Windswept House: A Vatican Novel

Book Description

The Cold War has ended. With a scope and daring not possible until now, an unlikely international alliance of top-level political, financial, and religious interests sees the way clear at last to its ultimate goal: the establishment of a single global society. Utopia.

These are men with nothing in common but immense power and a towering ambition for still more. With world unity and prosperity as their slogan--and with betrayal, scandal, and murder as their ready weapons--they have the means and the will to capture as their own the perfect global machinery for their plans: the oldest, wiliest, and most stable political chancery in the world--the Vatican.

At the vortex of this lethal struggle stands the embattled Pope, a geopolitical genius whose elimination is the short-term solution to a long-term goal, and two American brothers, Paul and Christian Gladstone, one a lawyer and the other a priest, who appear to be the perfect pawns. One falls prey to the sharp teeth of greed for power. The other will become one of the Slavic Pontiff's closest allies...and will discover the darkest secrets at the very heart of papal Rome.

From America to Europe to Russia, in broad landscapes and clandestine corridors, a rich and varied cast--presidents and politicos, simple saints and savvy sinners, popes and pope-makers--clash with one another amid dramatic and sometimes bloody events that will affect the destiny of every person alive today.

Customer Reviews:

The spirit of confusion........2007-08-01

For over 600 pages, Malachi Martin rambles on about black masses at St. Peter's, pedophilia rings in the various dioceses, and the efforts of a group of sinister cardinals to replace "The Slavic Pope," clearly a stand in for John Paul II.

There is something not right about Malachi Martin, just as there is something not right about John Paul II, and it's important for Christians in these times to be aware of deceptions on each and every side. What is one to make of a book that rebukes the Vatican II "reforms" A.K.A. mass apostasy, when its author was, in real life, part of those reforms? I'd call it a half-hearted apology. But then Martin goes out of his way to portray the "Slavic Pope," who is the very embodiment of the heretical sweetening of the church, as the hero, besieged on all sides by Satanic infiltrators. I've never read anything so ludicrously hypocritical.

As usual with deceivers, Martin is using a magic trick on his readers. While you are mesmerized by lurid depictions of child sacrifice and acid attacks on pious priests, you can't see that the REAL Satanism in effect here is the gradual weakening of the gospels and the drift into atheism, cloaked as a new, more welcoming Catholicism, that is the legacy of the "Slavic Pope." Basically Malachi Martin is feebly trying to justify himself, under the guise of a full confession, and that's why he is so unfocused and pathetic in his storytelling.

As long as you're aware of this troubling discrepancy, the book is still worth reading. Martin is very good at depicting the mindset of the New World Order architects, the builders of false utopia, and how the lust for "action," for purpose in their lives, the need to fill that hole in the soul, is the glue of an almost unspoken conspiracy. I'm also glad Martin shows how child molestation rings work, effectively locking out any honest or sincere priests. Most people think that the epidemic of molestation in the Church is due to imposed celibacy, that priests have so much pent-up repressed lust that it just has to burst out whenever a choirboy walks by -- well, these priests take confessions from women as well, and priests through history have been tempted by women. Why is it always boys now? Clearly, when thousands of priests are involved, the word "conspiracy" would not be out of order.

I live in Los Angeles, not exactly a stronghold of the faith, and as soon as you mention you're a Christian people think of Bush, televangelists, and child molesters. And Martin, to his credit, does try to show that there are groups, cabals who do everything in their power to break down and divide the Christians, that the drift away from faith is by no means just a byproduct of "progress" or liberal ecumenicism but a calculated ploy, and they have been very, very successful. But even here there's some watering-down -- Freemasonry is mentioned, and there is one character who is always listening to Mozart as a proof of his villainy, but Freemasonry is just an adjunct, really. I'll leave you to do the detective work for yourself; just read the Gospels, it's all there in the words of Christ, and if you don't love His words, you don't love Christ.
You can't pick or choose the ones you want. They're all perfect.

