Today, for some reason, I felt that I ought to have a posts listing some good recent books on Buddhism. So, here they are. In addition, there are some good websites that provide introductions to Buddhism, of which I have linked three: Introduction to Buddhism, buddhaweb.org, and Fundamental Buddhism.

• What Do Buddhists Believe? Meaning and Mindfulness in Buddhist Philosophy by Tony Morris. This book, meant to be a short and accessible introduction to Buddhism, contains an explanation of the core beliefs of Buddhists, which aim to orientate the follower towards living a wise, happy, and compassionate life.

• Treasures of the Sakya Lineage: Teachings from the Masters by Migmar Tseten. Treasures of the Sakya Lineage is a rich collection of teachings by both contemporary and ancient Sakya masters, showing a thousand years of lineage continuity. It provides an overview of the history, view, key lineage figures, and crucial teachings of the oldest continuously operating institution among the four lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. The Sakya School has long been known for its balanced approach to study and practice. The writings of Sakya scholars have been deeply influential in every school of Tibetan Buddhism and they continue to be now. A great resource for students and practitioners of all schools of Tibetan Buddhism, this volume contains teachings from great Sakya scholars and meditation masters, including: H. H. Sakya Trizin, Khenpo Appey, Sakya Pandita, Jetsun Dragpa Gyaltsen, Chogye Trinchen, Choegyal Phagpa, Migmar Tseten.

• The Dhammapada: Verses on the Way by Glenn Wallis. The nature of the self, the value of relationships, the importance of moment-to-moment awareness, the destructiveness of anger, the suffering that attends attachment, the certainty of death - no other spiritual text speaks to these issues of human consciousness more clearly and profoundly than does the Dhammapada. The 423 verses here - given fresh significance in Glenn Wallis's brilliant translation - offer us a distillation of core Buddhist teachings. Also included is Wallis' Guide to Reading the Text - a chapter-by-chapter explication that greatly enhances our understanding. Scholars, lovers of great inspirational literature, and seekers of enlightenment alike will find this new edition of the Dhammapada to be both illuminating and enriching.

• The Buddha in Life and Art by Nigel Cameron. No memorial throughout history has towered higher than the many monuments to Buddha spread across Asia. With the aid of fascinating colour photographs, this book showcases Buddhist heritage sites and Buddhist art.

• The Emergence of Buddhism by Jacob Kinnard. This book for college students presents the history of one of the world's most ancient religions. Topical essays explore the origins of Buddhism, the social and philosophical context in which it was born, Buddha himself, his followers, the main Buddhist precepts, and the spread of the religion.

Today, for some reason, I felt that I ought to have a posts listing some good recent books on Buddhism. So, here they are. In addition, there are some good websites that provide introductions to Buddhism, of which I have linked three: Introduction to Buddhism, buddhaweb.org, and Fundamental Buddhism.

• What Do Buddhists Believe? Meaning and Mindfulness in Buddhist Philosophy by Tony Morris. This book, meant to be a short and accessible introduction to Buddhism, contains an explanation of the core beliefs of Buddhists, which aim to orientate the follower towards living a wise, happy, and compassionate life.

• Treasures of the Sakya Lineage: Teachings from the Masters by Migmar Tseten. Treasures of the Sakya Lineage is a rich collection of teachings by both contemporary and ancient Sakya masters, showing a thousand years of lineage continuity. It provides an overview of the history, view, key lineage figures, and crucial teachings of the oldest continuously operating institution among the four lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. The Sakya School has long been known for its balanced approach to study and practice. The writings of Sakya scholars have been deeply influential in every school of Tibetan Buddhism and they continue to be now. A great resource for students and practitioners of all schools of Tibetan Buddhism, this volume contains teachings from great Sakya scholars and meditation masters, including: H. H. Sakya Trizin, Khenpo Appey, Sakya Pandita, Jetsun Dragpa Gyaltsen, Chogye Trinchen, Choegyal Phagpa, Migmar Tseten.

• The Dhammapada: Verses on the Way by Glenn Wallis. The nature of the self, the value of relationships, the importance of moment-to-moment awareness, the destructiveness of anger, the suffering that attends attachment, the certainty of death - no other spiritual text speaks to these issues of human consciousness more clearly and profoundly than does the Dhammapada. The 423 verses here - given fresh significance in Glenn Wallis's brilliant translation - offer us a distillation of core Buddhist teachings. Also included is Wallis' Guide to Reading the Text - a chapter-by-chapter explication that greatly enhances our understanding. Scholars, lovers of great inspirational literature, and seekers of enlightenment alike will find this new edition of the Dhammapada to be both illuminating and enriching.

• The Buddha in Life and Art by Nigel Cameron. No memorial throughout history has towered higher than the many monuments to Buddha spread across Asia. With the aid of fascinating colour photographs, this book showcases Buddhist heritage sites and Buddhist art.

• The Emergence of Buddhism by Jacob Kinnard. This book for college students presents the history of one of the world's most ancient religions. Topical essays explore the origins of Buddhism, the social and philosophical context in which it was born, Buddha himself, his followers, the main Buddhist precepts, and the spread of the religion.

