When you are in the presence of a magnificent building, a modern house, a grand cathedral, something tightens up in your stomach. Alan de Botton tries (pretty hard) to define what that feeling is.

He is holding up several Greco-Roman ideals about architecture, identifying corresponding human virtues and values with the aesthetic values of structures. This part of his thesis seems somewhat mundane, but is presented with an interesting collection of photos (arranged almost as a photo essay...recalls Berger's Way of Seeing). Art historians and art fanatics probably won't get much from his argument here, but just poring through the examples he has chosen is a joy.

Some arguments are, however, misconstrued. de Botton's identification of psychological connections with architecture as well as the juxtapositions of qualities he selected are rather arbritary and somewhat questionable. Several leaps of logic are required to follow his argument, though I cannot deny that several of his conclusions sound favorable (maybe partly because they are rather common-sensical as well, and maybe so because I'm not well read in architectural history / aesthetics).

Overall, an interesting and refreshing take on how to view architecture, though probably not a good introduction to the topic. ( )

"passive-aggressive"
"somewhat reactionary"

una serie de meditaciones sobre algunos temas relacionados con arquitectura. supongo temas fundamentales. muy facil de leer. a veces se siente como pseudo filosofia o filosofia "lite". hay algunas ideas muy buenas, muchas ideas que son cuestionables y bien debatibles. hay algo en el tono del autor que es medio exasperante. abusa del modo primera persona plural, despues de un rato se siente bien manipulativo, bien "passive-agresive." algunas ideas me parecieron reaccionarias, bien conservadoras. tambien molesta esta cuestion moralista en la discusion de arte. pero el hecho que me moleste me parecio en si mismo interesante. en todo caso fue una lectura buena. me sirvio para darme cuenta de que el tema si me interesa. ( )

Summary: Alain de Botton explores the effect of architecture on the human condition: how it inspires us, how it enforces our ideals of beauty, and how it reflects our culture and our desires.

Review: My sister, who is starting her studies in architecture at the University of Toronto, bought this book to prepare herself. One day I had nothing to read, so she lent me her copy. It’s a slim book but it packs a lot of ideas, and it doesn’t hurt that de Botton is an elegiac, poetic writer, capable of squeezing poignancy even into the most mundane sentences. I mean it: this is a man who could write about eating toast and I would lap it all up.

His suggestions about architecture are interesting. I don’t know much about the subject so I can’t offer an educated opinion, but I thought he did a good job of exploring the connection between architecture and human wants and fears. It’s also good that there are photos to accompany his writing so that I can see what he means — some of the pictures took my breath away.

However, one niggling feeling ate at me the entire time I was reading. De Botton comes across as obviously a white man. I have nothing against white men writing books, but when he’s discussing the universals of architecture or the human condition but he really means Western architecture and society, it bothers me. He talks about how humans all want democracy and classical ideals and things like that, which is only a limited view of humanity. Yes, he mentions briefly Japanese architecture and culture, but not much and a bit on Japan is hardly encompassing all non-Western cultures (as an Asian I get annoyed when Japan is always presented to the West as the model Asian nation, but that's another rant entirely). I don’t mind that he focuses on Western culture. I just wish he would clarify that more often rather than assume that the West is default. Also, he tends to revert to male as default when talking about people whose gender are unknown. This is a pet peeve. Others might not mind it but it is like nails on a chalkboard for me.

Conclusion: A pretty book about a subject I was eager to learn more about. Ticks off a few of my race and gender buttons, but overall a good read. ( )

I like this book. ( )

In this comprehensive and heavily illustrated essay, de Botton retraces the history of architecture, the motivations and standards of beauty that have ruled our buildings and the human aspects that make a building appealing or not. It is a superficial account which nonetheless covers much ground. Written simply, it is fun and easy with many concrete examples. Not for an architecture student, but an agreeable introduction for the layman. I have certainly started giving more careful attention to my environment and its influences. ( )