No comments about Contractor's Guide to QuickBooks Pro 2008.

5 comments about Manual of Traditional Wood Carving.

1. This is one of those rare books written a long time ago (early 1900s) when craftsmen and artists actually made their livings working with their hands (after serving apprenticships under masters). Their art went on to be perfected during a time when such hand-craftsmanship was valued and rewarded albeit simply and honestly. The treasure trove of techniques and historical information in this book is the kind that I typically find only in old books like this one. 'Very applicable to todays professional or recreational woodworker/carver and to those simply interested in historical carved styles evident in todays antiques.



2. If a person could only have one book on woodcarving, this would be THE book. It was written back in 1911, so some of the material is out of date. For example, the section on how to sharpen tools is dated. Some of the "tone" of this large (568 page)book is in the style of stuff written at that time. It can be a bit preachy and it can get a bit philosophical at times. For example it talks about how learning to carve wood makes you a better person. But these points are so minor, when you consider the entire book, that they cannot even be considered as flaws. There is no other book which even tries to cover just about all types of woodcarving. It covers:tools, history, and styles. It provides an almost unlimited (1146 to be exact), and certainly unparalleled set of photos and line drawings of different types of carvings throughout history. He even has a chapter on how to set up training programs for woodcarving for various groups of people.
   Mr. Hasluck does provide some "how to" information. He provides a set of recommended gauges, clamps, sharpening equipment, bench designs, etc. He tells you about and even illustrates the various steps of carving (setting in, grounding, modeling and finishing). He is the only author I have come across who explains why he recommended every tool that he recommends. This is absolutely enlightening!!! It is interesting that his recommended set of tools is much different from the modern authors on this subject (eg Chris Pye, Nora Hall, etc). After researching this topic, I have come to the conclusion that Hasluck selected his set to be most appropriate to highly detailed relief carving, which is the type of carving that he spends the most time on.
   I would bet that if someone wanted to start learning how to carve, and they bought only this book, they would be very disappointed. If you are looking for a "how to" book, which gives you a preselected sequence of five projects, from easy to medium, and tells you which tool to use to make each cut in each project, then this is NOT the book for you. There are other books that do this much better. Go to the website for Chris Pye and check out his books on introductory carving, and check out the videotapes of Nora Hall on her website. These will give you much more of the very specific "how to" information on a sequence of specific graded projects.
   Every really good carver that I know has used this book extensively. Most of the good carvers that I have talked to are mostly self taught. All speak "lovingly" about Hasluck's book. It is the greatest source of carving information and suggestions and illustrations you can find in one place. One of its "drawbacks" is that it is so encyclopedic, that one could not read it from cover to cover. This is more of a reference book that a carver refers to VERY often during his/her development.
   Hasluck's coverage of Chip Carving is an example of how encyclopedic he is. Other authors on this subject only cover one of the many ways that it can be done. He covers many of them in great detail, and he doesn't denigrate any of them. I would buy this book only for the set of chip carving designs that it includes. The rest of the book would be "gravy" to me.
   This book is to woodcarving what the Roman Coliseum is to sports arenas. It is a classic. I doubt it will ever be surpassed.
   Hasluck's book is really for the person who has taken control of his own education in woodworking, and who wants to become VERY good. It is far too much for the casual person who wants to make one or two carvings with inexpensive tools. Of course, if you like to have impressive books on your coffee table, this would be a good one!!!!!
   I am in awe of Paul N. Hasluck, the author of this wonderful book. Having the goal of writing a book of this scope and depth would be like having the goal of climbing Mt. Everest without oxygen. It would not be for the faint of heart. Virtually all serious modern books on woodcarving refer to this 1911 book. It is incomparable, and it is a real bargain. In my humble opinion, you'll get far more out of this book, which will probably cost you less than $20, than you will from a course on woodcarving that will cost you $1000.
   BUY THE BOOK. You'll be glad you did.



3. This book is somewhat outdated. Don't purhcase it if you are planning to learn wood carving from it.
   It is however an interesting reading and will provide some usefull information.



4. maybe in the 1700's it was a good book, but now it s not. i read about half of it, put it where it belongs, in the trash. save your money, go on line, alot better info on the web,for free. tim



5. This book is full of information, with a catch. It is like a hundred years old! and has never been updated. To sharpen chisels, it recommends a three foot diameter grinding wheel set in the ground. good for traditionalists.

5 comments about Forever Christmas.

