In Bill Stumpf’s incisive book, he argues that good design is not about fashion, but about quality of life. The ice palace of the title refers to an elaborate construction built in St. Paul in 1992; for Stumpf, this castle symbolizes a sense of community and a love of play that has been lost in the wake of America’s quest for speed and efficiency. Among his pet peeves are cramped airplanes, run-down taxis, aspirin bottle caps, malls, burglar alarms, and grocery bags with no handles. Things don’t have to be this way, he assures us, as he offers many whimsical and practical alternatives.

"In a sometimes rambling, occasionally crotchety, often nostalgic, but consistently engaging book, Stumpf exhorts us to recapture those qualities that he classifies as ‘civility.’" Publishers Weekly

"Some of the best moments in Stumpf’s small book of reflections come in his doubts about the work of colleagues who believe that doing something has got to be better than just standing there." Los Angeles Times

"A creative plea for better design." Washington Post