2 comments about Project Management in Construction (McGraw-Hill Professional Engineering).

1. I have worked for 3 years in project management company about construction, but I cannot establish transparent concepts about Project Management. At the moment, this book was messiah to me almost drowning in deep mud pool of construction field. Most of all not only beginners to PM but also skillful PM can gain lots of useful informations from this book.



2. This is a carefully written book focusing on competitively bid commercial construction projects using the "design then bid" method of project delivery. The book assumes that the AIA (American Institute of Architects) set of forms will be used - a reasonable assumption since these forms are apropriate and have long been the standard of this delivery system. If lump sum competative bid is the only project delivery method you will use, this book should be helpful.
   
   However, the very different approaches of construction management, and project management involving contractor input through out the project delivery process, are not addressed. So, the concept of continuous quality improvement can not be used. Simlarly the very common AGC forms more apropriate to these delivery systems are not discussed. Although rehab of old buildings (for change management), and design build are covered in chapters 11 and 12, this is an after-thought not central to the book's approach.
   
   Choosing Project Success - A Guide for Building Professionals

5 comments about The 106 Common Mistakes Homebuyers Make (and How to Avoid Them).

1. If you need motivational material, this is for you. This is written for someone who is dragging their feet and does not want to buy a home. The 'for Dummies' series if far better if you want to learn something about buying.
   
   About 12 "mistakes" deal with how renting is a waste of money. If you are shopping for a book about buying - you probably don't need 50 pages of 'you're throwing your money away by renting'.
   
   Mistake #20 states the stock market is over valued, so real estate is a better investment.
   1) "outsized returns during several decades of times must be offset by low returns over the decades to follow."
   2) US GDP grows at just 3% a year - therefore, the stock market has to follow this trend. Anything over it (like the last 50 years of precedent) must be an economic bubble.
   3) "When you invest in a home, you gain the magic and wealth-building power of leverage"
   seriously, that's what it says. So cash out your retirement! 50 years of stock market growth is nonsense. That's what this book tells you.
   
   The book promotes interest only loans. Page 265 is about a "strategy to qualify" for a loan. Praising a mortgage broker who says, "If you don't qualify, then I'm going to see what I can do to make you qualify." Same broker states, if she turned people down for not meeting Fannie Mae's guidline ratio's, she "wouldn't earn enough to make my own mortgage payments" This book recommends finding a broker like this.
   Google "subprime lending" if you don't see the err here.
   
   It just continues to babble as the pages read on. Not Married? Buy with a friend! Take in housemates. Work overtime or take on a second job. Find a higher paying job. And my favorite, "Put your spouse or kids to work"
   
   I bought this book because I intend to buy. I already read and learned a from 'homebuying for dummies' which is a fact driven, educational read. I feel ripped off that I paid for this book and it's telling me to get a better job, put my wife to work, so I can buy a house, so I can be rich. I already WANT to buy, which makes 95% of this book B.S. for me.
   
   there were only two "mistakes" in this book that I've heard of. First, smaller homes appreciate in value faster than larger homes (so, over time, a small house would cost more than a large home?). Second, it makes an argument for a condo as an invesment where I've always heard single family residential homes make better investments.
   
   Sorry for the spoiler.



2. This book is very light on facts and written in surprisingly defensive tone. Also, it is at best lazy and deeply flawed in its analysis of investment returns, and at worst deliberately misleading. It is stated in an example that 10K down on a 100K house will likely net you a 24% annual return on your investment. It is figured that (on a 30-year loan) after 8 years we've paid down to an 80K balance and the house is now worth 137K. It is then calculated that our original 10K has increased in value five-fold like so: 137K - 80K = 57K. But (for starters) didn't we add 10K in additional equity through mortgage payments for those 8 years? Also, if 10% down gets us a five-fold increase, would 5% down give a 10-fold increase in value over 8 years? 57K/5K * 100% = 1140%!! NICE!! And if that's so, can I just buy a bunch of houses with no money down and experience an infinite percentage increase in value on my investment in each one (0 to 57K in just 8 years!)? Interest payments don't seem to figure into these calculations, though a specific rate is stated in the premise. With such staggering numbers backing him up, this guy must be wondering why he still has to write books to support himself. Also, the author is so insecure that another dissenting Amazon reviewer was lambasted in the '06 edition. Hey Gary, do me next.



3. I haven't finished the book, yet, but I quickly noticed how this author, along with other real estate "experts", sees himself as an advocate of an active real estate market. He wants people to buy. I don't really think rent versus own is what this book is suposed to be about. But, it's like the author couldn't help but get on his soapbox. Some of his suggestions are to eat less, use all cash reserves and even buy a home with a partner.
   
