What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

Hello! I’m trying to help my dad find an old architecture textbook he used for his degree in the 1980s. He said it was for a lower level class, and had a simple title (like architecture basics, architecture design, etc). It was a white cover with a simple building schematic on the cover. He doesn’t remember the exact title or who wrote it, but if there are any specific questions I’m sure I could ask him!

Thanks in advance for the assistance!

Jenni, is this an architecture textbook for university/ college undergrads in the U.S. or Britain?

What's the main focus - e.g., history of architecture, elements of architectural designs, how to produce technical drawings, etc.? Are the buildings mostly European?

Kris - it was a US textbook, used in Minnesota specifically (I think university of Minnesota but I could be wrong)


It was a very introductory text, used in one of the first classes going over the basics of architecture. He said that it doesn’t go into super detail but he doesn’t remember exactly what it talked about.

Thanks for the help!

Can we eliminate Guide to the Architecture of Minnesota (1978) by David Gebhard - published by University of Minnesota Press? It's 492 pages long.

We can eliminate that book, he said that the picture on the cover was a pen and ink drawing that he thinks was a wall. If there's a list somewhere that could be linked to, he said he would probably recognize the cover. Thank you for your help!

I added some details to the header/ topic title. Feel free to edit it.

A long shot - Introduction to Architecture by James C. Snyder?

He said not that one, but “ I’m pretty sure that I had bought it from the University Minnesota in 1982” if that helps?