Design Revolution: 100 Products That Empower People

I can't wait to get my hands on this book!

"Featuring more than 100 contemporary design objects and systems--safer baby bottles, a high-tech waterless washing machine, low-cost prosthetics for landmine victims, Braille-based Lego-style building blocks for blind children (...) that are as fascinating as they are revolutionary, this exceptionally smart, friendly and well-designed volume makes the case for design as a tool to solve some of the world’s biggest social problems in beautiful, sustainable and engaging ways (...) Pilloton challenges designers to be changemakers instead of “stuff creators.”
"
Watch a video featuring the author, Emily Pilloton on the Adobe site

There is a Book Launch Party October 1 in San Francisco, and a panel and reception at Cooper-Hewitt in NYC October 3rd
more info >

Testing "GoodReads" - Frank Lloyd Wright

Loving Frank: A Novel by Nancy Horan

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I was so shocked by the ending that I read the cover, the reviews, the bio...looking for some reason...I didn't want it to end that way. At first I thought it was a cheap ending, like she didn't know what to do to end the book and so resorted to this...but then I found out it was true (ish)!

This book is full of beautiful moments, and is insightfully written, but some things about the main character's personality irked me. I wouldn't have made the same choices in some parts. The whole thing about breaking free from her family was all fine, but from her children? Selfish. The author, Nancy, does let us know Mamah felt guilty about it, but I still find it hard to believe... And then instead of following her own dream or writing, she was only following Frank, really. Or translating other peoples' work.

I would say I have mixed feelings about the book -- I suppose one sign that it is impeccably written is that the mixed feelings I have are about the characters themselves! I alternate between getting mad at them, and feeling sympathy for them, and ultimately sorrow. (I get so mad at Frank and Mamah! Then sometimes I love them. I guess that means the author did a good job!)

If you begin this book expecting to learn about architecture, you may find yourself disappointed but ultimately you will remember it for its portrayal of the struggle for happiness its two main characters went through...you will definitely not forget it!

I had trouble giving this book 3 stars, I am conflicted between whether it deserves 5 or 2. You'll see what I mean.


View all my reviews.

An Absurd Look at Technology

This hilarious video speaks to pretty much anyone who has ever used a computer (or helped someone else with a computer issue). It shows a medieval guy asking for help with using a book for the first time. Talk about "user issues"!



thanks to michael g for the link

Good idea: "Tray table book"

Ever been looking out the window of a plane and wondered what the heck you were looking at? well, this book solves that problem. They point out all the major aerial landmarks on the most-traveled US air routes.

It comes with a CD so you don't have to lug the book around on business trips where you have to bring your laptop anyway -- sure beats editing that Excel spreadsheet.


"America From the Air reveals dozens of geological, agricultural, and man-made curios you'd never know to look for, let alone identify"
via Wired

Monster Engine makes "real" paintings from kids' art

this is AMAZING stuff. Dave Devries takes kids' drawings and turns them into "real" fleshed-out ones. It's great because kids' imaginations are so amazing but their skill level doesn't always translate into a drawing that conveys the idea as well as someone like Dave could.

He's also got a book out.

check it out >

A World Without Us....New York without New Yorkers wouldn't quite be the same

Fascinating idea for a book -- Alan Weisman follows the ecological evolution of the city if all the people were gone. He describes all the processes that lead to the city becoming a forest again. A good read for fans of the Apocalypse, archaeology, or members of the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement.

There's a great article in the New York Times -- "The World Without New Yorkers (No Cockroaches or Rats, Either)" By Sewell Chan

"Manhattan Island kind of epitomizes urbanity. The thought of all this concrete and steel reverting to forest is unthinkable, and yet it turns out there was a forest there before. My question when I went to New York – and it’s a question I posed to civil engineers, architects, climatologists, botanists and biologists — was: Could the city ever revert to a forest again? And the unanimous conclusion was: Absolutely. Not only would it, but it will."

be sure to check out the multimedia section of the book's website, it has some cool slideshows and more about the book itself.


thanks to Lia for the link