5 comments about Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home.

1. While the target audience for this book is people living with or expecting children, anyone who wants to minimize their exposure to environmental toxins or pollutants would find it very useful. I am expecting my first child in the fall and before reading this book, I considered myself fairly knowledgeable about what's in the world around us but I have learned so much!
   
   The approach is not preachy but rather educational, and in fact early on in the book is the statement "No one can do everything. Everyone can do something." So even if small changes are made in one's household, health will be improved.
   
   After an introductory chapter, the book covers limiting exposures to toxins in the following settings: while pregnant, cleaning the home, choosing foods, beauty and hygiene, kid's toys, gardening, air and water, pet care, home renovation, and lastly, putting it all together. Information is presented in each chapter as a series of steps, and readers can make the changes suggested in one or all steps.
   
   Within each chapter are several sidebars written by either celebrities or others knowledgeable on the subject. Personally, I like these stories because they show how people (albeit rich people...) can incorporate the suggestions. Many times, the writers of the stories will discuss making a few major changes, but pointing out that another area hasn't been changed for certain reasons. It made me realize that I don't have to do everything to improve the living conditions in my home.
   
   I highly recommend this book. It's an interesting read and websites are given for those who want even more in-depth information.



2. I feel like I am well read on this topic. I learned alot and many useful, pratical tips. Its also written very well for those new to the topic. I made many notes and made a to-do list. I highly recommend!



3. great book with tons of practical tips on living green. even if you don't have kids, this book is a good resource for simply living a healthier lifestyle while doing your part to protect the environment. would make a GREAT gift for new parents.



4. I have read several books and articles on "green living" over the past couple of years and I think this is one of the best. It discusses so many aspects of living a healthier, safer life and gives many practical solutions to cleaning up our own environments to benefit us and the earth. It has inspired to me to take further steps beyond what I've already done to make a greener, safer home for my family.
   One thing I did not like about this book was the personal stories added in each chapter. While it's nice to learn that some of our Hollywood elite are concerned with ecology issues, it frustrated me to read their stories. They make it sound so easy and practical to just trash everything you own and start from scratch with organic mattresses, flooring, furniture, etc. It's hard enough for me to budget for all the organic food and natural health products I buy; there is no way I could feasibly do everything the contributing celebrities are able to do.
   Overall though, I thought this book was well-written, very interesting, well-researched.



5. I am physician and in all of my years of training, I was never taught the valuable information I found in this book. Please don't expect your pediatricians to know about this either- it is not taught to us although it NEEDS to be.
   
   This book is a resource guide on all the things you need to know about creating a healthy environment for your family. There are many things I never knew about- like the dangers of chemicals we are exposed to on a regular basis. I just assumed that if it was sold in the US it was safe- unforunately, this is far from true.
   Similarly, I used to think that ORGANIC was just better for the environment but it is so much better for US by decreasing the amount of exposure we have to chemicals used in growing and processing things like cotton. Although I am not revamping my life, this book has taught me to make simple changes that directly effect my daughter's health and well being... Like keeping the windows open for some part of every day, using safe cleaning supplies, using organic mattress pads and linens, and eating only organic chicken, eggs and milk. I have a ways to go but this book has taught me HOW IMPORTANT it is for me to be conscious of what my daughter is exposed to and what she eats.
   
   Christopher Gavigan does an excellent job of breaking down the science so that is clear to the reader. SO that we understand WHY it is important to make the changes to a cleaner, healthier life.
   
   I am making these changes not only for my daugher, but for my husband and I, and I encourage you to do the same.
   
   This is an excellent book that has changed my life- and it could do the same for you. Buy it, read it- and educate your family on how to live a cleaner, healthier life.
   (And maybe you can teach YOUR doctor some of these things too!)
   
   Natalia Rodriguez Goldman, MD

5 comments about What Einstein Told His Cook: Kitchen Science Explained.

1. My husband and I are both engineers and enjoy cooking. This book appealed to us and is a wonderful explanation of the science behind the kitchen. The author has a certain humor, which keeps the book interesting, and explains details well, even for non-technical people. I would recommend it as an addition to your kitchen.



2. The headmaster at the school where I teach recommended this book for my domestic arts class and it has been a great source of information - the kind you don't normally find in the usual textbooks. We have enjoyed learning all the ends and outs of information that is not normally covered in cooking classes. Plus the book is divided into sections with very creative titles; and with the use of well-placed humor, this book is not only very informative but very entertaining!



3. I found this book to be a very easy and entertaining read. The author did a very good job of making it entertaining with some anecdotes and tongue in cheek writing style. It was also very informative. If you are a fan of Alton Brown style of delivery, you will probably enjoy this book.



