The Seventy Wonders of the Modern World: 1500 Years of Extraordinary Feats of Engineering and Construction

By Neil Parkyn

Book Overview

The modern world's greatest structures capture the imagination and inspire wonder, whether they are places of worship, palaces of power or pleasure, skyscrapers, bridges, tunnels, canals, dams or... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0500510474
• ISBN13: 9780500510476
• Release Date: November 2002
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 3.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Got me through Survey of Architecture class

This book was a HUGE resource for me for my survey of architecture class. Combined with The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World provided me with enough information to ace the class. Strongly recommended.

Interesting and fascinating

The detailed information, with dimensions and plans included, along with magnificent photography make it a must, both for reference and normal reading purposes.

A fascinating look at man's engineering accomplishments.

This well organized, informative and concise volume offers a clearly written collection of essays on the complete history of seventy of the world's greatest engineering and construction achievements from the year 1500 A. D. to the present. Each structure is carefully detailed in a well-researched, short entry of two to four pages long. Basic facts like who built it, where, when and why are covered, and additional information is also provided like its basic statistics, the politics associated with its construction, accounts of the project's development and other fascinating data. Moreover, for quick check-ups, each wonder is accurately placed in one of the seven categories into which the book is divided: Churches, Mosques, Temples & Shrines; Palaces & Castles; Public & State Buildings; Towers & Skyscrapers; Bridges, Railways & Tunnels; Canals & Dams; and Colossal Statues. This reference is handsomely presented in a sturdy binding, printed in top-quality paper, and beautifully illustrated with over 350 spectacular photos, explanatory diagrams, magnificent reconstructions and historical drawings. Featured among the showcased selection are The Statue of Liberty, The Panama Canal, The Eiffel Tower, The Taj Mahal, and The Forbidden City, and the rest of the masterpieces included are equal testimony of man's unending imagination and its application beyond mere aesthetic power, structural virtuosity or plain utility. As a bonus, the book includes an introduction that explains the criteria used to pick the selected structures. A comprehensive bibliography especially useful for further research and a thorough index, for specific consultations, are also included. This is a fact-filled compendium that readers of all ages will undoubtedly refer to again and again. --Reviewed by Maritza Volmar

Stunning photos, interesting info about architectural wonder

Book has photos and information about seventy architectural wonders of the modern world: buildings, bridges, etc. Some I was unfamiliar with-for example, my favorite of the entire book, a very unusual cathedral (Unbelievable!) in progress in Barcelona. Would be a great gift for architects, engineers, and all inquisitive people.