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lee_hillshire's review
Humans really were better at building things before technology weren't we.
matthewabush's review
5.0
I know this books are for kids, but I sure do enjoy all of Macaulay's books.
worldlibraries's review
5.0
When I think of David Macaulay’s work, I always wonder if the future architect or construction engineer reads his titles with the same joy I do. I purchase all of his books to explain architecture and construction to young people, but I have never yet had the student who consumes them all in one fell swoop. They are so consumable! My hope was always to inspire that future architect or construction engineer, but I guess I will have to settle for how it makes the non-professional in these sectors understand their surroundings better. What an incredible job this author does at filling the niche of explaining how function-driven buildings are built and how they operate in context of their societies.
In less than one hour, Macaulay explained to me as a reader, 1) who the great architect was of the Ottoman Empire, 2) how the wealthiest Ottoman men of accomplishment would choose to create a legacy via sacred architecture, 3) the techniques the craftsmen of the Ottoman Empire used to build a mosque and kulliye complex, and 4) how life was enhanced around a mosque once it was built. An idea new to me was how back in the day, a mosque and its complex of madrassa (school for studying the Koran), kitchen, hammam (public bath), and caravanserai (inn & stables) enhanced the economic development of the neighborhood, but as soon as I read it, I realized how self-evident that was. These building complexes attracted wealth and trade to the neighborhood.
What a talent it is to write for the middle grade student, yet create a book that also captivates adults! I knew 80% of the information in Mosque, which possibly increased the joy of reading it. Having watched a hammam get restored, including watching the lead sheets rolled out like aluminum foil to be secured one-by-one onto the dome, I loved seeing this process illustrated in a book. What was new to me were the two methods for building a dome and getting the arc of the dome exactly right. I loved seeing the process for making stained glass, for making the wrought iron grilles with their knots for the ground-level windows, and how one goes about building a minaret.
The drawings and blueprints of the construction process were so terrific and easy-to-understand. The illustrations, done by the author, were an enhancement to understanding on each and every page.
There was a one-page glossary in the back that teaches all of the Turkish words related to mosque buildings and worship. There was just enough explanation of Islam to explain why the building was built the way it was, and what each segment of the building signifies, and how one worships inside. If I was a kid somewhere else in the world who had never been exposed to Islam and its sacred buildings, I would have walked away from this book having enjoyed an hour or two well-spent and with a much greater understanding of the Ottoman Empire, the religion of the sultan and Ottoman ruling classes, and their sacred architecture.
This book should be sold in every tourist-related bookstore in Turkey. It would potentially sell like hotcakes to the 50 million tourists who visit Turkey annually who want to bring home a present to their kids and grandkids.
In less than one hour, Macaulay explained to me as a reader, 1) who the great architect was of the Ottoman Empire, 2) how the wealthiest Ottoman men of accomplishment would choose to create a legacy via sacred architecture, 3) the techniques the craftsmen of the Ottoman Empire used to build a mosque and kulliye complex, and 4) how life was enhanced around a mosque once it was built. An idea new to me was how back in the day, a mosque and its complex of madrassa (school for studying the Koran), kitchen, hammam (public bath), and caravanserai (inn & stables) enhanced the economic development of the neighborhood, but as soon as I read it, I realized how self-evident that was. These building complexes attracted wealth and trade to the neighborhood.
What a talent it is to write for the middle grade student, yet create a book that also captivates adults! I knew 80% of the information in Mosque, which possibly increased the joy of reading it. Having watched a hammam get restored, including watching the lead sheets rolled out like aluminum foil to be secured one-by-one onto the dome, I loved seeing this process illustrated in a book. What was new to me were the two methods for building a dome and getting the arc of the dome exactly right. I loved seeing the process for making stained glass, for making the wrought iron grilles with their knots for the ground-level windows, and how one goes about building a minaret.
The drawings and blueprints of the construction process were so terrific and easy-to-understand. The illustrations, done by the author, were an enhancement to understanding on each and every page.
There was a one-page glossary in the back that teaches all of the Turkish words related to mosque buildings and worship. There was just enough explanation of Islam to explain why the building was built the way it was, and what each segment of the building signifies, and how one worships inside. If I was a kid somewhere else in the world who had never been exposed to Islam and its sacred buildings, I would have walked away from this book having enjoyed an hour or two well-spent and with a much greater understanding of the Ottoman Empire, the religion of the sultan and Ottoman ruling classes, and their sacred architecture.
This book should be sold in every tourist-related bookstore in Turkey. It would potentially sell like hotcakes to the 50 million tourists who visit Turkey annually who want to bring home a present to their kids and grandkids.
ubalstecha's review
4.0
Very wordy, but then Macauley has to explain the inner workings of a mosque to a western audience, Full of the geeky detail that makes his work so enjoyable.
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review
5.0
I have not read of these books in so long. It is nice to see that they stand the test of time.
birdoneday's review
4.0
Hard to go wrong with any book by David Macaulay. Took away one star only because I know I would have loved this more if I'd read it when I was still a kid.
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