This book is a really good introduction to tensegrity. It works as a manual for learners and a guide for more experienced readers, thanks to the extended bibliography. In fact, this is said in the synopsis:
"Tensegrity structures are really intriguing: bars floating in the air, without any contact to a solid support, attached only by wires to other bars? that are also floating in the air! The aim of this work is to serve as an introduction to such an atypical kind of structure. It tries to explain everything about the controversial origins and polemic fatherhood; tensegrities from various fields, other than Architecture, structural principles, characteristics, advantages and weakness; precedent and current works and patents; and finally, some new proposals, proving that it is possible to find some applications to architectural and engineering purposes. In conclusion, this work tries to be a guide and reference to a new world of structural possibilities that is blooming and finding its path."
There are also very funny patents at the end of the book, and a nice correspondence with Snelson.
If you are a curious person or if you already like tensegrity, you'd love this book.
