5 comments about The Fifty Dollar and Up Underground House Book.

1. The book is fine, if you can wade through all the rantings of the author. He's a little hard to take, within the first ten pages. Not really practical information about the 50.00 dollar part, but there are some really interesting larger and more expensive drawings and house building ideas that helped me along. I give it three stars because of that alone...the rest of the book is hard to read, and confusing.



2. If you are looking for DIY instructions to build a basic inexpensive underground structure, this should fit the bill nicely.



3. I enjoyed this book very much and used it as a basis for designing an underground building for my plantation resort in India. Mike goes into good detail concerning how to build an inexpensive home using his techniques and there are plenty of pictures to help you understand the procedures. I haven't seen anything else out there as good as this for underground building...if you do please let me know.
   
   Michael Skowronski
   Author of Unforgettable: A Love and Spiritual Growth Story



4. I bought this book based on other reviews and was disappointed in the author's narrow mindedness and intolerance for anyone who thinks even a little different than he does. The author gives ammunition to the very people he despises to rightfully call him a "wacko". It's sad that he can't just let people see this for the beautiful idea that it is and not a political statement. Still, if you look past the seriously disturbed rantings, this is an interesting "how I did it" book with some consideration for how you can do it too.



5. First off, the reason for four stars instead of five. It's because the author was very narrow minded in what he thought you would be reading the book for. The title makes it very clear that it's going to be a cheap house, but it still came as a surprise to me that it is not about making a modern house. The most modern thing in the houses described in this book is a polyethylene layer for waterproofing. He does not describe the use of anything that cannot be found on site (excluding polyethylene). This has its merits, but I quote him out of the book saying "cement has no soul" And his total refusal to see the use in a design he dubbed the "first thought design" which would easily work as well as his own "basic design" if only you use a slanted roof. (a method he chose not to consider mentioning.
   
   Now, what this book did cover I thought it did very well at. It describes with photos and clear instructions how to make a house with natural or easily obtainable supplies at a low cost. He has some very good ideas like his uphill patio which eliminates the force of the hill pushing down on your home and puts the load on a much easier to maintain retaining wall. Also, a feature he calls clerestories (basically windows that are put in a sudden drop of ceiling height) make the interior much brighter.
   
   All in all it's a very good book on how to make your own fallout shelter or summer cabin, but not a good manual on the finer points of making an underground home. The houses in this book exhibit many features that you would need in a modern home, but they are not a replacement for your current house.

5 comments about Candice Olson on Design.

1. Candice Olson on Design containg many beautiful pictures of her work. I can say to all, but many of the rooms are from the shows from HGTV. However, I was disapppointed by the lack of explaination of some of the design ideas. My purpose of this purchase of this book was to give rationale to some of her design ideas and how I could implement them into my home. This book was very non-general and mainly for someone whom may want a picture book only. An even so, The photos never keyed into her usage of lighting. Which she always incorporates for any of her rooms. Your better off watch the show or DIY.



2. The book was part of the Candice Olson birthday package I picked up for the missus - see my review elsewhere of the Candice Olson lamp - and we both enjoyed reading it. The bedroom where Candice uses dark wood flooring for the headboard wall is my personal favorite, and I might just have to rip off that idea for my basement project.
   
   And not to give too much away, the foreword on her personal history will make your belly ache from laughter. I sure as hell wouldn't put my high school pictures in any of MY books!
   
   The book's only fault is that it's too short, but for those used to reading design books, you'll probably find the writing much livier, as if they didn't force the designer or architect to pull double-duty by writing the text. It also puts Candice's work front and center, without the sometimes distracting (but necessary) banter of the TV show.
   
   That said, the book is not a "series synopsis" and will not substitute for watching the show. It will make a great coffee table read or a gift for friends who might enjoy her show.



3. I bought the book cause I just love Candice's work and design. I admire her projects.
   But the book is definetly dissapointment. My first impresoion was that the paper that was used to print the book - a cheap peace that destroyed the quality of the photos in it. Also, the text that goes with every design project do not say anything interesting or helpful.



4. As an Interior Design student, I found this book was helpful with learning how to render floor plans and elevations. The design projects were done well, and were realistic types of projects that I might work on in the future, so it was fun trying to copy her sketches, to learn how she made them so beautiful, and figure out how to do it myself.
   
   The text is well-written in conversational syle, without being patronizing and she has a good sense of humor, so it was a welcome break from standard text books, and I felt like I actually learned from it too.
   
