If Walls Could Speak

by Moshe Safdie 

Unfortunately, our book club's review of this book was mixed. I say "unfortunately" because Moshe Safdie's life and architectural accomplishments are nothing short of remarkable. Being a top-tier architect, alongside the likes of Kahn, Gehry, Wright, Meier, etc., requires creative genius, a vast amount of knowledge of many disciplines, and a willingness to risk failure, criticism, and great disappointment. 

There were members of our club who equated this willingness with arrogance. They felt it detracted from the book, and by association, from the man. With regard to this, opinions varied, but nothing could ever detract from Safdie's work. There is enough about Safdie's life journey to characterize the book as an autobiography. There are many anecdotes related to the inner workings of a world-class architect, whose main office is in Somerville. 

Personally, I found Safdie's life and work astonishing and the book completely commanded my attention and respect. However, the comment at the end of our discussion also rings true. "He wrote a memoir for his grandchildren."

For those of you who might not know, Safdie designed our building.

Laurence M. Lieberman -