5 comments about Organizing Magic: 40 Days to a Well-Ordered Home and Life.

1. As usual, Sandra Felton provides a thoughtful, kind, step by step program for getting out of a mess into a clean, organized home. While this book alone will leave you with some questions, buy it in conjunction with almost any of her other books, and you will have a guide to solving your most pressing home organization problems.
   
   Felton provides her suggestions with more than a little bit of insight into how things got to be this much of a mess to begin with. She is a reforming messie person, and doesn't hesitate to share her experiences with you.



2. Nowhere near as good as other organizing books. If you do want to get a book on organizing, get: organizing from the inside out and organizing plain and simple. Those 2 combined give you all the info you need...



3. I was considering purchasing this book (no, I have not read it). After reading one of the book reviews below, I was drawn to visit, the author, Sandra Felton's website. I surfed around her website a little until I came across a Teleclass she hosted on Decluttering Your Life. I could only manage to listen for about 10 minutes because I was getting so agitated and annoyed with her inane and repetitive questions of the interviewee. I don't know how the poor interviewee, Marsha Sims, could make it through the interview without screaming?! Not only did the questions Felton was asking appear idiotic, but the whole Teleclass was disorganized and chaotic. I find it hard to believe that I could learn any organizing methods from someone who is more disorganized than I am. After listening to Sandra Felton for 5 minutes, I decided not to purchase any of her books! Marsha Sims had some really interesting ideas (that she was barely able to get through on the interview) and I have decided to see if she has written any books of her own.



4. This should actually be "40 STEPS (rather than DAYS) to a Well-Ordered Home and Life." I love the idea of becoming Martha Stewart in less than two months, but, unfortunately, it took me six months to get through the book. (I wanted to implement each chapter before moving on to the next.) And I'm still not Martha Stewart.
   
   This is a great book! The author offers practical and sound advice for behavioral change. It's not a book of "put this here and buy this organizing tool." Rather it is a collection of tiny steps to help people change their behavior toward more organized living. The author doesn't want to give people cleaning schedules; she wants to help people maintain clean and organized homes by encouraging clean and organized habits. The book design is colorful (quite feminine, but I'm a woman, so I didn't mind too much) and easy to read. Sidebars and shoutouts are prevalent. The chapters are short making it perfectly bite-sized reading.
   
   Final Thoughts: Definitely RECOMMENDED.



5. As organizing books go, they usually fit into at least one of 3 categories: 1) hints/tips, 2) 'clutter psychology/personality types, or 3) managing (getting rid of/finding storage for).
   
   The author has tried to do all three and ended up doing none. Although the book claims to have one-hour activities, there's really little meaningful substance at all. There's no clear progression where any activity builds on or logically follows another, so the whole thing feels kind of random.
   
   Only a couple of pages are devoted to each day, and these examples are quoted from the book:
   
   * Envision your goals.
   * Stick to a system.
   * Wear glasses that darken automatically in the sun.
   * Serve dinner dishes on the kitchen counter.
   * Drop out of a group or club.
   * Stop sending Christmas cards.
   * Look down the road for trouble.
   * Give away unwanted, outgrown, or downright unpleasant items.
   
   That last one is the most disturbing of all. If it's "downright unpleasant," why would you give it to anyone?
   
   If the book didn't have Sandra Felton's name printed right on the cover, I wouldn't have believed she authored it.
   
   If your clutter problem is just annoying, you won't get anything from this book you're not already doing or didn't already know. If you're a serious clutterbug, you won't find anything here that will help you make any major impact on your clutter.

4 comments about How to Start a Home-Based Housecleaning Business, 2nd (Home-Based Business Series).

1. Melinda Morse started a housecleaning business when she was in college, had $80 in the bank, needed an income, had to have flexible hours to stay in school, couldn't find a job. A friend suggested that she pick up just a few housecleaning jobs as a quick fix. She knew nothing about starting a business. In a few years she had learned a lot, probably more than she learned while getting her Ph.D.
   
   This book starts at the beginning and talks about what's necessary to set this up as a legitimate business. It covers the legal, moral, and what I call the real rules about setting up a business. And don't kid yourself, it is a business with all the aspects of business that General Motors or IBM has. She presents a lot of sample forms in the book (If she had put these in Excell format on a web site somewhere it would be a great help.) that will help with expenses, what to do at each house, invoices, and keeping your ever present partner (if you wanted a parter or not) the IRS happy.
   
