Why buildings stand up_ the strength of architecture

This book was written for those who love beautiful buildings and wonder how they stand up. Inspired by the constructive instinct of man, I have studied, taught, and designed structures for a lifetime. I now write about them in the hope of sharing with others my excitement and their beauty. This book offers the reader both the history of some of the great monuments of architecture and an explanation of why they stand up. Chapters on architectural technology usually precede those about the monuments made possible by a particular technology, but some may prefer to read about architectural masterpieces before finding out why they stand up.