Book Review

  Book Review   purpose of the book review is to examine, explain and defend your personal reaction to one of the assigned books, and to discuss the book’s relevance to landscape architecture history, theory, and culture. Choose one of the given titles from author Michael Pollan to read critically and write an essay reviewing the title. This is not the same as a high school-style book report where you simply demonstrate that you read the book. A book review is not the same as a book summary. You will be expected to take a systematic, analytical approach to the text. Some suggested questions to address might include the following: 1. How does the book align with your view of the world? with our relationship to nature? with landscape architecture? 2. How well are the author’s arguments presented? 3. Does the style of writing engage or disengage you as a reader? 4. How were your views and opinions challenged or changed by this book, if at all? 5. How does the book relate to landscape architecture theory, history, aesthetics, or process? 6. How does the book relate to our culture, perceptions, and attitudes towards the land? 7. Discuss the depth and validity of the research, and the author’s ability to communicate complex processes, ideas and histories. 8. What did you learn from this book? 9. What is your overall reaction to the book? Did you like or dislike it? To whom would you recommend this book or other books by this author? The goal is to present a well-written essay with a clear argument. You should state your general argument in an introductory paragraph and then use the rest of the essay to support your position. Use quotes from the book, as needed, to illustrate a point or support your argument (cite page number). As in any good writing, you should plan for multiple revisions. Just as in good design, a first draft should never be presented as the final version. Multiple iterations and refinements will be needed, so prepare your first draft far enough in advance to allow time for the necessary revisions and editing. Your review should be 5-8 pages in length, double-spaced, using a 12-point font with maximum margins of 1”. Titles: Second Nature: A Gardener’s Education (1991) A Place of My Own: The Architecture of Daydreams (1997) The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World (2001) The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals (2006) In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto (2008)