5 comments about Home Theater for Everyone: A Practical Guide to Today's Home Entertainment Systems.

1. This author obviously knows what he's talking about, but the book is dated and too detailed on some topics and not enough detailed on other topics to really provide a good broad brush of the topic. There's lots on audio, but not enough on much of what is going on today, like Windows XP Media Center Edition and PVRs and DirecWAY and other things. This is a consumer electronics focus in an increasingly broader industry. I've put a lot more into my home theater than he's talked about. I'm buying Home Theater for Dummies to see what they say -- their outline is broader and their edition is just out.



2. Much of the information in this book is good, but a couple of issues need to be addressed. Tomlinson Holman, a good engineer, is the man behind both the THX professional cinema house certification and the Home THX certification program for home theater components. I have a substantial issue with, particularly, the latter because it consists of a secret set of parameters, which are divulged only to licensees under nondisclosure. Because the requirements are themselves secret, how can anyone judge their validity, or the comparative value of the certification?

   Mr. Harley, on the other hand, is no engineer at all, nor even a hands-on amateur, but a promoter. He combines occasionally astute observations with technical nonsense, so that even when his conclusions appear to make sense you have no idea how he got there. Simply put, he often either doesn't know what he's talking about, or he does and is simply writing what equipment vendors and the gullible want said.




3. Robert Harley is a "high-end audiophile" and you need to keep that in mind when reading thru any of his books. In "Home Theater For Everyone", he provides a lot of useful information. But he also supplies a lot of "hokum" as well. That is, there is much in this books that he states as fact when infact it is nothing more than his own (often erroneous) opinion.
   
   If you are already well-versed in audio/video equipment, you'll know when Mr. Harley goes "off-the-wall" with his crazy statements and conclusions. But if you're new to the world of audio/video, I say "buyer beware". If you follow all of Mr. Harley's advice, you will end up spending thousands of dollars on overpriced equipment and unnecessary frills.
   
   Buy the book for the great general information Mr. Harley provides. But be wary of some of his conclusions and advice. One area where I strongly agree with Mr. Harley is when he advocates to do your own shopping and make your own judgements.



4. I purchased this book as a requirement for a new job. I recently left the practice of law and went to work for a company that designs, sells and installs home theaters. Having graduated from law school, one would think I could understand just about everything. Wrong. This book touts itself as one that is for the masses - the everyday schmo who is looking to do this themselves. While extraordinarily well written, it is NOT for everyone. It is overly complex and technical for the everyday guy and is more apropos for electrical engineers or experts in the field. finally, the issue I received was supposed to be a recent edition and, if it was, it's already painfully out of date and needs revamped.



5. I have been keeping up with AV via periodicals and product pamphlets. This was to me not a lot of new information but for folks who are just starting out, this would be a GREAT place to begin. Not too tech-y, tech-y enough when it needs to be. A decent overall offering that does what it says.

5 comments about Make: Technology on Your Time, Vol. 2.

1. The cover on this one is a bit deceptive since the large robot stuff is just a short article. But the rest of the magazine rocks! Great projects from simple marshmallow shooters, to a PC modded into the case of an Atari 2600, to robotic dogs and mice. There is ten solid pages on podcasting, both receiving podcasts and creating your own. If you thought the first one was great you will love this one.



2. If the Make crew can keep the quality this tight, it will herald in a golden era of makers everywhere. This is a fitting follow-up to the amazing premeire issue. The great projects and how-tos quickly made my to-do list a mile longer.



3. 70% of contents are sponsored, and ads appear everywhere making the whole thing hard to read. Most importantly, instructions are not understandable.



4. If you spent any time building technical projects as a kid with your parents, this is a wonderful gift for them: it brings back the memories of some of their proudest moments.
   
   I grew up reading "The Amateur Scientist" in "Scientific American" magazine, and built many of the projects (as well as the requisite radios and go-carts) with my Dad. Forty years later, I subscribed to Make: and realized that this is the modern successor to "The Amateur Scientist".
   
   I bought a subscription for myself and my Dad: now, although we're seperated by miles, we can discuss the projects and relive the times we spent together building and breaking things.



5. If you like making stuff , or wondered how people go about inventing things, this is your magazine.
   I've been inspired to make all sorts of things, and have found that my kids enjoy playing with hand made things as much, or more than any toy we can buy at the store.
   There are also all kinds of great ideas for re-using technology.
   It covers everything from marshmallow guns to robots. Very entertaining and inspirational and a great supplement to a good science education.

