A Field Guide to American Houses,   ISBN:9780394510323

Customer Rating: 

I am a professional architectural historian and this is the guide that all my colleagues and I use on a daily basis. It's commonly and affectionately referred to as simply "McAlester". I am obsessive about architectural style terminology and though I have been known to ask "If McAlester jumped off a bridge, would you?" (to colleagues who think this book is the end-all be-all of terminology), I do think it is a highly comprehensive and accurate book. My only complaint is that it has such a nation-wide focus, and tends to favor the East Coast. It overlooks many regional and temporal differences of the West Coast (where I work) and so I am sometimes forced to do a little interpretation. (Also, I wish the McAlesters would write a guide to commercial styles.) All in all though, this is one of the best guides out there. I would also recommend Lester Walker's "American Shelter" and John Milnes Baker's "American House Styles".

Customer Rating: 

This is a must have book for anyone who loves old houses or is in the historic preservation field. I don't know a single professional architectural historian that does not own a copy (or two). If you have only one book on old houses this should be it. The book is easy to use, has great illustrations, covers most of the US and most importantly is pretty accurate. The first section "Looking at American Houses" is simple to understand and yet provides valuable information on determine house styles through key elements. If you are new to identifying house styles this section will help you to look in the right section and narrow down your choices. The main style sections are easy to understand with lots of examples. A word of caution however, most professional architectural historians, (who have trained as architectural historians), do use some different terms. For instances the term Folk Houses is not used, the correct term would be Vernacular. Also the section labeled eclectic is a little miss leading; many of the styles listed would be considered revivals. I have also never seen the houses listed as "modern house" also described as "eclectic". That be said you have to remember that a lot of houses styles and terms can be subjective, especially when dealing with different regional areas.

Customer Rating: 

Of the many books available on American residential architecture, this is THE one book you should have. It breaks out house styles in several different ways and with many illustrations and photos it makes it much easier to determine what you're looking at. Buy two books ... if you use yours as much as I have, you'll wear it out.

Customer Rating: 

Great guide on p54 to small details on houses to be able to date them to a particular period/style. A few too many photos for me but I am not yet up on the specific detailing of the structures to be the best judge. Covers all structures from Native American to 1980s.

Customer Rating: 

This book is sensational. The authors do a great job of clarifying various architectural styles. I highly recommend it and refer to it in my book, Designing Your Perfect House. If you like to travel and wander through older residential communities, this is the book to take along. If you're designing a new period house, this book will help you stay on course and preserve the historical accuracy of your design. If you only buy one book about American house styles, this is the one to get.