So just be aware, this book is not the shocking expose it bills itself as, nor was it written in the true spirit of repentance. Martin is still blaming others while absolving himself. The problem is that if even I can see through his gambit, you'd better believe that God can as well. Who's fooling who?

If you have the Guts.......2007-07-04

If you have the Guts to read this book, then you have the Guts to save your own life.

Another prophetic book by Father Martin.......2007-04-06

This is truly a prophetic book, all you have to do is open your eyes and see the damage done to our beloved Catholic Church by most of our modern clergy since Vatican II to agree that father Martin had lucid insight to the dealings within the church. Yes, God can allow things to get real bad due to our sins, but let us not lose hope. Our Lady of Fatima said 'Finally, My Immaculate Heart will triumph'.

"The truth about the vatican".......2007-01-10

This story is true however the names are changed. This story is about the vatican and what happens when satan did come in the house of the lord. The book was written as a novel because names were changed to keep the guilty from sueing Malachi Martin. Evil and murder was covered up by the highest level of the church. A must read about evil that can come between certain people who some never drempt of. Melachi Martin was found dead after this book was written. He had been beat to death in the middle of broad daylight. The scary truth is the vatican covered up the murder and ruled Mr. martin fell and hit his head. However another doctor said, He would have had to jump from a building to complely crush his head like that" and no one saw anything on a buisy street in the middle of the day. A demon? Maybe?

Fiction or Fact?.......2006-05-01

As a human, this book scared the hell out of me. As a Catholic, I'll never look at church hierarchy the same, ever again. Because I try to keep fairly well up to date on religious news, this book gave me the chills because it was so eerily familiar. It definitely is a 'no-put-down' book.

Average customer rating:

THE HOUSE ON WINDSWEPT RIDGE

Manufacturer: Popular Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HQV3XU

Average customer rating:

The House on Windswept Ridge
Katheryn Kimbrough
Manufacturer: Popular Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000TYT9MW

The House on Windswept Ridge (A Queen-Sized Gothic)

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The House on Windswept Ridge (A Queen-Sized Gothic)

Manufacturer: Popular Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000FEUUZG

Product Description

She came to take possession of her birthright-and instead found a heritage of ghastly fear. Gothic and horror novel of a woman with a ghastly heritage

Average customer rating:

The House on Windswept Ridge
Katheryn Kimbrough
Manufacturer: Sphere Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000PWJQW6

Average customer rating:

Windswept House : A Vatican Novel
Malachi Martin
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WL1M6S

Windswept House: A Vatican Novel [Paperback] by Martin, Malachi

Average customer rating:

Windswept House: A Vatican Novel [Paperback] by Martin, Malachi
Enid Blyton
Manufacturer: Pan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WEZCY8

Customer Reviews:

Twist.......2007-08-12

Radclyffe keeps making it new and fresh. In this book leading up to 911 she brings in a new way to drive the story, hints. But not the whole story of the hints which makes you want to read more to see how it will all play out.

We know what happen that fateful day, but she finds a new way to twist into HER story a fictious story line that works really well. Bravo

This series just drags on.......2007-07-17

I like Radclyffe's books, especially when it's not a book in one of her series. When she writes a stand alone book, the characters stand out, but these series just keep dragging on. Here's another Honor book, which it turns out is NOT the final one in the series. It's not a bad story. It's not a good story. It's just another story about the same characters. Cam gets shot.....again. This isn't a spoiler. If you've read this series, she gets shot or hurt in every book. Makes you wonder why she is allowed to stay in the Secret Service. Radclyffe fans will love it and rave about it. If you're looking for something to pass a few hours of reading, this is it, but don't expect anything new.

Honor Reclaimed.......2006-12-20

Great book. It usually only takes me a few days to read Radclyffe's books. The story is great and I finished it wanting another book in the series. Come to find out one will be out Jun 2007. I love the way Radclyff describes the characters and how strong the women are. I only wish the seriers would go to theater. Excellent mystery and romance.