2 comments about How Home Theater and HDTV Work (How It Works).

1. This book is OK if you are going to buy a HDTV but useless if you are a technician and need an understanding on repairing a HDTV.



2. I needed a book to tell me the DIFFERENCE between cables. - Optical? Digital? Coaxial? S-Video? Composite? Fiber optic? Analog? Shielded? Unshielded? Banana plug? Bare wire?
   For that, this book is PERFECT. It worked out nicely for me, when I had to decide how I was to wire up a new stereo receiver with a DirecTV box and a DVD-VCR combo box. A couple of years later, it helped me decipher the difference between (a.) a universal remote; (b.) a learning remote.
   I bought this book over others on the shelf at a BORDERS because (a.) the illustrations are in COLOR; (b.) the illustrations are on EVERY PAGE; (c.) the text only focuses on the "how" or "why" and not on the technical or engineering aspects.
   I see that the other review before mine gave the book only one star because the book does not tell you how to buy a television set. That is TRUE. The book is not written to tell you which BRAND to buy. The book WILL give you enough info to decide between (a.) plasma; (b.) LCD; (c.) rear projection; (d.) front projection (e.) flat panel.
   Likewise, the chapter on "aspect ratios" helped me understand how the new TVs distort their picture, to either CROP or STRETCH the picture, depending on how you set the aspect ratio.
   For example: Do you know the difference between (a.) pan-and-scan? (b.) letterbox? The illustrations in the book lay it out clear as a bell.
   For example: Do you what the Texas Instruments slogan, "It's the mirrors!" means, and how it relates to DLP? The book tells you.
   This book is much better than depending on a dozen (a hundred?) individual PDF documents or manufacturer brochures to teach the DIFFERENCES between the technologies out there for audio and video!

5 comments about Living with Books.

1. I have a feeling the previous reviewers were expecting a how-to book of home construction projects. Actually this is more of a tour guide. It's fascinating to discover the many creative, ingenious, and very original ways architects and ordinary booklovers have found to store books, display them, and enjoy being in their presence. Face it -- one never has enough bookshelves. And some of these homes are definitely masquerading as libraries! Here are bookshelves up under the eaves of an older house, or installed over the doorways in the hall, or built into closets and cupboards and under kitchen counters. Others are freestanding on metal shelves and poles and rigged like a ship's masts. There are small libraries built into the landings of staircases and others that cover entire walls of bedrooms. Some are two tiers deep, with the front one moving sideways on rollers. Others share space with lamps, TV sets, telephones, clocks, computers, ancient artifacts, photographs, and knick-knacks. And the one thing all the arrangements depicted in this book have in common is, none of them -- even the most attractively arranged -- are just for show. One look at the worn covers and frayed jackets tells you these books are the constant companions of their owners.



2. This is more of a coffe table book. It's full of interesting photographs of, what else, books. The pictures show books incorporated into interesting architecture, unique shelving and storage for books, home libraries and offices, etc. The text offers advice and commentary on displaying and storing books in practical, unique, and interesting ways. If you're a bookworm and/or collect lots of books, you would enjoy paging through Living With Books.



3. I had high hopes because I love reading about books, but this one was disappointing. I originally gave it three stars for the photos, which are worth looking at, but the text it pretty awful -- a serious drawback in a book aimed at compulsive book collectors. I took off one whole star specifically for a line that says something like, "It doesn't matter if books access is difficult, as long as it isn't completely impossible." Doesn't matter to whom? It does to this reader. I reread. I browse nostalgic favorites. I like to handle my books, and I need to be able to get to them. Also, a substantial number of the storage systems shown appear to be concerned more with style than with storage -- I didn't mind the coffee table constructed of books layered with glass, as those were old design catalogs and the whole was sort of a pun, but the grid system and a few other types of shelves that only contained a book or two here and there as placed by a decorator is really not my idea of living with books. Get this if you want pretty pictures. If you're really interested in books themselves and how they are stored, try Henry Petroski's The Book and the Bookshelf instead.