1. While we fans of Tasha Tudor (a loyal group, to say the very least) await ANY new book about Tasha, it is with mixed feelings that so many of us view this book. You will note it is wrtten by Harry Davis, and as most of Tasha's fans have heard through various grapevines, Mr. Davis and Ms. Tudor had a not so nice parting of the ways, and rumor has it that Ms. Tudor did not sanction this book. So, while we want to know more, read more, see more about a woman who's art and life we hold in high esteem, we are mixed because we don't want anyone who might be a scoundrel to exploit our dear Tasha! I have seen the book and it is charming, the photos are delightful, especially the one of Tasha serving up her live pet parrot, Hannah, as Christmas dinner (it's a trick folks, don't panic). We Tasha fans never tire of anything new (to us) about this woman we respect, admire and try to emulate in our own personal way to live a fuller, more simple life. Ms. Tudor is 85 and most of us can not do in a month what she does in a day! We love her illustrations, we keep her books and pass them on to our children and grandchildren (well, we let them look at them, but we usually won't give them up!). We are in awe of her multi-faceted talents--her art, gardens to die for, spinning, weaving, keeping goats, and of course, those delightful Corgi dogs! We want this book. But, loyal as we are, we worry that we could contribute to some unhappiness for our beloved Tasha Tudor. Many women today have no Elder or Wise Women to pass down aspects of living that seem lost in this overly hectic world. We don't want to live in the grips of cell phones and palm pilots at the expense of creativity and connections to the earth and to each other. Tasha reminds us. She shows us. She gives us a kind of permission to hold on to,or bring back,the "olden" things, and it is these that anchor us. We want as much of her as we can get without barging in on her actual property! And we don't want anyone to do anything to hurt her.



2. a wonderful book to learn of all the christmas joys of tasha tudor. many other christmas books are unavailable because of price etc. i loved reading about the snow lanterns, the raven on her christmas tree and why she has it there, and the advent wreath and the beautiful red ribbons from her mothers wedding. i will surely this year have a raven on my tree just below the star and red ribbon on my advent wreath. beautiful illustrations which i like better that the photographs. wonderful thought for a wonderful christmas if you get in the spirit from this book.take joy!!!!



3. This is a book I would recommend highly to any of my homesteader, self sufficiency seeker or practitioner of the voluntary simplicity lifestyle, kindred spirits. We own all of the books written by Tasha Tudor and I was so happy to get this one, which is about her and how she and her family do Christmas. Our lifestyle is akin to hers, even though we live in the Sierras of California.

   The text by Harry Davis is so wonderful and brings to light how Tasha Tudor does things and how important passing on family customs is and can be. The photographs by Jay Paul are so crisp, clear and delightful and match the text so well. Something that is a rarity.

   Chapter on The Animals Christmas which begins on page 38 is something the homesteader person will appreciate and identify with. And we so laugh out loud literally to see her great sense of humor and the whole serving Hannah on a plater. And how nice to be reminded that she like the rest of us who have goats and chickens, decorates their abodes for the holidays. Heck I think her goat set up is the best I have seen.

   I also love her section on Christmas dinner and for all you homesteaders reading this, you will notice we all seem to own the same china. And it nice to see a kindred spirit being photographed using their fireplace for cooking food.

   For those who homestead or live a lot like Tasha Tudor this is a book you will want because it will provide years of pleasure and in a way a reminder that you (we) aren't the lost breed everyone thinks. Or a novelty or oddity. And you will also glean some wonderful ideas to incorporate into your lifestyle.




4. This books gives a look at the Tudor household Christmas traditions. It somewhat follows the video or DVD "Take Peace," which is also about Christmas at Tasha Tudor's house. Written by Tasha's former business partner, but still a book Tasha Tudor fans would want to add to their bookshelves.



5. I have almost all of the books that show Tasha Tudor's world, and this is the only one that was not all I expected. I would have loved to learn more of "how" she does things, not just to read about them.

5 comments about Land Development Handbook.

1. I primarily work as a structural-architectural engineer and am becoming more and more involved in civil-site work. This handbook is exactly what I was looking for in terms of something that would quickly get me "up to speed" in the fundamentals of civil-site design.
   Of course, no single book could (or should) be thought of as a substitute for the experience and mentoring received from seasoned professionals in a design office, but this one has enough technical explanation and details to get you going with confidence.
   I choose this one over the Colley book (reviewed both before making purchase) as Land Development Handbook has more of the technical info that engineers would seek.



2. As a novice developer, this book put me on the right track without all the confusion and terms I would have never understood. It was simple to understand and after reading it, I felt like I knew a lot more. Very interesting and satisfying. Great reference guide all the way around.



