Virginia McAlester (1943–2020)

The practical guide to something of the latter half of 2020 for me. This was my second time attempting to read this, motivated by an ongoing need to ID basic characteristics about residential neighborhoods in places I'm working, primarily rough age of construction. It's a very long and thorough, if now dated, encyclopedia of home styles in the US that can be a helpful reference if you work in or have interest in the world of "old" real estate. And even though I'm not doing much work show more in-person right now, a nice bonus is that I have gotten much better at identifying house styles from TV shows and movies! show less

Intimidating. Silly me, I thought "Field Guide" would be something to fit in the glovebox and pull out when spotting an interesting house in one's travels. This is a huge reference, more like a single-volume encyclopedia or large textbook. I did look it over enough to know it'd be perfect for the right audience... but I ain't her.

I thought I was the only house geek.....but now I know I'm not alone. There are others, and look, now we have a book to encourage our obsessions. I have always wondered how my old house would be classified; I now know that I own a gable-front and wing Folk Victorian. This is even better than my Victorian Houses Coloring Book!

Excellent resource for determining the age and style of homes in America based on shape, construction, and location. As good as any Audubon book on birds.