5th and final book of the series.......2006-08-14

I was left wanting more at the end of 4, I loved how 5 just picked up right were 4 left off. As with the other 4 books, I could not put it down. I was happy with the out come, but sad that the series was done. Radclyffe is a wonderful writer and I look forward to reading her other books.

Heartstopping Suspense!.......2006-07-30

In the days beyond one of the worst disasters to hit American soil, Secret Service Agent Cameron Roberts and what's left of her team fight to make sense of everything that's happened. And make sense of why one of their own would betray them in leading an attack on Cameron's lover Blair Powell, who happens to be the daughter of the President of the United States. An act Cam could not perceive let alone understand.

With Blair's home in shambles and unwilling to stay in the White House, Blair and Cameron turn to one of two friends that Blair trusts without question. To a place where she can feel protected, safe from harm, to a place where she is now protected by a new security chief. Protocol demands Cameron is out as the head of Blair's detail, a fact Blair is not happy with at all.

Secret Service Agent Paula Stark, Acting Security Chief, has her own battle to fight as well as contending with her new duties. Her lover, FBI Agent Renee Savard was thought to be lost when the buildings went down. Her joy at finding her alive is tempered by the nightmares she now suffers.

As the past and present of Blair's protectors join forces to uncover the traitors behind the devastation caused by the attacks Cameron is blindsided when a woman she knew as someone else reenters her life. It seems she is not who or what Cameron thought her to be. If she's not who she claimed, then exactly who is she? And what does she have to do with the task they now face? How will the truth of who she truly is impact the lives of everyone involved?

Cameron and Blair, reluctant friends at first, lovers to the end began their journey together in the intriguing book Above All, Honor, continued their story in the heartstopping Love & Honor and fought their way through two traumatic events in Honor Guards. Once again Radclyffe, an author with a well honed and indisputable skill as displayed thru her wide arsenal of over 20 books, takes us through the lives of two strong willed, determined women as they fight their way back to the one thing they hold dear above all except love...their Honor Reclaimed.

Book Description

In a city of ancient legends, a man stands guard at his watch only to be knocked unconscious as he and the city around him are plunged into darkness. This is a tale of a mighty empire banished into a different plane of existence. The Trinity of Chaos has risen from the ashes to rain their evil down onto the world again. Out of the darkness rises a light; seeds of courage have blossomed in the souls of few. An assassin and a young, white-robed mage begin their journey to find the source of this darkness. A Japanese emperor escapes from his shadowy prison and roams the forests attempting to stop the unspeakable evil that has washed across the land. Battalions of undead burn down villages. Powerful entities descend to the world to maintain the balance. The lord of shadows has different plans, however, and it will take every last ounce of faith from the band of heroes to push back the darkness. This is only the beginning. The tale starts here.

Book Description

Winning Cooperation from Your Child provides parents and therapists with a comprehensive, home-based behavioral recovery program for oppositional, defiant, and aggressive children. In response to the national epidemic of defiant and aggressive behav

Customer Reviews:

Winning Cooperation from Your Child!: A Comprehensive Method to Stop Defiant and Aggressive Behavior in Children .......2006-11-13

