During the summer I received a series of emails outlining things to do over the summer. I thought you might find them interesting. They included the mandatory purchase of a PC and a reading list:

Computer:

Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz (w/800MHz FSB/ 1MB cache)
1 GB Dual Channel DDR SDRAM
160 GB Serial ATA @ 7200 RPM
128 MB, ATI Radeon 9800 Pro
21 inch SVGA CRT capable of 1280 x 1024 display
Photo-quality Color Inkjet
10/100 PCI Ethernet
Optional
CD-RW/DVD combo and 512MB USB 2.0 Micro-drive
Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP Professional **Not XP Home**

Reading List:

To better prepare you for the start of classes in the fall, we have put together some recommendations for summer reading

These books provide specific background for the M.Arch. curriculum:

Alan Colquhoun, Modern Architecture (Oxford, 2002)
The best general history of modern architecture to date

Robin Evans, Translations from Drawing to Building and Other Essays (AA Publications, 1997)
Wide-ranging essays on the how and why of architecture

Lewis Mumford, The City in History (Harvest, 1968)
Good background for the study of urbanism; somewhat dated, but full of information

Adrian Forty, Words and Buildings: A vocabulary of Modern Architecture (Thames and Hudson, 2000)
Good general background for studio and architectural history courses

Mario Salvadori, Why Buildings Stand Up: The Strength of Architecture
(Norton, 1980)
Good background for the structures sequence

Two books you should own for reference; that is to say, browse, but do not feel obligated to read cover-to-cover (if you did, you might be the first):

K. Michael Hays, Editor, Architecture Theory since 1968 (Columbia Books on Architecture/MIT Press, 1998)

Joan Ockman, Editor, with Edward Eigen, Architectural Culture 1943 � 1968 (Columbia Books on Architecture/ Rizzoli, 1993)

If you get tired of all that, check out:

Dave Hickey,
Air Guitar (Distributed Art Publishers, 1997)