogenboom@earthlink.net).

Also, walk into any B&N and the tables of favorites (current and forever) are, generally speaking, the best contemporary literature (fiction, sometimes non-fiction) out there guaranteed to please, depending on your mood and interest. They sell well, because they ARE good books. Head for the classics and you will find the best. They are classics for a reason.

I LOVE bookstores. Just take a wander and go to one. If that fails to inspire me, or I don't have time to browse, I just ask anyone in the store near me for their opinion. Sometimes I walk out with a book, sometimes not. Good books are best when you read them at the right time and place for YOU. It's a very personal choice.

Wow, hella collection so far. Thanks for the post.

have to disagree that "design like you give a damn" is well designed, but the content and themes are interesting enough for those of us such as myself toiling for the man, making crap commercial work.

as for the recommendations listed above, my two cents is for le corbusier's le grand (although it takes andre the giant to lift it) and yuichi yokoyama's "travel" (no words in it, so non-japanese can appreciate that). as for the rest, i suspect it is the remainders bin, but what do i know, i'm not educated or discerning and know little about books except what are good.

You betcha! I'm a maverick and I may not answer the questions ya want. I wanted to letcha know that I don't like books and think you're all elitist designers — so vote McCain Palin!

Wow lucky I wish I had that many books. Great Blog! Check mine out thevisualscience.com

Thanks Judith so much; I just ordered Design Like You Give a Damn.
I would also recommend any of the books on Rural Studio.