4. I'm shocked amd confused by the negative reviews I see here. This is a fabulous photo book. Even if you don't like how others seem to live with/use their books, you have to respect their ingenuity and funky designs. Some are quite sloppy, lol. This will get you thinking about how you can use books as decor and even furniture. This is far from boring, whereas another reviewer mentioned the Ellis book At Home With Books, which I thought was just AWFUL, a total snooze. I've never returned a book to a library so quickly! I was so impressed with LIVING WITH BOOKS that I added it to my wish list...and will be purchasing it today.



5. Lots of design information on home decorating with books. If floor space is being taken over by your collection of books and magazines, here is a book packed with creative book storage and display ideas for every room in the house including the bathroom. From "Design Matters" in Oregon Home, "There are options for the maximalists (walls covered floor-to-ceiling with books of all shapes) and minimalists (neatly piled art books as mantelpieces) in us all." So if you are a big-time book collector or just looking to stash your cookbooks, this book is inspiring.

5 comments about Build the Ultimate Home Theater PC.

1. I purchased this book in December. I have wanted to build my own computer for some time. I never had a reason for one until I read about Microsoft's Media Center Edition. This prompted me to hit the Internet for info. I came across 5 or 6 sites with good info, but they were outdated. I came upon this book on ExtremeTech.com. The book is "hot off the presses." It give 3 great examples from start to finish, which include 3 different platforms. Each one of the components are assigned a chapter which included recommendations.
   
   If you are able to partition a hard drive and use hand tools you will be able to build your own HTPC. The process is very rewarding. By the way I am 55 years old and this is my first computer.



2. I uncovered this book just after I finished building my own HTPC (Media Center). In process, I did extensive online research, leveraging ExtremeTech.com, AVSforum.com, TheGreenButton.com and other resources. Finding simple answers was such a tedious task, that I decided to create my own knowldege base online at BuildMediaCenter.com to help others. If I had had this book earlier I would have saved a lot of time in finding those answers and money on buying uncompatible parts. This book is simply an enciclopedia for all Media Center technology enthusiasts and PC builders!



3. I had high expectations for this book but I guess I should have researched it more. As it turns out this book is really two books in one. The first describes how to build your own PC. The second describes how to use Windows MCE.
   
   The only difference between an HTPC and a regular PC hardware is the form factor and the inclusion of a capture card. Essentially any decent book on building your own PC can help you out on the hardware side. It looks like this book did a decent job with it, even though I simply went to newegg and picked out my pieces since I had built a PC before.
   
   What I was hoping for was coverage of all HTPC software out there today and a comparison of options. This book unfortunately only covers MCE. BeyondTV, MythTV(and Linux), Meedio and Mediaplay are all ignored. This is a huge oversite on the part of the author. Hence my 3 stars.
   
   In summary if you are new to building a PC and intend on using MCE this is the book for you. Experienced PC builders and those that wish to use other software options should avoid it.



4. This book is great reference material for any HTPC newbie. It has clear directions and setup diagrams. If your not planning on using MCE, then this book will only be useful to you on the hardware side. Also, technology changes so quickly that you need to compliment this book with websites such as [...]



5. If you are new to building a high performance computer or want more information on the home theater applications then is the book for you. Be aware that this book does not give in depth coverage of media center software.

5 comments about The Age of Shakespeare (Modern Library Chronicles).

1. This is an interesting and instructive little book, but it is hard to figure out just what its target audience might be-or even indeed, its precise topic. Kermode calls it "the /Age/ of Shakespeare," and the first chapter does, indeed, open, with some provocative insights about the world that surrounds Shakespeare and his plays. Later on, he offers a useful introduction to the physical world of London theatre (or theatres). But most of the book is more conventional in its organization: commentary on the plays, more or less one by one and more or less in chronological order. The comments are unfailingly insightful and often original (or at any rate, new to me). But they are fragmentary and so presented that they aren't likely to be of much help if you aren't reasonably familiar with the plays already. Taken together, they are perhaps too modest for a specialist work and too concentrated for a beginner. What it sounds like is a quick recap of a course in Kermode's Cambridge classroom, for students who know something, but not too much-but here (is this an occupational hazard for professors?) I wonder if he misgauges his audience.
   
   The particular commentaries are diverse, but I'd say that Kermode is particularly good on the poetry, closely defined: the language and the rhythm-a fitting achievement, I suppose, for a man who wrote the admirable "Shakespeare's Language." He has a happy knack for picking the illustrative example and, particularly, for the illustrative example that shows you how Shakespeare changes and grows over time.
   
