5 comments about Bonsai Survival Manual: Tree-by-Tree Guide to Buying, Maintaining, and Problem Solving.

1. Nice book. Details many trees. Could be a bit more on styling.



2. Dear Mr. Lewis,
   THANK YOU SIR for writing this fabulous little book. See, like many other unnamed persons in this world, I threw away over $300.00 on my first Bonsai attempt at peace and serenity in my home. After many long deep breaths and twinges of * I must be insane to try this again*, I did order two new bonsai-who were every bit as scared of me as I was of them. But see, now Mr. Lewis, I "get it". You have given the Holy Grail, if you will to keep these little buggers alive and flourishing! Never again will I keep my beloved trees too close to a window to burn, or to near a furnace to suffer. No sir, in fact, thanks to your book I know exactly when to water, when to fertilize, and when to remember to breathe and just enjoy the beauty of owning bonsai. I have read dozens of books that were nothing more than pretty pictures, but what I really needed was someone to tell me what NOT to do. There is no better book for a bonsai beginner. I didn't need a book to show me the fine details of repotting or bending delicate bonsai limbs - I simply needed a band-aid to help me get them started in the first place. The Bonsai Survival Manual is worth its weight in gold. Now my little trees won't be so scared of me when they see me pick up all my fancy tools and pretend to "prune". (I can at least pretend for now)



3. The book is mainly geared for somebody who purchased a Bonsai and is wanting to maintain it and maybe make it a little better. It doesn't have much information on how to train and style a bonsai. The information on how to care for all the different kinds of trees is more than worth the price of the book. I find myself referring back to this book frequently.



4. This is a very good book to learn about individual species. This book has profiles 50 species of bonsais. It includes out door bonsais and indoor bonsais. Each profile is two pages. It includes one or two pictures, an older bonsai and a younger bonsai. It gives a description of the bonsai, which includes the history and where it is grown, along with a lot of helpful information on growing and caring for each bonsai. It has a chart for each bonsai with includes light, water, temperature, soil and a few other things. The information about each bonsai is very interesting and helpful. Many bonsai books don't give you much information on individual species and their needs. It is very important to know what a bonsai needs before you decide on a bonsai. You need to know if you can meet the needs of a bonsai.
   
   At the beginning of the book there is general information on bonsais, buying, care, plus trimming, pruning, repotting, root pruning, shaping with wire etc. This is good information and the pictures are detail, but it is not exceptional. There are better books on the care and training of bonsais. But the book is well worth getting for the information it gives you on the individual bonsais.



5. This is an excellent basics book and would rate it 5 stars if that is what you are looking for. I give it 4 stars because it gives one enough information to be dangerous but not enough to certain . Example: Using fungicides and pesticides. Certain trees Maples for instance, are very sensitive and be harmed using chemicals they recommend are safe for most trees. Define most!! An excellent starter basics book just not the only book one should use in my view.

3 comments about Fire Places: A Practical Design Guide to Fireplaces and Stoves Indoors and Out.

1. Fire places seem evoke some kind of hidden memories out of our distant path when the fire at the mouth of the cave kept the tigers away. This has become so important that even apartments now seem to come with fire places.
   
   This book, as is usual with this publisher is a beautifully illustrated, beautifully printed collection of fire places that range from a simple rock lined fire pit out in the yard to fire places that are the design center of the house, wood stoves that meet the new EPA regulations, to antiques that may have come from grandmothers house.
   
   Besides the beautiful photography, this book also includes design tips, and the regulations that come from building codes. And there are discussions of more types of fire places than you could ever imagine without seeing it.
   
   I got this book because my house does not have a fire place, and it's the next major extension that I plan to add. This book answered all the questions that I had, except do I want something indoor or outside. We have a long season for entertaining outside.



2. I was excited to find this book but once it arrived I was a bit disappointed in it. It has tons of photos of a variety of fireplaces, inside and out, exaplins the different types well but I was looking for more information on unique fireplaces, ones which could be placed in the center of a room. So if you're wanting a more traditional fireplace setting, this book might be great.