4. Full of trivia as well as little morsels of fact everyone wonders about. Completely worth the price, it just so happens we have all new facts and ideas!



5. This book is REALLY interesting! So far, I've just skipped around from section to section but soon will inevitably read it from cover to cover and love it all.
   So far though, I see absolutely no rhyme or reason why the name Einstein was used at all in the book title. It just seemed like a weird marketing gimmick.
   
   The book is good and stands on it's own. There's no need to tie it to the genius of Einstein. Or maybe I just missed the point....

5 comments about The Hand-Sculpted House: A Practical and Philosophical Guide to Building a Cob Cottage: The Real Goods Solar Living Book.

1. It's a guide. No matter if you will be building in cob or not, it' real pleasure to read this book. I recommend it heartfully.



2. I bought this book several years ago, when it first came out. I love it! I have yet to build anything out of cob, but hopefully that will change in the next five years. This is one of the few books I own that I would NEVER consider selling. It is chock full of information, and when I am feeling blue, I whip out the book, page through it, and fantasize about it. If you are thinking of building anything with cob, buy this book!



3. There is no better book to curl up with than this one and none more useful. Read it and, if you love it, consider taking the 10-day class in Oregon. You will learn a whole new way of living, as well as building. My only criticisms of the book are minor and things that will likely be added in a later addition, if there is one. A chapter on bale cob and similar composite materials would be helpful. I think a separate book is in the works on bale cob. The book is a masterpiece!



4. I purchased this book based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews in Amazon.com.
   
   I was looking for a practical guide on Cob building - not on living according to the new age hippie ethos of the authors.
   
   I've read the first few chapters, and there are nuggets of practical advice, but the narration keeps getting bogged down by Ianto Evans digressions on how evil humans keep screwing up the environment.
   
   It is my hope that I can finish the book, collect some useful information, and in the end, be satisfied with my purchase. I'm just finding it difficult to wallow through the enlightened philosophy.
   
   I will attempt to read it through to the end and perhaps revise my review. I've looked briefly at the sections written by the other two authors (Smith and Smiley) and they both seem, on the surface, to be a little more instructional in their writing, and less interested in teaching me about their new age voodoo.



5. I purchased this book on recommendation and am glad I did. It covers everything from choosing the best land for building these structures to everything you need to build it. There are lots of pictures (both color and black and white). The book also covers earth ovens and fireplaces. Even if you are not interested in building an earth home, you can build a backyard fireplace with seating.

5 comments about The Big Book of Small House Designs: 75 Award-Winning Plans for Your Dream House, All 1,250 Square Feet or Less.

1. The book have a lot of good ideaas for how to draw / design houses. There is a lack of pictures of the actual solutions, in order to give a good idea of how the the solutions actually work.
   Jan T.



2. Be warned. This book contains only 2D home plans. Their are no photos besides the one on the cover.



3. I knew the book wouldn't be a great resource but I thought it might have some reason for having been published other than the author and publisher just trying to cash in on the "not so big" / "green" trend.
   
   There is really no redeeming quality in this book. Most of the houses are severely outdated and are poorly proportioned. Except for one or two, they don't even look designed by an architect, they just look like run-of the mill cracker boxes, some with poorly planned additions. There's no useful information on how to best economize space or anything. The "design" information is useless because the illustrations are so bad they are painful to look at. Some are so muddy, it looks as if the book were published using water damaged drawings and a broken Xerox machine.
   
   I apologize for not editing this review, but this book has already wasted enough of my time. If you're looking for something more current, try James Grayson Trulove's 25 Houses Under 1500 Square Feet. It's more design oriented, even if does have a lot of filler. It's not a 5 star by any stretch of the imagination. At least his illustrations are legible and the photos make the book look produced by professionals that actually care about design and architecture.



4. When I buy a book I either want to learn or relax. In this case I wanted to learn and had to really concentrate because of the lack of pictures in it. Great plans, great book but the lack of pictures makes it difficult to read.



5. The type and drawings in this book are so small you need a magnifying glass to read it. This book might be more suited to the classroom.

5 comments about What Your Contractor Can't Tell You: The Essential Guide to Building and Renovating.

1. I read and I reread this book often. We are getting ready to build and this is one of the most helpful reads that I have found. If you buy this book, you WILL stay one step ahead of the game.



