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...