3. This is a great book - beautiful pictures, but excellent information as well. Best book on fireplaces I've seen

5 comments about The Rodale Bookof Composting: Easy Methods for Every Gardener.

1. What a great book! Easy to read, lots of information and even gives you idea's on building your compost bins. If you are a gardener and are planning on composting you really should buy this book.



2. As a serious gardener I appreciate well written books that I can own and have in my book shelf for yearly reading. And Rodale is a well respected publisher of gardening books.The subtitle says it all 'Easy methods for every gardener'.
   
   This means even apartment dwellers with a porch or patio can have a small compost setup. The book covers numerous ways to construct a composter as well as the many types of organic or natural materials one can compost. Even cardboard in moderation, as well as the traditional eggshells, coffee grounds, banana peels, vegetable and fruit scraps.
   
   The book also discusses year round composting and how and why composting works and the positive environmental impact of everyone have some type of a compost set up. This is one of those books every serious gardener should have or at least buy, read and donate to ones public library.



3. This is the most thumbed-through book on composting I have. Easily 90% of anything you would want to know about composting is inside this book. A small amount of the material may not be useful to the typical gardener, but it is interesting none the less. An excellent guide for the beginner and a good reference for the advanced composter.



4. If all you plan to do is improve your garden using kitchen scraps and some yard waste, this book is not for you. It is very technical, and best-suited to those with lots of space and time on their hands to manage large composting projects. Don't let this be your first book on the subject, since it will probably (wrongly) convince you that you need a Masters in Agriculture or Ecology to do accomplish what will naturally happen if you get any of a number of inexpensive composting bins, toss in some banana peels, coffee grinds and dead leaves, mix in some dirt and let the microbes get to work.



5. I was looking for a basic "how to" book on composting, while still interesting enough to hold my attention. Sadly, this wasn't it. The black and white pages read like a school book. And the information is pretty vague. I am new to gardening/composting, so this book could simply be too advanced for me.

1 comments about Italian Villas and Their Gardens: The Original 1904 Edition.

1. My sister read about this book in a recent magazine and we are totally delighted to see that it was available as a reprint from the original plates. Maxfield Parrish, the painter, did the illustrations and they are wonderful in their dreamlike qualities. And the prose by Ms Wharton are flowing and typical of the turn of the last century.
   
   I would recommend this book as a coffe table book, a piece of art and a conversation piece all in one.

3 comments about Greenhouse Gardening: Step by Step to Growing Success (Crowood Gardening Guides).

1. Full of very useful informations. Along with this and other greenhouse books for winter gardening, I hope to grow year round.



2. Given a Greenhouse as a present, I had no idea how to run it. After a lot of searching, I found this book and it answered all my questions. It told me my greenhouse was the perfect size for a beginner, different types of heaters and the advantages and disadvantages of each heater, for the greenhouse, the temperature that should be maintained, and even how to make containers for the plantings. I would reccomend the book very highly to any one interested in having a back yard greenhouse.



3. Not the best book that I have on the subject, or should I say, the most comprehensive. Save your money

5 comments about Yurts: Living in the Round.

1. Ever since I first heard that Becky Kemery was writing a book about Yurts I have been looking forward to having it in my hands. The wait has definitely been worth it, now that I can see how fully realized her idea has become. Yurts: Living in the Round was published in 2006 by Gibbs Smith, and is the definitive source of information about anything to do with yurts. Not only that, it is also a fine piece of art in its own right; nearly every page is graced with carefully laid out color photos and drawings. Becky's writing is both clear and well researched.
   
   Becky writes, "Most yurts are portable, tent-like structures. They have circular lattice walls (reminiscent of baby gates tied together) and a cone-shaped roof supported by rafters that meet in a center ring. The outer fabric shell of the yurt can be made of felted wool, coated canvas, or a modern architectural fabric. An ever-increasing number of wooden structures are also called yurts. What defines them as yurts and not just round houses? The Answer lies in the yurt's uncommon roof structure."
   
