This is a book about architecture. Architecture is the art and science of setting the stage for our lives. It is designing and building the world that we want to inhabit. Our cities and buildings aren't givens-they are the way they are because that is as far as we have gotten to date. They are the best efforts of our ancestors and fellow planetizens. And if they have shortcomings, it is up to us to continue the effort, pick up where they left off, and create the world we want to see for ourselves and our children.