   This book is very oriented to a house cleaning business - but house cleaning could well be considered to include janitorial, disaster clean up, etc. And the concepts she brings out are good for nearly any kind of small business. Good, well written book.



2. I recently read this book by Laura Jorstad and I'm new to the housecleaning business. Because I have no background in this profession, but am considering offering a service like this one in my local community, I found Jorstad's book to be a good place to start. She provides a very good Guide to Services, which seems fairly well thought out, but obviously would revisions based on the cleaning business you start. Overall, the book was easy to read and has good ideas. I think whenever you decide to go into business for yourself (any business) you should do as much reading and research as you can. Therefore, I would not limit myself to reading just this source, but consider other home-based, house cleaning businesses to get more ideas and better understand what lies ahead for you.



3. This book was extremely helpful. It really goes in depth on the topic. This is by far the best book on the subject and is loaded with helpful information.



4. This is a great book. Very Imformative. After following some of the guidlelines set out in the book, I landed my first cleaning job in just a matter of days. Well worth the money. Take the time to read this one if you are thinking of starting your own cleaning business.

No comments about Individuality in Clothing Selection and Personal Appearance (6th Edition).

5 comments about Organize Your Garage In No Time.

1. This book is full of tips, shortcuts, and handy tidbits YOU can and will use to finallly clean up your messy garage. It is well grouped.
   Buy the book, clean and organize your garage, then be proud of yourself for your accomplishment! Aren't you glad you bought the book?



2. Barry's book covers all the bases. He starts out by helping set a goal, create a plan, and envision the finished project. Then using small steps and understanding humor he guides the reader through the important basics of the organizing process as it applies to storage areas. From there Barry opens the world of storage options. Do you hang it, put it on a shelf, in a cabinet, or a drawer? He has pictures galore of different products and tricks you can devise yourself.
   
   These suggestions are invaluable for someone who needs to know what he or she has to choose from. And he addresses how you can use what you already have for storage, the cost of what you will need, and having a garage sale.
   
   Some of the best chapters are the extra ones about storage in sheds, attics, and basements. He even throws in a chapter on storage of seasonal and holiday items.
   
   Barry has left no stone unturned. If you need to organize your garage, you have what you need here.



3. I purchased this book as a gift for my husband. It is a good information book. I am very pleased with it.



4. I have read a lot of books regarding garages and this so far is the best one on step-by-step how to do it. The author has experience and knowledge and ability to put it in an easy to read book.
   The basis for organizing can also apply to closets and other things.
   Book is in a format that allows you to read only what applies to you.
   I highly recommend this book for someone starting on this seemingly overwhelming task



5. I enjoyed reading this book because I felt it was the first organizing book in which the other thinks the way I do. It was a refreshing change from othe organizing books. The topics were clear and the suggestions were practical. It is also unique in the use of images showing products out on the market that are mentioned in the book. I was happy to see things covered that I hoped I would find in a book on garages and was intriqued by others I didn't know about.

5 comments about American Houses: A Field Guide to the Architecture of the Home.

1. The author is the illustrator as well, and his pen and ink renditions are museum worthy. As an artist, and not an academic, his approach is informal and slightly irreverent.
   
   The book's emphasis is on the Colonial era, whose styles he divides into New England, Hudson River, Mid-Atlantic, Chesapeake, Southern, French and Spanish. He then sums up the 19th century styles, predominantly Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne and other late Victorian styles, and ends with the Colonial Revival, Bungalow, and Prairie styles (originated in Illinois, the Prairie State).
   
   He points out some styles were revived exclusively for the mansions of the turn-of-the-century industrial barons. He has not much to say about more recent houses, only mentioning the International Style, but overall it is still a good book.



2. Brilliantly researched, "Gerry" Foster manages to build the houses he describes in our minds through his illustrative diction and syntax. With its diagrams and managable set up, this book is a treat for all those who aspire to understand what goes into the frame work of an American home. For those who have read Foster's Field Guide to Trains, I assure you will agree with me when I say that I look forward to more works by this highly talented painter, architect, author, and father. I had the pleasure of recently meeting with his daughter, Shelby Foster, who only confirmed my belief in her father's intelligence, as she was able, eager, and willing to discuss the behind the pages research that went in to this wonderful read. We, the readers, can only hope that her upcoming novel contains as much information seamlessly weaved with a powerful narrative voice as her father's works. In all, a must read for any student, formal or unformal, of modern day American homes, and their history.



