Book Review: Everything by Design

You don't need to be interested in architecture (but who isn't?) to enjoy Everything by Design: My Life as an Architect by Alan Lapidus.

Both in style and content, Lapidus's tale is more of a rollicking saga of hard knocks than a story of bricks and glass. [The first line - "Mrs. Axelrod wanted an ocean view from her bidet"] - gives a quick hint of the tone.]

The author's rocky family life is not spared. His relationship with a social-climbing mother and a glory-hogging architect-father was a horror show and yet the pain is served with large dollops of humor. His stories of architecture school should be read by anyone contemplating that field:

One of the rules we gradually became aware of was that an architect should never give a simple description or explanation if an obscure or pretentious one was available. Verbal obfuscation was essential for imbuing heroic significance to what were essentially arbitrary design decisions.

But it is when Lapidus discusses his hotel and casino projects and reveals what is it like dealing with clients such as Donald Trump, Aristotle Onassis, and various figures from the underworld that the book takes flight. Tucked within these sections are memorable anecdotes about the raw side of business such as:

• A Las Vegas boss who lovingly recalls the days when if you cheated the casino you had a leg broken;



• A stone mason's creative use of a glass pane to ensure final payment from a tight-fisted client;



• What it was like to work on what would have been a major hotel at Disney World; and



• The machinations of the New York City bureaucracy in the days of Mayor John Lindsay.
  

Throughout these recollections, an image of an extraordinary life emerges. Alan Lapidus recounts his failures and fumbles - at one point he experienced financial disaster - as well as his high points. Although this is not for readers who want lengthy discussions of architectural styles, this is a wise, warm, and funny book.

Everything by Design has my highest recommendation. You'll find yourself reading sections to friends.