Concrete by Stephen ParnellMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This small book is another installment in the Object Lessons series by the publisher Bloomsbury Academic. Each book is focused on one specific subject, in this case concrete. The author Parnell does a great job of sticking to the subject (I’ve read a few where the subject was more of a jumping off point). It starts generally with a brief introduction to Parnell’s experience with concrete. He started with summer jobs working with a concrete contractor testing the concrete pours for strength, as well as checking if the dry/wet mix they were pouring was the right consistency. Later, Parnell became an architect, and writer, uses his experience in this book. He seems like the perfect author.
The book does indeed contain a lot about architecture, as that is one of the primary uses of concrete, and the art of it as well. Many concrete buildings are labeled as “Brutalism” where even that is not quite the case. Parnell writes about buildings that have their own artistic nature that is not brutal.
Going further into the artist side Parnell dives into how people, artists usually, takeover some of these concrete spaces, either abandoned buildings or projects, and envelops them into the community. This may be with skateboarders, parkour, or graffiti artists who claim these spaces.
There is so much more, a brief look at what the word means. Often something hard, but in Nigeria it means love. A couple may exchange a small amount of concrete to “cement” their love for each other. A concrete man is someone who will build a house for his woman.
Parnell does not complete the book without mentioning some of the downsides of concrete, such as the environmental impact worldwide, which is very significant. It felt very little and late in the book, but at least it was included.
It took me a very long time to read this book for the length of it. Some parts I did find interesting, but others were a bit of a slog for me. There were some photos, but the book could have used many more.
Book rating: 3.5 stars
Thanks to Bloomsbury Academic and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.
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