Book Review - Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture by Ross King

Book Review 

Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture by Ross King

When it was first published in 2000, ‘Brunelleschi’s Dome’ became New York Times best seller and has received several literary awards. This is an interesting book for engineers, architects and any layman who enjoys reading narratives about history, design, innovators, and innovation.

For more than 100 years, the biggest cathedral of Florence had a huge hole in its roof, hurting the honour of the Florentines. Until he appeared, Filippo Brunelleschi. Brunelleschi was able to build the most colossal dome in Europe, which still dominates the landscape of Florence from any point of view in the city.

In this short and beautifully researched book, the author Ross King presents the genius of Filippo Brunelleschi in a lucid, engaging, and lively manner replete with history, drawings, and images. The book is essentially a work of non-fiction and describes the construction of the largest brick dome of Santa Maria Del Fiore (Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower), in Florence , Italy. The cathedral's dome is about 115 meters (372 ft) in height and 45 meters (147 ft) in width.

The first chapter in the book starts with this beguiling announcement:

“ ON AUGUST 19, 1418, a competition was announced in Florence, where the city’s magnificent new cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore, had been under construction for more than a century:

 Whoever desires to make any model or design for the vaulting of the main Dome of the Cathedral under construction by the Opera del Duomo — for armature, scaffold or other thing, or any lifting device pertaining to the construction and perfection of said cupola or vault — shall do so before the end of the month of September. If the model be used, he shall be entitled to a payment of 200 gold Florins.”

The author explains “ Two hundred florins was a good deal of money — more than a skilled craftsman could earn in two years of work — and so the competition attracted the attention of carpenters, masons, and cabinetmakers from all across Tuscany. They had six weeks to build their models, draw their designs, or simply make suggestions how the dome of the cathedral might be built. Their proposals were intended to solve a variety of problems, including how a temporary wooden support network could be constructed to hold the dome’s masonry in place, and how sandstone and marble blocks each weighing several tons might be raised to its top.”

These starting paragraphs certainly heightens curiosity and excitement to read this delightful book. The author describes the history of Florence, the various famous architecture, culture, politics, brinkmanship, drama, and life during the end of the Middle Ages and beginning of Renaissance period. He introduces us to Filippo Brunelleschi, a goldsmith and clock maker and how over sixteen years, Brunelleschi would dedicate himself to designing and constructing the marvelous dome. The author reveals various facets of Brunelleschi personality - intelligent, problem solver, innovator, adventurous, researcher, knowledgeable, confident, ambitious, competitive, authoritative , conceited, master of illusions, generous and yet being poor at his own personal finance management.

Brunelleschi died in 1446, kept the secrets of its construction until death and hence for over 500 years the construction of this engineering marvel has been an intriguing mystery and subject of many architectural and engineering research. The book compels readers to imagine the various challenges of 15th century and succinctly presents Brunelleschi’s designs and innovations of construction, clocks, hoists and lifting machines which were very far ahead of time.

Interestingly domes were built during Mauryan Empire and became more popular as Stupas in 3rd century as part of Buddhist architecture built by Emperor Ashoka. Domes are also commonly seen in Islamic Structures. Apparently, there are structural ( technical) and architectural differences between Stupas and Domes. While stupas are solid and semi-spherical , Domes are hollow and must withstand lateral forces and thrust all around.

Brunelleschi's major innovation was to build the Dome without centering ( wooden formwork) a supporting structure. The Dome consists of two distinct domes: one internal, more than two meters thick, with a deeper angle than the other and consisting of large arches held together by ribs and made of bricks arranged in a "herringbone" pattern. In building this dome, Brunelleschi reinvented the field of architecture. Brunelleschi is also the inventor of Perspective Drawing widely used in Architecture and Civil Engineering. 

While reading the book I found the long Italian names little taxing but after few pages you get used to it. Although the book is not technical, I suspect readers without engineering background might find few of the technical stuff little irritating but eventually will get the drift and enjoy the authors delightful narration. It will certainly benefit if you read the book and watch the various YouTube videos featuring the construction of dome, just to visualize and fathom the enormity of challenge in the Dome’s design and construction.

