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Summary: More pictures!
Review: An excellent and quick read (only 194 pages including the index). The only problem that I had with the book is that it would be greatly improved by additional pictures and illustrations, not just of the dome, but of other structures mentioned and of more of the persons mentioned in the text.
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Summary: "il Duomo" as icon of an age
Review: A possible reason why reviews of this book are so divergent is that BRUNELLESCHI'S DOME is so much more than an architectural triumph that for some it seems unlikely that such a slim book by a journalist could do it full justice. Ross King however fully recognizes the significance of the dome of the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral and the mastery of it's creator Filippo Brunelleschi. He pays tribute to how both the man and his creation were symbolic of the great creative genius that we have come to see as typifying the golden age of the Renaissance. King also clearly shows how such individuals and their work were a boon to the continuing growth and influence of the Renaissance as a whole. Not only is the dome a wonderful architectural triumph - at 143 feet in diameter it is still the largest dome in existence - the very act of creating it spurred other developments. Construction techniques, machines and tools, methods of organizing work, architectural design and drafting; all had to be modified, improved, and in some cases newly invented to accomplish the goal.Any reading you do on the Renaissance will be sure to mention southern Italy and the pioneering role Florence had in the movement. With Florence you're dealing with the finest sculpture, painting, and architecture, and with Brunelleschi's dome you've got distilled into one creation all that the Renaissance stood for.
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Summary: Genius is in the details...
Review: Ross King can take the story of a small, seemingly insurmountable problem and turn it into an intriguing bit of drama: how to build a dome without a frame to lean it on? How to lift huge blocks of marble for the lantern off the ground, up into the sky, and over to the precise spot they are needed? He moves easily back and forth from the intriguing rivalry between Brunelleschi and Alberti to the details of the dome's engineering. It's even a nice reflection of the book's theme that the book itself is well designed. Brunelleschi's Dome will have broad appeal to a lot of non-fiction readers: history buffs, archaeology, biography, engineering. Based on the other reviews, the only folks who were disappointed are those expecting a highly academic, detailed account. This is more of a charming, scientific and artistic fable....but true.
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Summary: Want to join the Brunelleschi fan club?
Review: I bought the book having visited Florence and possessing some rudimentary knowledge of the dome and its importance in architectural history. I found the writing spare in it's technical explanations and the author King to come off as overly enamored with Brunelleschi. That said, _Dome_ is a quick read, and might satisfy the desire of a reader with only passing interest in architecture and the innovations of Brunelleschi.
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Summary: The Structural Skeleton of the Dome
Review: This book gives due credit to one of the world's greatest and lasting architectural achievements. However, it provides very little useful insight into the structural skeleton and its elements, and how the whole structure actually hangs together. There is a lot of arm waving on the subject, and the pictures/text on the sandstone chain, the quinto acuto arch (shown incorrectly), the herringbone brickwork, and the arch rings are almost useless. A student of architectural structure is left with little concrete information.
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Summary: Promising, but unfocused and poorly researched
Review: By all means borrow this book and read it, but don't waste your money to buy it. Mr. King frequently hints at interesting avenues which would further explain Brunelleschi, the driving forces behind the building of the dome, and Brunelleschis' technical accomplishments. Unfortunately, either for lack of research ability, interest, sources, or some combination thereof, he only scratches the surface of his subject. Look at Galileo's Daughter for an example of what this book could have been.
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Summary: Brings Florence's Dome to life, with gusto!
Review: This is the story of genius, sweat, and emotion that went into the construction of the dome of Il Duomo, Florence's most visible landmark. If you've been to Florence, you will especially enjoy this history of the construction of and the creative genius behind the building of one of the architectural triumphs of the world. King brings the reader back to the time of its construction, with vivid details of the design, the political intrigue over the commissioning of the design, the technical skills of then artisans, and the lifestyles of the common workers. Using primitive raw materials and more artistry than science, Brunelleschi demonstrated a capacity to improvise, adapt, and break through old methods to solve an almost impossible physical challenge. If you've not been to Florence, reading "Dome" might just convince you that it is time to go and well worth the visit.
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Summary: Inspirational!!
Review: I highly recommend this book to all aspiring architects and those who have an interest in architecture, history, and Italy. The book is well written - balancing techincal information (regarding construction and invention), historical background, and biography. The author sets the reader back in the Renaissance with his description of Florence during the erection of the Santa Maria Del Fiore. His words almost paints a vivid landscape that transports you back in time to Renaissance Florence. After having read it, I not only want to read it again but return to Italy and see the details and methods as described in the book. This would be a great book for any architecture enthusiast or young aspiring architect.
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Summary: GREAT!
Review: In a class with McCullough the Great Bridge.
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Summary: Brunelleschi's Dome
Review: While initially delighted with the book -- it tells a great story about the personalities and construction -- I finished not really knowing the how the dome was constructed; what made it unique. The book could use more diagrams and explanations of the construction methods and, really, more character development. Given 30 more pages, I would have learned something from the book and known more about the people in 1400 Florence. Instead, using a web search engine for "brunelleschi's dome construction" I found my answer from several very good sites.
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