这本鼓舞人心的书记载了几个影响了建筑的最有影响力的想法。由建筑学专家撰写的有趣文章简要介绍了建筑的历史，并为普通读者的浏览提供了有趣的资源。

从门，窗，柱和横梁的基本建筑“组成部分”开始，和“传统”顺序，然后继续探索了几场历史运动，例如Picturesque and Beaux-Arts，创新材料如钢和钢筋混凝土等，技术创新如电梯和电气照明，再到现代运动，例如Universal Design and Deconstruction。

这些想法按大致的时间顺序排列，通过内容丰富的文字和引人入胜的视觉效果进行介绍，探讨每个想法最初何时演变以及直到今天所产生的后续影响。

This inspiring book chronicles the most influential ideas that have shaped architecture. Entertainingly written by an expert on architecture, it provides a concise history of the subject, and offers a fascinating resource to dip into for the general reader.

Starting with the basic building 'components' of door, window, column and beam and the Classical orders, it then goes on to explore historical movements such as the Picturesque and Beaux-Arts, innovative materials such as steel and reinforced concrete, technical innovations, such as the lift and electric lighting, through to modern movements such as Universal Design and Deconstruction.

Arranged in a broadly chronological order, the ideas are presented through informative text and arresting visuals, exploring when each idea first evolved and the subsequent impact it has had up to the present day.