Customer Reviews

House of Worship: Sacred Spaces in America

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What can you say? Nice pictures of churches but no theme to choice except maybe political correctness of sect or geography.

Certainly, there was no real 'great architects' theme-- no theology, no style guiding the choices. Browning sort of went "well, these are nice...." The end product, like most coffee table books, is a thousand miles wide and a centimeter deep, and mixes English and Metric, to boot.

Definitely not worth the price, even if the photography is excellent.

How to improve: A seriously revised edition with a back-page of better information about each church or synagogue, some organizational theme (try Maine to California? 1600-2000, etc.), and some glaring omissions (St. John's Episcopal in Queens, a classic Orthodox Church from Alaska, a Franciscan mission from New Mexico? The churches of Columbus, Indiana) rectified would be a good start.

Wait and hope--pray. For now, put your money in the collection plate instead, I'd suggest.

I bought the book for my boyfriend who is an architect, and he loves it! It is a great coffee table book, but also includes in depth accounts from a myriad of people. It's a great buy and perfect for all!

This book has beautiful photography as well as interesting facts and historical information about each house of worship. It includes a vast variety of architecture and religious affiliations. We bought it for a gift for our Pastor.

The photographs are plentiful and show a wide variety of religions and of worship spaces. Many are interior, in fact the book emphasizes the insides of the churches with good architectural critiques. I would have appreciated a "walk through" coverage in the photographs. For example, the grounds approaching the entry, the narthex or lobby areas, the seating and then the altars. However, the close up views of features like stained glass and woodwork aree exceptional.

My 82 year old father has been a Methodist minister for 57 years. I purchased this book for him for Father's Day. What I loved is how it shows the differences in places of worship in stunningly beautiful photography, but also shows what my Dad always told us.....the building we worship in is a tribute to God with which we thank Him for our abilities to create.......the people and what they do are the real Church. The building can burn down, but the people will be the one true church. My Dad taught me that there is no one true religion that God created ALL of us equally and this book just shows our different interpretations of tributes to God.

The book is beautiful, informative and the pictures are spectacular! Ms. Browning and her crew have done a wonderful job.

A beautiful book of photographs of churches, temples, etc. I was surprised at how wide-ranging the subject places are. I bought this as a Christmas gift for my son and his wife; I am please I have time to read it thru before I send it on. As usual it arrived in good time and perfect condition. Thank you. Kathryn Russell.

A picturesque and respesctful look a America's houses of worship. Well done photographically and descriptively.

The pictures are breath taking. The history of American worship in photograph. A must have for the student of architecture in all of us.

I ordered this as a gift for my sisters birthday and one for myself. The pictures and the stories about the churches history are amazing. My sister loved it as I did! Great purchase!!!!