5 comments about Independent Builder: Designing & Building a House Your Own Way (Real Goods Independent Living Books).

1. This tells you how to design a house for you. Not just a house out of a book, but one that takes your living patterns into account. Don't want a formal living room? Don't put one in! Also reminds you if you want to live in the house a long time, to make room for handicapped access that may be needed later. Design your kitchen and baths the way you live! Have fun! ;-)



2. Sam Clark uses up half the book before he gets into the nitty-gritty of construction methods. This really IS a book about house DESIGN as well as construction. As such, it's an EXCELLENT book for someone who's starting from scratch to create their own house. The approach is extremely methodical, treating mindsets and goals as elements of the design process equal in importance to elevation drawings.

   The illustrations bear particular attention. The (black and white) photographs are well composed, and have high contrast to clearly delineate the features that are supposed to be of interest. The line drawings are rather funky looking (in part because Clark appears not to own a ruler), but nevertheless do a very good job of illustrating what the text is talking about. This is the case for three reasons: (1) they were created by the author, who knew EXACTLY what part of the text needed visual aids; (2) their rulerless nature means that Clark can emphasize particular features rather than focus on strict scale drawings; and (3) each one is sized independently to take up as much space as is required to depict the subject matter, without worrying about "wasting" some page area. The end result is that the text and illustrations fit together well to make a unified whole.

   For more detail on the Building part of creating a house, I'd recommend "Do-It-Yourself HOUSEBUILDING" by George Nash. But because Nash's book doesn't come close to Clark's for clarity, I'd first read Clark's book cover-to-cover. Then I'd keep Sam Clark's book open to the same subject area so that you can step back and get a clear overview as you get confused in the details of the Nash book.




3. For the owner-builder looking to educate her/himself, sifting thru the oceans of books to read is tough. This one is definitely worth the time. Clark takes a no-nonsense, unpretentious approach. The text is easy to read and in plain language that lay people can understand. Focuses mostly on conventional stick-building, but there are lots of great ideas (in the "doing it yourself on a budget" theme) that apply to any building style.



4. I have been researching owner building for almost a year now and this is the first and only book I've found that both had all the information I needed, and presented it in a way that a layman could understand. Five thumbs up.



5. This is the first book I've found that actually addresses living patterns in home design. The book describes the fact that people can be uncomfortable sitting in a huge living space and actually crave the need for smaller spaces like alcoves. Social behaviours and traffic patterns while entertaining are studied and factually explains what makes a room feel comfortable or homey. With traffic patterns and accessibility as the basis for the design half of the book, Clark provides a solid foundation for design fundementals and the why behind it.
   
   The second half of the book covers home building. A s a complete novice in this area, I can't vouch for the accuracy of the information, but it does seem quite comprehensive in its description, demystifying the building process, and empowering owners to monitor their contractors with an informed eye, while giving insight to the bigger picture and mindset of contractors. I think this understanding will help communication between owners and contractors and make homebuilding a smoother process. Of particular interest, I found the load calculations for foundations fascinating as it wasn't something I had ever considered in home building as it is something the architecht waves his magic pencil to produce.
   
   The book is written in a familiar tone the layperson will relate and understand, and while it doesn't shirk the industry jargon, explainations are forthcoming, making it easy to understand and simple to follow.
   
   I've read quite a few books on home building and have done extensive research on the internet. This book covers design priciples and the why not found elsewhere. I highly recommend this book as the foundation to anyone planning and building their own home.

4 comments about Lathe Operation and Maintenance.

1. Very well written a approach rto train the novice machinist. I have seen other books on the subject and find this book starts where it should with very good detail , SAFETY.. Book is well laid out and each chapter provides a good question and answer section at the end .. I highly recomend this book.. D Logan owner R F & M



2. As a more senior student as lathe operator I am finding this book very helpful in getting started ,also thank you Amozon for your great service.



3. The book is fine for a true beginner, but hardly worth the money if you already have some lathe skills. I hoped the book would explain how to adjust bearings but any maintenance information was very basic and practically nonexistent.



4. Great book for the "true beginner", me. Very well written, lots of good advice on safety and operations. Just the info you need to get started, now for the next book.......

5 comments about The Shabby Chic Gift of Giving.

1. What a disappointment! There are no projects with directions, and what the author deems inspirational ideas consist of such things as SEVERAL PAGES describing why it is nice to stick a loving note in your kids' lunchboxes. Mind you, I would have been delighted with a book of inspirational ideas -- but this sure wasn't it. I'd be ashamed to give 99% of the items as gifts; they're both tacky and yucky. The few decent ideas (gifts of herbs or flowers, citing the meaning of each) are old hat if you read any books, magazines, or online crafts lists. This was a huge disappointment and a colossal waste of money; what could have been wonderful instead seemed heavily padded to use up space, rather than providing viable/innovative ideas (or even good ideas, never mind original). I returned mine to Amazon.



2. After already reading 2 of Rachel Ashwell's books I decided the third was one too many. These ideas already appeared in her show or other books. I think we all know how creative Rachel is, what a great mom she is, what her pallette consists of, that she can afford to shop all over the world, etc. Enough already! Don't waste your time. Martha Stewart has more creative ideas.