An absolute MUST READ for any parent of an ODD child. There needs to be a warning: THIS IS NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH OR FOR PARENTS NOT WILLING TO CHANGE because the author does spend time 'talking to' the parents about how THEY may first have to change in order for the child to change. Some people may take offense to this, thinking they are being 'blamed' for their child's behaviors. However, the message isn't one of finger-pointing. Instead, what the author is saying is that as the 'adult,' we may need to change our behavior and/or approach to this child in order for the child to change. Typcially, parents and ODD kids find themselves in a perpetual cycle ... the child misbehaves (albeit out of his control,) and the parent responds with traditional punishments and consequences; the child's frustration level increases (as s/he was not in control of the behavior to begin with) and then continues to misbehave, which results in additional punishments and consequences, leaving the child with a sense of doom and total failing, thus losing an 'incentive' to behave, and the parents feel like failures as they can't control their child. At some point, the cycle needs to be broken ... a change is needed. As the adult (the person in control, in charge) we are more in a position to change ... to break the cycle. It is not saying that the parents are at fault or are to blame. It is saying that as the ADULT person in the relationship, we need to take a different tactic or approach with the child. If we do, our child can/will change. To not be willing to do that, the parent is expecting the child to do all the changing (but not teaching them how to do that.) The book needs to be read to be totally understood, and read with an open mind. What I can and will say that I read this initially when my child (now 15) was 7 or 8 ... and it changed my life. The book became my bible, and I've recommended it to others over the years. I've read it and re-read it, and implemented the techniques. I went from having a child with such severe rage that the doctors were talking hospitalization ... to having a teenager who gets good grades, is a nice kid, is an avid baseball player and a black belt in karate ... who will become a loyal and productive member of society. For anyone to disregard this book for fear of being told that part of their child's behavior MAY be contributed to their own behaviors or their reactions to their child's is a shame, because anyone who can read this book with an open mind has a far greater chance of success ... for their child ... and it is their child that is the subject of the book and should be the focus of their attention.

"Winning Cooperation..." has not won me at all.......2006-07-18

To be honest, the only reason I have given this book one star is that I could not give it zero stars. I have read many, many parenting books and am totally unimpressed by this one. First of all, the book places 100% of blame on the parents of these children for their defiant behavior. While this may be the case in some situations, it ignores situations where parents are fostering or adopting children that have been damaged by previous caregivers, and it does not acknowledge in any way that brain dysfunction may be present and responsible for the behavior of many oppositional and defiant children today. Secondly, the strategies presented in this book are not applicable or appropriate for children that are not attached: only a child that is appropriately attached to an adult figure would think and problem solve in the manner described by this author. Strategies presented in this book rely heavily on praise and positive social enforcement; a child that is unattached and lacks conscience is unlikely to respond to such attempts to "win" them. In fact, these oppositional and defiant children are not motivated by praise at all! I am an educated professional individual, parenting a very difficult child, and I found this book to be insulting and a complete waste of my time and money.

This book is a MUST for all parents........2002-10-29

I have read SO many parenting books and this one rates up in the top 3, along with Parenting with Love and Logic and Raising Your Spirited Child. This book isn't just for parents of defiant/aggressive kids but for all parents. It is comprehensive, but simple to read without alot of redundancy to wade through. The author doesn't have any elaborate, complicated plans for you to follow, just practical, realistic but excellent parenting advice. If you are ready to follow his guidelines, you are ready to have a closer and healthier relationship with your child.

Customer Reviews:

Scary pictures you'll love.......2003-10-22

This book reminded me of my Grandma's old copy of the Betty Crocker cookbook. I always found the hypersaturated photos of jello molds, chicken liver appetizers, and roasted suckling pigs amusing, yet very unappetizing. Her cookbook had almost completely fallen apart, so I cut out the pictures (like the ones in this book) and put them on my frige. Of course, people didn't get the humor in it. When I found this book, I was pleased to see that others were fascinated with cooking trends and food advertising in the 50's and 60's.

I give the book 3 stars only because there is hardly any text, and I would have liked an discussion about kitchen kitsch. I have the book on my coffee table and people always seem to get a kick out of the hilarious ads and photos of weird entrees. I still like to page through it for a laugh.

Hold the mayo!.......2002-08-30

Was vintage food advertising really this garish? Yes it was, according to Karel Ann Marling in her book `As Seen On TV: The Visual Culture of Everyday Life in the 1950s', advertisers deliberately made food garish and bright and forced a contrast between objects and backgrounds. For instance, a pink and white cake would be placed on a green satin tablecloth. There are plenty of examples like this in `Kitchen Kitsch', either paintings (a chance for commercial artist to use even brighter colors) or photographs.