   The author questioned whether historical stock valuations would continue to rise on past performance, but automatically assumed that the same limitations didn't apply to home purchase. Not everyone belongs in their own home. Interesting how this book was written before the whole real estate bubble popped, so I think he's always been proved completely wrong on that point.



4. This was great for tips. The book was not 100% applicable to our situation and at times was a bit repetetive. But overall it was a good buy and was informative.



5. This is one of those people who should have to eat every copy of their book sold. Most of the first few reasons detail why buying is better than renting (not always true; us California renters are laughing now at the people who bought 2-3 years ago) and how you can finance a home with zero down and bad credit (and get the taxpayers to insure your bad debt.) The latest edition was published in 2006, at the very precipice of the housing price spiral we're all riding down, down, down with no bottom in sight. It's the irresponsibility of advisors like this that got us into this mess; do yourself -- and the economy -- a favor and skip this one.

5 comments about 10 Steps to Home Ownership: A Workbook for First-Time Buyers.

1. This book is an invaluable resource for someone looking to buy their first home: Glink takes the reader through the home buying process step by step, and the amortization tables in the appendix definitely come in handy. However, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for someone looking to buy a co-op or a condo. When I was looking to buy a co-op apartment in the city, I found the CO-OP BIBLE to be much more helpful--it was the book I turned to when I needed help with every aspect of that process.



2. I am a 25 year old looking into buying a condo in Chicago. I just finished the book and it taught me so much about what to expect going into this major purchase. The author explains what you can reasonably assume a bank will loan you, different financing techniques and important emotional and financial issues you will have to resolve before choosing a home. Its easy to read and engaging. I usually have a short attention span for manuals, but I read this cover to cover in a week. I never lost interest. If you're a renter and at the point where you're starting to think you want to buy, read this book for some great tips and advice so you don't fall into any "gotchas" ahead.



3. I bought this book about a year before I started looking for my first house (when I knew ABSOLUTELY nothing beyond the fact I wanted to buy) and I found this book to be an indespensible aid. The real beauty of it, for me at least, is Ms. Glink's ability to get you thinking about all the myriad issues involved in buying a home (including the biggie - do you even want to do it) in a constructive way with language that is easy to understand. I love that she includes the emotional issues (that are so often overlooked) alongside the financial, legal and practical issues. The breakdowns of real-estate language and the worksheets are nice touches, too. I have recommended this book to everyone I know who utters that magic phrase, "I'd love to buy a house someday...".



4. This book is in great shape and has a lot of useful information.



5. Back when I was looking for a home I bought about four books to learn all about it. It was all for naught as I learned more listening to the people involved in the business and homeowners. In no time at all I could guess the prices of homes across my state... and in many cases in other states as well. All in all, I ignored most realtor advice and got my house super low AND an excellent mortgage. Though had I gone with another realtor who was a friend I could've gotten the same deal on a bayside house. D'oh!

5 comments about Parenting that Works: Building Skills that Last a Lifetime.

1. I've recently been reading parenting books, trying to find good ones to recommend to my patients (I'm a child psychologist). This is easily one of the most comprehensive, well written, and useful books I have come across so far. A very useful guide for parents with or without difficult children.



2. This book is excellent preparation for anyone who is expecting a child. There is practical help for challenges parents face in managing common child behavior problems, such as getting toddlers to sleep and reducing temper tantrums, but the main advantage of this book is that it also teaches parents how to prevent common problems from developing in the first place. It is a must read for prospective parents, especially first-timers.



3. good parenting tips, realistic examples and scenarios, all in all a good book to have on the shelf. The best idea from the book is that all parents should start with a 10 year plan for what their goals are for their children's behavior.....this is a practical idea that really helped us to begin a discussion about how to parent our energetic 2 year old.



4. Very dry reading. Can't hand a candle to the Love and Logic concepts and books.



5. Se trata de un libro práctico, con buen soporte científico, con una aproximación útil y que me ha resultado de gran beneficio.
   Recomiendo este libro sin reservas para cualquier persona que esté interesada en ser un mejor padre y tenga hijos menores de diez años.

5 comments about The Complete Book of Woodworking: Detailed Plans for More Than 40 Fabulous Projects.

1. I've been hesitant to review this book because, despite its title it is by no means a 'complete' book, and yet it is well written, and what it does it does well. It is well written, and covers many of the important subjects - Setting Up Shop, Designing Projects, Introduction to Wood, Joints, Finishes, etc. And it provides a host of projects suitable to the beginner. It's hard to fault what it does do, but there are several problems with what it doesn't do.
   
   First and foremost of these gaps is that the book is entirely power tool oriented. Given that a woodworker rapidly gets surrounded by a host of machines, it never hurts to spend time on saws, planes, and the other hand tools that are part of good woodworking. Good hand tools are berely cheaper than machine tools, and selecting the right ones is one key to achieving top-grade results.
   