3. I really liked her other Shabby Chic books and enjoy reading and looking at them this one was a bit of a let down.It would have been better in a magazine format



4. First off, I do not regret buying this book. The photography is simply phenomonal, and it is inspiring just to look at the pictures. But unfortunetly, there are not really many gift giving "ideas". So if you bought this book looking for a new twist on gifts, you will be disapointed.

   Ideas include putting flowers from the garden into bottles, or using big "floppy roses", or colored packing peanuts. Not to origional, but still beautiful. She does convey the importance of giving thoughtful gifts, not just store bought items. Some reviewers had said that this is just a repeat of what is shown on her television show. I personally don't watch the show, so it's not a repeat for me.

   Without the photography, I would have rated this book a two. But the pictures are what inspires you to give creative and thoughtful gifts.




5. What can I say about this author? I LOVE her and read every one of her books thoroughly. She has great ideas, presents them simply and I just love her taste! More! More!

4 comments about Painting Murals Fast & Easy.

1. I got this book because it seemed interesting, but I really don't care for it. For me, the paintings aren't detailed enough. You can't get a lot of little detail with a sponge. Sure, sponges can be used for some parts of a painting, but not for the whole thing if you want a lot of detail. It's the little details that make a painting more interesting to look at.



2. This book can be useful for both beginning muralists and those with more experience.
   
   1 - Beginners: For someone wanting to paint a mural in their child's bedroom, for example, the techniques in this book are ideal - and will easily achieve excellent results. It is even possible to involve the child in some of the simpler methods - if say, between age 6 and 13.
   
   2 - Experienced painters: Before seeing this book, I had already used some of the sponging techniques in my own murals, i.e. to create a soft cirrus cloud haze, or the spray from breaking waves. (It is important to note that there are many different sponges, and natural sponges give very different effects depending on which side you use.) Where details are required, these can be added using brushes of various shapes and sizes as well as various media to achieve the desired effect. It was helpful to match the method of application to the effect wanted, and not be limited by traditional tools.
   
   It is not a modern innovation to experiment with materials on hand, including household utensils and ingredients. After all, the old masters tried many different tools and techniques, no doubt raiding the cook's kitchen for their purposes! (From where else did we get egg tempera?)
   
   I can definitely recommend this book, alongside the likes of Jean Dyrsdale Green's "Arteffects" - which includes sponging techniques using other materials (such as crumpled newspaper or a scrunched up length of masking tape.) Painting Murals Fast and Easy can be a great stimulus for the innovative artist.



3. I loved the murals and the book. This book opened my eyes to so many possibilities.



4. The mural examples in this book are really crudely done (as you could expect when using sponges to paint with). I wouldn't want to duplicate any of the paintings shown on this book. If you have any talent for painting at all, stay away from this book. There are many better books on mural painting.

No comments about Florence de Dampierre French Chic: The Art of Decorating Houses.

1 comments about Patios and Walkways 1-2-3: Design and Build Beautiful Outdoor Living Spaces (Expert Advice from the Home Depot).

1. This book made me feel good about doing things right. Hint: Ignore your "King of the Hill" neighbors who stand around mumbling, "Yep, nope, kinda low over there." And my favorite, "I don't need to see a measured drawing, I got it right here in my head."
   Seriously, just get selections from the tools you need list; get a 30' tape measure, and a long level, a string level, and a cheap calculator (for figuring how many cubit feet and how many yards of crushed lime rock and SRI sand (gritty yellow sand) you need to buy for a depth of 4"-6".). Try the basket weave brick design b/c it is easy and pretty to boot.
   You might want to buy another book on designing pathways and such like as a design idea supplement. If you can paint a wall you have the skills to lay bricks on a sand base. We don't need no stinking mortar!

5 comments about The Nursing Mother's Companion.

1. This book answered a couple of questions that went unanswered in the Sears Breastfeeding book and in the LLL "Womanly Art of Breastfeeding", so I found it worth having.
   
   Worth noting: the author, Kathleen Huggins is the lady who patented the "My Brest Friend" nursing pillow - a great nursing tool!
   
   This book features "survival" sections which are highlighted for easy access and summarize the events of the child's and mother's breastfeeding needs at particular stages: "Survival Guide for the First Week", "Suvival Guide for the first 2 months", "Survival Guide for months 2-6" and "Survival Guide for the Later Months"
   
   None of my three breastfeeding books have all the answers, but I think that if you bought this book and the Sears book, you will have all the info you need.



2. I totally disagree with the person that put this book down and touted the Dr. Sears book. I too have both books....in the early stages of breastfeeding when you and your little one are still trying to figure out everything....the Sears book is useless. It doesn't help you trouble shoot any problems you might be having...nor does it tell you things you might run into or pitfalls you might expect. This book however was my right hand guide. Any question or problem I ever had I always found a viable answer or suggestion in this book. That helped me continue on because I could carry on knowing everything was ok or that I should consult somebody for help. I think I am a testament to how helpful this was since I am still breastfeeding my daughter happily at 14 months and just starting to wean. My origional goal was only 6 months. Buy this book it is extremely helpful. Breastfeeding is not an easy thing even if your baby takes to it correctly right away. You have to be determined to make it work before the baby gets here. If you just say you'll try it...you will fail at it or give up fast most times I think. Any kind of helpful resource is a push in the right direction for the good of your baby.