3. This book is a great overview of American architecture. It is entertaining for the non-architect but full of detail and histry for those who already have a lot of knowledge of the subject matter. Foster has obviously spent considerable time and energy researching his material. The floorplans are informative and help the reader to visualize a certain style and to understand the practical forces that shaped each architectural style. A must read for anyone with an interest in American architectural history!



4. There is a great tradition in the United States of Field Guides to American Domestic Architecture. Almost all of the Guides break down into two camps. The first group are the Guides that illustrate architectural styles through the use of photographs. The second group of Guides show styles through the use of black and white line drawings. Of the two camps, I prefer line drawings because they allow the reader to focus on the mulitple architectural details that come together to form an architectural style.
   
   Gerald Foster's "American Houses" is a good example of the line drawing style of Field Guide. Gerald Foster is a competent artist in what I call the illustrator school of architectural drawings. He took highly detailed drawings from the Historic Architectural Building Survey (HABS)and rotated the drawings so as to center on a corner view. Hovering below the corner view is a representative floor plan.
   
   The drawings are competent and pleasant to look at but where Foster falls short in my estimation is the sheer repetive nature of his drawings. Almost all of the drawings are from this same corner view and after a while the view becomes monotonous. A more imaginative artist would have shown buildings from different angles. A good artist can bend static buildings and provide new insights into their construction.
   
   The drawings are competent and George Foster has done enough homework in order to do a good job of describing the different styles. Its a good Guide and if this is your fist Field Guide, you will be very happy with it. However, there are better examples of Architectural Field Guides. For this line drawing style of Field Guide, I would recommend Lester Walker's "American Home" and "The Visual Dictionary to American Architecture." The illustrations in these books are both more exciting and educational.



5. If you own an older home, then this book is a must. Lots of valuable information.

5 comments about The Complete Yurt Handbook.

1. It's amazing how much information is in this rather small book. You could keep it in your pocket as you built your own functional yurt. The writing is to the point and very informative. I've checked out many books on building yurts and this is the best. High points of this book for me: clear patterns, listing of materials and tools needed, time estimates for building, vocabulary of yurt parts, basic history of the people who use yurts, their various regions, and yurt variations. Get this book if you really want to build a yurt and do it right.



2. None of the chatter, just good info on how to build yurts and gers. Forget the other larger books. Simple and to the point. Most of the drawings are freehand and not cad, but nothing is lost in the process.



3. This book is an invaluable source of information on the history, building and use of the portable felt structures called Gers. Well researched and clearly written, the book covers all the detailed procedures needed for building one of these structures including authentic plans for a variety of sizes. There is a good glossary of terms and many helpful suggestions for the sourcing of materials.



4. One of the best books I've found with concise building instructions. It also gives the historical context and more period method of construction as well. Great book for a beginner, which I am.



5. Excellent pictures. Good overall introduction to Yurts. Quick read. Not a lot of stupid info.

5 comments about Dorm Room Feng Shui: Find Your Gua > Free Your Chi ;-).

1. This is something fresh and new - there's very little out there to recommend the best way to decorate and arrange dorm rooms, and this book fills that void. Written with a breezy, light touch, it's chock full of helpful ideas and tips on how best to maximize that tricky living space of a dorm room. There's plenty of charts and illustrations to help you grasp the concepts, which is great for those visual learners out there. It also emphasizes the role of choice and intention in our lives, and that's an important thing for any college student to consider.
   
   I believe this book can be used as a helpful guide for any living space, and I'm incorporating the ideas into my own shared living space - a soon to be husband! This would be a great gift for your favorite graduate or friend.



2. This refreshing new look at Feng Shui is both easy to understand and fun to read. With plenty of diagrams for simple reference and Easy 1,2,3 Fixes, it is easy to pick up this book and flip to the section in which you need the most help. The book is great for recent graduates from high school or college because it doesn't require a lot a reading on top of schoolwork. The simple strategies are perfect for two (or more!) roommates just beginning to live together. Highly recommended to all!



