The Autobiography of an Idea

The Autobiography of an Idea is Louis H. Sullivan's deeply personal and philosophical account of how one man's creative vision shaped modern architecture. Rather than a chronological list of projects, Sullivan writes in a reflective, almost meditative style, tracing the birth and growth of his guiding "Idea." He recounts his childhood in Boston, early studies in engineering and drawing, and formative years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. These experiences awakened his belief that buildings should grow naturally from their purpose and environment, like living organisms.

Sullivan narrates his move to Chicago during its explosive rebuilding after the Great Fire, where he joined forces with Dankmar Adler to create innovative steel-frame skyscrapers. Yet the book focuses less on technical details and more on the struggle to defend originality against imitation and academic formalism. Through essays and personal reflections, Sullivan explains his famous principle "form follows function" and warns of the dangers of lifeless historical revival styles.

Part memoir, part manifesto, the work captures a restless mind determined to free American architecture from European tradition and create a style honest to its time and place. It remains a landmark text for anyone interested in creativity, design, and the spirit behind great architecture.

Louis Henry Sullivan (1856–1924) was an American architect and visionary thinker, hailed as the "father of the skyscraper" and a pioneer of modern architecture. As a leading figure of the Chicago School, he championed organic design and the maxim "form follows function," influencing generations of architects, including his protégé Frank Lloyd Wright.