Architecture matters To our cities to our planet to our personal lives How we design & what we build has an impact that usually lasts for generations The more we understand the importance of architecture & the thinking & decisions behind the buildings we create the better world we will construct Who better to guide readers into the rich & complex world of contemporary architecture than Aaron Betsky former architect author curator & museum director & today dean of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture Combining his early experiences working & meeting cutting-edge architects with his frequent role as jury member selecting the world's most prominent global architects to build icon for cities Betsky possesses rare insight into the mechanisms politics & personalities that play a role in how buildings in our societies & urban centres come to be In some fifty themes & drawing from his own experiences & encounters with people & buildings around the world he explores a broad spectrum of topics from the meaning of domestic space to the spectacle of the urban realm Accessible instructive & hugely enjoyable this book will open the eyes of anyone dreaming of becoming an architect & bring a wry smile to anyone that already is