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.