2. there are thousands of books on the general subject of home renovation. for the important steps that take you from idea/dream to budgeted plan and actual work, this is the perfect guide. ms. johnston is a rare author whose main objectives are to inform and support. readers of this book, if they're anything like my partner and me, will be empowered to pursue their ideas in a realistic, fiscally disciplined way. after reading ms. johnston's book, we feel like agents or real participants in renovating our home, and not hope-filled homeowners eager to make someone else's labor work for us. we know what work we can do, and what work we need someone else to do. this is an excellent place to begin planning an addition or home renovation. it's a text you can return to again and again throughout your process. (i understand that a revised edition will be published in january 2008. i have the first edition, and will buy the new one. these comments refer to the original edition.)



3. This book was an excellent resource - helps make you a more savvy owner. You will better understand both the process and the contractor's mindset. Good guidance on where to focus and how to avoid pitfalls.
   Would also recommend Hiring Contractors Without Going through Hell.



4. As a building professional (licensed general contractor since 1991), I think that this book by Amy Johnston is an excellent resource in preparing a person to undertake a building project. The book is chock full of practical, insightful information that gives consumers a 'peek behind the curtain' of building contractors, as well as the building process in general.
   
   Over the years, I have heard of many construction horror stories and am dismayed to see builders with great marketing but little integrity continue to do project after project. If more consumers would take the time and effort to educate themselves about the building process, there would be far less 'money pit' experiences on building projects. This book makes it easy to be an informed consumer.



5. This is a great book if you are going to embark on building a house. The author is very good at outlining things and it is also not boring. I've highlighted so many things in the book that I didn't know and need to consider or do. A must have for anyone who is going to build a new house or tackle a large renovation!

5 comments about How to Get a Date Worth Keeping.

1. I bought this book for my two single adult children, based on a friend's recommendation. This book is very much about helping single people think about their lives in a rational, human, holistic way. It pulls the focus off getting a mate, and puts it on being an involved, healthy person who has good, real relationships, which, yes, will lead to a mate. There is some specific Christian guidance in here, but it is embedded in the main topic, so this is not a biblical commentary on singleness. A strength of the book is that he gives some pages to addressing the issues that cause a person to pick the wrong companions over and over again, and perpetuates craziness and dysfunction from generation to generation. It is a valuable book for any single person, Christian or not, as it addresses head-on the messed up thinking they can get trapped in as part of the single life. The only thing that would make the book stronger is a section on some of the angst of what a Christian life is really supposed to look like, and maybe some discussion on singleness as a calling of God. The singles I know feel like the church treats them as 2nd class citizens, as in, "get married and then you can be part of the real church."



2. This is absurd!!! Everything this book says goes against what God teaches us in the Bible regarding dating. The Bible teaches that our ONLY fulfillment in life is Jesus Christ. This book states that we can be completed by our spouse. AND DATING A NON-CHRISTIAN?!?! My parents always taught me not to date someone I wouldn't want to marry. It goes hand-in-hand with the love is blind thing. You can fall in love with anyone, even a non-Christian. Don't follow this man's advise. He obviously isn't very wise anyway (although I don't know how he achieved getting a doctorate degree?), and you're not going to find a date worth keeping with this advise!!!



3. When compared with other Christian dating books this author's perspective seems secular. He mentions the fundamental importance of a personal relationship with God, and then focuses on practical ways of learning healthy dating patterns. The book is not directed at teenagers but adults who are either not dating or in a dating rut. He is a professional councilor and this book systematically addresses common psychological pitfalls involved with dating.
   
   While some Christians might be disturbed with the idea of dating around, he emphasizes the importance of actively pursuing members of the opposite sex. This is not worldly dating; in his words "Dating is an activity where you do fun, meaningful things with interesting people." I like the way he emphasize the importance of casual dating as a way to strengthen one's dating muscle. "Dating is not about marriage!" I often fall into the trap of requiring an interesting person to pass my large list of internal marriage requirements before I'll think of asking her out to do something. This would be fine if I had a strong dating muscle, but my weak dating muscle leaves me feeling over-anxious and under-prepaired in the rare event I find a "worthy" candidate.
   
   Of the half dozen dating books I've read this one is the most useful. In fact--I'm rereading it.



4. This book has some good ideas but unless you are ready to totally go out of your comfort zone and try some different tacticts this book isn't for you. You have to rethink some of your ideas on dating and that is not a bad thing but his idea of date every thing and any thing because it is "just a date", is too out there for me. He want's you to put Dating for marriage out of your head but ultimately isn't that why we date? We all have standards (religous views) and I am not going to put them to the side "just for a date". I plan on being equally yolked and don't want to accidentally fall in love with the wrong yolk because it is "just a date"



5. This book is the healthiest most well rounded advice I have ever read. After reading this book and applying its principles I met a great guy in less than 6mths. Most Christian books I've read are full of broad religious themes. How to Get A Date Worth Keeping is not one of those books.This book is truly effective. If you follow the program exactly you will be successful in finding a Date Worth Keeping.

