Book excerpt: Architecture critic Hess and photographer Weintraub portray the ranch-style house and the definitive home of the American West. They show a range of styles from around the West over the past 150 years, revealing the evolution from the simple, functional architecture of the 19th century to the opulent, vivid style that is popular today. Beginning with a look at real ranches, they show the country estates of the Western wealthy, the homes of media cowboys, and contemporary suburban examples. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR