A Brief Introduction to “System and Selection of Building Structures”This book’s innovation starts with dividing all building structures into two categories: planarstructures and curved structures. Compared to traditional textbooks that can include dozens of structural types, this book enables readers to learn and master the essence of building structures clearly and easily.The author’s goals in writing the book were to use the simplest classification method, the basic principles of mechanics, and the most vivid language to explainbuilding structures, even seemly complicated ones, to make them as clear as possible.This is the author’s original objective,hoping it will be handsomely achieved. Also emphasized is the correct establishment and comprehension of structural concepts for buildings, and through case study analyses of new buildings, readers can master how to apply structural concepts in practice.The book’s composition focuses on the system of structural types and the readability of structural theories. Sections include an introduction, a first sectionon planar structural systems, a second section on curved structural systems, and an additional section on membrane building structures. In addition, questions for review are provided at the end of each chapter, with the answers, which include the main points and helpful guidance, shown in the appendix.This book is based on the author’s accumulated knowledgefrom the past two decades of teaching the “System and Selection of Building Structures” course to architecture majors. The book can be used as a textbook for the course or as a textbook and teaching reference book for selective courses incivil engineering and architecture. It also would be helpful study material for the Certified Architect Examination, and can serve as a reference resourcefor structural design engineers and technical professionalsto help improve the quality of their work.