"Is one to believe that beauty does not figure in our designs simply because we are engineers? That while we are engaged in building solid and lasting structures, we are not also attempting to achieve elegant solutions?" So fumed Gustave Eiffel in1887, raising the great design issue of beauty versus utility, which this engrossing book explores in its thoughtful analysis of what makes an architectural wonder. Among the 70 are many that you would expect-the Taj Mahal, the Golden Gate Bridge and Malaysia's Petronas Towers-as well as a few you might not, such as Walt Disney World in Florida. All have one thing in common: they exemplify those feats of engineering that transform structures from mere collections of steel and bricks into iconic emblems of cities and cultures. From the Guggenheim, Bilbao, to the leaning tower of Pisa, this is a fascinating account, complete with photos and statistics, of the epic process of man's desire to build ever upwards.