   As a general intro to the playwright and his times, I would still favor Jonathan Bate's "The Genius of Shakespeare." But so long as you know what you are getting, Kermode is still good fun. Here's a teaser: of all the items new to me in this book, perhaps none is more memorable than the brief vignette of one Richard Topcliffe interrogator and torturer so far up in his profession that he was allowed to keep a rack in his own home. Evidently we have Topcliffe's own copy of a history of the Jesuit mission to England with (as Kermode says) "his gloating marginalia: beside the name of a missionary the words `I racked him,' beside the name of someone hanged a little stick figure dangling from a gallows." The Age of Shakespeare was not an age for the faint of heart.



2. OK, your assignment is to write a book covering (1) the history of the Elizabethan and Jacobian ages; (2) the history of Elizabethan and early Jacobian theater; (3) the life and career of Shakespeare; and, (4) a discussion of his plays. Do this in less than 200 printed pages. What's that? You say you can't do it and nobody could? One more thing, assume near cultural illiteracy for the reader. All right, that surely makes it impossible. But you accepted the job. What do you do? If you're Frank Kermode you spend your pages acknowledging the existence of as many scholarly friends and colleagues as possible. The obscure Eamon Duffy, in particular, gets a tongue-bath from head to toes.
   
   Kermode must have had some total page count estimater built into his word-processor because when the count reaches 196 pages... he... just... stops. Now try to imagine an audience for this work. Let's consider three broad classes of potential readers: (1) those knowing little or nothing about the topics; (2) those having an intermediate level of knowledge, having read several books on the topics; and (3) those quite familiar with the topics from decades of reading. Readers in category (1) will be completely baffled. Readers in category (2) will find only a few points unfamiliar to them, and these points will not be developed in any satisfactory way. Readers in category (3) will never pick up the book to begin with, and those are the lucky few.
   
   This is one of a large number of "Modern Library Chronicles," most of which, to judge from the list, have a similarly impossible sweep of history to cover. Something does need desperately to be done to combat the rising tide (or tidal wave) of cultural illiteracy, but this is probably not at all what would work.



3. As other reviewers have observed, Kermode manages to pack a tremendous amount of information about Shakespeare and his times into 200 pages. Never does it seem rushed or superficial. The introductory section is especially useful, and in it Kermode addresses the increasingly discussed question of Shakespeare's "Catholicity." Although he states the evidence doesn't prove the matter decisively, Kermode recognizes it as an important part of the conversation.
   
   Likewise, he reviews the current state of research into the English reception of the so-called "Elizabethan Settlement" that definitively protestantized England and Wales. Fans of the Whig interpretation of history, which postulates that a break with Catholicism was an inevitable phase of English history, won't find much comfort here. Kermode summarizes the myth-shattering work of Eamon Duffy, whose "Stripping of the Altars" demonstrated a dozen years ago that English Catholicism was healthy and robust until the Tudors took their hammers to it.
   
   If you napped through your high school English lit classes, this book also serves as a remedial tonic. Kermode summarizes Shakespeare's plays and places them in their social and cultural context. After an evening or two with this book, you'll be better equipped to tackle "Hamlet," "Romeo & Juliet," and the rest of the Bard's canon.



4. I became interested in putting together a "listmania" list on Shakespeare and so I subsequently bought a few new books or some that I had not yet read. One was the older 1970 biography "Shakespeare" by the prolific author Anthony Burgess where - with some fiction based on partial records but mostly fact - he creates something akin to what we are used to in reading a modern biography. The present book was recently written by the Cambridge scholar and world Shakespeare expert Frank Kermode. Here the author uses a more conservative and a more scholarly approach, in some ways similar to Burgess, but with essentially no small fictional embellishments and with a lot more emphasis on explaining the various plays of Shakespeare in detail - albeit briefly - and adding comments on various usually at least one passage from each play.
   
