1 comments about Lathes and Turning Techniques (Best of Fine Woodworking).

1. We have purchased other Lathe books but this one helped our 14 year old and his parents fine-tune their lathe skills. Great choice.

3 comments about Home is Where the Heart Is.

1. Since my home was demolished in the hurricane, I have been thumbing through the likes of Veranda, In Style and other similar magazines, seeking ideas about color, arrangement and "style". Though this isn't an "idea book" with gadgets and wall paper, it offers something that is missing from most of my current reading. It opens your mind with philosophy and helps you get to the core of what you really want your home to be. It helped me focus on the important aspects of a home.
   
   Some may find it more akin to a book of "feel good" statements. I, however, found it helps break down the boundaries we let others put on us when we express ourselves through our personal style. Basically, it gets those creative juices flowing by helping you to prioritize. The essence of your home should be a reflection of who you REALLY are-not how you want others to see you. Lest I forget, it is a beautiful book to display for easy access.
   
   Great gift for young couples, hostess gift, anyone who is a fan of decorating magazines or is ready for a change in scenery.



2. the best decoration/home book ever.
   congratulations to ilse crawford, the pictures, the texts.
   it warms your heart, it caresses your soul.
   definetely, home is where your heart is, but this book helps out a lot.
   enjoy your reading.
   Ana, Portugal



3. I love Ilse Crawford sense for decoration, but I must say I was deceived by the book (which unfortunately I bought at the same time as her other edition Sensual Living, which is more or less the same). I found both books too much concerned about phylosophy of living instead of orineting on practical issues for interiors. I must admit I am looking for ideas to bild my new house, and if this is the case, this is not the book. In fact you do not get to see much of any of her projects except some pictures of her own home, more or less the same as those appeared in AD. Sory, but for me it was not worth buying it.

5 comments about Christopher Lowell's Seven Layers of Organization: Unclutter Your Home, Unclutter Your Life.

1. Don't just unclutter the appearance of your home. Get to the root of the problem and truly cut the clutter.



2. If you're overwhelmed with "stuff" and need help purging, then this is the book for you. Lowell's exceptional design skills combined with his personal charm make the book an enjoyable, worthwhile read. Lowell presents a clutter "attack-plan" that's very easy to comprehend and initiate. He describes how to first eliminate the obvious junk and then follows with a step-by-step method for letting go of items people tend to be more attached to (i.e. things we spent good money on but don't use, or gifts we don't like but were given to us by friends and family). Lowell's book discusses ways to tackle colossal amounts junk, unused "good stuff", and ways to minimize the feelings of guilt associated with the purging process. The send half of the book illustrates Lowell's design genius. Before and After photos show how remarkable a room can be after a design face-lift, clutter is removed, and functional storage systems are incorporated. If you simply need help deciding which basket would work best for your 5 neatly folded sweaters, then don't buy this book. However, if your situation is a bit more dire - for example, getting to the closet door is an obstacle course, which reveals a sea of clothing on the floor scattered with items that belong in the kitchen, den, dumpster, or wherever - then this is the book for you!



3. Just like a good friend, CL is there to take you by the hand and lead you through your home. "And we're walking...we're walking...'



4. Written with humor and Christopher Lowell's usual spunk, this book contains some very fundamental key ideas to effectively change how you manage your clutter and once utilized, it can reduce or eliminate clutter (if you take it to heart and actually follow through on a consistant basis). Myself, a once "shop til you drop" and hoarder with cluttered rooms (not dirty), I experienced what it's like to relocate and move all that clutter, and it was a nightmare, so I resolved to clear out the clutter for once and for all. After watching the moving van get loaded, my neighbor's wife remarked, "How did she fit all that stuff in her house?", and her husband replied, "That's something you don't need to know!" Many of the decluttering ideas the author has outlined are things I found out by trial and error, reading lots of books on the subject and being motivated to unburden myself of things I really don't need. Still on the path to further declutter, I spied this book and picked it up. Christopher Lowell has organized some great ideas of how to initially attack the clutter into a good plan to systematically rid yourself of the clutter and change your bad habits through daily management of any further clutter once it's cleared. He also defines what clutter consists of....things we don't normally think of as "clutter", and it's amazing how eliminating all of that makes us feel....wonderful! It is not an easy journey, the emotional part will take some grit, but it gets easier and easier as you follow his lead and you may have to go back after the first round and the second round and eliminate even more.....but it does work! Buy this if you are overwhelmed with clutter and are seriously looking at where to start and how to manage it, and know that it does work when you take it to heart and work the program. It will open up new things for you!



5. Anther great book. Anything by Christopher Lowell is going to be worth the money and time to read it. Highly recommend.

1 comments about Tool & Cutter Sharpening (Workshop Practice).

1. This book is aimed at the home workshop metal worker, who does not have access to sophisticated sharpening machinery, and likes to make his/her own jigs and devices.
   