5 comments about Creative Concrete Ornaments for the Garden: Making Pots, Planters, Birdbaths, Sculpture & More.

1. Start with her first one, Making Concrete Garden Ornaments, then try this one to expand you skills. An excellent way to get a feel for this art form!



2. This book is filled with inspiring ideas and recipes. I am excited to get started - Only problem is that it is always raining on the days I can work!



3. This book contains many "recipes" for making concrete containers and concrete art. The book contains many full color photographs to guide you through each project step by step. The instructions are thorough and easy to follow. I've already made the hypertufa planters and stepping stones. The author also included numerous photos (and website links) of other artists' works. I found this book to be very inspiring.



4. I don't really care much at all for most of the modern concrete art in this book, but I still love this book for the ideas it gives me to make my own designs and also explains how to do it.
   
   I do a lot of sculpting in clay and am also very much into gardening, and have now found a new medium for making beautiful ornaments, planters, furniture for my garden and also things I can make as gifts using concrete mixtures. The best part of this book for me is how it demonstrates how to create various forms and armatures to allow your ideas to become real. The photographs are plentiful and give you a very clear idea of how it's done.
   
   I have Sherri Hunter's first book on Creating With Concrete, but I like this one even more. Great fun book!



5. Nice book with lots of ideas and samples. Make something for your back yard and have fun at the same time. It is a cheap hobby! A bag of cement $3.95 and you have a birdbath, etc!

5 comments about Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes.

1. My review is based on information from others who have this book. They say it is well written and quite helpful. It is a Christmas gift for someone else and therefore I have not personally looked at it.



2. This book is much like 'How to Keep Your Volkswagon Alive Forever', in the sense that yes, it is a how-to book. However, it is also a guide; not just to renovation/restoration but also to yourself: are you, like Nash, the die-hard romantic, the perpetually patient, are you - as Nash puts it- "..a peculiar kind of maniac who is one part ability, one part inventiveness, two parts determination, three parts romanticism, and six parts damn foolishness."?
   If you just stood up, proudly, and yelled YES! with your fist high in the air (or at least in your mind, you did), or if you want to be, or know someone who is, or want to make sure the world is never bereft of these fine old houses (and full of soul-less tract homes and 'live-work' lofts), then do not hesitate one dang-gone second- buy this book. buy two, so when the first is covered in saw dust, concrete drips, laquer and stain; you (or others) can still go home and read Nash's superb writing.



3. Mr. Nash has written a wonderfully detailed and informative book that, I feel, is a must-own for anyone who owns or is looking to purchase an old house.
   
   As someone who grew up in the building trade, I found my how-to construction and woodworking knowledge incomplete when my wife and I recently purchased our 1884 Victorian home. This book provided exactly the information I need to understand and recognize the challenges I will face when I perform the renovation. Since approximately 1950, homes have pretty much been built the same which is where my experience lies. But old houses were built in a different way, with different materials, and incorporated much different ornamentation and detail than modern homes. This book explains those differences and offers a myriad of excellent suggestion on how to bring old homes up to modern house standards.
   
   Each owner of an old house has the same questions to answer, such as whether to repair or replace the original windows, whether to repair or replace the plaster walls, how to best increase insulation of the house without creating moisture issues, how to determine the state of the electrical and plumbing, etc. This book discusses each one of these issues, presenting the pros and cons of any decision in a way that is very informative and easily understood.
   
   Though the author's experience and many of the examples given in this book seem to be based in the upper north-east regions, I found very little that was not applicable to my southern-Missouri residence. I may not have to worry much about frost heave on my cellar walls, but moisture is an issue where I will be taking many of Mr. Nash's recommendations to heart, especially his "Ground Roof" option which I have not encountered before.
   
   All in all, this book will give those new to home renovation much needed information on how to recognize and deal with most all problems that will be encountered during a renovation, and will provide those who already have renovation knowledge additional concepts and tools to solve issues that are more prevalent to an old house.



4. First things first.... This is not a fix-it book for the average homeowner. It is a renovation guide for older homes and covers everything from stone foundations to slate roofs and provides whole slew of major structural repair information. So if you are wanting to learn simple home repairs, like fixing a leaky faucet or quieting a squeaky floor you would do better to look elsewhere.
   