   The present book is about 200 pages long with a very brief 4 page bibliographical note at the back. It is part of a series called Modern Library Chronicles that appear to have over 40 titles on various subjects, the Kermode book being one. The book consists of basically three parts - my division not the authors i.e.: the Reformation and England of Elizabeth (about 30 pages of background historical details), the early Shakespeare (70 pages) with many social comments, and then Shakespeare at the Globe and Blackfriars (the last 100 pages and Shakespeare's most fruitful period). In each of these broad segments the author weaves the current political climate, problems faced by the theaters, censorship, actors, rivals, other writers, owners, finances, descriptions of theater construction, etc. As the author makes his way through the last two parts, he comments on the importance of each play, what others think are the merits, important passages, references for more reading, how it relates to prior or future plays by Shakespeare, etc. - again all very briefly but he does provide some historical and literary perspectives.
   
   The book is rich with details, comments, quotes, and insights and it is a delightful but slow read to absorb the facts. It is an excellent but small book 5 stars. It does not replace the Burgess book, it is just different and seems more accurate. Subsequent to this being published, the new book "Will In The World" by Greenblatt has been published. It is by far the best book on Shakespeare's life and work.



5. This little book is delightful. It is scholarly, well researched, and charming. The chapters almost stand alone, and yet they make a whole.
   
   It gave me an awareness of the time in which Shakespeare lived that I could not have gained from a history book. It has contributed to a greater awareness of the factors that influenced this genius and made him more understandable to me.
   
   When we visited Stratford-On-Avon, I came away with no sense of the man, Shakespeare. I am on the road to a greater understanding of him, as a result of this little volume.
   
   Thank you for making it so easily available to me.

No comments about Secrets of Home Theater (Secrets of...).

4 comments about Chopin - A Listener's Guide to the Master of the Piano: Unlocking the Masters Series (Unlocking the Masters).

1. This is a GREAT book for students studying Chopin! As a recent student myself, I wish I would have had this book for general information on Chopin, his life, and his works. The book is laid out in a simple format, making easy for anyone to use. It goes into the styles of his songs and what made them unique. It also includes a CD which the book tells you what and how to listen for things that are specifically Chopin. This book is a must-have for any student studying or performing the works of this master of the piano.



2. These small books from Amadeus concentrate on one composer, one of the masters. In these books a brief biography (25 or so pages) set the tone for a discussion of the man's music. In the case of Chopin, this can be summed up as a case of being considered a musical genius at a very early age, followed by increasing fame as a composer even as he was spending years dying from tuberculosis.
   
   In the sections on the music, an expert author describes what the best consensus of our time is saying about the works. In the case of Chopin these are broken down into the types of works: Etudes and Preludes, Music for Piano and orchestra, The Waltzes, The Nocturnes, The Sonatas, Patriotism and Tragedy: The Polonaises, Individual works, The Impromptus and Scherzos, The Mazurkas, and The Ballades.
   
   A CD included with the book contains fifteen complete compositions of Chopin's works. Having the CD with the book means that the author can refer to the music in his writing knowing that you will have exactly the music he is discussing. This is a great concept that adds imeasurably to the book.



3. Amadeus Press has filled a underserved niche in the classical music literature with these marvelous little guides to the great composers and their greatest compositions. They fill the gap between the highly detailed, scholarly volumes of the lives of the great composers ... and the too-superficial tiny guides that offer too little program notes on the music or the composer. It gives you a compelling "play-by-play" description of each composition without venturing into musicology that would lose a beginner. The entire series is extremely well written and make a great guides to new discoveries. It should appeal to beginners as well as classical veterans alike. This Chopin volume is proving to be a valuable guide as I explore in depth Chopin's music and the great performances on disc.
   
   Every major category is covered in satisfying depth to give you solid understanding of what is behind each work - and what in particular is historically and musically significant in them. ALl major works are covered: the lilting Waltzes .. the pensive and sometimes turbulent Nocturnes ... the weighty Sonatas, Scherzos and Ballades ... the delicate miniatures ... the amazing early piano concertos ... the showpieces, Etudes, Preludes and even the few chamber pieces of Chopin are explored to reveal many curious historic details.
   
   This volume on Chopin makes for compelling reading and is one of the only modern volumes of program notes on the piano music of Chopin I could find. The number of works covered is large and satisfying with enough detail to give you a deep appreciation of the significance, musical structures and impact of each work. In a way, it reads much like program notes in a CD, but covering the entire range of Chopin's life and works. Other reviews below outline the range covered. The volume, supplemented by classic volume like Schonberg's "Lives of the Great Composers" should give a high quality education to the music of Chopin. This book includes a Naxos CD containing performances by Idl Bieret which gives a quality intro to Chopin, but some listeners will surely want to explore the great Chopin performances of pianists like Rubinstein, Horowitz, Kissin, Perahia, Argerich and many others. Bottom line: these "Unlocking the Masters Series" are a great investment to deepening one's appreciation that will not go out of style any time soon. 5 stars.