3. Dorm Room Feng Shui a breezy and extremely readable book about feng shui for college students living in dorm rooms, and I wish I'd had a copy when I was in college, although to be fair, I'm a bit skeptical of the whole feng shui thing, or at least skeptical of the extremes to which I've heard some people enthuse about it. Regardless, a great deal of it seems to be common sense, and since there's a sad lack of that these days, I'm all for anything that genuinely helps people better themselves and their space. While I was reading it, I found myself thinking a few things. One: that I seemed to have been already intuitively incorporating a great deal of balance in my surroundings, according to the basic principles of feng shui. Two: that I wanted to know more and find out how the elements described in the book for small one-room living situations apply to large sprawling ranch-style houses like ours. Then I stopped halfway through and scribbled a list of things I wanted to improve and do during the next 2 weeks. This morning, I picked the book up again before I got out of bed and finished reading it, and then I jumped up, energized, and CLEANED THE WHOLE DARN HOUSE.



4. My niece loved this book! A great book for anyone wanting a little guidance in making the dorm into a homey space. You don't even have to believe in Feng Shui, just think of it as helping transform sterile into spiritual.



5. College life is filled with challenges, from handling a sloppy or partying roommate to being broke; so how can the simple art of re-arranging one's dorm room evoke positive spiritual forces? DORM ROOM FENG SHUI tells students how to maximize good energy through proper placement, taking control of clutter and using feng shui principles to improve 'dorm chi'. Appealing cartoon-like visuals and color pages keep DORM ROOM FENG SHUI bright and entertaining as well as informative.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

4 comments about West Coast Bungalows of the 1920s: With Photographs and Floor Plans.

1. I loved this little book. It's small, but every page contains a photograph of the exterior and at least one floor plan. In many cases, alternate floor plans are also provided. Wilson designed classic California bungalows. His designs are under-appreciated, and in many cases inspiring. If you live in or lust after a California bungalow, you'll spend hours pouring over the ideas and plans presented in this book. I consider it a must-have for the library of the bungalow enthusiast.



2. E. W. Stillwell and Company was an architectural firm in Los Angeles that started business in 1906 and rode the West Coast building boom, eventually creating their own book of house plans. This little booklet is a reprint of their 1919 plan book.
   
   It's a fun read, with 50 house designs offered in its 64 pages. It's a small book, measuring only 6" by 8" and the print is small, but easily legible.
   
   Some of the homes offered by this firm are very attractive and a few are the classic California bungalows with the oriental peak on the gabled roofs. A few of the houses in this book are really quite unattractive. Many of these houses are quite spacious by 1919's standards, measuring 1,000 square feet or more. A few are the more modest worker's homes, with 700 - 800 square feet. It would not be difficult to take these designs and "puff" them a bit, making them large enough for today's needs.
   
   There are a dozen pages of extras, including testimonials from happy buyers, a street scene of these homes lined up like little soldiers in Pasadena, some financing information and my very favorite part, "Age of The Bungalow," a poem written by Ethel Brooks Stillwell (wife of the architect?).
   
   The photos are pretty clear, the floorplans are easy to read and fun to study and the print is also quite legible and dark. For the price (six dollars), you can't go wrong.
   
   Rose Thornton
   co-author, California's Kit Homes



3. I was a little bit disappointed in this book. I guess I didn't realize that this is basically a reprint of a catalog, all in black and white. I had hoped for some color photos of interiors and exteriors.



4. Great little book on an interesting subject. Lots of detailed drawings and descriptions right out of the old advertising brochures from the 1920's. It would have been nice to know the size of this LITTLE book - I might not have purchased it even at the very reasonable price. It left me wanting more and at a more convenient size.

1 comments about Spanish Houses: Rustic Mediterranean Style.

1. Beautiful book, in excellent condition and has what I was looking for! Thumbs up on all fronts!

2 comments about Real Estate Principles.

1. The authors introduce the principles of real estate at an elementary level using an impressive organizational style. Covers all fundamental aspects of real estate with no bias applications (ex. State Laws, Personal Experience). Perfect for the beginner of real estate.



2. This book is good for residential licensees perhaps but otherwise is out of date.