   "The yurt roof incorporates a unique architectural design. Roof struts meet in a center ring, producing inward and downward pressure. This center ring holds the rafters an a state of compression. Where the struts meet the wall at the perimeter, a natural outward thrust occurs. A band (of rope, woven cloth, or wire cable) a the top of the wall holds the wall and roof poles in tension against this outward pressure. Because of this...long roof spans are possible without any internal support system (like posts, trusses, or beams). This gives the yurt an uncommon feeling of spaciousness and uplift. the roof design also creates an incredibly strong and resilient structure that is uniquely equipped to withstand earthquakes, strong winds, and heavy snow loads."
   
   The historical evolution of the modern yurt from its origins with the nomadic Central Asian tribes is carefully outlined. Both the Mongolian Ger and the Turkic Uy are the forerunners of what we now call the yurt. How these tribal folks traditionally make and decorate their portable homes is both fascinating and colorful. This process is generally a group effort and often involves painstakingly felting the wool to make the covering. The traditional pattern of living within this circular space is surprisingly similar to Native American traditional use of space within a hogan, with various family members and guests having their appropriate places.
   
   One of the early modern adaptations of the traditional yurt design was Bill Copperwaite's "tapered wall yurt." These are wooden structures that incorporate the same roof design, but modify the vertical walls to incline outward, giving them a distinctly oriental flare. Bill has been exploring these interesting shapes since the early 1960's, and has come up with quite a variety of forms, including some with concentric tiers of yurts within yurts. Some of them have scalloped butterfly-like roofs; others have gothic arches that surround the perimeter.
   
   The modern fabric yurt is more like its nomadic predecessor, in most ways, except that modern canvas or synthetic fabric replaces the felted wool. Becky chronicles how various people have adapted the original designs to suit modern needs in a variety of climates. Many of the new yurts have central plastic dome skylights and windows that let in lots of light, making them much more open and airy than the darker, womb-like nomadic yurts.
   
   Many of the folks who have experimented with building their own yurts have gone on to make a business of supplying yurt kits for the general public. Becky suggests how to locate and evaluate these yurt companies, and describes various ways that yurts can be adapted for personal needs, such having a bathroom, porch, heater, etc. She even addresses the issues of financing and insuring yurts, and dealing with building code officials.
   
   Another modern adaptation to the traditional yurt is called the "frame panel" yurt. These are much more permanent dwellings than their fabric cousins, and can appear as very solid indeed. They are often prefabricated off-site and shipped to the site for erection. Becky interviewed various people who have lived in these unique homes and shares many insights that could help others who do the same.
   
   The chapter titled "Living in the Round" philosophically evaluates the merits of doing this. Becky writes, "The flexible open space of a yurt is an interior design canvas waiting for the creative expression of each yurt inhabitant. What remains constant is the welcoming embrace of the space, the interaction between inner and outer worlds, and the roof structure that lifts our vision skyward. The yurt also has an inherent ability to bring people together into a circle, which naturally engenders connection and cooperation."
   
   The final portion of the book has several appendices that explore building codes, platform construction, and wood stove installation. There is also an extensive resource guide here for yurt companies, yurt plans, and other media. Becky's website about yurts, [...], is another resource providing additional information.
   
   I heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in simple, sustainable living, enduring vernacular architecture, or the possibilities inherent in living in the round.



2. "Yurts: Living in the Round" is put together very well. It is clear and concise, bright and full of photos, and covers just about everything you'd ever need to know about yurts. It is obvious upon reading the book that the author has used her own extensive personal knowledge and experience in writing it.



3. The author has lived in various yurts in enough states to have some wisdom to share since climates can change and a yurt in the dessert is different than one high in the Sierras or Rockies where the temperatures can get well below freezing. She writes of the history of yurt dwellers and how modern fabrics here in the states make yurts weather proof in most areas and livable homes year round.
   
