Everything by Design: My Life as an Architect

I've been in construction for many decades and am always on the lookout for books that describe how things really are for those of who live with developers, architects and all the really interesting people in this industry. Without a doubt, Everything by Design is one of the best I've read in years. Mr Lapidus is right on in his descriptions of how it is with clients and contractors, and he tells his stories in a very entertaining way. If you're in this business and understand the way things work, you can can just sit back and enjoy the trip along with him. But even if you don't understand the details of building things, he brings the characters he meets to life in a very real way. Overall, this story of his career is a fine way to spend an evening or two enjoying a really good read.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable and fascinating book. It never got boring! Loved the scenes with the "rich and famous," and I would like to see the author publish Volume 2 - I am sure there are many more interesting stories that he did not have room for here.

Despite a few errors of fact, this is a fascinating story. It is written, for the most part, in language that is easy for lay persons to understand. An interesting exercise is to read passages in Alan Lapidus' book alongside very different recollections of the same event or design in his father, Morris Lapidus' books.

This is a fantastic book. It's informative and a riot. Believe me you will never look at a building, a gambling casino, or a Disney offering the same way. You may even learn to love Donald Trump. You will certainly love Alan Lapidus. Kudos!!