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Book reviews for "Mitchell,_William_J." sorted by average review score:

Frank Gehry, Architect
Published in Hardcover by Solomon R Guggenheim Museum (2001)
Authors: Frank O. Gehry, Beatriz Colomina, Mildred Friedman, William J. Mitchell, J. Fiona Ragheb, Jean-Louis Cohen, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and Museo Guggenheim Bilbao
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A wonderful book
I just want to begin this review by saying that this book is a need for any architect's library. The book Frank Gehry, Architect, provides a wealth of knowledge about the architect as well as the structures that he has created over time. Most pages in this book (and there are many) contain full color pictures, sketches, or descriptions about the structure and the architect. This book spans from Gehry's earliest projects to project underdevelopment. Projects range from structures to furniture, and even to art (sculpture like stuff). An aspect that I like most about this book is seeing Gehry develop his ideas and hone his craft. I should also add that this book also contains several models that were created for structures. I think this is essential because it allows beginning architects a chance to see effective model building techniques as well as different ways to convey a feeling which is essential for effective communication with a client. Overall, I would highly recommend this book for all architects and students.

AMAZING
a very interesting look into the life and times of Frank Gehry. Anyone ineterested in architecture or interested in increasing their knowledge of architecture and architecture's past must read this.


The Poetics of Gardens
Published in Hardcover by MIT Press (17 November, 1988)
Authors: Charles W. Moore, William J. Mitchell, and William Turnbull
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Much more than a garden book
It's really about experiencing and analyzing the spacial environment. Well written & illustrated. I've used it as a supplemental text in a history of L.A. course, & students have found it really valuable. I've just plain enjoyed it.

Covers a lot
Good examples of different aspects of the landscape. Explains different types of gardens well. It was an assigned book for a class, which made me not want to read it, but I'm glad that I did. Well written with good diagrams.


Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments
Published in Hardcover by W.W. Norton & Company (1948)
Authors: William J. Mitchell and C.P.E. Bach
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historically significant
This an historically significant work worthwhile for a number of reasons--of course--, but I am particularly interested in its treatment of figured bass. Why? Although it was composed after Rameau published his revolutionary theory of root progression, C.P.E. Bach repudiated Rameau's theory, and this work remains untouched by it. Consequently, reading this is the easist way to get a feel for how things stood before Rameau and (ironically for C.P.E. Bach) to appreciate truly Rameau's achievement.

Also recommended: PENTATONIC SCALES FOR THE JAZZ-ROCK KEYBOARDIST by Jeff Burns.


J.Neel Reid Architect: Of Hentz, Reid & Adler & the Georgia School of Classicists
Published in Hardcover by Golden Coast Publishing Company (1998)
Authors: William R. Jr. Mitchell and James R. Lockhart
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Book shows why Neel Reid was one of greatest of the South.
The book gives history and insight on his life and follows his working history from Macon to Florida to Atlanta. His attention to detail is pointed out in many chapters and the photography along with the orginal drawings are a good touch. If your looking for some ideas or maybe a facade to copy this would be a excellent book. Most of his houses are timeless designs and the interior views and elevation views are stunning.


The Power of Positive Parenting
Published in Hardcover by Wynwood Pr (1989)
Authors: William J. Mitchell and Charles C. Conn
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Great Book
This is s good source of ideas for teaching your kids about how to act and react to their environment.


The Reconfigured Eye: Visual Truth in the Post-Photographic Era
Published in Paperback by MIT Press (25 July, 1992)
Author: William J. Mitchell
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The consequences of digital
Mitchell's book might be thought of as two books. It is mainly about the meaning of photography at a time when pictures can be so easily manipulated and changed. It's really a philosophical discussion of truth and ethics. However, the middle section of the book is more about the technical aspects of 2D and 3D graphics, with explanations of the fundamental concepts that underlie digital images and compositing techniques, as well as computer modeled and rendered scenes.

And fortunately, both sections are great. THE RECONFIGURED EYE is valuable both as a reconsideration of photographic truth in a the context of new technologies, and as a book to help photographers, graphic designers, architects, and anyone working with photographs to understand how the basic functions of 2D and 3D software work and why. Though I wish there were even more photos of some of the paintings and photographs he refers to, there are many great pictures of paintings, photos, and rendered scenes to illustrate what he describes in the text. This is definitely one of the more thoughtful books on digital images and there's a lot of good stuff here to think about.

A Must-Have for Digital Artists
I can't believe that no one has written a review here of this essential book! Anyone creating, curating, writing about, or simply trying to appreciate computer-based art work should own this text. Mitchell weaves together theory, history, and technique to explain the fundamentals of this new field. His scholarship and knowledge of the area are unbeatable.


