5 comments about The Ultimate Pool Maintenance Manual: Spas, Pools, Hot Tubs, Rockscapes and Other Water Features, 2nd Edition.

1. The Ultimate Pool Maintenance Manual: Spas, Pools, Hot Tubs, Rockscapes and Other Water Features, 2nd Edition is an in depth, easy to read guide for maintaining your pool. I have purchased a few different books on the subject and this is by far the best.



2. We bought a house with an inground pool 5 years ago. A bit of a surprise really. We had ZERO experience with pools, and knew only by rumor that we were buying something that required a LOT of care and maintenance. I hunted through bookstores for a guide I could learn from. I am a technical writer by profession, so I know a thing or two about how to present complex ideas to the innocent. Browsing through this volume I was impressed with the author's skill at getting ideas across (well structure informattion - here's the idea, heres' the basics, here's the gory details). I bought it on the strength of his organization and writing, not on the content (about which I knew zilch).
   
   It is still in regular use 5 years later. YES, it is technical. YES, it sometimes provides way too much information for the novice. But if you have a brain and you can handle some complexity, this book is BRILLIANT. I knew nothing, and in very short order I learned what I needed for basic care. This book is a bible for pool maintenance. Over the years I've learned (from experience guided by this book) how to strip a DE filter, how to repair my Polaris pool robot, and more about water chemistry than I ever thought possible. This past summer ('07) it guided us through a plaster refinishing (pool is ~30 years old) and taught me how to restart the pool.
   
   It IS written by a pool professional, FOR pool professionals, and even has advice on how to run a pool maintenance business (which is of zero interest to me). But if you can learn from a pro talking to other pros, this book is it.



3. This book is to swimming pools what the "Haynes" car maintenance manuals are to your car. It contains all the information required to maintain your pool, even though probably someone else is going to do it for you. If you own a pool, it is worth reading the book to understand what the service technician should and shouldn't be doing, and when the pool is in need of help. It can also help you save some money by doing the work yourself. The book is entirely about maintaining a pool, not owning one. It is written in a friendly, readable style, and you can simply keep it as a reference manual to know what to do when things go wrong. If you are considering installing a pool or spa, this book will show you what you are letting yourself in for. If there is one omission in the text it is that the author ignores electric pool cleaning robots, though they are probably the most effective way of keeping the pool clean.



4. This book was a wasste of time and money. The book focuses more on being a pool professional then the actual "how-to" a pool owner needs to work on their pool. It has more information on changing a light fixtures and on bilking wealthy Malibu folks out of cash then actual useful information.
   
   After reading this (useless!) book I went to my local library and reearched several books on the subject, there is a title called "What color is your pool?" That has lots of information for the first time pool owner. There may be other more technical guides our there, but this book has few drawings and illustrations, poor writing, and ultimately is lacking in adequate information.
   
   Trust me...SAVE YOUR MONEY!



5. This book is a helpful tool for any pool owner or someone interested in having a pool.

4 comments about The Power of Images in the Age of Augustus (Thomas Spencer Jerome Lectures).

1. 
   This is an an extraordinary book and quite relevant to analyzing our own cultural images and how they shape our thinking, beliefs, values, attitudes and most of all our behavior. Zanker shows how a culture can be radically transformed incrementally and over time by its visual images which includes art, architecture, dress, patterns of human interaction, and public entertainment. What's relevant here to our own day is how Rome was transformed from a Republic to the rule of one man and the role of visual images in that process.
   
   John F. Gilligan, Ph.D.



2. This book is an excellent example of how art critique can be used to analyze politics and history. Paul Zanker does an exceptionally thorough job as he systematically works his way through the end of the Republic to the heights of Augustan Rome. The book includes tons of photographs, coins, maps and reproductions to illustrate appropriate points in the text. The thesis of the book is to show how art was used to convey the importance and dignity of the new Imperial system. Despite the breadth of material presented here, the text is smooth and understandable.

   There really isn't enough space in a review to adequately cover this book. Zanker's main thrust is to show how Augustus rebuilt and remodeled Rome with himself at the center. The styles that Augustus used were quickly picked up and duplicated by the Roman upper classes, as well as those in the provinces. My favorite section of the book concerns the coinage. Augustus minted coins closely linking himself to Julius Caesar in order to establish himself as the heir apparent (which he was) to Caesar. Coins were also used to commemorate Augustus's triumph at Actium over Antony, and also to promote Augustus's conservative legislation concerning marriage and childbirth. Although Augustus slowly consolidated power under the title of princeps, he took great pains to show Rome that he was bringing about peace, prosperity and honor, all things that had been missing during the civil wars. Is Augustan art propaganda? It could certainly be interpreted that way, even though there was no "Ministry of Information" in Rome.

