I am a little surprised at the low rating Broken Buildings gets here. Perhaps I am so favorably disposed to it because LePatner cites my own work about 50 times (that is flattering).
I do agree that LePatner is rightly criticized for being overly redundant and for a lawyer's bias toward his clients, namely owners as opposed to builders and designers. But for all that, his book is an exceptionally vigorous exposition of the ailments of and possible cures for the failure and litigation-ridden building industry. To my knowledge, no one else has taken on the organizational failings which underlie the structural failings of our "broken buildings" with such focus and energy.
I read Broken Buildings cover to cover in a couple of sittings and with an increasing excitement and hope that here, finally, was the beginning of a solution to the problem of building failure, which wastes billions of dollars and staggering quantities of material and energy every year. Even though Le Patner's repetitiveness and prejudices can be a bit off-putting, I recommend the book highly. It gets you thinking. ( )