Skyscrapers: A History of the World's Most Extraordinary Buildings

Rising majestically above the hubbub of crowded cities or standing in solitude against a natural backdrop, skyscrapers captivate the eye, excite the imagination, and inspire awe. Wonders of creativity and ingenuity, they embody the best of our practical achievements and reflect our highest aspirations.

This magnificent chronological tour of the world"s tallest buildings'"thoroughly revised and updated since its initial publication, and featuring cutting edge work by today"s international superstars of architecture'"stands as the most thorough, authoritative, and eye-popping book on the subject, as dramatic in presentation as the structures it celebrates. Breathtaking photographs capture the buildings" details as well as their monumental scale; architectural drawings and plans invite you behind the scenes as new buildings take shape; and lively commentary on each building explores its particular significance and provides historic context. Throughout, informative profiles, features, and statistics make Skyscrapersan invaluable reference as well as a visual feast.

From a church built to the glory of God to monuments that symbolize national or civic pride, to buildings so forward thinking that they contribute to the betterment of the environment, the 62 structures included here encompass the very best and most ingenious of our history, spanning some 125 years and circling the globe. The 15 astonishing 'supertalls' that have been added to this edition represent flights of imagination and feats of engineering that the skyscraper"s earliest pioneers could never have dreamed of.

'To say that the megatall landscape has changed since this book was first published in 1996 is an understatement,' comments the author in her forward. 'We are in the midst of a new skyscraper boom'Skyscraper design, now embraced by the global community, has entered a flamboyant, no-holds-barred era of exhilarating, highly personal exploration of the extreme frontiers of structural and creative possibility.'

Every civilization has expressed in buildings both sacred and secular the eternal quest to reach ever upward toward the sky. Skyscrapersinvites you to relish in the stunning works born of that quest.

Judith Dupre is the author of the very successful follow-up to Skyscrapers, Bridges, as well as several other illustrated books, a graphic novel about New York City, a Mayan folk tale, and a book on American Indian rock art. She studied architectural history at Brown University and Hunter College, and she lectures at museums and schools throughout the country.