This is a book that every student of architecture should keep in his or her backpack. It's also a book students may want to hide from their professors, for it explains many esoteric classroom subjects in a clear, simple, and often humorous way.

In 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School, author Matthew Frederick offers 101 concise lessons in design, drawing, the creative process, and presentation — from the basics of "How to Draw a Line" to the complexities of color theory. As an architect and instructor who remembers the fog of his own student days, Frederick provides valuable guideposts for navigating the design studio and other classes.

Each lesson utilizes a two-page format, which pairs a brief explanation with an illustration that can range from the diagrammatic to the whimsical. A lesson on the dangers of awkward floor-level changes, for example, shows television actor Dick Van Dyke in the midst of a pratfall.

Architecture graduates — from young designers to experienced practitioners — can also turn to this book for "back to basics" inspiration when challenged to solve a complex design problem.

Matthew Frederick is an architect and urban designer in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has taught at a number of colleges and universities, including Boston Architectural College and Wentworth Institute of Technology.

Author — Matthew Frederick.

Hardcover. 128 pages. 7" × 5" (18 cm × 13 cm).