   The writing is clear and understandable, as one would expect from an author who regularly contributes to metal working magazines.
   
   The print, photographs and drawings are smallish, but this 132 page book has a surprisingly large amount of information considering its size.
   
   The plans and instructions are very clear, well explained, and complete. What's more, having made the advanced grinding rest referred to in this book, and detailed in his book "Milling.. A Complete Course", I can confirm that his designs are beautifully engineered, achievable by an interested amateur, and function very well.
   
   There is information on:
   sharpening drill bits, lathe tools, screw divers, end mills, slot mills, dovetail bits, wood working tools etc.,
   plans and instructions for jigs, rests and other devices;
   
   Recommended.

2 comments about The Project Resource Manual: CSI Manual of Practice.

1. First off, I'm an architect, so my review is written from that perspective.
   
   This is a great companion to the AIA Handbook. If the AIA Handbook is about running a firm, the CSI PRM is about running a project. An oversimplification, yes, but both books are so dense and full of critical information, no 100 word review could do either justice.
   
   The CD includes many useful references including an overview of MasterFormat and a list of divisions / sections, but does not include the entire MasterFormat "product" (the full MF product includes 95-04 conversion tools and additional documentation).
   
   My only complaint is that the text is so dense it takes a lot of time and energy to absorb all of the information within. :) It's as if they took a 1000 page tome and compressed it into 300 pages. (The product description says 1200 pages, but it's only an inch thick, so I'm guessing 300 pp.)
   
   A must-have for architects who strive to deliver projects in a more expert and professional manner, and wish to more effectively interface with contractors during the construction phase. If you're a pure "designer" or only involved with the front end of projects this will probably stay on the shelf, but if you're responsible for the rest of the process (DD through construction and occupancy) this book is essential.
   
   I can't believe I made it through 6 years of architectural education without being required to own this book.



2. I purchased this to study for the CDT exam. It is very complete, but reads (as you'd expect) more like a specification than a textbook. Five stars for completeness, and five stars for cure for insomnia.

3 comments about Good Housekeeping The Complete Household Handbook: The Best Ways to Clean, Maintain & Organize Your Home.

1. This book is chock full of valuable information,would make a wonderful gift for a newlywed couple or do-it-yourself couple.



2. I bought this book for my young bachelor son; but after going through it, I am going to keep it and buy him another one. It is up to date on cleaning products, and tells you about so many things that most other books of this type don't tell you; such as, diagrams on how to iron, how to sew. It tells you when fruits and vegetables are in season and how to tell when they are ripe. I think it is the most complete book of it's kind that I have ever seen. It would be excellent for newly weds, bachelor sons or daughters just getting their 1st apartment. And it is great for someone that has been housekeeping for over 30 years...like me!! Buy it, you won't regret it!



3. This book isn't very exciting. I was hoping it would encourage me to get going on the management/maintenance of my house. Instead, it was a snooze. Not really giving anything exciting as far as info and presenting it in a boring way. Might be useful if you have never ran a load of laundry, etc.

5 comments about Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day: Proven Secrets of the Potty Pro [toilet training].

1. This method does work, however, if you got everything she wants you to buy for the "party potty" you will have spent HUNDREDS of dollars. I put my own spin on this "potty party" and it worked. My daughter is not even two. She was ready to use the potty within 1 hour of using the doll. This author wants you to only let the doll pee and poo in the pot during the morning and the kid in the afternoon. I did not buy everything to decorate the bathroom and all the other stuff... so in short I would buy the book but don't think you have to buy out the party store or wait till the afternoon to let you kid try the potty. every child is different as the book says- so go with the flow- no pun intended.



2. I read this book, bought all the stuff for a party and then had a friend tell me she used a different toilet training in one day book. I bought my friend's book and realized that this book was based on that book. Toilet Training in Less than a Day is the research of PhDs Azrin and Foxx on toilet training children. Their method is the same as this one, except without the party. They do stress keeping everything positive, but not to the extent of this book. I incorporated giving my daughter the potty and doll as a present in the morning, a few balloons hung from the ceiling in the kitchen and bathroom and our party table cloth. That way there we no question that this was a POSITIVE day, a celebration of HER. I think any "theme" other than it being a "party" would have been completely distracting to the task at hand. (For her AND me.) I think instead of researching how to make different types of punch or snacks related to the theme, the parents should be reading about the cognitive process involved in learning how to toilet and how to handle problems that come up. It's much more worthy of your time to be prepared for the actual TEACHING part of the training than to have the perfect theme.
   Read the Azrin and Foxx book to see the reasoning behind the one-day-method and you will have success. :)



