The Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World Architecture

Architecture buffs no longer have to lug around the 17-pound original edition of the Atlas when they travel; this flex-bound, 41/4 x 61/4 travel edition contains short profiles of the same 1,052 buildings as the original. Every entry (there are about three per page) includes a building photo, a brief description and information on location and about whether the site can be viewed on the interior, exterior or both. The color photographs, if a bit small, are impressive, and the accompanying prose is informative. There's a substantial number of entries on closed, private residences-prepare to peer over the gates if visiting. The majority of the buildings, like the majority of major contemporary architectural projects, are in Europe, but this beautiful guide takes readers from Boston to Botswana-without necessarily having to get on a plane.