The majority of the illustrations come from the forties and fifties. My favorites are the paintings of jello, turned out from a mould, streamlined with highlights and looking just like Emerald City from the movie, `The Wizard of Oz'. Not only pictures of food but recipe book covers, can and box labels, period ads and more. All the pictures are in color and as this is a Taschen `Icon' book there is no text or information about the pictures but editor Jim Heimann has created a fun book about yesteryears grub.

If you have the stomach for it have a look at `The Gallery of Regrettable Food' by James Lileks. His book has very similar pictures but he uses them to write some very funny and biting text about food fads of the fifties and the book is a treat to look at as well.
.

Customer Reviews:

Wher are the ORANGE labels?.......2007-06-26

Hard to fathom why "The Ultimate Fruit Label Book" would have ZERO orange crate labels.
What is the author's rationale for this HUGE omission?
He was obviously aware of it, so how could he have okay'd such a title?
It's a wonderful APPLE LABEL book -- which makes the title all the more unfortunate
Jim

Disappointing in Several Respects.......2007-04-30

I went through a phase where I collected fruit box labels. I enjoyed the imagery and the sense of nostalgia. These labels harken back to a simpler, more rural and natural time. You can just feel yourself relaxing as your eyes gaze over the images from our largely bygone agricultural America. I've since moved on to collecting rock concert posters, but it was from fruit box labels that I learned my love for beautiful, idyllic imagery. This book will have you immediately yearning for eating a juicy apple in a grassy, flower-saturated meadow alongside a frolicking maiden, so stock up on those. The apples, that is.

As someone else has mentioned, this book is primarily about produce from Washington state. I'd say it is about 90% dedicated to apples, and there are some pears as well. There are about six pictures per page, so they are small images, but they are still large enough that you can enjoy the image and feeling. I do wish there were a few full-page images, just to shake things up visually a little. This almost feels like a catalog in certain respects. And, there is actually quite a bit of image redundancy, due to the fact that the same image was used on several labels with minor derivations in peripheral details. For a collector this might be extremely valuable so you can identify diffferent versions of a given label image.

You definitely don't have any citrus portrayed here, and I don't think there is anything from California or Florida. So "Ultimate" is clearly hyperbole. The book is lacking in a type of dimension I had hoped it would have. This is basically a book with a lot of beautiful pictures of apples. To me, that's still a good thing, as far as it goes.

The print quality here is first rate, just splendid. Paper quality is first rate.

So far, I'd still give the book five stars. My gripe?? The absolutely cheap and disgraceful shiny cardboard cover they put on the book. This is the kind of cover which you find on a child's Dr. Suess book, not a label collector's book which itself should become a collectible. Really, such a major mistake: someone's head should roll at Schiffer Publishing. And, look at the price: for this price you should get a book which will last for generations. Instead, they sell you a book which almost certainly will be in tatters in a few years if it get any regular use at all. Given the low quality cover and binding, this book should be priced at about one-third its current asking price.

The art of bookbinding and book-making seems to be going the way of the American automobile. This book represents the Ford Pinto-fication of the American book publishing industry. Huge, horrible corners cut, with some scheming conniver just hoping we won't notice the down-grading of quality. You will. At this price, I suspect you wouldn't buy this book if you were to see it at a bookstore. The compromise in cover quality is grossly conspicuous.

I think of books as investments. I'm willing to pay more for quality, and I think of it as a nice, simple heirloom for my children, from which they may learn to share some of my interests. But here, you get a cheaply manufactured product, where some concession was made which ruined the whole, wonderful concept that someone (the author,namely) probably poured years into developing. Regardless, for this price, I want a first-rate book. And, quite frankly, I don't want any cheaply made books in my personal library. Books should be--and always have been, until recently--objects of art. Cheaps bindings destroy that concept.

I'm a huge fan of Amazon, but I'm recommending to them that they have binding designations to indicate "cloth" so we can distinguish the hardbacks between quality and junk. This book begs for a cloth binding, and I'm saddened that it--and we--did not get that.

