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This book travels through the past and almost-present in 18 international cities. In chronological order, we visit Athens, Rome, Istanbul, Jerusalem, Florence, Barcelona, Prague, Amsterdam, Mexico City, Paris, London, Washington D.C., Sydney, Moscow, Tokyo, San Francisco, Hong Kong and New York.

The author first gives a short description and history of each city, just before the overlay which depicts the past and shows architectural sites that no longer exist. The next page is the city as it is today. I found myself constantly flipping back and forth as I read the accompanying pages of text.

Each city's description is unique as the author gives us little tidbits about each in addition to the full background of development and changes.

For example, unique to Prague are the sections about The Royal Way and the Prague Defenestrations (throwing people out of windows when they made the citizens angry). Unique to Sydney is the article about the city's first architect. The history of the "squares" in London is explained and in the section about Paris, the significance of Versailles is explained (it had a huge influence on city design and planning all over the world).

A totally enjoyable and beautiful book.


Lacks Depth   June 25, 2001
 7 out of 7 found this review helpful

I like this book because of it's uniqueness, but I can't help but think of how much better it could be. The text is weak and lacks any insight. To be honest, if there were no text, you wouldn't even notice.

The overlays are the most imporatant aspect and can be really iteresting. But they can also be fairly crude and limited. In the long run, I would rather see this technique applied to more travel books with multiple overlays for any city. For example if this technique was used for, say, Paris, and the overlays were used for many areas of the city, I think it would be fabulous. Also an expansion of the timeline, with more than one era shown would be really fun.

So I would have to say it's "eh" (shoulder shrug).


This book is so fun!   May 21, 2001
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

I got this book as a birthday present. As a total architecture nerd, I got SO into reading about the early metropolitan areas and how they've changed. A MUST-READ for any avid city-dweller, or a fellow architecture nerd. Definitely not a serious text on architecture or urbanism, but educational all the same.


Fascinating and beautifully executed   February 17, 2001
 22 out of 22 found this review helpful

This book is marvelous.

Eighteen cities are depicted: Athens, Rome, Istanbul, Jerusalem, Florence, Barcelona, Prague, Amsterdam, Mexico City, Paris, London, Washington D.C., Sydney, Moscow, Tokyo, San Francisco, Hong Kong and New York. To each is devoted seven to nine pages of material which include a short history of the city, a description of major architectural features of the place, a half- to three quarter-page photograph of the present-day location and a high-quality overlay with depictions of structures now long gone.

The introduction discusses the evolution of the city and various influences which affected its development in different areas of the world.

The content of the text and the presentation make the history of these places dynamic and interesting; if you are interested in cities and/or history, this would be a wonderful addition to your collection.