Non-Fiction

Cities and towns are among humanity’s largest and most complex achievements. The buildings, public works, plazas and parks of even a small town embody substantial amounts of capital, energy, natural resources, history, and aspirations. Cities are among our greatest creations, yet typically no single individual creates them. Rather they arise from the dialog between multiple designers, clients, regulators, citizens, critics and users. Sometimes the cities and towns that emerge are glorious places. Too frequently they have only fragments of greatness or are soul-deadening and environmentally unhealthy.

This gift book for dad collects more than 100 inspiring quotes from the greatest coaches of all time. After all, dads do what the best coaches do: they motivate, mentor, discipline, and love.

So many women dream of having it all—being kickass mothers and running their own successful businesses. This book helps them take the leap with confidence.

Women will lose twice the weight when they track what they eat with this helpful food diary. Expert nutritionist Esther Blum provides a healthy dose of motivation plus all the necessary tools to make it happen:

“Finish your vegetables!” becomes a phrase of the past when kids discover the diversity and deliciousness of farmers’ markets. From exploring the vibrant booths to selecting produce and tasting the unique flavors each season brings, the farmers’ market provides a fertile playground for kids and brings families together while building healthy habits and supporting sustainable eating.

Finally, a real estate reality check that cuts through all the biased rhetoric to answer the conundrum on everyone’s mind: Should I buy now or keep renting?

The joys of commuting by bike attract scores of new converts every year. But as fresh-faced cyclists fill the roads, they also encounter their share of frustrations—careless drivers, wide-flung car doors, zoned-out pedestrians, and aggressive fellow cyclists, to name a few.

This book takes readers behind the scenes in the world of advertising, showcasing 30 phenomenally successful campaigns from the last decade. Fascinating not only for industry professionals but for anyone with an interest in how ads are made.

Have you ever dreamt of acquiring the most amazing collection of robots? What about being able to take them apart and rebuild them to bring the machines of your imagination to life?

Semiotics is the theory of signs, and reading signs is a part of everyday life: from road signs that point to a destination, to smoke that warns of fire, to the symbols buried within art and literature. Semiotic theory can, however, seem mysterious and impenetrable. This introductory book decodes that mystery using visual examples instead of abstract theory.

Writing About Architecture: Mastering the Language of Buildings and Cities, the latest addition to the Architecture Briefs series, is a handbook on how to write effectively and critically about the contemporary city.

Shrouded in mystery and rich with history, Alcatraz draws over a million visitors each year. This enlightening volume provides the first complete history of Alcatraz told through its architecture.

The history of the Boston Red Sox professional baseball team from its inaugural 1901 season to today, spotlighting the team’s greatest players and most memorable moments.

The history of the Chicago Cubs professional baseball team from its inaugural 1876 season to today, spotlighting the team’s greatest players and most memorable moments.

A look at the origins, leaders, growth, and management of the NFL, the professional football league that was formed in 1920 and today features 32 teams located throughout the United States.

A look at the origins, leaders, growth, and holdings of eBay, the online auction and shopping company that was founded in 1995 and today sells a multitude of collectibles and other consumer products.

A look at the origins, leaders, growth, and products of Apple, the consumer electronics company that was founded in 1976 and today manufactures some of the world’s most popular computer products.

The history of the Los Angeles Dodgers professional baseball team from its inaugural 1890 season in Brooklyn to today, spotlighting the team’s greatest players and most memorable moments.

Color is a powerful selling tool. It is the first thing to catch the consumer's eye in the shop window. Get the color choice wrong and an entire range can stay on the racks. So, how do colors arrive on the runway or the sales floor—and why do different companies all seem to choose similar colors each season?

Making a Case focuses on contemporary housing in the United States and the future of the American home.

Being a fabulous bridesmaid these days calls for much more than dyeing your heels to match your dress, especially now that the Internet is the bride’s best friend. Fortunately, this all-new edition from bridesmaid expert Kate Chynoweth shares how to be the very best bridesmaid possible.

Screenprinting has moved beyond the gig poster and the tee shirt. Centuries old and made famous by Andy Warhol in the 1960s, the craft is now enjoying a renaissance all over the world as contemporary artists and studios— including Rob Ryan, Alakazam!, and Crosshair, among others—push the creative limits of the medium in their work with textiles, posters, and more.

The book is about a search for good places authentic ones and wondering about the disappearance of others. While visiting sixteen unique spots around the world, Friedman wondered what made strolling through, sitting in, dining at, or simply being there memorable.

The first book to examine pattern as an essential part of twentieth-century design history is now available in paperback. Organized by decade, 20th-Century Pattern Design details the technical innovations that affected the development of modern textiles and wallpapers.

The growing legions of crafters looking to turn their hobby into a profession can rely on the tried and true advice in Craft, Inc. In this completely revised edition of the definitive crafter’s business book, entrepreneur Meg Mateo Ilasco offers expanded and authoritative guidance on everything from developing products and sourcing materials to writing a business plan and paying taxes

This writer's block-busting workbook guides authors through planning and plotting a novel before writing it from the initial idea generation and brainstorming through character, setting, and story development.

Where do our things really come from? China is the most common answer, but Thomas Thwaites decided he wanted to know more. In The Toaster Project, Thwaites asks what lies behind the smooth buttons on a mobile phone or the cushioned soles of running sneakers.

New Year’s resolutions have never been easier to keep than with Better Each Day. Its hundreds of tips add up to a big impact on well-being. Using the latest scientific findings from experts in the fields of nutrition, mental health, fitness, and psychology, respected journalist Jessica Cassity presents 365 proven and easy-to-achieve tips for feeling more confident, getting fit, clearing away worry and fear, improving relationships, and much more.

In Music for a City, Music for the World, Larry Rothe shares how the San Francisco Bay Area’s love of music, rooted in the Gold Rush, gave birth to a Grammy-winning and internationally acclaimed orchestra.

For thirty years, consultant Keith Granet has enjoyed helping design professionals turn their passion into profit. In his new book, The Business of Design: Balancing Creativity and Profitability, Granet debunks the myth that business sense and creative talent are mutually exclusive. The Business of Design: Balancing Creativity and Profitability provides all of the necessary tools to create and run a thriving design business - from billing and human resources to branding and project management to marketing and licensing- in one easy-to-use guide.

Avast, ye! For anyone who has dreamed of hitting the high seas, manning a crew, brandishing a cutlass, or burying treasure, here’s The Pirate Handbook.