# Please recommend a non-technical book about architecture styles **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 21, 2021, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-non-technical-book-about-architecture-styles/944770 "2021-06-21T16:15:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2021, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-non-technical-book-about-architecture-styles/944770/1 "2021-06-21T16:15:44Z")
I’ve been reading Sue Grafton’s alphabet series books. One thing that comes up frequently in all the books are detailed descriptions of the various houses and buildings. Things like a building being Spanish style, colonial, Art Deco etc. A roof might be gabled, the windows might be mullioned, etc. I know I can look up each individual term as it comes up, but that that throws off the mood of getting into a fictional setting. I’d like to find a book, hopefully suited for someone who’s never studied architecture, that describes various styles. Pictures would be a plus. Thank you for any recommendations 😃 ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2021, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-non-technical-book-about-architecture-styles/944770/2 "2021-06-21T16:32:39Z")
> **[A Field Guide to American Houses (Revised): The Definitive Guide to Identifying...](https://www.amazon.com/Field-Guide-American-Houses-Revised/dp/0375710825)** > > A Field Guide to American Houses (Revised): The Definitive Guide to Identifying and Understanding America's Domestic Architecture \[McAlester, Virginia Savage\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. A Field Guide to American Houses... ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2021, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-non-technical-book-about-architecture-styles/944770/3 "2021-06-21T16:36:42Z")
To elaborate: it’s an excellent book. But I’m very familiar with Sue Grafton’s neck of the woods, so her descriptions have very concrete real life examples in my head. I have a relatively basic “map” of Santa Barbara in my head, so it’s fun to read her books and “see” what she’s describing. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-non-technical-book-about-architecture-styles/944770/4 "2021-06-21T17:16:11Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > But I’m very familiar with Sue Grafton’s neck of the woods, so her descriptions have very concrete real life examples in my head. I have a relatively basic “map” of Santa Barbara in my head, so it’s fun to read her books and “see” what she’s describing. Thank you for the recommendation! ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2021, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-non-technical-book-about-architecture-styles/944770/5 "2021-06-26T14:06:52Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I have a relatively basic “map” of Santa Barbara in my head, so it’s fun to read her books and “see” what she’s describing. Don’t you mean Santa Theresa? ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2021, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-non-technical-book-about-architecture-styles/944770/6 "2021-06-26T14:42:20Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Don’t you mean Santa Theresa? Santa Teresa 😜. It’s a Spanish name. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2021, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-non-technical-book-about-architecture-styles/944770/7 "2021-06-26T19:31:15Z")
That’s just Santa Barbara’s _nom de plume_. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2021, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-non-technical-book-about-architecture-styles/944770/8 "2021-06-26T19:54:39Z")
I don’t think it really fulfills OP’s wish, but I saw this a few days ago on ArchDaily and it seems relevant : [Architectural vocabulary defined A to Z](https://www.archdaily.com/963975/architectural-vocabulary-defined-a-to-z)