

#2356
Mentioned in 9 episodes
The Timeless Way of Building
Book • 1979
In this book, Christopher Alexander introduces the concept of the 'quality without a name,' arguing that this intangible quality is essential for creating buildings and spaces that feel right to human beings.
The book is part of the Center for Environmental Structure series and lays the foundation for Alexander's subsequent works, including 'A Pattern Language' and 'The Oregon Experiment.
' It emphasizes the importance of aligning building design with the natural and human environment, rejecting mass-manufactured materials, and focusing on individual attention to detail in construction.
The book is written in a unique style, often resembling prose poetry or religious scripture, and includes numerous full-page photo illustrations to support its arguments.
The book is part of the Center for Environmental Structure series and lays the foundation for Alexander's subsequent works, including 'A Pattern Language' and 'The Oregon Experiment.
' It emphasizes the importance of aligning building design with the natural and human environment, rejecting mass-manufactured materials, and focusing on individual attention to detail in construction.
The book is written in a unique style, often resembling prose poetry or religious scripture, and includes numerous full-page photo illustrations to support its arguments.
Mentioned by

















Mentioned in 9 episodes
Recommended by
Karri Saarinen for its insights on building things, applicable to software development.


345 snips
Inside Linear: Building with taste, craft, and focus | Karri Saarinen (co-founder, designer, CEO)
Recommended by Tomas Reimers for its insights on architecture and the importance of user involvement in the building process.

173 snips
Stacked diffs and tooling at Meta with Tomas Reimers
Recommended by Sachin Monga as a book about architecture and urban planning, highlighting the importance of human-centered design.

116 snips
Building Substack | Sachin Monga (Substack, Facebook)
Mentioned by Eric Normand as another book by Christopher Alexander, discussing timeless principles of building.

The Christopher Alexander Effect
Recommended by
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith as a source of inspiration for creatives about building philosophy.


Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
Recommended by
John Jantsch as a book that offers different perspectives applicable to business, despite not being a business book itself.

Why You Should Read Business Books That Are Not About Business