George Sullivan was my constant companion and erudite guide this rainy February. Though we've not met, together we have walked over most of the stones of Rome. His clean prose and profound knowledge brought me in close contact with the architectural history of my favorite city. Just the book for sitting in the Caffè Greco over a long cappuccino, as well as for reading back at home when the Eternal City beckons.
– Frances Mayes, author of Under the Tuscan Sun
This memorable, witty, and discerning new guide to Rome – a city caught "like an old man" in memories, delusions, and dreams – evokes the special character, history, and attraction of the marvelous piazzas along with the ancient, Renaissance, and Baroque palazzos. Sophisticated and informative, it sharpens your eye and mind; it is what lovers of Rome have been waiting for. Don't miss it for your next visit to Rome.
– Amos Elon, author of Jerusalem and The Pity of It All
Finally, a guide that really enhances your knowledge and experience of Rome All those wonderful (and at times not-so-wonderful) buildings that you see, wonder about, and then walk by? This book not only tells you what they are and how they fit into the history of the city but also why they are a good (or not-so-good) example of architecture, all in a companionable style that is never pedantic, dry, or academic. And there are lots of architectural guides to Rome that are only dry, academic, and pedantic (see almost any other book in this category on this site). This one is highly readable, and the author shares his erudition and enthusiasm in a way that is infectious. He teaches by example, and in Rome the examples abound. What a great way to learn about a subject that can sound so intimidating at first. If one were to design a fantasy course in architectural history, this book would be the syllabus, and Sullivan would be the highest-rated professor on the campus of your dreams. It's a "Greatest Courses" in architecture – a semester-level course for the price of a book. Although the book is most enjoyable on site in Rome, it is also a great read in your armchair at home. Not Built in a Day has become my favorite gift to give to first-time visitors as well as cognoscenti; it gets raves reviews from everyone who has used it as a guide.
– DC Reader
Not Built in a Day blends astute architectural observation with basic guidebook practicality. The descriptions combine detail and relevant explanation to make the most lay-person feel expert as they dissect the infinite elements in a church, piazza, or palazzo. For anyone who has been to Rome, the inexorable shuttling between sites makes you numb to the city's splendor, but Not Built in a Day reorients and reminds the reader that every site contains an element of architectural, historical, or civic wonder that makes the nonstop walking completely worthwhile. The book's walking tours can be strictly followed (I completed Tours 1, 2, and 7 without any diversions), but once I had a better feel for the city I picked specific places that I wanted to see and then read the appropriate entry. Every guidebook should aspire to be Not Built in a Day.
– Eric Goldwyn, New York, NY
My wife and I recently returned from Rome, and one of our many fine moments in that glorious city was sitting on top of Michelangelo's Campidoglio with Mr. Sullivan's book in hand and understanding for the first time what Michelangelo did and why – and thus helping us understand more deeply the greatness of his accomplishment. So it went with magnificent works such as Borromini's San Carlino or Bramante's Tempietto. Similarly, we came to understand the failures – what the architect wanted to do but didn't quite get there. Mr. Sullivan's goal was to help us move beyond admiration or puzzlement at what we were looking at, and understand what was done and how well it did or did not work. Very well written, tough in its judgments, and infused throughout with a love of the city. Don't go to Rome without it.
– Norman Metzger, Washington, DC
I received Not Built in a Day as a gift just prior to a recent trip to Rome. As a student of "Rome" and art history, I was initially intrigued by the biographical nature of the book, but upon reading it I was thrilled by the level of detail and informed opinion offered by Mr. Sullivan. The edifices offered up in the book are carefully selected – curated is perhaps a better description – well-researched and at times wonderfully controversial. Mr. Sullivan even reveals a few off-the-beaten-path gems. I must also comment on the architectural illustrations provided in the book; contrary to most architectural surveys (I would not demean this book by calling it a travel guide) there are no photographs in the book. Rather, the author has brilliantly selected engravings ("veduti") produced in the 18th and 19th centuries of particular buildings – illustrating the buildings and their surroundings in their prime and prior to any 20th-century urban planning errors – smart! Not Built in a Day is great for students of art history, the casual traveler, and even the jaded academic – all should enjoy and love it – I certainly did.
– Mark W. Kline, New York, NY
This remarkable book is a must read if you are planning your own itinerary in Rome. The author's love of Rome and its architecture are apparent from the first page. He organizes the overwhelming amount of information into compact and readable units. Pick a time period or architectural style of interest and follow the detailed path laid out by the author. The added information on the art to see inside each structure makes this the only "guide" book to art and architecture that you will need on your visit to Rome.
– D. Rooeah