Is the Past A Prologue?

摘要

One of the first things that stands out in Brian Bowen's new history of the American construction industry is a bright color photo of an Egyptian pyramid, constructed in 2528 B.C. That makes you wonder how such a faraway pre-colonial pile of stones, built well before any explorers or colonists reached America, could kick off a book about U.S. construction-and a very short one at that. It isn't until some 70 pages and six fascinating chapters later that the history lands on the shores of Roanoke, N.C., and James-town, Va., in 1585 and 1607, respec-tively, and the dis-cussion of colonial construction begins. Thereafter-ex-cept for a chapter that returns to Europe and the English industrial revolution-the book, called "The American Construction Industry: Its Historical Evolution and Potential Future" (Routledge, 226 pages, 111 color illustrations), remains within the continental U.S.