   An excellent book, although there are a few problems. One of them is the tendency of art critique to see things that others may not. Zanker's descriptions of statues of Augustus are a good example. While I can agree with his depictions of the later Augustan busts as showing a calm, sort of omniscient demeanor, I have a tough time agreeing with his assessment of an earlier bust of Augustus as nervous and power hungry. This is a small problem with an otherwise great book that will make you think about Rome in a different way.




3. Zanker offers a fascinating reconstruction of Octavian Augustus' agenda for consolidating his position as leader of the Roman world. He does this by careful analysis of the buildings, statues, coins and other physical objects made during the rule of Rome's first emperor. Zanker understands well the impact of visual communication and uses it insightfully. He doesn't simply catalog artifacts, he interprets them and connects them within a broad system of consciously articulated ideology. In two decades of academic reading, this is one of the two most memorable books I read.



4. A wonderful tour of the early Roman empire framed within a rigorous theoretical discussion. Zanker skillfully illustrates how an empire was built by the manipulation of public thought through the use of images, or in other words, propaganda. Shapiro contributes with a lively and nearly transparent translation.

5 comments about Plumbing 1-2-3 (Home Depot ... 1-2-3).

1. I recently hauled this book out of my bookcase to replace some faucets in the bathroom sink. Granted, the Moen kit was exemplary in its instructions and simplicity, but you still might find yourself without the necessary tools or tips to get the job done, much less done in time for dinner.
   
   The book really saved me some time and effort. On its advice, I picked up a basin wrench, and this alone saved the job. I would never have gotten the old hardware off, much less gotten the new hardware on, without it. It also outlined the need for flexible feed hoses, wrapping the new faucet feeds before installing (which I forgot to do, but the book did its part and told me about it), and outlining the basics step by step.
   
   Coupled with a most excellent purely-pictorial instruction manual in the Moen kit, I was able to remove the old leaky faucets, install the new ones, and not have to hire a plumber.
   
   The book could be even bigger and include a little more depth, but this is a highly-recommended resource and every non-contractor or non-handy individual should own it.
   
   
   -Fred



2. Excellent manual for anyone. Covers about every possible situation most homeowners encounter. Super value. Highly recommend



3. This book merits a 1, maybe a 2, certainly not a 3 out of 10. I acquired two guides for do-it-yourself plumbing of my new home construction. Not one time did I reference the Home Depot "Plumbing 1-2-3." Luckily, I also had a copy of Black & Decker's "The Complete Guide to Home Plumbing" and referrenced it like a TV Preacher leans on his Bible.
   
   Unfortunately, Home Depot has a ready outlet - it's equally disorderly stores - to hock this poorly organized, code deficient reference book. For all but a few of the simplest jobs, this book is useless.
   
   If I were a betting man, I'd wager that Home Depot rather tried to immitate better books on Home Plumbing, but, as with all hacks, instead they butchered a forgery into print. If you're stuck with a copy of this book, as I am, use it for Home Heating 1-2-3 this winter.
   
   Tough luck Home Depot, not only are your stores outfitted with an army of poorly motivated workers, it appears you also stockade a cadre of lousy writers.
   
   Sincerely, Steve Perreira



4. Its a must have if you are interested in fixing your home's plumbing stuff. Step by approach with great illustrations makes it to understand very easy. Has projects for different levels of experstise.



5. Aptly edited by John Holms, Plumbing 1-2-3 is a detailed yet easily understandable home plumbing maintenance and repair guide ideal for the non-specialist general reader with no prior experience or expertise. If you can hold a screwdriver, you can take an active role in the upkeep of your own plumbing. Chapters cover such topics as the supply system, the drain-waste-vent system, installing tubs, showers, sinks, faucets, toilets, or appliances, and outdoor systems. In addition to the straightforward, point-by-point text that is highly accessible to lay readers, Plumbing 1-2-3 is superbly illustrated throughout with full-color photographs on every two-page spread, unambiguously depicting each step of the meticulous instructions. Plumbing 1-2-3 is a very highly recommended and "user friendly" guide, particularly for the do-it-yourself homeowner - five minutes of reading now can save hundreds of dollars in future repair or utilities bills!