 If you are further curious and wish to learn the secret behind Brunelleschi’s dome, you can refer to the link below:

https://www.princeton.edu/news/2020/05/21/double-helix-masonry-researchers-uncover-secret-italian-renaissance-domes

The book is comprehensive and not to be missed. There is no doubt that towards the end readers will learn about architecture, engineering, innovation and agree with the author that “ Architectural marvels like Filippo’s dome often become sites of scientific inquiry because their unique structures and dimensions can serve as testing grounds for new theories and technologies.”

Having read the book, I yearn to visit Florence and climb up to the top of this magnificent Dome.

 

 

Book Review - 'Harsh Realities: The Making of Marico’

 

Book Review - 'Harsh Realities: The Making of Marico’

 

 

 

I enjoyed reading 'Harsh Realities: The Making of Marico’ - co-authored by Harsh Mariwala, the founder of Marico and Prof Ram Charan, the legendary management Guru.

In less than 300 pages, the book presents a fascinating tale of how Harsh Mariwala built MARICO. The author presents the various challenges of transforming a joint family- owned traditional business in commodities into an inspiring world-class FMCG organisation having multiple brands - products and services.

The book starts with the history of Mariwala joint family and provides information about their traditional oil and spice business. It narrates the family separation and how the third generation of entrepreneurs decided to come out on their own. The book predominantly focusses on the challenges of building Marico across the pre and post liberalization era along with various learnings shared by the authors.

There are excellent lessons in leadership including ideas on how to create and build an organization with Purpose - one that would not just cater to profits but more importantly care for society and all stakeholders. The importance of Leadership, Culture, Values, Transparency, Trust , Strategy, HR, Talent Management, Financial Management, Marketing, Branding, Communication, Technology, and the role of leader/ entrepreneur is succinctly emphasized.

Often strategy is about deciding where to compete and where not to compete. The author says, “Looking back, basing my business ideas on my strengths and interests, and staying away from areas where I could have been somewhat challenged, was probably what led me to success.” 

The book teaches lessons in competitive intelligence and strategy pertaining to consumer marketing , branding, packaging and price wars. Various examples of experimenting, risk taking, failing, and scaling to increase product range and capture market share are insightful.

The chapter titled ‘ Angels and Predators’ present the corporate battle between David V/s Goliath and clearly highlights the leadership conviction and some unconventional strategies to face the mighty Hindustan Lever ( now Unilever) and other competitors. The various anecdotes and real-life situation present an engrossing tale and are truly educative coupled with some incisive advice from Prof Ram Charan. Relentlessly focusing on enhancing the core business of hair and cooking oil, gradually capturing various other brands, and increasing market share in that category and later diversifying into beauty and skin care business makes for an interesting reading.

The author reiterates the role of a Leader to sustain and constantly enhance the organisation culture. Harsh tells us about Marico Leadership Competency Framework which has a strong linkage to its core values and shares about the organization’s continuous improvement through the 5E Model: Educate, Engage, Enable, Evaluate and Evolve.

I was very impressed with the chapter, ‘ Governance: Building the Board”. This chapter is not to be missed as it perspicaciously provides information about the role of Board and Corporate Governance. It provides insights on selecting professional board members, their duties, responsibilities, and active involvement in the growth of organisation and not just attending quarterly meetings and merely finding faults. What is interesting is the clear demarcation of the responsibilities between board members and management and why boards must not get involved in strategic planning.

It is always difficult and daunting for any entrepreneur to hand over the control of their business to any professional especially who is not from the entrepreneur family. However, it is very inspiring to learn how Mr. Harsh Mariwala seamlessly passed on the baton to a professional leader.

Overall, the book is enjoyable, educative, encouraging and a must read for all entrepreneurs and professionals.

