1 comments about Contemporary Asian Bathrooms (Contemporary Asian Home Series).

1. This is an undeniably beautiful coffee table book, which shows plenty of photos for bathroom design in Asian countries (Japan, China, Thailand, etc). If what you want is an overview demonstrating how gorgeous a bathroom can be, given an unlimited budget and (often) a lot of space, then you'll probably find this a five-star book.
   
   That wasn't what I was hoping for, however, so I'm personaly a little disappointed. First, when you can buy the finest (such as lots of marble) then it's easy to create something beautiful. For my purposes... as a new homeowner, I've been considering doing one of my bathrooms with an Asian theme. This book didn't give me much in the way of ideas for that. On the other hand, it's so pretty that I don't really mind.

2 comments about Stoneview: How to Build an Eco-Friendly Little Guesthouse.

1. If you aim to build a guesthouse and seek specific instruction, not just general design ideas, then STONEVIEW: HOW TO BUILD AN ECO-FRIENDLY LITTLE GUESTHOUSE is for you. It offers up step-by-step instructions for building an octagonal cordwood masonry guesthouse with a living roof and floating slab foundation - for under, $6,000. Whether a guest cottage or a studio, the authors 30-some years of building experience pack a fine guide filled with specifics on everything from timber framing and pouring a floating slab to making the lightweight living roof. A top pick, this offers builders far more detail than the usual general pictorial and is a highly recommended pick for any public library catering to homeowners and builders.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



2. I have not read this book cover to cover but have browsed it pretty well. It seems to be very thorough, giving building estimates, lumber needed,etc.
   I found the book much cheaper here, thru Amazon.

5 comments about The Book of Masonry Stoves: Rediscovering an Old Way of Warming.

1. As mentioned, the book is not a modern day catalog, but a historical look at masonry stoves dating back to the first harvesting of fire by humans. Fascinating look at the historical developments, especially around the middle ages
   to the nineteenth centtury. Also includes many examples from non-western cultures. Many informative diagrams and photos portraying the myriad styles. Appropriate for the uninitiated.
   Not an overly technical review.



2. I wouldn't have thought a book about stoves would be such interesting reading, but this really is a good book. I bought it in hopes that I'd be able to attempt to build a stove myself. That did not happen, in fact I'm not even sure what type of stove I'd like. However, the book has increased my faith in a wood stove keeping my home comfortable, and be environmentally sound. I liked the writing style, which is pretty rare for a book of this type. There were times when I couldn't put it down. Honestly, I was on this page again to sell my book, but now I find I'm not ready to let it go, so I'm writing a review instead.
   
   While it is old and could probably be updated, the art of the wood stove is also old, so much of the most valuable information may be old as well. Certainly, history has a lot of lessons to teach us about masonry stoves. Also, the book talks about past mistakes of masonry stoves, so if you're thinking about building your own, this would be good reading.



3. great refrence book, it goes back to the beginning of the use of fire indoor as heat, then goes into masonry heaters. lots of nice pictures also.



4. This is an outstanding and comprehensive book on a timely subject which is gaining renewed interest. Even though it's a bit out of date on the calendar the information is still right on target.



5. When I started flipping through this book, I became excited -- very excited. This is not a Black & Decker complete guide to masonry stoves. There are no step-by-step instructions on how to build a masonry stove. You cannot walk into the Home Depot and buy a masonry stove or a masonry stove kit. But this book is an absolute treasure trove of theory and diagrams (many historical, but we learn from the past, right?) which, with a little imagination and chatting with your local building inspector, can potentially yield results in the form of energy-efficient, high quality heating for your home -- and, depending on your execution, much more aesthetically pleasing than the forced-air beast currently occupying your basement.

4 comments about Living Without Electricity: People's Place Book No. 9.

1. If you're looking to live off the grid, this is not the first book you need, nor will it save you any busted knuckles or needless expenses. It's interesting for a Sunday afternoon read and worth its modest price, but it's long on history and short on practical specifics. (It does mention some suppliers and manufacturers, but only by general location - better than nothing.)



2. This book introduces the reader to the philosophy and lifestyle of the Amish people. It shows how they live a life of voluntary simplicity, instead of rampant consumerism. If you are interested in de-stressing your lifestyle and learning how simple pleasures are usually the best, you will enjoy this book immensely.



3. This handy little book is an interesting window into the daily life of the modern Amish (OK, that sounds a bit like an oxymoron). It begins with an informative and sympathetic explanation of who the Amish are, and why they live the way they do. After that, the book looks into how they live their lives, making do without electrical appliances.

   I found this book to be quite interesting and informative. It is far from being a "how-to," so you probably won't be able to take any suggestions from it. But, it does help to give the outsider a more thorough understanding of what daily life is like in an Amish community. I highly recommend this book.




4. "Living Without Electricity" is an impressive overview of how the Amish and other Anabaptist groups have used technology over the years.
   
   Although it does not go into detail about their actual cultural values, it shows clearly how these values lead them to reject many forms of modern technology, but more significantly and interestingly, it gives clues that, far from being stubbornly and rigidly clinging to outdated ideas, the Amish can be quite innovative inadapting technology from the outside world to fit in with their culture and beliefs. Often, Stephen Scott shows the Amish not simply using technology that has disappeared from the wider world, but actually improving that technology in quite enterprising ways so that it will benefit them as a group. This is most especially true of Amish farming methods but can also be found in their quite remarkable pedal-operated sewing machines, and their use of animals to pump water (All of this, very strangely, makes me think of my maternal grandparents' old house which had many old tools). Most significant and interesting for the outside world, however, is the way in which the Amish have been abel to adapt machines to compressed-air power wistead of electricity.
   