   The book flies too high to provide important detail on the tools that it does cover. Power saws, planers, drill presses and anything else require knowledge in order to be used safely and successfully. And to make the right choices when purchasing. This book would serve best the beginner who has access to a full shop, not one who is in the process of putting a shop together.
   
   The projects are very straightforward - too simple in some cases to keep the attention of someone who wants to attain levels of artistry. There is no effort to rank the projects by complexity, or connect the skills required to section of the book. This can trap a beginner into a task that takes experience to complete. I'm also informed that some of the shopping lists are incorrect, so make a point of checking before buying. Nothing is more irritating than having something become scrap because you followed the directions.
   
   So be warned that this book is of the greatest value t someone who is both a complete beginner and has access to a full shop. Access to a competent woodsmith wouldn't hurt either. If you fit in that niche the this could be a satisfactory purchase. If not look about you. Several of Taunton Press's efforts may be more useful to you.



2. I just got this book a few days ago, and I've had a hard time putting it down. There are lots of full-color pictures, with thorough descriptions of almost every aspect of woodworking. I've already learned a lot about different types of wood, how to make several kinds of cuts with several kinds of tools (including suggestions for what to do even though I don't have a large selection of power tools), and have some projects picked out to start as soon as I can get the lumber! It is a very thorough book, unlike several others I looked through at my local bookstore. I would highly recommend it to anyone who's interested in woodworking! It is both fun and informative. Almost half of this substantial book is general background information and instruction, including a detailed glossary, and the rest is a good selection of detailed, well-illustrated plans.
   Enjoy! Go make sawdust.



3. I am new into woodworking and this book is the best intro to woodworking I have seen. This is outstanding.
   
   The second half includes doezens of plans for different wood projects. Although I don't plan on making any of these, it gives a great insight into how to build different things.
   
   Anyway, this is highly recommended.



4. I used to like woodworking when I was in middle and high school, but I haven't done it since then.
   
   This book walks through a lot of good information on woodworking and also includes plans for around 40 projects. The book is easy to read and accessible to all skill levels.
   
   If you are new to woodworking or haven't done it in a while, I would highly recommend getting this book.



5. I had high hopes for this book because of the reviews here, but I thought the book included WAY too much basic instructional woodworking (and yes, it is all power tools as another commenter wrote).
   
   So since more than half the book is taken up with instruction, I thought there wouldn't be enough room for 40 projects. Thing is, the projects are mostly VERY simple and functional. There really does not seem to be any sort of eye towards craftsmanship and design. And they are almost all ugly. The picture frames included are literally the ugliest I've ever seen. Obviously, style is in the eye of the beholder, but I can't be making furniture to go in my home that looks like that, and my home is Ikea, Crate and Barrel, and Bombay to give you an idea.
   
   This is one book that won't be getting much use, I'm afraid. The only good thing I can say about it is that the projects are explained thoroughly (or appear to be, I haven't made any of them) and the techniques described in the front probably will make the book worth having around for reference.

No comments about Why There's Antifreeze in Your Toothpaste: The Chemistry of Household Ingredients.

4 comments about The New American Swimming Pool: Innovations in Design and Construction: 40 Case Studies (New American).

1. Not just great photos and ideas. This book give details on all the pools, including geographical location, size, depth, color of plaster, type of coping and decking/terrace, etc. Although there are a lot of great books out with wonderful pictures, this one doesn't have all tropical pools, which is nice for those of us who don't have a jungle of palms! Very nice designs for those who live in temperate climates or with more traditional yards/homes. Best pool book yet.



2. ...there is absolutely nothing on construction. It's a coffee table book at best!



3. This is a great pool book if you're contemplating building a classy pool with beautiful landscaping.



4. I think the book's inside cover is close to correct...
   
   "Lavishly prodiced, The New American Swimming Pool is an invaluable and practical refernce book [Pool Owner - maybe not practical]. It is a fresh, important source of inspiration for architecture and landscape architecture enthusiasts, homeowners, architects, landscape architects, landscape designers, and pool contractors."
   
   [...]

5 comments about Lillian Too's Easy-to-Use Feng Shui: 168 Ways to Success.

1. I've given this book a three-star rating because if you're a beginner just starting to get an idea about Compass School Feng Shui, then I'm sure you'll like this book - easy-to-follow and remember guidelines, charming pictures, all that. But if you're like me and have read some of her other books AND aren't an absolute beginner, you won't find much new information in this one, so it's not worth buying.



2. After owning this book for nearly two years and meticulously following its advice in arranging my living and working space for maximum career success and wealth, here is what I've experienced: after 2.5 years of working part-time at a low wage for a computer company whose CEO kept promising me a decent salary, stock options and all the benefits, I ended up with a 17% pay cut, no salary, no stock options, no benefits. My other client, after promising he'd work hard to build his title insurance business and pay me more, wasted his time on non-productive pursuits and ended up not being able to afford to pay me to work for him part-time.

