During the past year I read mostly non-fiction books for leisure, this being my pattern for the last few years. History, architecture and design were the main topics of interest, though none of the design books I read left enough of an impression to make my favorite list. None of these titles were first published in 2010, with one actually being as old as from 1983, so the list represents the best of what I discovered for the year, not what was necessarily new.
A few of these books were spontaneous purchases, but most were specifically sought out. I greatly prefer hardback editions over softcovers and this significantly influences my acquisition strategy. All were obtained as hardbacks, with some being found used, to meet my standard. As of this writing most are still available new, at least in softcover. The Rybczynski book is the exception, but he's such an extraordinary writer that his books are worth the effort to find by whatever means.
All of these books were quite enjoyable to read and I recommend them to anyone with similar interests. In no particular order my favorites from 2010 were:
Vanished Smile, The Mysterious Theft of Mona Lisa
by R. A. Scotti, Alfred A. Knopf, 2009
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In 1911 the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris and disappeared for three years before being recovered. The event was a massive international scandal at the time, but the precise details of how and why it happened are still shrouded in mystery. This account weaves together known facts with plausible speculation into an engaging story of intrigue, deception and humor. The cast of characters includes bumbling thieves, frustrated investigators, mysterious forgers, and the artist Picasso, among others.
Eiffel's Tower, And the World's Fair Where Buffalo Bill Beguiled Paris, the Artists Quarreled and Thomas Edison Became a Count
by Jill Jonnes, Viking Press, 2009
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The full title pretty well describes it all. A marvelous historical account of the building of the Eiffel Tower and the drama surrounding its subsequent celebration at the 1889 World's Fair in Paris. The story involves a veritable
Who's Who of American and international celebrities, artists, and titans of the era. Very well written and presented, with numerous photographic references.
Why Architecture Matters
by Paul Goldberger, Yale University Press, 2009
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Goldberger is best known as an architectural critic with the
New York Times, where he won a Pulitzer Prize, and more recently with
The New Yorker. This is not merely a collection of reviews from those publications, but rather a whole new work focused on exploring the importance of architecture in the context of our social culture. He covers a wide range of material very competently and delivers clear, practical ideas that help build a greater appreciation for architecture.
The Secret Lives of Buildings, From the Ruins of the Parthenon to the Vegas Strip in Thirteen Stories
by Edward Hollis, Metropolitan Books, 2009
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These are stories that focus on obscure, but important aspects of thirteen notable building projects throughout history. Some are well known icons of architecture, others less so, but each is in its own way is an amazing tale, with interesting twists and turns, ultimately conveying the idea of places that have become something much greater than the sum of their past.
Look At The Birdie, Unpublished Short Fiction
by Kurt Vonnegut, Delacorte Press, 2009
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Kurt Vonnegut is arguably one of the greatest American authors of all time. This collection of his early work is mostly unpublished short stories intended for magazines, but that were rejected by publishers. However, the book begins with a facsimile reproduction of a powerful personal letter he wrote to his family describing the circumstances of his detention by the Germans in Dresden during World War II. His signature style of humorous acerbic commentary was fully apparent even then. This book is a welcome glimpse into his early writing and is a must-read for any committed Vonnegut fan.
Mirage, Napoleon's Scientists and the Unveiling of Egypt
by Nina Burleigh, Harper Collins, 2007
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Napoleon's brief and ill-fated conquest of Egypt is best known as a military campaign, but this account approaches the story from the perspective of its scientific aspirations. Napoleon formed a corps of some of the best scientific minds of the day in France and brought them to Egypt as part of his army. These men were charged with deriving as much scientific knowledge as possible from the ancient cultures they would encounter. Though largely a tale of systemized ransacking, under incredibly difficult conditions there were a few remarkable discoveries, such as the Rosetta Stone, that greatly expanded our human knowledge.
The City, A Global History
by Joel Kotkin, The Modern Library, 2005
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The history of human cultural development can be linked directly to the evolution of several important major cities, each of which was at the center of human endeavor in its time. This book charts the rise, and sometimes fall of these cities, along with the forces that shaped them and the impact they had on cities that followed. A very good view of how our modern cities have evolved and are inextricably linked to our cultural identity.
Taming The Tiger, The Struggle To Control Technology
by Witold Rybczynski, Viking Press, 1983
One of my favorite writers is Witold Rybczynski, an architect, scholar and author of several books on architectural history. One of his earliest works is this 1983 book about the impact of technological development on society. Although written nearly 30 years ago, all the historical background information is still pertinent to our modern perspective and many of his conclusions about the trends at that time seem prescient today. This is a very enjoyable historical account from a great writer, with much insight that continues to be relevant.