3. This book was our lifesaver. I purchased the book a couple of months before I began to potty train my son. He was just approaching his 3rd birthday and started to show some interest in the potty. I went through the checklist "Are they Ready to Potty Train" section of the book and it confirmed he was. I did not spend a lot of money as some people mentioned in the past reviews. The only extra money I spent was on the doll "Paul" I thought that would really help my son make him seem more real. There was quite a bit of preparation but I was able to create the snacks, drinks, activities and decorations with things we already had at home but it was because I picked a theme with things we already had.... camping. My son already had a play tent, sleeping bag and accessories. I made animal printouts from my computer and drew trees on easel paper and paints we already had in our craft area. I went to the local library and checked out every book and DVD that had to do with potty training. The hassle is mainly just getting everything together. The party went off with out a hitch and by the end of the day he was asking to go to the bathroom without me telling him it was time to go and throwing his diapers away at his end of the day party. I definitely think that this is the way to go with potty training. The day could not of gone better and it also helped my husband and I get into potty mode. :) I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for new ideas to potty train. If anything my son loved didn't even know what we were doing other than spending the day with him mom and dad alone with no interruptions playing make believe camping, "fishing", doing scavenger hunts, singing, readying books (about potty training) and finding funny ways to run to the bathroom. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for this wonderful book and helping my son realize that he is now one of the big boys!



4. I was so impressed with Teri Crane's book on how to "Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day" that I read it twice just to make sure I didn't miss anything. Her techniques work ! I highly recommend her method to anyone who has reached this milestone in his or her child's life. I hope Teri is in the process of writing another insightful book for us.
   
   Sincerely,
   M. P. Sullivan



5. Men's Health magazine wrote a 3 page article on this book in their Sept. '08 issue.
   
   I was so desperate to finally try a book that really worked! Too many of the potty training books out on the market today all rehash the same "old" tired toilet training tips. Teri Crane's book is unique in its ideas and a great read. Her secret is to throw a potty party. And if you think about it--what child doesn't love to play and pretend. With a few decorations that my son Nicolas loved, he became putty my instructional hands. And the best part--I didn't have to spend a lot of money. My son was having such a blast during our potty party--he didn't even realize he was being toilet trained.
   
   I read a few of the unfavorable reviews for this book and am really glad I kept an open mind. You can make this whole experience as lavish or economical as you wish. We probably spent about $40 on the entire party. Trust me, $40 is nothing compared to the $800 or more we were spending on disposables every year!
   
   The whole idea of making potty training "fun", is simply brilliant! As a Dad, I can honestly say I was dreading the whole idea of potty training. But this book actually made it a great bonding experience with me and my little guy.

3 comments about New Bathroom Idea Book (Idea Books).

1. This book doesn't cater for smaller bathrooms. The pictures shown here are mostly for master bathrooms and doesn't give much focus to guests bathrooms. I find that the styles shown here are very traditional and classic in design. Not much coverage on more modern approaches for bathrooms. Very little coverage for Asian type of bathrooms, you'll find lots of emphasis on the bathtubs instead of shower cubicles.



2. I couldn't decide online and went to the store and bought this book and Better Homes and Garden Bathroom Idea File after flipping through everything in stock. I disagree with the previous reviewer; they do offer suggestions for small baths and modern baths. I was particularly interested in bathroom design ideas for awkward roof angles for the second floor of my bungalow. If you are looking for a how-to book, this isn't it, but it's a good book for dog-earing pages early in the design process.



3. Another great Idea Book. I'm in the process of planning a small bathroom remodel and with every page I've changed my mind. It's a phenomenal book full of great ideas; most of which I would have never considered. I'm beyond excited about my project now.

4 comments about Summer: A User's Guide.

1. Title sums it up. The book captures the essence of summer. Very well written and chock-full of incredibly useful information. We have already done about half the activities, cooking and playing our way through a couple of weekends. We applaud the author and anxiously await her next book!
   
   Kudos!



2. Reading this book is like slipping back to one's childhood when the long summer days seemed to go on forever and the endless possibilities of life were cut short by the screams of your mother calling you to dinner as the sun slowly fell behind the tall green trees swaying in the gentle warm breezes of an evening in July. Spend some time with this book and you'll be transported back in time without wasting one of your genie's three wishes.



3. Great Book! Great presentation and style. Nice tone and helpful. I truly believe the author loves summer and wants to share her experience with all of us. Highly recommended.



4. This book has so much to offer SO many people. It's got information on just about everything that's needed for summer fun. Games for kids to play & HOW to play them. Recipes that will make a hit with your company. There's many gift items to make to bring along when you're visiting friends & they're easy to make too. There's even a section on how to take stains out. This book is a MUST HAVE, not only for summer, but the whole year through.

1 comments about Kitchen Makeovers (Do It Yourself).

1. This book has a lot of ideas for working with an existing kitchen as well as a full remodel. This book was purchased as "used" but the seller shortchanged the description-it is Almost New! Depending on what you are doing, this book is worth it just for suggestions.