For nearly twenty years now, Blair Kamin of the Chicago Tribune has explored how architecture captures our imagination and engages our deepest emotions. A winner of the Pulitzer Prize for criticism and writer of the widely read Cityscapes blog, Kamin treats his subjects not only as works of art but also as symbols of the cultural and political forces that inspire them. "Terror and Wonder" gathers the best of Kamin's writings from the past decade along with new reflections on an era framed by the destruction of the World Trade Center and the opening of the world's tallest skyscraper. A prominent cast of players - including Santiago Calatrava, Frank Gehry, Helmut Jahn, Daniel Libeskind, Barack Obama, Renzo Piano, and Donald Trump - fills the pages of this eye-opening look at the astounding and extraordinary ways that architecture mirrors our values - and shapes our everyday lives.

About the Author
Blair Kamin is the architecture critic of the Chicago Tribune. His books include the critically acclaimed Why Architecture Matters: Lessons from Chicago and Tribune Tower: American Landmark.

Reviews
"An elegant and thought-provoking book.... Crisp and colorful, expert and witty, Kamin's involving essays address the complexities of architecture and how the built world affects every aspect of life." (Booklist) "Chicago is lucky to have Kamin, whose architectural criticism in that city's Tribune continues the spirited tradition of Allan Temko and Ada Louise Huxtable. This collection from the past decade shows a deft eye for the latest Windy City tower but also the larger weave of culture and design." (San Francisco Chronicle) "Kamin is a keen, trenchant observer of the contemporary urban scene, and his engaging criticism enjoys a welcome second life in this anthology." (Choice) "A highly informative and accessible survey of the architecture and planning of the past decade.... Poignant and timely." (Architect's Newspaper) "[Kamin] reminds us of the role buildings have in our economic and physical environment and how the past decade has changed how we interact with the structures around us." (Kai Ryssdal, Marketplace, Best Books of 2010) "Blair Kamin, Pulitzer Prize - winning architecture critic for the Chicago Tribune, thoughtfully and provocatively defines the emotional and cultural dimensions of architecture. He is one of the nation's leading voices for design that uplifts and enhances life as well as the environment. Terror and Wonder assembles some of his best writing from the past ten years." (Huffington Post)"



Book Information
ISBN 9780226423128
Author Blair Kamin
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint University of Chicago Press
Publisher The University of Chicago Press
Weight(grams) 454g
Dimensions(mm) 23mm * 16mm * 2mm