MultiStories: 55 Antique Skyscrapers and the Business Tycoons Wh Paperback – 25 January 2021

Written with the efficiency of a journalist, the wit of a comedian, and the precision of a scholar, MultiStories by Mark Houser is one the best books I've read in the past 10 years. Who knew that reading a book ostensibly about antique skyscrapers could be so delightful?What makes this architectural adventure so satisfying is how Houser's writing about the 50+ buildings and their visionaries so magnificently exceeds your expectations.Sure, there's "history of architecture" here, more than enough to expand your knowledge of urban innovation and expansion (upwards) around the turn of the century, but it's the author's artful sketching of the colorful characters who dreamed of, built, and sometimes lived in these structures that make the edifices and their historical figures seem so alive today.And, sure, there's opining on the motives behind the creation of the seminal skyscrapers, but there's also a welcome sensitivity for the cultural and ethical shortcomings evident in the actions of these tower tycoons and their society.And, as if such research and reflection were not enough, there's the exceptional prose that gilds this linguistically lovely lily. Ranging from precise introductory paragraphs and impeccable organization (Houser is a journalist) to well-placed puns, from carefully worded historical references to sardonic observations on the characters' and society's foibles, the prose delivers rhetorical grandeur without grandiloquence.Whether or not you are attracted to architecture, biography, humor, history, or ethics, read MultiStories simply for the joy of reading exquisite prose. Mark Houser--journalist, scholar, travel guide (and public speaker)--has clearly spent years studying and mastering the artful use of language.

If Cosmos had been written about skyscrapers instead of the Universe, Multistories is the book we'd get. Mark Houser shares with us here the remarkable histories behind a great many early architectural achievements, but where Multistories truly stands apart is Houser's brilliant choice to spend just as much time telling us about the bold (and often eccentric) men and women who willed skyscrapers into existence in the first place. It was this human element which drew me in and helped me to finally appreciate tall buildings on a (forgive me) higher level. And it begins with a question: What in the world was going on in that time period that we all just suddenly and collectively agreed as a society to start stacking bricks as high as we could? Basically, why do we even have skyscrapers at all? Not something I'd ever wondered before. Good job, Mark Houser. Ordinarily I would tear through a book this size in a weekend (just over 200 pages, with illustrations), but I had to slow down for this one. There's a lot to cover and it comes at you fast. Neatly organized in sections by geography, you'll tour nearly the whole US around the turn of the last century (with a nice quick side trip to Europe) and get a look at at least a hundred interesting characters. I had to limit myself to two or three short chapters a day and I still learned so much! For instance, I grew up near Pittsburgh (as did the author) and it was not until reading Multistories that I learned our town can lay claim to its very own "Bathtub King." Who knew?While this book was still in production, I caught one of Mark Houser's guided tours (this one was virtual as it took place during quarantine) and I was delightfully entertained. His infectious passion for what could easily be made into a dull topic instead kept me glued to the screen and often laughing. I couldn't find mention of it on the author's website, but on the virtual tour I thought I heard something about a companion podcast also in the works. I hope that is still the case, because if I only had one complaint about this book would be that I was left wanting more.

I must have over forty books about skyscrapers, but this one immediately became one of my favorites.The book covers about fifty buildings, all over America, most of which are never covered in other skyscraper books.Unlike many of those other books, it tells the full story of how the buildings came to be, the developers and entrepreneurs who dreamed them up, then hired the architects and contractors.The depth and accuracy of history is excellent.As a bonus, the book is also exceptionally well-written, telling compelling stories at a fast pace.I cannot recommend it highly enough!

If you like architecture and the history of Gilded Age buildings, this is an interesting read. There are sketches of the buildings being written about and the author only writes about the buildings that are still standing which I liked. He talks about all the people who were involved during that time of which there were an abundance. But it was hard to keep them straight. I'm still reading this book in between a work of fiction. This book is interesting. It makes you want to visit all of them and see the lobbies.

I got this for someone as a joke for his 55th birthday. It was good for a laugh on the big day, but more importantly it is fascinating information and an enjoyable read.