   As a member of the Small House Society I am looking for a variety of small house choices and yurts and boats are at the top of my dream list.
   
   Her examples also show the modern yurt like the ones here in the Sierras that all have windows, skylights, doors and most amenities one can find in a small modern home. Read other 5 star reviews who tell you even more. Excellent book.



4. My son and daughter in law live in Colorado and have been thinking about purchasing a piece of propertie to put a Yurt on. We gave them this book for Christmas and they loved it. They felt it was very informative and loved the pictures too.I of course injoyed the sneak preview of the book before I sent it. Great book, great price. Thanks



5. Great resource book for anyone wanting to buy a yurt or live in a yurt. Gives a great deal of practical information on purchasing a yurt, deck building, plumbing, bear proofing and making a yurt a comfortable home.

5 comments about The Emperor Wears No Clothes: The Authoritative Historical Record of Cannabis and the Conspiracy Against Marijuana.

1. This is a very good legalization pot book and was one of the first to really break through the scene. There is lots of facts here to get through and lots of oddball type stories that you will enjoy. This is what makes the book unique. All these strange but true stories about hemp.

   Some here are asking questions about the whole conclusions that Jack Herer draws. The truth is that he is confused about the difference between government modified Hemp, unmodified hemp and Drug based cannabis cultivars. If you really want to know more about those differences then you need a grow book. I recommend The Cannabis Grow Bible by Greg Green for that. It has an Issues section in the back that deals with these topics of question. But remember Jack Herer wrote this book in an era of information suppression and so it was hard to find out everything that he wanted to know.

   This book has spawned countless other legalization books. Yes it does appear almost cartoonish or tabloidish but the facts are all here. In the end it is a very good book about pot laws and political corruption which asks all the right questions.

   No one has ever died from using cannabis. That is not a bad fact to know at all.




2. This is the original marijuana expose book that started the revolution of obtaining knowledge and science to break the reigns of political pseudo-science. Not the latest book on the subject but the original and very important.



3. Although some of the historical data can be called into question, the essential claims of this book remain unrefuted by the disinformation campaigns of the anti-marijuana lobby. Herer shatters cannabis myths; he shows, with hard data that: pot has absolutely no toxicity to human tissues; pot has anti-carcinogenic properties; the tar, although greater in proportion than tobacco, is completely water-soluble; smoking marijuana shortly after having a stroke prevents the swelling of the brain -- and consequently much of the brain damage and loss of function associated with strokes.



4. This book is filled with info that people have no clue about. Maybe if more people read this book and was more knowledgable about the GREAT effects of Hemp then maybe people would fight to make this planet and life on it a great deal better. Better health wise, environment would be 10 times better, economically and so on... The facts are in the book. One person may say how can you believe all the info he writes...etc...well there's tons of research to back him up and he tells you the sources if you want to look them up yourself. It's all about the money and power folks that's why it's not legal but if they were smart then this could be their way to help our lives, our planet, and have all the power and money to go with it but for some reason they'd rather kill us, our planet, and still have the money and power. All it takes is people knowing the truth to fight against them and this book tells it. I'll be passing it on to everyone I know.



5. This book is a must read for every citizen of the United States. The United States is driving people to drink and cannabis would be a much better and safer alternative to alcohol. Jack Herer's book is highly entertaining and very informative and presented in an extremely interesting format. Read this book and pass it on. Spread the word. This book should be on the number one best seller list.

5 comments about The Herbfarm Cookbook.

1. The author of this book has a great talent with words. He truly writes stories that tell you the background of the recipes, bringing you the sights and smells and sounds. You can tell that he absolutely loves food in all its forms.
   
   I have really enjoyed this cookbook and have tried several recipes. While some of them have been more "gourmet" than I usually cook, most of the recipes have actually sounded fancier than they are (which is a good thing - I meant they weren't as difficult to prepare as it might appear).
   