5 comments about Deco LAndmarks: Art Deco Gems of Los Angeles.

1. A must own book on the Los Angeles Art Deco era. Fantastic pictures and descriptions of buildings past and present in Los Angeles. You can really tell the author did his homework on this one! Buy it.



2. As a current member of 3 Art Deco Socities (NY, LA and Chicago)and owner of at least 30 books on Art Deco, this book told me nothing new or enlightning. I am not in any way a Deco authority, but it would be nice to read (and see) something new about LA. Most photos are a rehash of already printed material and many need additional shots to explain the architecture. For example: the Wiltern Theatre. The interior is 1000% more fantastic than the one exterior photo used. The Wiltern is one of the best examples of theatre deco ever designed.
   
   But, for those that have never set foot in LA, this book may suffice their deco urge.



3. If you're "into" this sort of thing--and you enjoy marveling at Deco Architecture and sculptural designs--L.A.'s treasures add up to the next most bountiful trove of this type offered by the Three Deco Capitals of the U.S. (the Big Apple and ChiTown lead the way). But clearly the City where the aesthetic entered our collective consciousness by way of its movie product and its film set designs is the obvious place to look. LA's major growth occurred during the heyday of Deco and so much of its urban conceptualization was permeated by that design sense. This author is very informative regarding the artists and designers that created LA's "gems." So it provides an interesting read as well as enthralling eye-candy.



4. This book is a must for lovers of Art Deco architecture (which I am)and for lovers of Los Angeles (which I also am)and for those who are tired of east coast critics who decry Los Angeles as being void of architecture. To say that is so far from the truth and this book illustrates it perfectly.



5. Arnold Schwartzman has taken all the photos in this lovely book and as he says in the introduction he decided to focus mostly on detail rather than a whole building. A wise choice because so much of what he covers is not exactly at eye level. Just flick through the pages and be amazed at the amount of exterior Deco delights still standing and hopefully now preserved.
   
   Hundreds of photos are arranged in these four chapters, Tile & Terrazzo, Glass & Neon, Stone & Plaster and Metal & Wood and as Schwartzman took them the color and compositions have a pleasant evenness throughout the pages and this certainly makes all the detail sparkle.
   
   I particularly liked the chapter on stone and plaster with dozens of photos showing just how creative some stonemasons were decades ago, just look pages 122-123 and see six stunning interpretations of the American Eagle.
   
   If you live in Los Angles this super book will be a useful checklist of what to see (the captions all give the street address) for others, like me, it is a good visual record of the best Art Deco gems in LA.
   
   2007 UPDATE: Schwartzman has published a similar book about Art Deco in London (ISBN 1845132432) lots of photos especially of exterior detailing not really visible from the ground.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.
   
   
   
   
   

3 comments about Bricks and Brownstones: The New York Row House (Classical America Series in Art and Architecture).

1. Simply a fantastic book on a most deserving subject. The author captures what makes NYC's brownstones so saught after and prized. New York City is blessed with an embarassment of rich's when it comes to classic townhomes and brownstones and they are given a scholarly treatment here. I highly recommend this book to anyone with any interest in classic row houses, fine architecture and craftsmanship, or just enjoy great books in general, you won't be disappointed.



2. As a preservation contractor this book is a fantastic addition to my library.



3. there isn't a better book on this subject. I'm a Real Estate professional at Stribling & Associates. As such, I'm in and out of townhouses nearly on a daily basis. I have found this book to be an invaluable reference, as well as a joy to read. There's a tremendous amount of information contained in one place. Even those who already have great deal of knowledge, will discover new things in every chapter. I highly recommend this book to townhouse owners, prospective customers, & architects. Additionally, Historians or anyone with a love for, or interest in, the history of the City of New York will benefit greatly, as housing is an integral part of life in the world's greatest metropolis. --Jamie

5 comments about California Missions (Sunset Pictorial).

1. A beautiful illiustration of Californias most spectactular monuments. As well as, 21 well written chapters describing each individual mission presently and historically. I have visited some of these missions within the last 5 years.
   For anyone who have never seen one of these 21 California Missions personally, this book will make it seem as if they are.