Randall Thomas, "Photovoltaics And Architecture "

Taylor & Francis | 2001 | ISBN: 0415231825 | 168 pages | PDF | 7,5 MB

Solar energy is set to play an ever-increasing role in generating the form and affecting the appearance and construction of buildings. This new guide provides an overview of how PVs work and how they are incorporated in the design of buildings.
Review
'An invaluable primer for any architect or client considering integrated photovoltaics.' - Architecture Today

'Comprehensive and authoritative.' - RIBA Journal

'It is tempting to suggest that a copy of this excellent book should be sent to George W Bush!' - Building Engineer

'This book is a concise and useful guide to building-integrated photovoltaics.' - Architectural Review

An invaluable primer for any architect or client considering integrated photovoltaics. - Architecture Today

This book is a concise and useful guide to building-integrated photovoltaics. - Architectural Review

Leonard R. Bachman - Integrated Buildings: The Systems Basis of Architecture

Wiley | 2002 | ISBN: 0471388270 | Pages: 496 | PDF | 14.08 MB

An "anatomical" study of building systems integration with guidelines for practical applications
Through a systems approach to buildings, Integrated Buildings: The Systems Basis of Architecture details the practice of integration to bridge the gap between the design intentions and technical demands of building projects. Analytic methods are introduced that illustrate the value, benefit, and application of systems integration, as well as guidelines for selecting technical systems in the conceptual, schematic, and design development stages of projects.
Landmark structures such as Eero Saarinen's John Deere Headquarters, Renzo Piano's Kansai International Airport, Glenn Murcutt's Magney House, and Richard Rogers's Lloyd's of London headquarters are presented as part of an extensive collection of case studies organized into seven categories:
* Laboratories
* Offices
* Pavilions
* Green Architecture
* High Tech Architecture
* Airport Terminals
* Residential Architecture
Advanced material is provided on methods of integration, including an overview of integration topics, the systems basis of architecture, and the integration potential of various building systems. An expanded case study of Ibsen Nelsen's design for the Pacific Museum of Flight is used to demonstrate case study methods for tracing integration through any work of architecture.
Visually enhanced with more than 300 illustrations, diagrams, and photographs, Integrated Buildings: The Systems Basis of Architecture is a valuable reference guide for architecture and civil engineering students, as well as architects, engineers, and other professionals in the construction industry.

Building Type Basics for Museums

Publisher: Wiley | ISBN: 0471349151 | edition 2001 | CHM | 272 pages | 22,0 mb

The fastest way to straighten out the learning curve on specialized design projects. Building Type Basics books provide architects with the essentials they need to jump-start the design of a variety of specialized facilities. In each volume, leading national figures in the field address the key questions that shape the early phases of a project commission. The answers to these questions provide instant information in a convenient, easy-to-use format. The result is an excellent, hands-on reference that puts critical information at your fingertips.Building Type Basics for Museums provides the essential information needed to initiate designs for art, science, and natural history museums, ethnic art and cultural centers, youth museums, and more. Filled with project photographs, diagrams, floor plans, sections, and details, it combines in-depth coverage of the structural, mechanical, acoustic, traffic, and safety issues that are unique to museums and cultural facilities with the nuts-and-bolts design guidelines that will start any project off on the right track and keep it there through completion.

Charles Harris, Nicholas Dines, "Time-Saver Standards for Landscape Architecture"
McGraw-Hill Professional | ISBN: 0070170274 | 1997-11-01 | PDF | 928 pages | 106 Мб

Newly designed and containing a full 40 percent completely new content, Time-Saver Standards for Landscape Architecture, Second Edition, continues to be the most complete source of site design and construction standards and data. It is fully metric, to meet Federal and International requirements. It features increased coverage of: Site storm water "best management" practices · New urban tree planting and xeriscape concepts · Earth retaining structures and pavement design · Land reclamation, including soil and vegetation restoration · Metric site layout practices, including recreation facilities · Energy and resource conservation · Natural processes and site construction procedures · New expanded construction details · Simplified construction materials data. Over 50 sections provide concise tables, checklists, "Key Point" text summaries, and illustrations to provide an invaluable information resource for offices and classrooms throughout the world.

Matthew Frederick - 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School
The MIT Press | 2007 | ISBN: 0262062666 | Pages: 128 | PDF | 2.73 MB

2008 Silver Award Winner, Architecture Category, Independent Publisher Book Awards. and Winning entry, General Trade Illustrated Category, in the 2008 New England Book Show sponsored by Bookbuilders of Boston.

This is a book that students of architecture will want to keep in the studio and in their backpacks. It is also a book they may want to keep out of view of their professors, for it expresses in clear and simple language things that tend to be murky and abstruse in the classroom. These 101 concise lessons in design, drawing, the creative process, and presentation—from the basics of "How to Draw a Line" to the complexities of color theory—provide a much-needed primer in architectural literacy, making concrete what too often is left nebulous or open-ended in the architecture curriculum. Each lesson utilizes a two-page format, with a brief explanation and an illustration that can range from diagrammatic to whimsical. The lesson on "How to Draw a Line" is illustrated by examples of good and bad lines; a lesson on the dangers of awkward floor level changes shows the television actor Dick Van Dyke in the midst of a pratfall; a discussion of the proportional differences between traditional and modern buildings features a drawing of a building split neatly in half between the two. Written by an architect and instructor who remembers well the fog of his own student days, 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School provides valuable guideposts for navigating the design studio and other classes in the architecture curriculum. Architecture graduates—from young designers to experienced practitioners—will turn to the book as well, for inspiration and a guide back to basics when solving a complex design problem.