Ian Volner's Books

The Great Great Wall

Along the Borders of History from China to Mexico

By: Ian Volner

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The Great Great Wall

Along the Borders of History from China to Mexico

By: Ian Volner

“Timely and highly readable . . . provides a valuable backdrop to Donald Trump’s insistence on a barrier across America’s southern border.” —Robert Dallek, presidential historian During his campaign for the presidency, one of Donald Trump’s signature promises was that he would build a “great great wall” on the border between the US and Mexico, and Mexico was going to pay for it. Now, with only a few prototype segments erected, the wall is the 2,000-mile, multibillion-dollar elephant in the room of contemporary American life. In The Great Great Wall, architectural historian and critic Ian Volner takes a fascinating look at the barriers that we have built over millennia. Traveling far afield, to China, the Middle East, Europe, and along the U.S. Mexico border, Volner examines famous, contentious, and illuminating structures, and explores key questions: Why do we build walls? What do they reveal about human history? What happens after they go up? With special attention to Trump’s wall and the walls that exist along the US border already, this is an absorbing, smart, and timely book on an incredibly contentious and newsworthy topic. “A work of literary alchemy that transmutes the wall, a simple architectural structure, and of late, political metaphor, into a prism through which to view the panorama of human history . . . this book will amaze, delight, and enchant even the most jaded nonfiction aficionado.” —William J. Bernstein, award-winning author of The Delusions of Crowds “A global journey to some of history’s most significant walls—China, Berlin, and even Jericho—weaving together a fascinating account of their foundational myths and current realities.” —Carrie Gibson, author of El Norte

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Page Count

296

Publisher

Abrams

Published Date

ISBN 10

168335530X

ISBN 13

9781683355304

Michael Graves

Design for Life

By: Ian Volner

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Michael Graves

Design for Life

By: Ian Volner

One of the most prominent and prolific designers and architects of the late twentieth century, Michael Graves is best known for his popular product designs, including the world-famous Alessi whistling-bird teakettle, and controversial buildings, such as the Portland Building in Oregon, Humana Building in Kentucky, and Dolphin and Swan Hotels at Walt Disney World, Florida. Graves was widely seen as the leading voice of postmodernist architecture, which reintroduced human scale, color, and, sometimes, playful forms into the stark white vocabulary of modernism. Following a devastating illness that paralyzed him from the chest down, Graves became a tireless designer and advocate of improved health-care products and facilities before his sudden death in 2015. Shortly before this, he began a series of interviews with journalist Ian Volner, which form the basis of this biography of a remarkable designer. Volner also conducted numerous interviews with Graves's family, patrons, colleagues, and friends. What emerges is a meticulously researched, anecdote-rich human story, as well as a primer on the American architecture scene of the past sixty years and a portrait of a man whose deep passion for his art brought pleasure to millions.

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Page Count

305

Publisher

Chronicle Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

161689685X

ISBN 13

9781616896850

Michael Graves

Design for Life

By: Ian Volner

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Michael Graves

Design for Life

By: Ian Volner

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N/A

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Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

305

Publisher

Chronicle Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

161689685X

ISBN 13

9781616896850

Book's by Ian Volner

The Great Great Wall

The Great Great Wall

Michael Graves

Michael Graves

Michael Graves

Michael Graves

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