CAVES TO CATHEDRALS: Architecture of the World's Great Religions

A black-and-white photo album of places of worship sacred to the six major world religions. Emphasis is on the most dramatic architectural examples -- Chartres, Le Corbusier's chapel at Ronchamps, Angkor Wat, the E1 Transito Synagogue in Toledo, the Toshogu shrine -- but there are also historically important structures and a good sampling of more typical settings, including a storefront church, other American churches and synagogues, and outdoor worship of several kinds. The text and captions are minimal but make some intelligent points about architectural styles and religious symbolism. And though the middle distance photos only hint at the individual building's beauty and complexity, they are good enough to stimulate an hour or so of casual, comparative browsing.