5 comments about Legal Aspects of Architecture, Engineering, and the Construction Process.

1. This is probably the most comprehensive construction law book I have ever read. It is an absolute must for a law student taking construction law.



2. First, I am not a lawyer, but a praticing design/ contruction professional. I have used this book for years. I find it very well written and easy to use. I have loaned it to so many lawyers when thing get tight that I don't remember all of them. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has to deal with contracts and construction. When things start to go sour, its a great resource for all parties involved.



3. Excellent Book, It a wealth of Materials and mandatory reading for Construction Management program at the University Of Washington Master Program in Civil and Construction.. The material is spot on for Construction management



4. We used this book for our senior level construction law class and it was a fantastic textbook. I feel that the reading was very thorough when presenting topics and the homework problems really reinforced the reading. This is a great text to own, especially when dealing with a professor who likes to throw a whole lot of back and forth debate with the class. *A must for anyone entering the construction insutry* -M.



5. I recieved my book and there are pages missing. Page 518-551 are gone. I have called your company three time to have this issue resolved but everytime I am told the computers are down and that they cannot look at my account. This has been the worst buying experience. I am trying to take a class and missing these pages is really messing me up. I expect somone to fix this error. I find it hard to believe that the computers at a dot com company are down everytime I call!!!!!!

No comments about Construction Safety Management.

5 comments about On My Swedish Island: Discovering the Secrets of Scandinavian Well-being.

1. I thought the book was entertaining,enlightening, comprehensive, and useful. It made me dream of my very own 'away from everything' cabin in the woods living with nature. The references were especially useful and I am already using some of the products mentioned in that section. A very good book for anyone who cares about health and keeping our planet as it should be.



2. The suggestions in this book are not expensive. It is always good to get back to the basics. This book has sent me back out doors to enjoy my own little slice of nature. I don't think she is suggesting others to recreate her experiences but to consider your own. This book is a very good buy.



3. This has become one of my top favorite 5 books because of the wisdom the author shares. Everything from simply living spaces, simple food, the outdoors, being content with less and more observant about the world around us. Call it Scandinavian zen or simply wise living.
   
   The author hits the nail on the head when she shares how our choices can make our lives better and that these choices often have to do with being still and observant and not allowing big business or hurried people to sway us from taking the path less traveled.
   
   Its a book that I read and then set down, then pick up and read some more, and set down. I savor the lessons I have learned from the book and have recommended it to simple living group friends who like myself try and live a self sufficient lifestyle void of so many of the 'must haves' that American society pushes.
   
   Living here in the Sierras I also appreciated the authors wonderful stories about what the outdoors offers. Be it walking for fitness, or enjoying the fresh fish and vegetables it offers.
   
   So much to be learned from the author and cannot recommend the book highly enough.



4. While reading On My Swedish Island by Julie Catterson Lindahl, I noticed I had a myriad of feelings towards it. At times, I was bored reading about herbs that are apparently capable of making your life more enjoayble, but at other times, I perked up upon reading about Sweden's "Every Man's Right" law. The book was well organized and easy to read through. I felt as if I could do some of the things Lindahl mentioned and create my own Swedish paradise inside my New Jersey home.
   To begin with, Lindahl suggests various ways to achieve inner peace. The Swedes are big on being outdoors and this value shines through in the writing. Although Lindahl is British, she married a Swede and appreciates and respects their values. She used to run on the treadmill everyday but ditched this habit and began going outside to run and cross country ski. "..I live in part of the world where the overwhelming majority of people perceive going out into nature as an integral part of life. A 1995 study showed that 80 to 90 percent of Swedes and Danes...spent recreational time in forested and natural environments or parks." (Lindahl 49-50) It's hard to get out and enjoy nature when no one else around does and too many things are going on. I appreciate how much the



5. There was such wisdom here, that while reading it I'd bought my mother a copy, and now I'm rereading my copy again a year later.
   
   Lindahl does an excellent job of guiding us through a 'cultural tour' of the Nordic mindset toward health. The info is organized well, into chapters covering physical fitness, a proximity to and relationship with nature, relaxation, and diet. Through each of these, she illustrates how it's different from the frenetic life of a business professional (which she'd once been), and give practical advice for those of us whose lives are still frenetic.

5 comments about Whittling Twigs & Branches: Unique Birds, Flowers, Trees & More from Easy-to-Find Wood.

1. What you see on the cover pretty much is the whole book. The book mainly shows how to make a few birds. Not worth buying in my opinion.



2. Now I just recently started woodcarving and my wife bought me this book as a gift. I must say it is an interesting book for what it covers. Basically the author shows you how to pick out twigs and branches to make the birds featured in this book. The cuts seem basic and with a glance at them it seems that it would just be a matter of practicing to duplicate his work.
   
   If you go camping and want something to do around a camfire, this might be the book for you.