2. I used his book while traveling to the missions with my children. It is an excellent overview of all of the missions. It provided us with a good sense of the history of the missions, and gave a idea as to the extent of restoration and rebuilding that had occured at each mission. It also documents the highlights and special attractions of every mission.

   Each mission is presented individually, and maps show each mission as it was originally built. Many illustrations portray mission life. Period photos and other illustrations show each mission as time and the elements have affected them. The textures, building materials, techniques, and crafts used in the construction and reconstruction of the missions are presented via text, photos, and illustrations.

   There are many books that discuss various missions as separate entities. I bought many along the way. For the money, this book is the best at bringing them all together in one place and discussing the interdependence of the whole mission system. Used as either a mission travel guide or as a jumping off point, you won't be disappointed.




3. Although it's nicely written and photographed, NO book reissued these days as a historical outline or overview has ANY business referring to Native Californians as "simple" or "childlike" or the colors of their artwork as "barbaric."

   As for 90% of these "simple" people with a rich cultural and spiritual life having been wiped out through warfare, culture shock, deicide, and disease, the authors weigh in on the pro-mission anti-mission argument by resorting to this supposedly measured justification:

   "...the treatment of natives by the Spaniards, though open to criticism by modern standards of political morality, was certainly no worse than that practiced in other colonial empires of the time. Slavery was condoned by all the world empires until late in the 19th century...Basically, the conflict of Spaniard vs. Indian was that of two cultures widely separated in style but fated to collide, and the reduction of the weaker by the stronger was inevitable."

   To argue that one form of subjugation is "no worse" than another, or that it was an inevitable result of the meeting of two cultures, is a cynical--no, a despicable hypothesis; and until this racist book is rewritten to eradicate these irresponsible "reasons" for ruthless colonialism, I urge the potential reader not to buy it. You can find nice photos and good commentary in plenty of other books. Let this one wither on the vine just as the missions did before their later restoration.




4. I have visited missions across the country. And each has its attraction. Yet there is something more robust and alive about the California missions. This book attempts to bring it out to you in history, tales, and diagrams. This is a good book to carry as you visit the different missions.

   The only drawback is that the bulk of the pictures are Black and white. It looks like art more than a live place that people are in today. Some of the missions are hard to find but there is no excuse to missing the gardens in San Diego de Alcala. The first mission founded July 16, 1769, and has had many lives since.

   There are 25 chapters and a fact section. You can even find Mission Recipes like Puchero means "a boiled pot".




5. This book describes not only how and why the Missions were established, but also gives a history and brief description of each individual mission in the California system. There are some pictures which could help when making a model (the book "California Missions Projects & Layouts" by Libby Nelson is best for actual model-building). But this book certainly gives enough history to be an excellent resource when writing a report. It is also written so that a 4th-grader can read and understand. A must for any Mission student!

1 comments about Architectural Regionalism: Collected Writings on Place, Identity, Modernity, and Tradition.

1. The intent of this volume was to construct a coherent history of the idea of regionalism from its many many supporting texts and ideas. It is an important collection of writing that covers the entire 20th Century intellectual history of Regionalism in Architecture and includes such authors as: Lewis Mumford, Le Corbusier, David Williams, Mary Colter, Pietro Belluschi, Christopher Alexander, Wendell Berry, Kenneth Frampton, Sigfried Giedion, Harwell Hamilton Harris, Richard Ingersoll, Benton MacKaye, John Gaw Meem, Richard Neutra, Paul Ricouer, Alan Colquhoun, Juhani Pallasmaa, among others (44 in all). Further, it considers Regionalism in an international context, particularly the developing world through the writings of Suha Ozkan (Middle East), Balkrishna Doshi (India), and Kenza Boussora (Algeria). In it are provided contextual introductions to each text and an introduction that attempts to place the discourse, as a whole in reasonable framework. The topics include: Regionalist theory, Referential Regionalism (1920s & 30s), Regional Modernism (1930s-1960s), Regional Planning, Bioregionalism, Critical Regionalism, and a set of essays that update and extend the discourse into the future via performativity theory, sustainability, and the socially-critical work of the Rural Studio.

1 comments about Farnsworth House (Architecture in Detail).

1. I bought this book to have an idea of the Farnsworth house, but it is much more detailled that i ever imagined. An essencial Mies.

3 comments about 100 Top Houses From Down Under (100 of the Worlds Best).

1. This is a book which anyone interested in architecture should own. The pictures are amazing and there are houses here which will make you drool. I have spent days on this book and will continue to do so for years I am sure.