Great book, but misleading title........2007-01-16

This book should have an expanded title: "...from Washington's Yakima Valley". Shoppers beware! There are no citrus fruit labels displayed within the book. It seems odd that the title would claim to be the "ultimate" without including citrus fruit, hence the need for a different title. Othwerwise, the book is a treasure of wonderful works of art beautifully displayed with lots of historic information.

A gorgeous representation of fruit labels from the late 1800s to the early 1960s.......2006-07-07

John A. Baule's The Ultimate Fruit Label Book is a gorgeous representation of fruit labels from the late 1800s to the early 1960s: the heyday of millions of bright, colorful paper labels used by fruit growers to catch the eye and advertise their produce. This isn't just a value guide, though: over 1,700 color images are listed alphabetically and including stock and private labels from grows and associations alike, along with histories of major fruit companies and collecting hints. The result is a gorgeous presentation and a 'must' for any with more than a casual interest in fruit labels.

Book Description

Complete instructions, clear diagrams show you various ways to smock including basic stitches and diverse patterns. Ms. Durand provides easy directions for making over 10 beautifully smocked articles: Smocked Pillow, Mother/Daughter Sun Dresses, Boy/ Girl Bib Front Outfits, much more. 125 illustrations including 24 in full color on covers.

Customer Reviews:

Hit or miss.......2006-08-02

I purchased this book at an auction and while it does have quite a few patterns they are very old style (to me a 1970's look). I did not help me to learn smocking but had a few insightful tips. This book could be hit or miss depending on your style of smocking you are interested in. It does have detailed photos.

Not easiest to learn with.......2000-05-11

I purchased this book to learn to smock. It has pictures and written instructions. The written instructions are very short and not detailed. If you learn well from reading information this book will most likely not be the one for you. Treasury of Smocking by Allyne S. Holland gives better directions. There are some cute patters in here but keep in mind that the copyright on this is 1979 and that most of the patterns in this do reflect the 70's. Heavy patterns. There are a couple of patterns suitable for kids (a train, children holding hands and a basket print). If you are looking to smock a tuxedo shirt directions are in here!

Average customer rating:

small spaces with hugh ideas

title should be changed to "Build built-in furniture"

Ranked #6 out of 7 "small decor" books

An indoctrination in organization

Deserves space on your underfloor shelf

Small Spaces: Stylish Ideas for Making More of Less in the Home
Azby Brown
Manufacturer: Kodan-Sha Intl
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Residential | Building Types & Styles | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Design & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Remodeling & Renovation | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Very Small Home: Japanese Ideas for Living Well in Limited Space

Living Large in Small Spaces: Expressing Personal Style in 100 to 1,000 Square Feet

Decorating Small Spaces: Live Large in Any Space (Better Homes & Gardens)

The "Sunday Times" Small Spaces for Modern Living (Sunday Times)

Compact Living

ASIN: 4770014953

Amazon.com

Drawing upon the sparse tranquility of Japanese design, architect and Tokyo resident Azby Brown explains how to live comfortably in limited or overcrowded domains. By rethinking our approach to space, utilizing seemingly dead areas (under-floor or under-stairs storage, for example), creating multipurpose or convertible areas, and reconsidering layout, we can make the most of what we have. Some of these homes carry Eastern minimalism to an extreme that clutter-prone Westerners may not be comfortable with, but there are plenty of ingenious furniture, storage, and planning solutions nevertheless. --Amy Handy

Book Description

Small Spaces is about living comfortably and using space wisely, and where better to find ideas on that subject than Japan, one of the world's most urban and densely populated countries? Tokyo resident Azby Brown, a distinguished architect and designer, has assembled dozens of creative solutions to space and storage problems, illustrating them with photographs and plans of actual living environments in contemporary homes. The key to his approach is what might be called "The Three Cs"-compact, comfortable, and convenient. Use of space is reconsidered, with easy living always the uppermost goal. A living room is opened up by creating level changes or "joining it with the exterior." A staircase can double as a chest of drawers, a space beneath the floor can serve as a kitchen pantry or hiding place for a disappearing bed: an adjustable table can serve different purposes at different heights. From top to bottom, in bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and hall, Azby Brown presents solutions to the problems of inner space, illustrated with dozens of full-color photographs, drawings, and architectural plans. Small Spaces will be a lifesaver for all those with growing families, shrinking resources, and limited room to grow-or indeed anyone who wants to transform a disorganized, cluttered environment into an orderly, attractive living area.

Customer Reviews:

small spaces with hugh ideas.......2007-01-28

This book is so ingenious that it inspired me to change careers, and make a few changes around the house myself.

title should be changed to "Build built-in furniture".......2006-04-10

The title should be "build built-in furniture to get rid of your space problems."

I think the ideas are worth considering: sure, if you have chairs for desks and vanities that slide right in, you can save a lot of space. Yes, build little drawers out of the stair case, and nifty pull out cabinets everywhere. Certainly having less furniture and more built -ins is the best way to reduce clutter. Yes, build underground "closets" in your floorboards and crawl space.

However, for most young people and for renters, the solutions are not practical because of lack of investment capital or long term plan for a space. Hiring carpenters to construct these designs would be of prohibitive cost for most, except for the wealthy.

I see from this book that Schindler and Neutra and all the modernists got lots of their ideas from the Japanese built-in solution.

Ranked #6 out of 7 "small decor" books.......2005-02-14

I ranked this next to the bottom of 7 "decorating small spaces" books I bought. This author is a contradiction in terms: a minimalist who loves complexity! If you like Asian, bare-bones, neutral-hued decor & have construction skills, you may like the extensively detailed drawings of intricate building projects (i.e, a nine-part modular table-seating-storage unit with more uses than anyone would possibly give it) & the helpful photos. But you'll still be irked that sq. footage is never given. If you're like me (American condo owner), you'll find this book, written for and featuring Japanese homeowners, not adaptable to your needs in any way.

An indoctrination in organization.......2003-01-11

As someone whose prospective first house is likely to be small--and even smaller inside--I've been looking around for useful ideas that will help me choose a home into which my Stuff will fit. (That's not just stuff; that's George Carlin-type STUFF, and it requires serious storage.) We're not just talking a smaller McMansion, but homes where the master bedroom is, on average, 10'x9' with badly placed doorways.

Azby Brown's book was an education in understanding the options even a small or oddly shaped space can afford. Though most of the actual implementations discussed would certainly work better in a Japanese home than in a '50s era raised ranch, the *ideas* are the thing. And these ideas are outstanding. Every inch of space is used to beautiful effect. Every opportunity is considered.

Especially choose this book if you're planning to remodel, as expert contractors and cabinetmakers will benefit from these pages; nevertheless, _Small Spaces_ is for anyone who still thinks that light neutrals and pint-sized furnishings are the only way to manage.

Deserves space on your underfloor shelf.......2002-12-27

Azby Brown lives in Japan, and has written a number of books about Japanese design, or carpentry, from the perspective of a close observer.

This book deals with design and product approaches to living in small spaces without clutter. The premise is that the smaller a space is, the more it needs to appear empty if living in it is to be fully comfortable and satisfying. This isn't a book on how to load more gear into more "storage solutions", though some unusual solutions like underfloor storage are elaborated.