   I love to read this book just as much as I enjoy cooking from it. I feel transported to the herb gardens of Seattle when I settle down to read it.



2. Great for novice and expert alike! Good food & easy recipes, no more need be said.



3. I keep coming back to this cookbook again and again. It's probably not for your average cook- I've attending culinary school and have studied cooking for over 10 years- I want to mention this because some of the recipes are time-consuming and require more skill than average. There is a duck with cherry sage sauce recipe that is to die for in this cookbook- a true show stopper that guests talk about years later. It takes all day though because you end up making stock with the duck carcass. It's so well worth it!!! There is an EXCELLENT fall mushroom soup I've made over and over again. I highly recommend the quality recipes here.



4. This book has everything. A terrific herb identifier with info on how to take care of and grow fresh herbs. Great seasonal recipes! Substitutions are suggested for when you can't find an ingredient. Lot's of info as well as good cooking ideas!



5. One of the best cookbooks I've purchased all year! A wealth of information--from growing and caring for your own herbs, to harvesting, storage and usage. There's even a section dedicated to edible flowers and a list of herbs used in desserts. The recipes are fool proof and delicious! My only wish is there were more photos, but that's not enough for me to knock off a star!

5 comments about Life After Trauma: A Workbook for Healing.

1. I wanted to read this book after a car crash resulted in general anxiety. When I began to read it, I felt as though the authors really undertood how I was feeling. I felt as though someone were holding my hand, letting me know that there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel.



2. I was expecting this book to be about unraveling the past, understanding it, and generally spending a lot of time in territory I wasn't interested in revisiting... Thankfully, it is about being aware of feelings taking place in the present. This book is geared toward increasing self-awareness and self-knowledge, especially important for those who have disassociated in some way or don't feel like "themselves". What a great thing! The format and style are comfortable and easy to use, and I found myself gaining insight as the book went along, without adding more stress to my life! Thank you for this wonderful workbook.



3. I purchased this book only to later realize that Dr. Rosenbloom was local to me. After reading and using the book, I chose Dr. Rosenbloom as my personal therapist.

   I would strongly recomment this workbook to anyone that is struggling with recovery from trauma or Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.




4. Dena Rosenbloom, Ph.D., and Mary Beth Williams Ph.D have written an extremely helpful book for trauma survivors. They work from the premise that: "Trauma affects us by undermining five basic human needs. These are: •The need to be safe •The need to trust •The need to feel some control over one’s life •The need to feel of value •The need to feel close to others." Life After Trauma is designed to help survivors learn to meet these needs. It can be used at home or in conjunction with therapy. The authors do not feel that every one needs therapy even though they are therapists trained in dealing with trauma. They believe, however, that trauma changes survivors’ basic beliefs, sometimes in ways of which they are not aware. This book is designed to increase a survivor’s awareness of core beliefs, to help survivors test their validity, and to help find more healing beliefs if the survivor so desires. Life After Trauma is about dealing with life today, not for working through the trauma. The prologue discusses how the workbook can help survivors. The authors stress finding support, learning self-care strategies, affirmations and soothing self-talk. They discuss when to set the workbook aside and coping with triggers. I found all these suggestions very helpful in dealing with some emotional upheavals I was having at the time. Chapter One, “After Trauma: Why you feel thrown for a loop,” discusses physical, mental, emotional and behavioral reactions to trauma and ways of checking in with yourself and learning to relax. The second chapter, “Ways of Coping After the Trauma,” contains several coping checklists and questions you can ask yourself for analyzing how you cope, followed by suggestions on how to cope more effectively. They even point out that dissociation can be an effective coping tool if you can evoke it as needed. Chapter Three, “Thinking Things Through,” discusses how to separate facts from reactions and meanings/interpretations, how these may change after trauma and a system for thinking them through. The next five chapters explore in detail how to meet the five needs, safety, trust, control, value and intimacy. Part of this is identifying beliefs, checking their validity, finding possible alternate explanations or interpretations, and so forth. There are also reminders of self care activities and relaxations exercises throughout the book. Here’s a quote "You can shift your physical and emotional state by, first, reminding yourself that you are in a different time and place from when you experienced trauma initially. You probably have greater choice and control now that you did then. Second, find ways to comfort and soothe yourself. We have provided ideas for doing this throughout the book, such as relaxation exercises. You may not think they can be much help, but consider this: It is not possible to be tense and completely relaxed at the same time. Learning to relax will directly relieve your tension and anxiety, even if for brief periods initially. Learning to relax can help you feel more in control as well as calmer. The feelings you learn to evoke through self-care and self-comforting exercises are, in many ways, the opposite of those evoked by the trauma. You can learn to use them to help counter and manage negative feelings that now seem out of your control." There is also a very good appendix on readings, one on finding good trauma therapy, and one for therapists who might want to use this book with clients. I can’t recommend this book too highly. It is healing, deals with the kind of daily problems that trauma survivors face in a sensible, thoughtful, and above all, hopeful way. Things can change one little step at a time. The book offers a lot of steps a survivor can take, always with an emphasis on safety and self care. This review first appeared in the Post-Traumatic Gazette, a newsletter with a healing perspective for all trauma survivors. ...This book has that healing perspective.