Louis I. Kahn : Unbuilt Masterworks
Published in Hardcover by Monacelli Pr (02 October, 2000)
Authors: Kent Larson, Vincent Scully, Louis I. Kahn, and William J. Mitchell
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imaginary photographs of unbuilt buildings
So I'm looking through this book of photographs of unbuilt projects, and gradually I realize. . . I'm looking at photo. . . . graphs of. . . unbuilt projects. They're great-looking photos, too. There's a building at the Salk Institute in La Jolla which I know isn't there, and another Jewish memorial NYC which I don't think exists, and they look great.

What Kent Larson has done is a simple, powerful, cool idea that took a lot of time, energy, MIT architectural thinking, and SGI computing power to accomplish. Larson first pieced together a reasonable paper version of each structure, then assembled a 3-D virtual model of that structure, then had to choose the best virtual camera angles under the best false sunlight for the best portraits. Larson went as far as using high-resolution photographs of existing Kahn walls to skin these virtual surfaces, and added a patina of wear and tear, just to make it more convincing.

So Larson's work is the result of a lot of a helluva lot of choices. It helped the interpretation that Kahn preferred a limited palette of building materials - like concrete - which helped Larson orchestrate this score. It didn't help Larson that Kahn was known for his close attention to lighting effects. All that lighting took the most sophisticated possible CAD/CAM rendering on SGI hardware.

But the payoff is - shocking. You get bright sunlight, soft counter-reflections, complex reflections in glass (the glass-block Jewish memorial is the showboat piece in that respect). You have to see them to know how much you want to believe them, if that makes any sense. To know how much you'd like to visit these six new Kahn buildings that will never exist. In a weird way, this project advances Kahn's career and reputation, not only from beyond the grave, but lapsing over into architectural cyberspace.

Architecture & computer at it's best ......
Larson has not only demonstrated superb skill in computer rendering but also a much deeper understanding of Kahn's architecture. Reviews by Scully demonstrate the histrorical development of Kahns work & Mitchell has done a fine job of giving the analysis. This book will help in establishing some standard for presenting unbuilt works of architecture in the future.

Format of the book is good in its simplicity although some reference to drawings would have made it a more comprehensive study. Great book ... a collecter's item for all "Kahnian's" across the world.

Beautiful Book!
This is not just another architecture book. It is also a beautiful photography book. It is astounding that these luminous images are of spaces that were never built!


e-topia
Published in Paperback by MIT Press (28 August, 2000)
Author: William J. Mitchell
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Better be called "e-today"
Mitchell provides a well description of today and very near future. Covering most of the ideas possible with the current state of technology. He tells us what is available today and perhaps what is available later today. However, he fails in telling what is going to be a little later, say next week. A reader expects more from a book called "e-topia". A better title for the book would be "e-today". If you are a stranger to the field, you can learn a lot from this book. Otherwise, you already have many ideas addable this book.

Gem of a book with one flaw
This is a great book, and you can't say 'great' without choosing the word carefully. Think of the book as very rich food, it is difficult to digest it at one sitting. The starter was like a think broth but it did help me settle into the author's writing style. The main course was enlightening but filling, and the desert comparatively light and attractive. This is no madman's ranting it is very well balanced and honest. I felt the author was sitting beside me reading the whole thing aloud as the style is friendly if a little bit too heavily laced with 'advanced English'. And this is it's flaw, this wonderful book is really only suitable for the native English speaker, I gave my copy to a Czech friend with excellent English and she was unable to enjoy it as I had. If you have an interest in what the physical shape of our existance might look like under the future influence of the virtual world we are creating then this is the book for you. This is not just a book for architects, it is a book for a very wide audience, it is not too heavily littered with technical jargon so native English speakers will be able to enjoy it.

Fresh/broad vision
The book helped me to put some commonsense about the Internet/technology and their impacts together. But it lacks of depth.


Digital Places: Building Our City of Bits
Published in Hardcover by Urban Land Institute (01 November, 2000)
Authors: Thomas A. Horan, William J. Mitchell, and Thomas A. Horan PhD.
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Digital Places: Building Our City of Bits
Digital Places presented an ideas of an idealistic world, where 'computers' can be integrated into human's life. The Author proposed many interesting ideas of how our society (cities) can be 'connected' with a ever-changing technology. He also comments on human evolution to be 'connect' with the 'digital' world. This will require great length of dedication and effort from both the government and the private sector. Overall, this book reflect very interesting points where our society can be 'wired' and enhance our life. In the last chapter, the author also present a very intersting and helpful '7 Actions' to lead us to the new height in the 'digital world'. Maybe?, this is the genesis of our 'Brave New World'.


Internal Medicine
Published in Paperback by Fence Creek Publishing (1998)
Authors: Steven M. Mitchell and William J. Mitchell
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Feel Good Book
Yes you read it and you feel good. After so good leading Physical Exam questions and proper responses from the patients you know the answer. It is nice little book in 14 chapters. Each chapter covering certain group of illnesses with average five cases, starting each with initial presentation, physical examination, tests and assessment. Initial presentation and physical examination which is given quite clearly is more teaching part than diagnosis part for it is already implied in presentation part.You learn few tricks, key points in discussion section.


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