   My first house was built in the 1890s and because I was very young and didn't know anything about how old houses were constructed, the construction behind those plaster walls, in the basement and attic looked shoddy to my uneducated eyes but it didn't matter to me, I was just grateful to be a home owner. My father told me this is how real craftsmen built homes during that era. He added: "Son, this house will be around and doing just fine LONG after you are gone!"
   
   Even though I old that old house a long time ago, when I saw this book I knew I just had to have it. It takes a look behind the scenes of old houses and shows how they are broght back to their past glory no matter how much neglect they have suffered. Whether you currrently own an old house, previously owned an old house or just have an interest in construction methods of eras long ago, this book is perfect for your bookshelf!



5. If you have an old house, then you should own this book. Perhaps you don't want to tackle the problems of owning an old house yourself, but hire out instead. If that's true you should still read this book. You'll be more informed and know what the repairs might entail and what questions to ask your contractor. I use this book as a guide for my own repairs and its been invaluable. Simple, clear illustrations of what's inside the walls of an old home is very handy!

5 comments about BIM Handbook: A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers and Contractors.

1. In the BIM Handbook (A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers and Contractors), a remarkably knowledgeable and credential team of authors has provided a sound, thoroughly researched and comprehensible review of the technology, the market drivers and the business transformation issues surrounding Building Information Modeling (BIM). This book is a must-read for anyone involved in the design, construction or operation of buildings who needs to understand and apply effectively the emerging BIM tools and techniques. University professors of architecture, engineering and construction will find this an excellent text for introducing BIM to the emerging generation of design and construction professionals.
   
   The concepts underlying BIM have been evolving for a quarter century, as the book makes clear. In the past few years, however, market drivers and technology advances have converged to produce software tools that have an extraordinary positive impact on the design and construction of buildings. In the industry scramble to take advantage of this potential, there has been much confusion about what BIM is, how to use it and who benefits from it. The BIM Handbook tackles all three questions.
   
   Highlights include the chapter on the interoperability of building models, which clarifies what is probably the least understood technology issue related to BIM. Of immediate utility is the evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the major BIM software products. Even the most design-oriented readers will marvel at the variety and innovation demonstrated by the ten case studies. The very thoughtful chapter entitled "The Future: Building with BIM" provokes lively conjecture and debate.



2. This is clearly the most comprehensive book to date on the subject of building information modeling. It covers the entire spectrum and provides many comparative analyses of existing products, to help you make an educated choice of tools.



3. The BIM Handbook is an extensively researched and meticulously written book, showing evidence of years of work rather than something that has been quickly put together in the course of a few months. It brings together most of the current information about BIM, its history, as well as its potential future in one convenient place and can serve as a handy reference book on BIM for anyone who is involved in the design, construction, and operation of buildings and needs to know about the technologies that support it. It is the must-have text book for BIM for all academic institutions who would like to teach or research this subject. Some practitioners might find it a little intimidating, as it does get very detailed and technical, but those refuse to be daunted by its academic style will find their efforts very well rewarded with a deeper understanding of all aspects of BIM that are relevant to their work.
   
   You can read a more detailed review of this book in my AEC technology publication, AECbytes: http://www.aecbytes.com/review/2008/BIMHandbook.html



4. This book is a great resource for managers/executives who need to familiarize themselves with bim technology in order to successfully initiate implementation within a company. Benefits (and drawbacks) of technology for all groups mentioned in a title (developers, facility managers, designers, contractors)are covered in details.
   
   Authors are very competent and they put lots of effort to prepare and organize this material (this is one of the best organized book I have ever read).
   
   [...]
   
   Highly recommended.



5. Excellent in how it encompasses BIM issues to various partners in the building process. It is considerably appropriate and relevant when considering the impact of BIM on the building industry and our personal business.

5 comments about Fabrics: A Guide for Interior Designers and Architects.

1. book was in excellent condition, just as the seller specified! no torns, no highlights, no wear! arrived promptly!



2. A very nice book, quite in depth.
   Covers natural and man made fibers, types of weaves, production and fabric finishes. Many color plate examples to illustrate the information.
   This book was shipped quickly by Amason at half the price I paid at the campus bookstore! Needless to say, I returned the book purchased at the campus bookstore.



3. Well-organized and informative general reference on textiles for home or commercial use. Also has a great references section. Pictures are helpful, but I'd also recommend having a "hands-on" source in order to get a better understanding of all of the terminology and descriptions.



4. This is not an easy reference guide, but a textbook that gives lots of information that is not needed for daily design use. It is also filled with lots of pictures which would be nice if they were really helpful, but they seem to take up a lot of space and act as fluff.



5. Thank you very much the book arrived before I expected and in very good conditions!!!