Concrete and stone seem made to last forever. But the fact is they develop problems. It is not always as dramatic as the collapse of a section of the roof of the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport in 2004. Gradual changes also occur that may compromise the appearance and structural soundness of buildings constructed with these materials. These changes can be created by efflorescence, thermal stress, weathering, leakage and corrosion. This book explains how to avoid typical kinds of failure. With this in mind, it systematically analyzes cases of damage in contemporary international architecture. It also offers strategies for minimizing the risk of damage. Examples include such high-visibility structures as Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, Parco della Musica in Rome and Vontz Center for Molecular Studies in Cincinnatti. In eight chapters, typical kinds of damage are explained and illustrated with examples. Beton und Stein scheinen für die Ewigkeit gemacht. Dennoch kommt es hier zu Bauschäden. Nicht immer sind sie so dramatisch wie der Deckeneinsturz im Terminal des Flughafen Paris-Roissy 2004. Es gibt auch schleichende Veränderungen, die Erscheinungsbild und Statik von Beton- oder Steingebäuden beeinträchtigen können. Dazu gehören Ausblühungen, thermische Auswirkungen, Materialunverträglichkeiten, Korrosion oder massive Krafteinwirkung. Dieses Buch zeigt, wie sich typische Schäden vermeiden lassen. Zu diesem Zweck analysiert es systematisch Schadensfälle in der zeitgenössischen internationalen Architektur. Ebenso werden Strategien vorgestellt, mit denen sich das Schadensrisiko minimieren lässt. Zu den Beispielen gehören so bekannte Bauten wie die Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, Renzo Pianos Parco della Musica in Rom oder Vontz Center for Molecular Studies in Cincinnatti. In insgesamt acht Kapiteln werden typische Schäden erklärt und dann mit Beispielen illustriert.

Lord knows, Reverend Al has had his personal and very public ups and downs, but he's come out bigger and better than ever—though the host of MSNBC's PoliticsNation is as fiery and outspoken as ever about the events and issues that matter most, he's learned that the only way we can get right as a nation is by getting right from within. In his instant New York Times bestselling book, Rev. Al will take you behind the scenes of some unexpected places—from officiating Michael Jackson's funeral, hanging out with Jay-Z and President Barack Obama at the White House, to taking charge of the Trayvon Martin case. And he will discuss how he came to his unexpected conclusions in such areas as immigration, gay rights, religion, and family. But the heart of the book is an intimate discussion of his own personal evolution from street activist, pulpit provocateur, and civil rights leader to the man he is today—one hundred pounds slimmer, and according to The New York Observer “the most thoughtful voice on cable.” The Rev. Al you met ten years ago isn’t the same man you’ll meet today. And he has a simple promise: We can transform this nation and we can all lead better lives if we're willing to transform our hearts and transform our minds.