   Scott is very fair about the Amish and shows they do have many problems trying to adapt to a rapidly changing world whilst retaining ideals that stress practicality, gentleness and deep emotional ties. (Recent study of personality theory gives me a quite fresh appreciation of Amish culture).
   
   As another reviewer said, this won't permit anybody to simplify thier life. However, it will give a better appreciation of one of the most unique cultures in the world and confront quite a number of misunderstood beliefs about them. There is also a small section on Old Order Mennonites at the back.

3 comments about Spray Finishing and Other Techniques (New Best of Fine Woodworking).

1. Save yourself some frustration, and do some reading prior to attempting serious spray painting. There are only a couple good books, and this is one of them.



2. A great collection of all the relevant details I missed in numerous magazines. Organised and indexed better than I could have and well worth the purchase.



3. This book is a very thorough reference on finishing... well written. I find myself reading it a second time.

5 comments about Maker's Notebook.

1. This is truly the best thing i have bought from makezine and amazon. Highly recommended.



2. Ok... this might be the most unusual book review I've ever done. I'm about to review a book consisting of... blank pages. Ah, but what blank pages they are! :) It's the Maker's Notebook by O'Reilly Publishing and the staff at MAKE magazine. I was given this as a gift from a friend, and I don't think she could have given me something that appeals more to me on so many levels.
   
   The Maker's Notebook is designed to be a durable, long-lasting lab notebook for your projects and experimentations. As stated in one of the chemistry books I reviewed, it's imperative that you document your work in such a way that it's reproducible as well as leaving a chain of evidence of what you did to get to the final result. While you can do this with a number of blank notebooks, the Maker's Notebook fills the need in a classy way. It's hardbound, so the durability will be better than something with a light cardboard cover. The pages inside consist of graph paper with room at the top for project/idea, date, notes/signature, and a place to record the starting and ending page(s) of the experiment notes. And since each page is numbered, there's never any question as to whether pages have been removed or not. Beyond those core features, there's a touch of the practical and whimsical. There's a built-in ruler on the inside cover that's handy, and the last dozen or so pages have "important" reference information... common weights and measures (and conversion factors), area codes and international calling codes, common glue bonds, the robot laws and rules, caffeine amounts in common caffeinated drinks, common English to 1337 character substitutions, and so forth. Throw in a ribbon to mark your place, a rubber band to hold the book tight and hold loose items, and stickers to brand pages and/or the cover, and you have a complete tool for documentation. There's even a white space on the edge binding so you can write a title and still read it on a bookshelf!
   
   I'll admit I'm a junkie for these types of things. Clean, empty pages... waiting to be filled... so many promises. In this particular case, I plan on using my notebook to take notes as I learn about my new digital SLR camera. I was convinced even before this arrived that I needed to take notes to become good at photography. Now I have the perfect place to put them.
   
   My guess is that even though this is the first Maker's Notebook I have, it won't be my last...



3. I've yet to complete a project yet, but i've drawn up at least 20 good ideas. I went to the website and added the back pocket they described. I love this book.



4. It's a good notebook. Not sure how often I'll use the diagrams in the back, but I had visions of reading them during particularly boring meetings. One quibble: they should add an elastic loop to hold a pen. How hard would that be?



5. This is partly a review of Amazon's format. I already sent my thoughts by an Amazon contact link.
   
   I didn't find anywhere that Amazon described the contents of the book, or other books, even on a second check after I was told there was such. I only found links about options for buying and such. I also wonder where anyone will see this review.
   
   Instead of mostly graph paper, I had expected the whole book to be similar to the information and wisdom of the last few pages. I don't find the graph paper that useful. If I was going to use such, I'd want it on large loose sheets that could lie flat.
   
   Dan Robinson

No comments about Blacksmithing Basics for the Homestead.

3 comments about Cowboy Style.

1. I enjoyed the book, but I was a bit disappointed, since there wasn't enough technical decorating information on color schemes, regional variations in styles, etc.

   Great pictures, though.




2. I needed pictures to help me figure out how to design a Country Western style art gallery. This book had beautiful pictures, gives an overview of the history of the western culture, and provides names of companies and/or creators of furniture pieces. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes the Rustic/Country Western style home; this book was absolutely wonderful!



3. "In the typical cowboy-chic living room, overstuffed couches and deep Molesworth-inspired club chairs invite lounging while oversized upholstered ottomans offer a variation on the traditional coffee table, providing softer edges, a more casual feeling, and extra seating." ~ pg. 54
   
   Cowboy Style is filled with warm comforting styles to reflect a casual sophistication. Intricately designed armoires and Tiffany lamps are as welcome as the more organic designs made from ponderosa pine.
   
   Wood furniture shimmers in the glow of fireplaces and creative chandeliers in rooms layered in comfort. Intricately designed carpets and designer bookcases make the spaces inviting.
   
   A magical artist's studio built in Wyoming showcases a cut-metal lamp by a California craftsman, Tony Alvis. His fireplace screens are of especially high interest in this book because they are scenes of cowboys overlooking deserts and the interplay of the light behind the silhouettes makes for a fascinating magical experience.
   
   Other interesting features include the details about sheep wagons used by sheepherders in remote mountains, cozy cabins and stories about the artists featured throughout this book.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review

No comments about Wiring Complete (Taunton's Quick-Access Guides).

1 comments about 2003 ICC/ANSI Guidelines: For Accessible & Useable Buildings & Facilities (Icc/Ansi).

1. this book has given me so much information and has helped in resolving some questions as well as issues from the previous issue of the same book in 1998. i am so glad i got this book.
   thank you