3. Folks, whittling ain't carving and this book should not be confused with that art form. Whittling is a way to keep your mind and hands busy without watching the [...] tube. The author does a good job of passing on his skills to other whittlers. Twig whittling is an inexpensive way of creating a little give-away art for the people you come into contact with during lifes journey. Materials cost little or nothing; what else could you ask? Very detailed instructions, illustrations are informative and authors advice is invaluable. If you enjoy giving your pocket knife a workout while spending quality time inside your own mind, this book is worth the price.



4. The full color pictures are great in showing step by step how to carve. My boys are 10 & 12 and are learning how to carve! Sometimes they fight over the book. Maybe we'll have to order another one!!



5. I have been very pleased. One of the few "how to" books to learn a skill that I have come across that can actually do the job straight from the book without already having some skill or personal lessons to go along with it. I have been having fun making animals and leaving them around for my children to find.

5 comments about Garage: Reinventing the Place We Park.

1. My garage will soon be turned into a workshop (and hopefully still park the car in there), and this book has given great ideas. I only wish I could find the book "Your Garagenous Zone" mentioned on page 98 written by Bill West.
   
   
2. Loved "Garage." And for the reader who was looking for the book "Your Garagenous Zone," you can hunt it down at www.garagenouszone.com.



3. The book is almost nothing about the garage you already own. It is about fancy buildings with garage doors to use as offices, dwellings, exhibit spaces, furniture factories, archtectural statements. If you want to keep your car dry, you will need to build another real garage.



4. This book and the great mass of the photos relate not to the garage, ie, a covered space where cars are stored or where a hobbyist workshop is located, but converted space or living space above a garage. If you're interested in creative garage layout, workshop arrangement, automobile-related storage, etc., this is not the book. If your desire is to turn a hardworking garage into a granny flat, this is for you.



5. This book is beautifully photographed and the scope is enormous. The author covers an enormous variety of handsome solutions to storage and leisure time which actually become an historic perspective. Taunton Press actually publish Fine Homebuilding magazine and I wish there had been more floor plans. This is not a "how to" book but rather a photographic essay. Perhaps, they will add a website or link in future editions for readers who might want to build such garages.

2 comments about Unhappy Teenagers: A Way for Parents and Teachers to Reach Them.

1. If you are the parent of a teen who is having developmental problems of any sort, then you need this book. This book takes the essence of Choice Theory and applies it to the relationship between teens and their parents. The book consists of a number of case studies featuring the stories of typical young adults with all different sorts of problems ranging from anorexia to poor performance in school. As he is relating the story behind each case, the author will frequently turn to a brief discussion of various facets of his Choice Theory and how they apply to the case at hand.
   
   Glasser's enlightened discussion of the Quality World concept of Choice Theory is central to the book, and how this applies to the teen's relationship with his/her parents. Coupled with this are discussions of the concepts of control and choice. Relinquishing one's control over a teen, and gently guiding them toward making better choices is another common theme running through these case studies.
   
   My advice is, if you have a teen, or young adult, and you are experiencing some turbulence (and who does not?), buy this book, read it, underline the passages that strike you as most important (there are many), then keep this book at your side, within reaching distance, as you navigate these years. It is well worth it to be able to reach for this book in times of trouble, when your relationship with your teen or young adult seems to be deteriorating, to open a page at random, and just read. Very often, you will encounter an extremely important insight that can guide you forward.
   
   Thank you Dr. Glasser for helping us parents to understand that the relationship is everything.



2. Easy to read, provides a practical approach to a very challenging problem. Offers a workable, actually enjoyable way to improve every kind of relationship, not only those with teenagers. Since reading and discussing it with my family, we hear far less shouting in our house.

5 comments about Home Theater For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)).

1. Wish I'd bought this when I first started researching home theaters. I was a novice, having purchased only a couple of 27" analog sets in the past 15 years. Rather than starting with a book like this, I researched mine the time consuming way: talking to knowledgable friends; wasting time with sales droids at electronic stores, reading home theater magazines. About two months later things reached critical mass and I could finally make an informed decision.

   My advice: buy this book, read it, and afterwards *still* do what I did. Only save the sales droids for last (by then you'll know more than they do), and look but don't buy. Then go home and buy what you want at Amazon.




2. Three months ago, my wife suggested that we upgrade our 15 year old TV to a "home entertainment center". So off we go to the local store to look at options. Spoke to a couple of salesmen who were worse than useless. In frustration, I bought this book. After a quick and pleasant read, I felt that I had a reasonable understanding of the options one has when setting up a "home entertainment center." We now have a v-e-r-y nice component system that is a breeze to use.
   It isn't difficult to specify and install a system. However, now that I've done it, I realize that most people make a number of unneccesary mistakes. If you know all about this stuff then don't buy the book. However, if you have questions like I did then buy the book and you'll find that you'll end up with a system far superior to the ones owned by most "know it alls".



3. This book is a bit dated. But since I am really a dummy in this area, it has been good to bone up my knowledge, as I gear up to buy and build up a audio home theater - I skipped most of the stuff on the video chapters as I don't plan a movie theater at home.
   