Granted a lot of this stuff is not going to be transferable to American houses, and some of the details, like miraculously small appliances are not even well illustrated (most ilustration are very good). But then there is a huge market for books covering professionally created 25 000 square foot spaces in Carmel by the Sea, or whatever, and I am not likely to fully implement ideas from those books either. Frankly adapting the spirit of this book is much more likely

Book Description

Why would two talented and employable young graphic designers start up their own practice without any clients, in the midst of a recession, and in a city brimming with world-renowned designers? Karlssonwilker inc.'s tellmewhy is the improbable story of such a venture -- or act of bravura or insanity -- on the part of Hjalti Karlsson and Jan Wilker, and offers a telling, humorous, and always human insight into the workings of a young startup design studio, showcasing every single project they did in their first two years.
A book as iconoclastic as their designs, tellmewhy features fresh stories of karlssonwilker's ordinary office live and its less-than-romantic tales about rooftop parties, battles with immigration, language obstacles, missed meetings, and money problems. Despite these stories -- and because of others -- karlssonwilker has produced an impressive body of work in two short years. Tellmewhy shows the happy endings, including signage for a Philadelphia restaurant, logo designs for a New York fashion house, and CD packaging for both independent and major music labels. And it presents the few unrealized designs, like an ad campaign for a TV network. All share the designers' creative and humorous take on design.
Karlssonwilker intersperses these examples with its singular illustrated diagrams, faux flow charts linking the partners' biographies, work, social lives, and whatever comes to their unique minds.
Tellmewhy offers both inspiration and caution for designers everywhere. A foreword by former employer Stefan Sagmeister recalls karlssonwilker's start in his design office.

Customer Reviews:

review.......2007-02-08

Interesting read. Not a typical showcase of a glut of spectacular design, but creatively inspiring. Clever lads!

One of the Best Design Books I Ever Read.......2006-02-24

Quite possible one of the most honest and funny books on design, I kid you not. Truly entertaining and thoughtful for designers of any field, not just graphic design. It works both as a story and an inspirational monograph of their quirky and smart work.

I purchased several copies for many friends in design and plan on purchasing several more. No doubt this would make a great stocking stuffer for the designer in your life and with Amazon's discounted rate with Super Saver Shipping it seems ridiculous to only buy just one copy.

Ain't nothing but a heartache..........2005-09-24

This book is definitely worth buying it. I was reading MADE YOU LOOK, and that's the reason I gave this book 4 stars. Dont get me wrong, TELLMEWHY is amazing, creative and HAPPY. I get the impression Hjalti and Jan still haven't made their masterpiece, yet, you can tell that they're on the way to achive that. KARLSSONWILKER offers the kind of the design you say to yourself : I CAN DO THAT WELL EASY, until you get your canvas and realize that is their style and it's not only the massive use of DIN, TRADE GOTHIC or HELVETICA fonts. It's absolutely more than that. 5 Stars for Karlssonwilker inc. 4 stars for their book, and I'm pretty sure I'll give them 6 on the upcoming BOOK.

Inspiring, but little information........2005-03-29

This was an OK read. It was inspiring but for the amount of content, they had way too many pictures as filler. I felt perhaps this would have been better as a magazine article.

Heartwarming and Inspiring.......2004-12-11

First off, this is not a self help book for designers looking to open their own firm. I'm not sure why the person below me thought that. However, the side effect of wanting to start a firm does sink in after reading this. I read the book cover to cover in a few hours, as I had a hard time putting it down. They could have titled this book, "The Advertising Adventures of Hjalti and Jan". Point is, there is something every designer here can relate to: dealing with clients. The ones you hope to get, and the ones you hope don't call back. What i find particularly inspiring is how this book has not changed them. if you go to their site: http://www.karlssonwilker.com/ they are still rockin the same website. Then again, maybe they haven't had time to change it once all the jobs poured in from this book's success. Or perhaps, they are just like you and I, working from a loft trying to make a dent in the design world, and hoping to be published in the design annual. That's what sets this book apart from most monographs, is that they don't achive ultimate success in the end. They are still bidding for clients and that keeps them humble. There is no secret behind their method of design, other than natural talent for creativity. Sometimes we can lose sight of why we chose this profession. Sometimes we take jobs purely for the money. Stay inspired and buy this book. You will contribute 58¢ to their beer fund. Thank you karllsonwilker!

Average customer rating:
Great Tenors from Caruso to the Present
Helena Matheopoulos
Manufacturer: LAURENCE KING PUBLISHING LTD.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OJLS2Q

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