Encompassing two thousand years of building history, The Architecture Reader includes 40 key texts from Alberti, Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Gropius, Venturi, Gehry, and many more. The writings address persistent concerns in architecture and design, including the role of the architect and the relationship of architecture to nature, art, and science.

The carefully chosen texts provide a taste of the multiplicity that characterizes historical and contemporary views of architecture. Krista Sykes organizes the selections chronologically and introduces each with a helpful commentary, contextualizing the author and the salient issues covered in the piece. The excerpts appear in a variety of formats, including interviews, manifestos, lectures and treatises, and are representative of the varied sometimes conflicting approaches to building and design. In combination, they provide a fascinating overview of significant concepts within the field of architecture.