   I would suggest this book to people who are interested in design on a hobby level, as well as students and designers.



5. I love Candice's show, but was disappointed in this book. There were only a few designs covered, and not enough information to make the book worthwhile. I like the tips and tricks she gave, but would have liked more insight into how she makes her rooms amazing.

5 comments about Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life.

1. This is a great book that not only informs you about how to better care for the environment, but also talks about the science behind these reasons. In addition, it provides very practical advice in a very easy to read and fun format. Highly recommended.



2. Ed Begley is officially my guru! He has sensible options for us all to do little things and some big ones to help our enviroment and biggest of all...save us money!! If we'd all just try one or two of his suggestions we'd make a big difference



3. The book arrived in great condition and in a timely manner. I would recommend this book to everyone who wishes to make a difference.



4. "Living Like Ed" contains product information and company names. I am trying to figure out how to run an air conditioner without paying the electric company. I think a wind turbine and a dc to ac converter will do the trick better than solar panels because the wind blows even when the sun does not shine. If I get this to work, I'll write another review for this book.
   Barbara



5. I enjoyed this book a lot. It is a basic guide and a start at being a better person for the earth. It gave me some great ideas to use for myself.

5 comments about The Only Dog Tricks Book You'll Ever Need: Impress Friends, Family--and Other Dogs!.

1. This was a great book. Easy to follow steps. Needs more pictures. A DVD to go along with it would be better.



2. This is a very good book. It has may good points about tricks and teaching your dog.



3. I've purchased many dog behavior and trick books over the years. This little gem is definitely the best trick book. My golden and I have had many great times learning some of the tricks. Easy to follow and the progressive technique makes great sense. I'm amazed at how fast he can learn following the simple directions. Patience and consistency as always is the key.



4. It is definitely for beginners. The authors explains every detail about everything so you will be succesful in teaching which tricks you want and doing it correctly and efficiently. It displays a few pictures of dogs performing the tricks but its not a visual book, but more of a guide book that you have to read most of to understand who to do things properly. All in all its an amazing book if you want to teach your dog great, fun things.



5. Book in perfect shape. Arrived in very timely manor. Thank you for your great service.

5 comments about The Busy Person's Guide to Preserving Food: Easy Step-by-Step Instructions for Freezing, Drying, and Canning.

1. This is an easy book to follow. I've never canned before and this book made it easy. The results were good also.



2. I used to feel intimidated about preserving fresh vegetables. I thought all sorts of expensive equipment and a vast knowledge of preserving were needed in order to successfully preserve food. Then I purchased a copy of The Busy Person's Guide to Preserving Food and was delighted to find that I could almost effortlessly preserve many of the fresh vegetables I grew and still have good results with the finished product. Now, I look forward to a healthy crop of green beans, yellow squash, zucchini, and tomatoes and no longer wonder what I'll do with all of the produce.



3. I used this book when i was just starting to learn how to can, and it was a savior. Provides detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to can, freezer, and dry store. Also contains great basic receipes to get you started.



4. I LOVE THIS BOOK, IT HELPS YOU KNOW WHAT THE FASTEST WAY IS TO SAVE THAT EXTRA VEGTABLE EXTRA WITH OUT DOING ALOT OF READING, IT TELLS YOU ALL THE METHODS FOR EACH ITEM AND WHAT KIND OF RESULTS TO EXPECT. I ALSO LOVE THE RECEPIES IN THE BACK OF THE BOOK. MY FRIENDS KEEP BORROWING IT AND ENDING UP GETTING THEIR OWN COPY!!!



5. The Busy Person's Guide to Preserving Food: Easy Step-by-Step Instructions for Freezing, Drying and Canning is an excellent resource if you need help learning how to preserve food. It gives the preferred preservation method for all different types of fruits and vegetables then also gives alternate methods for each as well. You can definitely preserve produce you buy locally as well as produce you grow using the methods in this book even if you have never done so before.

3 comments about Build Your Own underground Root Cellar.

1. Having a root cellar in your back yard is like having your own private supermarket of fresh fruits and vegetables. Any time you need potatoes for dinner or an apple for a snack, just open the door and walk inside. Anything you need is right there on the shelves.
   
   But a root cellar is more than a convenience. In addition to providing the security of having a year's supply of fruits and vegetables on hand, a root cellar offers sanctuary. In an emergency, it could shelter your family for a few hours, a few days, or even a few weeks, if necessary.
   
