122 — Rem Koolhaas's SMLXL — 3/4

Published in 1973, 'Small Is Beautiful' critiques mainstream economics by advocating for sustainable development, small-scale technologies, and community-centered economic policies. The book is divided into four parts: 'The Modern World', 'Resources', 'The Third World', and 'Organization and Ownership'. Schumacher argues that economic growth must be balanced with the needs of communities and the environment, and he introduces the concept of 'Buddhist economics', which emphasizes human needs and limitations. The book has been highly influential, inspiring movements such as 'Buy Local' and 'Fair Trade', and was ranked among the 100 most influential books since World War II by 'The Times Literary Supplement'.

Delirious New York is a retroactive manifesto that celebrates and analyzes New York City, particularly Manhattan, as a metaphor for the variety of human behavior. The book explores the dynamic relationship between architecture and culture, highlighting key episodes in New York's history such as the imposition of the Manhattan grid, the creation of Coney Island, and the development of the skyscraper. It is filled with intriguing facts, witty watercolors, and quirky archival drawings, photographs, postcards, and maps. Koolhaas interprets Manhattan as the 20th century's Rosetta Stone, featuring architectural mutations, utopian fragments, and irrational phenomena.