5. A few months after a major medical situation in my life (several surgeries for brain aneurysm), I began having a very hard time emotionally. I couldn't understand it as I was now "healed" and I thought I should be happy about it. A friend of mine was pursuing a doctorate in Psychology and she suggested that I might be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (not just for war veterans) based on the symptoms I was having. (paranoia, anxiety, depression...not usual characteristics of my happy-go-lucky personality) She actually sent me this book and suggested I try it out along with seeking help from a professional. After talking to her, I went to a psychiatrist to ask about medication and to a therapist along with working on this book. I found that the book was incredibly helpful in teaching me ways to cope with my paranoia, anxiety, and depression when I would hit triggering situations. The book gave me things to do at home when I wasn't with a counselor, and many times I felt it was more useful. (It took me a while to find a counselor with whom I felt comfortable) I'm part of an online support group for aneurysm survivors and many people have similar problems to what I had after coming through the surgeries. I always recommend this book and give them the link to Amazon.
   
   I lent the book to a friend of mine who was traumatized after Hurricane Katrina. (her whole New Orleans neighborhood was flooded and she saw awful things like dead bodies floating by) She also found it very helpful as she did not have much money to pay for counseling. Sadly, she passed away from unrelated medical problems, so she isn't here to write a review in person. But she did a lot of the writing and exercises and she told me how helpful it was. She recommended it to another friend of hers from New Orleans.

5 comments about The Stained Glass Garden: Projects & Patterns.

1. The patterns are artistic, the instructions clear, and the results truly do look great in the garden.



2. This book has all kinds of information, from basic tools, materials and procedures used, to instructions for making your own light table to work on. Includes patterns from simpler plant stakes and candle holders, to really extravagant lawn sprinklers. Awesome book, good for beginners and the more experienced. Don't know why they chose that cover photo, it is nowhere near the best or prettiest project in the book.



3. I bought this item for my mother, who is a stained glass enthusiast that put aside her craft when my brother and I were children (children and shards of glass don't mix very well, apparently). Recently, I've encouraged my mother to resume her interest. Since she is also interested in gardening, "The Stained Glass Garden: Projects & Patterns" was a perfect fit. Among the projects detailed in this book are lanterns, a bird feeder, and a sprinkler. The instructions are clear, and the projects are interesting. I would recommend this item for other stained glass enthusiasts!



4. This is one of my favorite stained glass books! It has great projects for beginners and more experienced stained glass crafters. The instructions are detailed and the photos are very helpful, also.



5. This book has wonderful projects and very detailed and easy to understand instructions. I enjoy making items for my garden and this book has helped me create beautiful glass items to display and enjoy. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys working with stained glass and gardening.