Book Review - The Naked Ape

When my friend Anand gave me Desmond Morris book - ‘The Naked Ape - A Zoologist's Study of the Human Animal’, I simply couldn’t refuse. It would have been stupid to refuse Anand Khedkar, promising young Indian scientist whose appetite for books and filing patents thankfully remains insatiable.

This book catches your attention, raises eyebrows and remains timeless. Born in 1928, Desmond Morris has authored innumerable scientific papers and seven books. At a time when authors employ services of marketing agencies to stir controversies and spur sells, the Naked Ape created huge controversy because of its stimulating contents. It was first published in 1967 and since then, has been translated into several languages, sold more than 10 million copies and continues to remain a best seller.

The book is spread across 167 pages and divided into 8 chapters. The chapters are: Origin, Sex, Rearing, Exploration, Fighting, Feeding, Comfort and Animals. In the book, Desmond presents the study of man’s evolution and development of his modern day habits. By portraying human being as animal species and as an integral part of primate evolution, Morris traces our origin, commonalities and differences with various animals. The books highpoint lies in its simple, lucid narration and brilliant illustration of our primal imperatives seen through our modern day habits and ingenuity.

The first chapter ‘Origin’ presents man as a risen animal and despite our environment – moulding achievements; we still remain a very naked ape at heart. In the subsequent chapters the author showcases the modern naked ape’s behaviour.

The second chapter must be included in school curriculum. It’s on ‘Sex’ - insightful and not erotic. Ironically, this is the only subject where students are discouraged from doing any practicals or homework! Explaining the intricacies of process of attraction, pair bonding, the author innocuously elucidates the various physiological changes that take place before, during and after copulatory stages. The author finds voyeurism biologically abnormal but the media and the daily sitcoms defy it and are forever concerned with satisfying this demand.

Much of what we do as adult is based on imitative absorption during our childhood years. Crying, laughing, smiling and facial expressions play a larger role and this is subtly presented in the Chapter titled ‘Rearing’. The chapter on ‘Exploration’ brings out the battle between our neophilic and neophobic urges. (Isn’t that an oxymoron?) The former drives us on to new experiences while the latter holds us back. The author remarks that exploratory behaviour plays a role in the basic survival patterns of feeding, fighting, and mating.

The chapter on ‘Fighting’ illustrates aggressive urges using our background of animal origins. It throws light on the pattern of aggressive behaviour and intimidation tactics practiced by all. In the chapter ‘Feeding’, Morris highlights evolution in our food habits and unequivocally states, “human beings should return to our ancient primate feeding patterns.” Gourmet writers and caviar sellers would certainly cringe!

The topic on ‘Comfort’ features interesting insights on primate grooming not just as a cleaning pattern, but also in the social context and communication. The last chapter on ‘Animal’ identifies various categories of inter- specific relationships viz; prey, symbiont, competitor, parasite and predators. However unlike animals we continue to carry relationships much further. This chapter has a fascinating experiment that proves why younger children like big animals and why older children prefer smaller animals. We also get to know the reasons behind our acute and instinctive hatred for snakes and spiders and other reptiles.

Thanks Anand for recommending this masterpiece. The book truly succeeds in establishing linkages with ape. A must read for all regardless of educational qualifications….

Beyond A Boundary - Book Review

If the Renaissance art characterized the use of perspective, gave birth to classical themes, and renewed hope in culture, then C.L.R. James introspective memoirs, ‘Beyond a Boundary’ unravels, “Cricket as an art!”.

Through insightful essays, this book addresses not just a sport but a whole culture to ask the question, “What do they know of cricket, who only cricket know?” It incisively presents the glorious game, its aesthetics, and its growing influence on the social and political climate in West Indies and England, before and after the war.

Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad in 1901, James over riding passion for cricket was developed not only by playing but because,“ his family cottage was opposite to the recreation ground, or because we were in a British colony and being active people, gravitated naturally towards sport.” He reminisce the role cricket played in his family's history, his neighbourhood and his meetings with early West Indian players. The author’s relentless pursuit to collect clippings and read about his favourite cricketers; W.G.Grace, Victor Trumper and Ranjitsinhji vividly reminds us of our childhood.

The language is little discomforting for larger audience but it reflects James vim and verve for the game. The essays embellished with Anglo- Saxon empiricism stops from being vaguely theatrical. No wonder, it is daunting to review this extraordinary volume in few words!

West Indies made their debut in 1928 and for next three decades were led by white people. James along with Learie Constantine was instrumental in appointing Frank Worrell as the first black captain of the West Indies. Through the prism of cricket and literature, James mirrors its effects on colonialism and the establishment of national culture. James elaborates, “How the clash of race, caste and class did not retard but stimulate West Indian cricket.” Didn’t the Pentagular tournament in undivided India accentuate the development of cricket in the sub-continent?

The essays bring to prominence some hidden aspects of players and the nuances of cricket. “A batsman who was in perfect control by those amazing doubling- jointed wrists and arms is present with Bradman, Sobers, George Headley and a few others.” This is how James brilliantly paints the thrill and ingenuity of Wilton St. Hill, who smoked his cigarette until he had to play the ball. He dedicates an entire section to his friend Learie Constantine. “Constantine was of a royal ancestry in cricket, but in ordinary life, though not a pauper, he was no prince. This contrast explains not all, but much.” Introducing Constantine as a cricketer, a politician and a good human being, these essays highlights the important stages in development of West Indian cricket and simultaneously throws light on league cricket, his own move to England and his involvement with West Indian politics.

I read over dozen times this particular essay and each reading simply heightened my joy. A quick search on ‘Wikipedia’ pops up this statement, “His rate of scoring centuries, 1 every 4 innings is bettered only by Bradman”. Perhaps Dravid would identify himself with the following quote, “I would be putting on my pads and sometimes before I was finished I would hear that the first wicket had gone.” This is what George Headley also known as Black Bradman, carried on his shoulder for nearly ten years. The author uses statistics to present Headley, a natural cricketer and describes the cardinal qualities of the super batsman, “He saw the ball early, He was quick on his feet and he was quick with his bat”. James further adds, “Between 1930 and 1938 Bradman had with him in England Ponsford, Woodfull, McCabe, Kippax, Brown, and Hassett. All scored heavily. In 1933 and 1939 West Indian batsmen scored runs at various times, but George had nobody who could be depended upon.” Ironically such comparisons seem to escape some of our correspondents today.

By writing four essays, James succinctly highlights Dr. W.G. Grace’s role in the development of modern cricket and the Victorian culture. Talking strongly about W.G.’s batting figures, “remarkable as they are, lose all their true significance unless they are seen in close relation with the history of cricket itself and the social history of England. Unless you do this you fall head foremost into the trap of making comparisons with Bradman. Bradman piled up centuries. W.G. built a social organization.”

Enjoying Gary Sobers batting in Australia, James infers, “West Indian cricket has arrived at maturity because of two factors: The rise in financial position of the coloured middle class and the high fees paid to players by the English leagues.” However he is disheartened to observe, modern cricketers sinking into a ‘welfare state of mind’. “The prevailing attitude of the players of 1890-1914 was daring, adventure, creation. The prevailing attitude of 1957 can be summed up in one word - security.” Unfortunately this attitude is still prevalent across the world, engulfing not just the players and the officials, but even the brave curators and sponsors.

Today, West Indian cricket is in a downward spiral to mediocrity and irrelevance, and few wins do not reflect its flamboyance nor its prowess. It’s time West Indian cricket rose like a Phoenix and resurrect C.L.R’s ‘romantics’. Until then, enjoy ‘Beyond a Boundary’ for it delightfully weaves the game in a social context, along with its illustrious proponents and their magnum opus.

The book distinctly reveals James as literati, a Trotsky revolutionary, an iconoclastic commentator, and a die-hard sports lover. Undoubtedly, an immortal masterpiece deserving exclusive space in your personal library and a compulsory read for cricket aficionados and even non-cricket lovers from every generation.