The Seven Lamps of Architecture vs The Stones of Venice: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Architecture, Art, Philosophy
The Seven Lamps of Architecture
Beauty, life, memory, obedience, power, sacrifice, and truth – these are the seven lamps of architecture. In this illustrated edition, Ruskin explains that the value of architecture hinges on both “the image it bears of…
vs
The Stones of Venice
The Stones of Venice is a three-volume treatise on Venetian art and architecture by English art historian John Ruskin, first published from 1851 to 1853. The Stones of Venice examines Venetian architecture in detail,…
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- The Seven Lamps of Architecture has the widest readership — 960 ratings behind its score.
Scores by source
| The Seven Lamps of Architecture | The Stones of Venice | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 3.8 (960) | 3.9 (756) |
| Hardcover | 3.2 (4) | 2.0 (1) |
Reception
| The Seven Lamps of Architecture | The Stones of Venice | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 960 | 756 |
| Editions | 245 | 144 |
| Citations | — | 206 |
| Film adaptations | 1 | 1 |
| Want to read | 3502 | 3624 |
| Reading it now | 178 | 141 |
| Written reviews | 45 | 59 |
| Wikipedia attention | 1254 | 1362 |
| Pages | 206 | 236 |