3. No matter what anyone says, breastfeeding is not always easy. There were times during the first couple weeks of breastfeeding that I thought that I would give up. This book saved me!! I only read the parts that I needed, and I felt encouraged. I would recommend this for any mother planning to nurse!!



4. I was very pleased with the promptness of delivery and the quality of the product.



5. This book was easy to read and very informative. I was able to find a lot of answers to my questions as a first time nursing mother. It covers everything from pregnancy to weaning a toddler and it really helped me through every stage. I would recommend every nursing mother have a copy.

5 comments about From Defiance to Cooperation: Real Solutions for Transforming the Angry, Defiant, Discouraged Child.

1. Believe me, any parent dealing with the angry, defiant, discouraged child will gladly plunk down the $15.95 for the "real solutions for transformation" promised by Taylor. Only problem is, 1/4 of the way into the book, it becomes evident that Taylor soundly believes that YOU are your child's most severe problem, and YOU must be "fixed" as quickly as possible to heal your child. Your child suffers only from fear, which coincidentally, you just so happened to have created in your child. HOGWASH! This quackery harkens back to the days when autism was blamed on the mother's inability to "fully bond" with the child. We know better now, yet thousands of families suffered needlessly in the process. Gee- this is something new coming from the psychiatric community-- we don't know what in the world is wrong with these children, so, hey LET'S BLAME THE PARENTS!! When we're done with the scapegoating, let's drug the little devils as well. That'll solve the problem. At least it'll keep 'em quiet in the movie theater.
   DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK. The damage done could be far worse than the $15.95 you've wasted.



2. The gist of this book is that if your child is defiant, it must be because you, the parent, is too controlling. Give the child what he wants and quit bugging him.
   
   Um, no. Has this author ever spent any time with a defiant preschooler? If I didn't try to control him somewhat, he'd spend most of his life naked in front of the tv eating cookies. This book was no help at all.



3. I work with children that have every problem you can imagine and my own issues with one of my own children. It is always the parents that desire to have an outsider "fix" the child, feeling that it is the child who is at fault. Parents that cannot take a good close look in the mirror and embrace the messages that this book exposes and details will miss an opportunity to turn their family around, and really help themselves while helping their child. It is not about blaming but about honesty, and how to correct beliefs and patterns that may have been handed down from old generations that don't work so well in our current life-style. I found the book to be a worthwhile one among other resources to become informed and WORK on all of us.



4. I found that this book gave me alot of very good advice. I would recomend this book to anyone who has a child that doesn't respond well to disapline, or instructions.



5. Misleading title. I had to put this book down 1st time I picked it up. You see he told me I was the problem then proceeded to only offer solutions to fix my family. No case studies, no references to previous solutions, no suggestions from immediate help. Nope, ODD children are created by the parents. Hogwash.
   
   I'm sick and tired of "professionals" telling me that my child isn't the one who is bringing in the problem to my family. That it's me and my misguided attempts to thwart his behavior constitute abuse.
   
   Here's how I see it. My child needs help. We need help. We need real tools to quickly deal with his problems so we can get to the other side and start to deal with the complex issues a ODD child creates in the family. The way I see it is if you're here looking for help, your not abusive - you need support. What kind of support is it to be told from the start you're the problem. Your desperate and in need of immediate solutions. Not told to take your wife on a picnic, go to the movies or on vacation. You need suggested actions based on real life scenarios.
   
   Don't buy this book unless you need to be told you're the problem. Which your not. It's not your fault - especially if your here looking for solutions.

No comments about Kitchen Design Guide (Better Homes and Gardens).

5 comments about Vim & Vinegar: Moisten Cakes, Eliminate Grease, Remove Stains, Kill Weeds, Clean Pots & Pans, Soften Laundry, Unclog Drains, Control Dandruff, Season Salads.

1. I bought this book for the purpose of making home-made(safer than store-bought) cleansers. Most of her cleaning recipes call for ammonia-which is not good for your health. It talks about how to make different vinegars, which is acceptable although I don't think I would make my own. But I do not understand why she included food recipes that call for some(2-3tbs) vinegar.(Sloppy Joes, BBQ hamburger,etc) There are plenty other cookbooks for these types of recipes.



2. "Mom knew - vinegar is magic. It makes chocolate cakes fluffier, candy tastier, windows more sparkling, even socks whiter. This book tells all there is to know about using vinegar for better gardening, cleaning, health, and, of course, cooking." (reviewed by Carol Garriott)



3. the book was well written and had all the info. i was looking for.



4. You could not imagine all the helpful things vinegar can be used for. Go check it out, order the book. Totally AWESOME!



5. Of particular interest in this book is the non-toxic way to unclog drains. This is a "green" book with counless ways offered for cleaning around the house and yard, as well as doing your laundry without using harmful chemicals (earth friendly, kid friendly). Every household should have a copy of this book!!