Breaking Ground: An Immigrant's Journey from Poland to ... (ISBN 1594481326)

Download Description:
"The renowned architect introduces his iconoclastic approach to public space and shares his vision for the most important architectural project of our time, the 1776 Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center site. Drawing on his uncommon background and global perspective, in Breaking Ground Daniel Libeskind explores ideas about tragedy and hope, and the way in which architecture can memorialize-and reshape-human experience. Born in 1946 to Holocaust survivors in Poland, Daniel Libeskind eventually emigrated to New York City in 1959. A virtuoso musician before studying architecture, Libeskind has designed iconic buildings around the world, including the Jewish Museum Berlin and the Imperial War Museum in Manchester, England. In February 2003, Libeskind was chosen as the Master Plan Architect for the World Trade Center reconstruction. Full of the vitality, humor, and visionary spark that helped win him the Trade Center Commission, Breaking Ground invites readers to see architecture-and the larger world-through new perspectives."

Breaking Ground:
Daniel Liebskind designed the new wing of my local (Denver) art museum, and to coincide with its opening, my book club chose to read "Breaking Ground." In reading the book I was expecting to gain a little insight into who this man is and possibly how he came up with some of his ideas. But I never expected to find that he is a very good writer, incredibly well-read, and to learn of the amazing thought processes behind his designs (e.g. the Twin Towers Memorial among others world-wide). It was a wonderful surprise and a book I will read again some day.

Complete Rubbish:
I came across a pile of these books remaindered for 10 cents and figured - "Well, you can't go wrong for a dime, Right?" - WRONG!! What a load of rubbish this book is. Pomposity and egotism on every page. Libeskind's love affair with himself is not worth the paper it is written on ... not even at 10 cents a copy! This one goes straight into the recycle bin.

An Architect's Unmanly Behavior:
You could be forgiven for thinking that `Breaking Ground' was written by a four-year old who had his favorite toy taken from him and has never gotten over it. This biography manages to emphasize it's author's weaknesses and insecurities more than it highlights any positive aspects of the life recorded. Author, Daniel Libeskind, airs many old grievances and seems hell-bent on boastfully proclaiming one-upmanship at any opportunity. He begins by telling a story about beating Itzhak Perlman in a musical competition when both were children. It may be honest trivia, but it sets a tone for the self-praise that is the book's most constant and ultimately most disturbing trait The enormity of Libeskind's ego is matched only by the scale of his resentment towards everyone else. Libeskind's most severe criticisms are saved for fellow architects, all of whom he holds in especially low regard. In Daniel's mind, he is an architect without peers. Of architect (and Ground Zero competitor), Peter Eisenman, Libeskind says with evident venom that, "No one ever called him (Eisenman), a mensch!" It is a curious comment from Libeskind who is hardly a poster boy for masculinity himself. In fact, as the book proceeds, it becomes clear that it is Daniel's wife and business partner, Nina, who wears the jockstrap around the Libeskind household. Whenever the going gets tough, and some recalcitrant client or municipality challenges one of Daniel's designs, it is Nina who flexes her biceps and steps in to do the heavy lifting. Daniel pits his mammoth ego against all comers, and might even blubber with rage, but usually he just resorts to "storming out of the room", a tactic he records frequently throughout his book. Unfortunately, the Libeskinds are not about building consensus or about listening to others, so most of their projects becomes embroiled in time-consuming controversy. Most disappointingly, Libeskind fails to see the humanity of the world outside himself. The Ground Zero commission becomes just another opportunity to do some more bragging and to whittle away at the reputations of people he could have learned something from. `Breaking Ground' never becomes the inspirational memoir that it could have been. If you want a book about a true post-911 hero, you'll need to bypass `Breaking Ground' and try General Tommy Franks' recent biography instead. `American Soldier" is the story of a real man, one who fights his battles face-to-face, and doesn't need to hide behind a pen. And what a difference having some testosterone makes!!

A riveting summation of Libeskind's philosophies.:
I purchased this book after attending a lecture of Daniel Libeskind's at my University. Daniel is one of the most sought after architects of the twenty-first century, for good reason. I found his writing style to be intelligent and concise, with moments of sheer brilliance. This book is a quick read for those familiar with Libeskind's work and the famous architects of today. There seems to be a distinct polarity in the reviews of whether one "gets" Libeskind's work or does not. His literal translations of idea and emotion into space are at times discomforting. The projects he has chosen often revolve around tragedy and loss, and much of the substance of his design process is esoteric and abstract to those not familiar with his background. Music, harmony, space and art seem to flow together in his composition with a certain logical order and reason. I recommend this book to any architect or student interested in the intangible qualities of design.

Only an idiot can be brilliant at breakfast:
Libeskind proves in this personal account of his life that living dangerously has his rewards. He describes his endless struggles with authorities, bureaucrats in Berlin, New York and so on. He tells marvellous tales of taking a stand in architecture, how architecture and good design can add value to a city. But his life in architecture is an adventurous one. He won the commission for the Jewish Museum in Berlin just by good luck and an ambitious wife. Libeskind received too late the invitation to take part in the architectural competition. His wife succeeded by sheer thougness in nominating him for the contest and eventually he won. His struggle for the World Trade Center commission is a tough one. Larry Silverstein is his main opponent. Libeskind can never be confident about the outcome of this fight. Why insist on theoretical books on architecture when such personal accounts are available? Libeskind pleads for architecture with heart and soul. I liked this book tremendously and would like to recommend the book to every student of architecture. Just to learn that architecture is about winning competitions as much as about designing. Libeskind cites Einstein: Only an idiot can be brilliant at breakfast. Libeskind could have written this beautiful book during breakfast. Luuk Oost