That said, I rate this above the other dozen or so books I have recently acquired on this topic in preparation for working on a new house. The reason is simple: this is the book that suggests ways of thinking about lighting and demonstrates the consequences of planning -- or not planning -- in various ways. To think usefully, not to mention creatively, about lighting, I felt I needed a way to think about the overall impact. While other books provide lots of specific information about particular situations, this is the one that offers more of a systemic outlook.

But it is not lacking in specifics. It offers enough detail about every technical aspect of lighting that I finally feel able to listen more intelligently to lighting specialists and electricians. The information seems up-to-date, at least in terms of what's available in the market where we live, and it is the single book on the topic that I would not part with as we begin the day-to-day slogging through making another house into our home.

Don't buy this book if what you really want is a specific recipe to cook up half a dozen recessed lights and some task lighting in your kitchen. You'll be disappointed. But if you're willing to tease apart the vagaries of your particular space and suss out the special uses of your own kitchen, this book will reward you by empowering you to develop and evaluate lighting solutions for yourself.


The Art of Illumination- Very Illuminating!   June 5, 2000
Dava L. Sundahl (U.S.)
6 out of 9 found this review helpful

Glenn M. Johnson's book, The Art of Illumination Residential Lighting Design, is an extrememly helpful book. I am a lay person. I have no background in lighting design, architecture, or electrical engineering, I just want to build my dream home. Through the easy reading of this wonderful book I have discovered the many (more than I had imagined) interesting techniques for lighting outside, inside, and especially for lighting specific things such as art, furniture, and accessories. I had no idea there were so many types of fixtures, lamps, and control systems from which to choose. This opens up a large realm of possibilities for me. The ADAPTIVE Method is ingenious. This organized approach of planning and implementing my lighting project takes all the guess work out and keeps all of the people involved on the same team! My confidence level that my project is turning out right is high. Speaking of 'high' , I highly recommend this magnificent book!


Excellent book   July 6, 2000
Michael F Hehmann (Montrose, CO USA)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

I purchased this book as I'm building a home. As a resource for unusual and striking architectual and accent lighting this book has it all. The photos and descriptive drawings have allowed me to work with my electrician to hopefully produce a great lighting design without an incredible cost.


More of a Sales Brochure   March 21, 2001
16 out of 18 found this review helpful

Though creative, this book seems to be nothing more than a sales brochure for Mr. Johnson's firm. There is not enough substance in the book to allow anyone other than Mr. Johnson or his associates to create the design schemes shown in the book. Mr. Johnson's ADAPTIVE design is creative, but is given only in a generalized sense. There is no real design criteria (lumens/ft2, wattage for varying spaces, etc.)to help the reader know if all ADAPTIVE design elements are actually achieved if someone other than Mr. Johnson were to design the lighting scheme. Mr. Johnson's work is very beautiful and artistic. I only wish the book had more substance.


a sad commentary on contemporary aesthetics   August 4, 2002
alan abrams (Washington, DC United States)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

Without impugning Mr. Johnson's ability as a lighting designer, I thought his book was uneven at best.

It's hard to separate the book from the work it features: generally the overwrought, more-is-better, ego-stroking stuff that passes for architecture in this era which I hope against hope is not the twilight of American culture. Mr. Johnson's relegation of the architect to a subsidiary of the general contractor in his formula for a design team is telling-it is either the arrogance of the nouveau-riche who blusters, "Just design me the d--d house; I'll attach my architecture to it as I see fit!" -or a sorry statement on feeble, derivative design that is typically being put forth today.

Mr. Johnson is a clever engineer; his innovations, such as removing the silver and etching the perimeter of a mirror to conceal a bathroom light source, are efficient as well as beautiful. However, on the pages of his book, the miniscule diagrams of such details require a magnifying glass to be appreciated.

The best works featured in the book are the kitchens and bathrooms. To me, it is here that Mr. Johnson demonstrates his sensitivity, and acknowledges that shadow is as important as light in creating a pleasing effect.