Over Here by Alan Hunter

Over Here by Alan Hunter

In Bill Stumpf's incisive book, he argues that good design is not about fashion, but about quality of life. The ice palace of the title refers to an elaborate construction built in St. Paul in 1992; for Stumpf, this castle symbolizes a sense of community and a love of play that has been lost in the wake of America's quest for speed and efficiency. Among his pet peeves are cramped airplanes, run-down taxis, aspirin bottle caps, malls, burglar alarms, and grocery bags with no handles. Things don't have to be this way, he assures us, as he offers many whimsical and practical alternatives.

In a sometimes rambling, occasionally crotchety, often nostalgic, but consistently engaging book, Stumpf exhorts us to recapture those qualities that he classifies as 'civility.' Publishers Weekly

Some of the best moments in Stumpf's small book of reflections come in his doubts about the work of colleagues who believe that doing something has got to be better than just standing there. Los Angeles Times

A creative plea for better design. Washington Post

Nathaniel Agola is Professor of International Economics and Finance at the Graduate School of Global Studies at Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan. He has authored, and co-edited three books, a number of book chapters, and dozens of research papers in peer-reviewed journals. Other than teaching and research, he is also actively involved in consulting in business and economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Alan Hunter is Professor of Asian Studies at Coventry University, UK, where he was formerly Director of the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation Studies. Alan has worked and studied in China, India, Japan and Singapore and is currently Visiting Professor at the Graduate School of Global Studies at Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan.