History of Interior Design and Furniture : From Ancient Egypt to Nineteenth-Century Europe review:5 stars (Outstanding Book -Dont miss it) - This is an outstanding book, with plenty of pictures - great insider material on furniture and architecture. And I already have a design MA with my own firm.2 stars (NOT SUCH GREAT BUY) - I AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS TWO REVIEWERS, THIS BOOK IS GREAT ONLY IN THE WRITTEN INFORMATION, IN THE PICTORIALS IT IS INDEED SORELY LACKING. I HONESTLEY SAY THIS WITH FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE I MYSELF AM CURRENTLY A DESIGN STUDENT, AND I HAD TO PURCHASE THIS BOOK FOR A MAJOR PART OF MY INTERIOR DESIGN EDUCATION. I RECOMMEND THAT THIS BE A BOOK THAT YOU CHECK OUT FROM THE LIBRARY FOR REFERENCE AND NOT ONE YOU PURCHASE.2 stars (Underwhelming and overpriced) - The text of this volume is decent and well organized but in the area that most designers are interested in, visual examples, it is sorely lacking. A very minimal section of color photographs (which jump from Roman to the Renaissance. No sign of the Gothic)and a series of low contrast black and white ones are augmented with a series of uninspired drawings. All of this might still be helpful and useful were it not for the price. There are many volumes on furniture and decor that have come on the market recently which are superior in their content and priced more reasonably.