This is not a book for the faint of heart! Goldthwaite’s pioneering study and break down of the nuts and bolts of finances, building practices, and construction materials has been the go-to book for many an art historian (including me) for decades. Don’t let the title fool you, Goldthwaite does not limit his study to just Florence, or even to just Italy, but explores building traditions throughout Europe all the way back to ancient Roman times. A serious piece of scholarship for those wanting to delve deeper into the history of building. Buona lettura!