2. I enjoyed this book because it was not full of fluff or the hit and miss content of similar books - the architecture was compelling, the theme was consistant - I really enjoy this one! In fact I am sending it to several of my friends.



3. This is a nice book in general. It has a good format, showcases interesting projects and unlike the first book of the "100 Best" series, devotes more pages to each project with more photographs and plans. Some of the photography however is disappointing. Even though most of the projects are professionally shot, some of the houses are represented by snapshots with distorted walls and incorrect color balance, and in my opinion do not belong in a book of this caliber.

5 comments about The Solar Electric House: Energy for the Environmentally-Responsive, Energy-Independent Home.

1. Ive had this book 4 years it was out of date then. I recently bought The Renewable Energy Handbook by kemp which is far more up todate. 8 years in Solar Electrics is a lifetime, the equipment shown and discussed is fit for a museum,sure its solar electricy for the indepedant home, as a model t ford is for cruising the motorway,save your money!



2. The book has all the basic knowledge about how the physics of solar energy works but the examples of solar arrays is out of date. There are many new products on the market which are not covered in this book.



3. This book was valid in its time but it has not been revised in so
   many years it is now history not technology. I returned it.



4. I am learning about solar energy and this book was written in a way that explained every detail clearly. I feel I could get my engineer's degree from reading this book.



5. I bought this book in 2005, almost 20 years after the first publication of the book. I went through a couple of emotional phases while reading the book. First I thought this was a great book: it has so many practical details and insights. When I got to the part on system controls and routing the power, I realized that this part is probably fairly weak because of the passage of time. Then when I looked at a few other more recent publications such as The Renewable Energy Handbook for Homeowners, by Kemp published in 2003, I realized that the present book is still a solid investment for someone interested in solar-electric. A lot of the basic information is still valid and it is more a case of prices changing and some of the technology being a bit easier to use. I like the fact that the book just concentrates on solar. There are no diversions or philosophical discussions on wind power or similar to confuse the situation. However, if you are a homeowner and want to look at all the alternatives, I suggest the newer book by Kemp, but that book is a bit thin on solar-electric so the present book is still needed. Kemp has many good ideas on insulation and conservation. In any case, the present book is down to earth practical stuff on solar: how it works and how you install. So to make a long story short I recommend the book as a buy.
   
   The book is written by Steven J. Strong an MA from Harvard and someone who has worked as a solar energy consultant before writing the book. He describes a number of his projects and they are scattered thoughout the book.
   
   The book has 10 chapters and it starts with how photovoltaic (PV) cells were developed and how they are manufactured. He explains how the atmosphere itself absorbs some light energy. He explains the eficiency of the PV cells, and how to position the cells to maximize power. Then he goes on to explain the manufacturing processes in detail.
   
   Chapter 2 covers the design of the system of cells, controls, and storage of the energy. Storage itself can be a simple idea such as pumping water into a holding tank from a well during the sunny hours, but usually it is more complicated and uses a battery system or returns the power to the grid for credit, if the house can be connected to the conventional supply system. He explains a lot of these details with references to geographic location, be it in Arizona, or New england, or on a mountain in Colorado.
   
   Chapeter 3 is a lesson on how to wire the modules and arrays together so you can get the right voltage and power combination.
   
   Chapter 4 covers batteries and power regulation. He has many pictures and tables showing availbale products. These of course must be updated with current products but it gives a starting point for the reader.
   
   Chapter 5 is very short and covers power inverters and attachment to the grid. An inverter converts DC voltage from the PV cells into AC for the appliances as in a conventional home. Also it is needed for connection to the grid to get power credits. Finally, he presents some options for power back up generation.
   
   Chapter 6 explains how to conserve energy and then how to match your requirements with the size of the solar system, i.e.: how to determine how much power you need.
   
   Chapter 7 and 8 describe how to design a system connected to the grid, or to design a system completely standing on its own. He gives examples with photographs of existing installations and this includes seasonal variations in power generation.
   
   The last two chapter 9 and 10 are on the actual installion of the components along with maintenance tips.
   
   The book contains many photographs, charts, lists of suppliers for parts, and it has many example calculations on how the power is produced, stored, and what it costs. A lot of this information can be updated by the reader using the web.
   
   This book is now a bit dated and the reader will have to update the information when buying parts, but overall it is still surprisingly good. 5 stars.