On the Art of Building in Ten Books (Mit Press)

I have studied this book several times in undergraduate and graduate school for Architecture. I thought it would be good to have it on my shelf. Some of the text is difficult to understand, for the translation may be slightly awkward, but the content to which the book is over never gets old and is still used in some degree today.

If you are at all interested in Renaissance figures, or have an interest in architecture, then this is a must read. LBA was the man for which the term Renaissance Man was first used. Much of what is credited to others today was actually first done, said, created, or thought of by LBA.

Ok

This book is half a millennium old and I think it's easier and more pleasurable to read than most current authors writing about architecture. This is a classic, no doubt about that - but it's not dry and boring like I assumed it would be since it was assigned reading for a class. Alberti's genial personality and sense of humor shine through and enliven this text.