3. As a general civil engineer in private practice this book has provided a good overview on the more abstract side of land development including financing, rezoning, and public involvement. All of which, are topics that typical engineers strugle with as it is not the enjoyable aspect of what engineers are trained to do. Nevertheless, these abstract components are just as real as the plans we develop. Of course, the book is excellent for hands on design and calculation support.



4. very resourceful and informative.
   highly suggest this book if land development is new, or even want something for reference.



5. This is a good reference book, filled with useful texts and details. However, it could be a little more compact and more organize in terms of using section and sub-section to sort things out. That way, it's easier and faster for readers to reference and/or looking up certain topics.

5 comments about Organizing Your Craft Space.

1. Excellent in case you don't know how to organize in a small space. I already had the same ideas as in the book but found a few more to make my craft room cleaner and not so messy.



2. This is a good book for organizing several different types of crafts. It includes Scrapbooking, Quilting, Beading and other crafts. The book helps you recognize alternative sources for organizing besides the organizing products on the market.



3. I was terribly disappointed with a book with such a beautiful cover, but the pretty pictures continued inside with no real organizing information.



4. Many people think that you don't need to be organized to create art. For these people, art happens naturally by grabbing canvas and paint and "doing it". However, if you ask any artist, you'll find out that this isn't always the case. I know for a fact that if my studio isn't clean and tidy, all my tools and materials organized and out where I can reach them when I need them, I cannot work on any project. A disorganized workspace tends to stifle my creativity and leaves me feeling like I cannot do anything.
   
   What prompted me to purchase this book was the idea that it focused solely on how artists, from scrapbookers to quilters, can organize their space to maximize their time spent on creating their art. I also liked how it went into a multitude of art styles, rather than focusing on just one art. If you've always wanted to organize your art space or create a perfect place for starting a new craft, then this book is for you. Like most craft-related books on the market, Packham writes for art women but don't let this fool you. There's a lot of information that can be used for artists of all ages, men and women alike.
   
   Organizing Your Craft Space begins by assessing your art space needs. Packham includes many lists and questions that cover your available space, what tools and things you use to make your crafty items, your color preferences and objects that might help store your items as well as look pleasing in your space. She explains that these questions are central to uncovering what is the best fit for your artistic needs. She even recommends that you keep a space journal and fill it with diagrams of your room, all the items you use in your art and any things you need to purchase for your room (like plastic containers, furniture or tools). Keeping a journal of this sort gives you a written record of what gives you the freedom to create and what sorts of things and colors you want to fill your creative space. She also defines the different types of storage styles and suggests many helpful tips and tricks for keeping your space free of clutter and trash. For artists whose craft space aslo doubles as a guest room, Packham gives advice on how you can accomidate both in the same space with minimal effort.
   
   The rest of the book details storage and organization by art type. These chapters include stained glass and mosaics, rubber stamping, scrapbooking and other paper arts, beading, yarn crafting and quilting. Packham discusses various needs and organizational styles that can be used to suit each craft-form. She starts out by listing a few short questions about the art and materials you use and then goes into explaining how these items can be stored or contained to maximize your time spent creating art. Each chapter includes an over abundance of pictures that show different ways to contain and organize your craft space. At the end of a section, Packham showcases one or more guest artists and their real-life working spaces. She tells us about their space, challenges and solutions, as well as showing us what these artists use to contain their tools and the methods they use to keep them focused on making art.



5. I really like this book. It has wonderful photos of the best craft rooms in existence. Great little quizzes to determine your decorating/organizing styles. Nice tips sprinkled throughout to help you plan your own. But the parts of the featured craft rooms that I would like to duplicate - I will have to do a few hours of research for a purchasing source. A "Where to Buy" section would make this book a 5 star! Or at a minimum, brand names of the items used in some of the rooms that were clearly not furnished through garage sales (so that I could just google them!). As it is, it is just a coffee table book since there isn't much more than nice photos in my opinion.

2 comments about Renovating a Bathroom (For Pros by Pros Series).

1. Basically the book sais: dont be cheap on bathroom since those sell the house. If you flip houses...this book will help you creating fancy, nice looking and cheap bathrooms that will sell your house. Excellent.



2. With all the new products on the market today, ie. glass tile, multiple body sprays ect. This is a pretty basic look, even somewhat dated, more of a layman's guide than a pro's guide. My summary - Well done, but not really a Pro's Guide.

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.