   I've also worked diligently on the side to start other income streams, only to see each of them come to nothing, but delays and time wasted.

   Now I'm not a disbeliever in the concept of chi. I practise Chi Gung, Taiji and other internal martial arts, have had acupuncture, and for a westerner, have embraced much Asian philosophy and practises. But when it comes to Feng Shui, it is disappointing in its results unless one is writing Feng Shui books and makes millions selling copies.

   No one has adequately proven the validity and beneficial results of either Compass or Black Hat Feng Shui, which contradict each other, and each claims to be right. Safe to say, it belongs in the realm of hyper motivational speakers and self-proclaimed experts hawking dubious theories to enrich themselves at the expense of the naive and uninformed.

   Besides, if Feng Shui REALLY did work, China would be the richest nation on earth, instead of one of the poorest. That alone is ample evidence of the impotence of Feng Shui.

   Your money is better spent on books teaching financial literacy.




3. After owning this book for nearly two years and meticulously following its advice in arranging my living and working space for maximum career success and wealth, here is what I've experienced: after 2.5 years of working part-time at a low wage for a computer company whose CEO kept promising me a decent salary, stock options and all the benefits, I ended up with a 17% pay cut, no salary, no stock options, no benefits. My other client, after promising he'd work hard to build his title insurance business and pay me more, wasted his time on non-productive pursuits and ended up not being able to afford to pay me to work for him part-time.

   I've also worked diligently on the side to start other income streams, only to see each of them come to nothing, but delays and time wasted.

   Now I'm not a disbeliever in the concept of chi. I practise Chi Gung, Taiji and other internal martial arts, have had acupuncture, and for a westerner, have embraced much Asian philosophy and practises. But when it comes to Feng Shui, it is disappointing in its results unless one is writing Feng Shui books and makes millions selling copies.

   No one has adequately proven the validity and beneficial results of either Compass or Black Hat Feng Shui, which contradict each other, and each claims to be right. Safe to say, it belongs in the realm of hyper motivational speakers and self-proclaimed experts hawking dubious theories to enrich themselves at the expense of the naive and uninformed.

   Besides, if Feng Shui REALLY did work, China would be the richest nation on earth, instead of one of the poorest. That alone is ample evidence of the impotence of Feng Shui.

   Your money is better spent on books teaching financial literacy.




4. very easy to understand and well illlustrated book. will definitely recommend the book to anyone who has interest in feng shui. try it!



5. This book gives good hints on the proper way to position your bed. The author also says to not have any mirrors in the bedroom based on Feng Shui principles. If you do have mirrors in the bedroom, it is advised to cover them when going to sleep. It is believed that mirrors can bring in negative (not pure) energy when you are vulnerable during sleep. She also talks about having certain numbers around that are more favorable than others. She also has an extensive portion based on your work space and how the desk should be situated. She even talks about the most favorable signatures to have to promote more harmony and abundance in one's life. This is an excellent book with good insights.
   
   
   Peace and Happiness,
   
   Patrick Leonardi

2 comments about The Year of the Boat: Beauty, Imperfection, and the Art of Doing It Yourself.

1. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not a how-to manual, but a description of how he found himself building a small wooden sailboat as a first time boatbuilder, punctuated with philosophical musings and stories of learning to sail and other related experiences. I identified completely with the author in that I followed the same path of dreaming about the Haven 12 1/2, wondering about Sam Devlin's Nancy's China, and then getting realistic and choosing Devlin's Zephyr. The book is a well-written, personal memoir and should be read by anyone whose ever toyed with the idea of building a wooden boat.



2. The craft of building sailboats was commonly practiced thousands of years ago; in the modern era, it is a lost art. "The Year of the Boat: Beauty, Imperfection, and the Art of Doing It Yourself" tells of author Lawrence W. Cheek's struggles as he strives to construct his own sailboat in spite of his ineptness at carpentry and even the act of sailing. A charming memoir about one man's efforts to construct a magnificent wooden vessel he could call his own (a plan that should have taken a hundred hours, but ended up taking him an entire year), "The Year of the Boat: Beauty, Imperfection, and the Art of Doing It Yourself" is a memoir that many can relate to. A top pick for community library memoir and nautical collections.

1 comments about Woodworking for Dummies.

1. Being a late in life beginning woodworker, I needed something that didn't assume I knew all there was to know about the tools I had and how to bend the wood to my will in order to end up with items I could be proud of. This book helped a lot in that regard. While I won't always use some of the shortcuts and techniques the author recommends, knowing that you can get from point A to point B professionally was a big help. This is a valuable addition to my woodworking reference library and I will refer to it often.