Why We Build

"A refreshingly humane and lucid book from one of our most intelligent architecture critics." - Daily Telegraph

'Vivid and witty ... it's a book about what happens when other non-architectural matter -- capital, sex, family life, the caprices of function -- barges into a discipline that sometimes likes to think of itself as pure." - Guardian

"Architecture critic for the Observer, Rowan Moore, has written a fantastic book which is well worth reading for anyone interested in architecture.' Sir Paul Smith 'Moore has a lot to offer those who like verbal flexibility and thought-provoking aphorisms. There is also a sense of mischief ... if famous architects were a coconut shy, Moore would go home with the giant teddy ... Elegant and witty, with a sometimes 18th-century sensuality, this is a hard-hitting book with great panache." - Sunday Telegraph

"Moore has conjured a rare feat in producing a work that will be appreciated by professionals and punters alike." - Observer

"Moore writes with economy, clarity and wit," - Will Wiles, Building Design

"A paean to the way we inhabit, which explains why good architecture changes constantly." - Financial Times

"Intelligent and cultured ... packed with passionately held ideas about the epiphanies, farces and humanity in architecture." - Independent

"Thoughtful and elegantly written, Why We Build will appeal to anyone with an interest in architecture ... It benefits from a clear style and years of architectural criticism ... the argument is forceful, but not prescriptive, the satisfying result of prolonged and sensitive observation of both buildings and human nature." - Spectator

"Lively and engaging ... Anyone with an interest in architecture will find good things here." - Evening Standard

"A subtle, often eccentric but always entertaining guide ... A fascinating work of love, intellectual curiosity and endurance." - Literary Review

"Dazzling ... there's plenty to discover." - Sunday Times