4. Pair a full-length classical cd from the classical music publisher Naxos with a book surveying Chopin's biography and influences and you have the perfect introduction to Chopin - and a pick recommended not just for public library holdings, but for schools seeking to introduce students to Chopin. Descriptions of his works, styles, and diversity come from a New York-based critical music writer whose addition to the 'Unlocking the Masters' series provides newcomers with a most accessible way of understanding Chopin's music.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

5 comments about Sound Studio Construction on a Budget.

1. as another reviewer says, this appears to be the previous edition of what is currently titled "how to build a small budget recording studio....". also, as another reviewer has noted, you dont have to read it in order -- each example project its its own chapter with its own self-contained presentation. each example does stress diffferent design goals that translate to different acoustic treatments.

   its a little annoying that every page seems to be an advertsemen for an rpg product. this is mitigated by the author's inclusion of journal and patent references that tell you everything you need to know to build these treatments yourself if you like. or if your budget doesnt allow for the beautiful wood forms from rpg, just take the keywords and run -- diffusor, absorber, abfussor -- and its easy to find someone besides rpg that makes the things using less expensive materials.

   i enjoyed the book enough that i'm ordering the next edition. i also recommend his book on stereo theory if you want an overview of the psychoacoustics involved.




2. Too much time spent on the mathematics of sound transfer and acoustics. Not enough on how to build the studio. Could not find a "complete parts list" for any of the plans. This is not for someone looking to build a simple studio. Very technical and boring.



3. if you are on a financial budget, you are likely on a time budget, and this book can be a time sucker. it reminded my of my high school trigonometry book. I didn't spend much time with that, either. To the defense of the writer, my friends in the business who actually know what they are doing, swear by this guy and his books. I, however, am just trying to make a room in my house sound a little better, and could care less to know about the science behind it any more than I care about the science behind a combustion engine while I'm driving. I recommend 'basic home studio design' by paul white. simple, small, easy, the minimum that you need to know- but as much as i think 90% would need.



4. This book is an update of Everest's classic "Acoustic Design for Home and Studio". It is great for what it is. For more capable types, Everest's "Master" book is more complete. This one has the basics. For those who thought this is too technical, I wonder how they expect to deal with the other aspects of audio engineering. Just knowing how to twist a knob is not a path to excellence.
   
   In actuality this is a well written, very direct primer, starting with very basic physics, and leading to easy design engineering. It's not hard to calculate, design, finance or construct good acoustics, and the payoff is huge. It does require a modest amount of work, and calculations to get good data. Remember: "Garbage in, garbage out." Acoustics control your recording and playback. This book will give you a fighting chance.



5. This book is useless if you already own "The Master Handbook of Acoustics" by the same author. However as the title suggests it's all about being on a budget, which it explains fairly well. If you are building a projects studio in your house for example..this is a must read.

2 comments about Fabulous Turned-Wood Projects.

1. This book was a purchase I dont regret, but it could be better. While it has wonderful ideas and great pictures, the project instructions it gives could be more detailed with pictures that illustrate every step. There are a few projects in there, that are mostly detailed with text, and if you cant picture what they are saying, then the project becomes very difficult to accomplish. Like I said, I dont regret my purchase of this book, but it could have been done better.



2. I've discovered that woodturning books for beginners distinguish themselves from other topics by the immense number of step-by-step pictures within their covers. This book does the same thing but with a difference. It presumes you can do some basic turning. Consequently, it doesn't have the same number of pictures per project focused on documenting every small step. It demonstrates larger intervals. Where this book sets itself apart from the other dozen I own is that it shows, in detail, how to put together different woods to create the most amazing designs in the projects you turn. The photos are much smaller than some of the other books and these authors have crammed a huge pile into 96 pages. If the photos had been the size used in many other titles, this publication would have doubled in size. From my perspective, "Fabulous Turned-Wood Projects" bridges the gap for beginners allowing them to see behind the curtain and discover the "magic" steps that result in stunning outcomes by clearly demonstrating how to assemble the pieces of wood in ways you might not think of for another three years! We plan on working through all of the projects!