Customer Reviews

The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice, 14th Ed.

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We just received this the other day. At first glance it appears to be *slightly* more condensed than the previous full edition of the "Handbook", which, in my opinion is a good thing. Still very dense and an absolute must-have if you want or need to know anything about "mainstream" architectural practice at a fairly high level.

There is so much good information contained in this tome, I'm surprised the AIA hasn't created a certification program based on it, much like CSI has done with the PRM. It would seem to me such a program would have the potential to help fill a gaping hole in architectural education.

Of particular note regarding this edition: two CD-ROMs are included. The first includes sample 2007 AIA documents -- no surprises here. The second includes the entire text of the Handbook, BUT, in a locked-down proprietary format. You install an application and must activate it online or over the phone before you can use it. You can only install it on one machine at a time. There is no de-activation function; you must uninstall and then call customer support to get a new activation number if you need to change the machine on which it's installed. The electronic version allows searching, but does NOT allow printing or exporting. While the sample AIA documents are PDFs and thus cross-platform, the Handbook reader application is Windows only -- an unfortunate choice. While I understand the publisher's desire to protect their IP, a PDF file would have been so much more user-friendly.

I'll try to remember to post more when I've had a chance to wade through the new edition in its entirety. In the mean time, I thought I'd share what I knew.

While this book seems to be one of the venerable bibles for the practice or the desire to practice architecture, it or more specifically the accompanying CD seems not to work on the newer 64 bit Operating systems like Windows 7. I had called J. Wiley and Sons tech support and they verify that it is indeed a 32 bit product. Sad news for those who like to tote a laptop and travel about or drink coffee while studying. Then again Wiley and Sons are not the only software product that is apparently not impressed with MS 64 bit systems and are taking their time in supporting it. Hopefully support does come, before a 15th ed.?

If an architect tried to get a job in ancient period, he had to left in client's treasury his property. When the job was finished, depending on the outcome, he could go away either with multiplied the fortune or with nothing. Since that time professional situation of architects did not change so much. This amazing book is very helpful to survive in this urban jungle. You can find there a lot of very useful information about clients, organisation of firm, risk management and others light and dark sides of this job. You could not find anything about art and beauty but you can find there a lot of hints how to protect yourself. Maybe than it would be possible to design something interesting. This book is so good, that someone borrowed from me one and never gave back and I had to buy the next one.

This book is a must have for those in the professional architectural field. A textbook for licensing testing and a useful reference for the practice of the profession. It is a "must have" kind of book.

FYI, the CDs that came with the book is not compatible with Windows 7. I called Wiley book publishers and they are aware of this. The book is writen well and full of information and insight into the architecture profession. I am still able to use the CDs on my other notebook with Windows Vista. Also note that the mouse on a WACOM tablet does not work properly with the Wiler reader software. I notice this happens on the Kindle reader software also. The menu buttons doesn't work with the WACOM tablet mouse but it works with the pen.

not the most exciting book out there, but when you need the Handbook of Professional Practice, nothing else will do. this has been updated to meet current AIA documents, and is a must in any professional office.