Rethinking Architecture (Sociolinguistics) First Edition

I already had taken a shot on this book, after a friend recommended it to me. Of course, it's not a book by architects, it's extracts offer different perspectives on architecture and urbanism that not always are found akin to architectural thought or conventional architectural thought, but that's precisely the point... highly recommended to anyone interested in.. well. Rethinking Architecture

VERY GOOD

This book is a compilation of essays on architecture from a very distinctive and unique point of view, which shows people involved with architecture or its related fields the perspective of recognised sociologists, communicators, semiologists et cetera, and which constitutes a very valuable tool for a deeper understanding of our everyday proceedings in such a globalizing practice as the art of designing works of art where we can dwell.

The editor of the books is to be congratulated for compiling all the key texts of the leading Continental philosophers on the topics of architecture, urbanism, or the built environment per se. Whether or not you are smitten by the so-called Continental philosophy -- a loosely connected group of twentieth century figures mostly active in Germany and France, from Heidegger and Adorno through Foucault and Derrida -- you can't deny that they have decisively influenced the contemporary architectural discourse. It's useful to have most of the relevant writings available in one volume.

Contrary to the opinion of the fellow who gave this book 1 star, this book has an excellent selection of essays from many key 20th century thinkers (including three essays and 1 extract from Heidegger, which should be enough to undermine the critic's credibility). For the most part, they are presented unedited in full. Many of the selections are must-reads for people who wish to understand particular periods in the history of modern architecture, and it is nice to have them all together under a single cover.

This is an anthology with texts and extracts by philosophers and other thinkers. The editor also provides good introduction to each section of the book (Modernism, Phenomenology, Structuralism, Postmodernism, and Poststructuralism) and each writer.

Excellent, thanks :-)