   It does need to be updated. PC and network information are old, so are some of the things around emerging standards. It could also do with some pictures and wiring diagrams - I am no dummy with electronics, but had difficulty understanding what was mean by a central panel, that could be placed in my basement or some place out of sight.



4. This was a well written basics type book. Definitely good for someone who knows nothing about home theater.



5. This book is written well and explains the technology well, and is a good reference for the basic design and set-up. However, items mentioned as coming in the future are already standard. The HD TV and Home Theater technology is changing so fast it is hard to write, print and distribute a book and keep it current.

5 comments about The Woodbook: The Complete Plates (Taschen 25th Anniversary).

1. The Woodbook is another welcome Taschen addition to our design library. Long overdue this compilation delivers to the point easy to compare notes and images in varied cross cut and with the grain directions. Even suitability and durability is covered. Brilliant!



2. Excellent Value. I am an advanced hobbist woodworker and this book is an a great reference for a multitude of common & somewhat rare or unusal North American wood. If you buy your wood from one-man or small sawmills, this is very good reference for identification. Additionaly, shrinkage data, 3 view pictures of grain & surface, and application data make this book very important reference work for your personal library.
   
   I could also see where environmentalists and outdoorsmen would find valuble.



3. This is a beautiful book -- almost coffee table quality. It opens with an interesting history of American forests and their trees, albeit from a "we destroyed the beautiful forests and the environmentalists saved them" perspective. The pages associated with each tree variety contains a very limited bit of information about the variety and three nice photos of the grain, one in each orientation -- longitudinal, transverse, and radial.
   
   While the three grain perspective photos are useful, I had hoped for something with more that just a couple of lines of information about each species -- more like Hoadley's two excellent books, the USDA "Wood Handbook" or Peters' "Woodworker's Guide to Wood".
   
   Each opening chapter and each information page is printed in three languages.



4. This book was a birthday gift for my brother, a talented wood worker who built his own home, decks and remodels all over the northeastern US, tables, jewelry boxes, domino boxes, and spectacular bowls. He was delighted with the book.



5. Being born, and lived, all my life in Mexico city I am waht we call a "city rat". The Taschen book fills my lack of knowledge on trees and woods.
   
   Presentation is superb and the case even sounds like wood when you knock it.
   
   I saw the book at Paris last opened museum, the Quai Branly, but due to the weight I waited until I came back.
   
   You can not miss it with this book.

4 comments about Measure and Construction of the Japanese House.

1. If you are an architect interested in japanese constructional systems, this is THE BOOK for you. If you aren't but find japanese culture a fountain of inspiration for living, you must read this extraordinary piece of art. Perhaps it don't shine like a jewel, but once you open it, you'll find the work of a man who decided to share his mastery. In this book, diagrams, materials, craftmanship, even detailed descriptions of the human space requirements are fully explained with precision and simplicity. Every page, and every example in them, is a world that must be carefully examined. And when doing so, you'll find that what the author is showing us, is more than a book about japanese houses: is the heart of the japanese carpenters and architects living in its pages.



2. Anyone who wishes to build a Japanese tea room either in the garden or attached to their house could do well to start with this book. You can also use this book to design accents for a single room, or to craft an entire house. It was written by a German architect who lived in Japan several decades ago and carefully measured surving older buildings as well as studying architecture there. While there are more detailed books in Japanese, this may well still be the best available book in English.



3. When I ordered this book, I was expecting to see a lot of pictures to help me design my house. But to my dismay, most of the colorless pages just feature blueprints that only an architect would understand. I kept the book for future reference.



4. Simply, with no doubt one of the best books on the subject. I've been studying Japanese architecture for some time and I always get back to it as a reference. Very technical and well illustrated. I'm looking for the complete volume by Heino Engel.

5 comments about How to Make Cowboy Horse Gear.

1. Very good book for old style horse gear, gives a good history of rawhide braiding



2. I purchased this with the interest of making miniature western horse tack, specifically braided pieces, and it gives instructions on how to do all the basic braiding (6-12 string around a core), and several knots used in braided tack (ring, turk's head, pineapple, cowboy, gaucho, etc.). If you are new to braiding, you may want to refer to other sources as well for help (I also purchased Woolery's book), because there is a bit of a learning curve to this, but I did use this book's instructions to make my first pineapple knot. It also shows how to construct a hackamore, including tying of the mecate and hackamore and fiador knots.
   
   There is a section on making saddles, but it's a rather brief overview and isn't of much use if you are actually planning on making a saddle (even a miniature one).
   
   Overall, it's a great reference book for your library on western braided tack, and I'd definitely recommend it.



3. I had this book as a kid and it is as informative as I remembered it. Reccomend especially for those who want to make their own braided tack - or to see how braided tack is made



4. for the more experienced leather worker to make some very fine horse gear.
   includes a lot of examples.



5. If it can be made of braided leather and/or rawhide, this book will tell you how to pull it off. It won't make you amazing right off the bat- the only thing it won't do is implant years' worth of muscle memory into your fingers- but it'll certainly give you a push in the right direction.