   A well-built root cellar can be a good investment. It will save you money for years to come, yet if you build the cellar yourself, the cost of materials is less than you would spend in one winter buying food at supermarket prices.



2. I am planning a root cellar, and this book was a big assist. I am a little farther south, and so it had a lot of information that is less applicable to me. Valuable for the northern half of the U.S.



3. I really recommend this product as an excellent resource fo starting a root cellar project. I had considered just winging it, but the materials list has proven invaluable - mostly because it allows you to utilize found materials and save money. The step by step planning is very helpful. A great book for the money.

5 comments about The New Create an Oasis With Greywater: Choosing, Building and Using Greywater Systms - Includes Branched Drains.

1. A very detailed book, but specificly aimed at very dry area's.
   There is info of use to wetter areas, but maybe not enough to justify buying the book.



2. I found this book more for someone looking to convert their existing house and plumbing to run on a grewater system, as opposed to for someone looking to build a house around/incorporating a greywater system (which is my situation).
   Still, an extremely specific and informative book for those who are interested in knowing every nuance of making a greywater system out of any situation.



3. I liked this book. It is short, fast reading and worth the time. I want to start my own catchment system because of this book. I have a need for understanding with some other environmental issues that were not addressed in the book, but overall, I am excited about the possible options for recycling water regardless of it's state (rain, grey, black) on my homesite. This book addresses my needs.



4. After reading the numerous reviews on this site prior to purchasing this book, I thought I was getting a very thorough book that would assist with "legal" system design and reclaimation strategies. While this book does gloss over them, it refers you to a sister publication for all "legal" builing issues and concentrates on illegal or 'radical' methods as they call it. Take this in mind of you are looking to design a 'legal' system for your home.



5. If you are a revolutionary and innovative thinker that respects the preciousness of water and its integral relationship to the planet earth; and if sustainability and conservation are forces that impel you in your daily life...
   Then this is a must have.

5 comments about Handy Farm Devices: And How to Make Them.

1. This is great guide for people who want to build things, even if they aren't very good at it. There are some really clever ideas in this book, and loads of useful information. This is a reprinting from 1909, but just as useful as it was back then.



2. We purchased this book hoping for some old fashioned helpful hints, instead we were charmed by the nostalgia. I wouldn't consider this a "do it yourself guide" but, an industrious builder/ engineer could get a kick out of attempting these fun old ideas. Not overly useful but thought provoking.



3. If you like "old school" technology or "low tech", this is the book for you. You'll find things forgotten or that you never knew existed. Very handy for self sufficient folks.



4. I love the book and it has been passed to three other people already. Anyone that likes implements to do odd jobs and those that were used by our ancestors, will love this book. Perfect book for the person that is trying to be self sufficient on a small farm or acreage.



5. The book has a lot of devices that stood the test of time. Is great for those that are woodworkers and also going back to nature. It has money saving ideas that can be used today as the day it was written. I feel worth the money.

5 comments about The Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy: Achieving Energy Independence through Solar, Wind, Biomass and Hydropower (Mother Earth News Wiser Living).

1. This is an excellent book, because it has much information in general, different green ideas for your home. And that is important for you and the Planet today and future.



2. I found this book to be very informative. It provides a wealth of knowledge about being self-sufficient. I am particularly interested in solar and wind power and this book provided some very good information about each of these subjects. Would highly recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about living green.



3. I read this book cover-to-cover over the course of a couple of weeks. I'm new to the field of renewable energy, so you'll have to take my criticisms for what they are, a critique of the writing:
   
   1) The author frequently repeats himself, and sometimes goes so far to state that he is repeating himself, and that the reader should refer back to a previous section.
   
   2) Many of the references are "so and so claims such and such" or references to the Home Power magazine. It's great that the author cites his sources, but it often left me wondering if the author placed any stock in the claim being reported.
   
   3) The author frequently refers to his own house, which was designed from the ground up to use renewable energy. While this is neat, it doesn't seem applicable to readers who already own houses (with a 99% chance that they're not nearly as efficient, and that it's not possible to convert them).
   
   4) I would have enjoyed more information on solar power, since it seems to be the most applicable in urban and suburban areas. Instead, it received basically equal treatment alongside micro-hydroelectric and wind power.
   
   Still, it's a good book - 3.5 stars - and contains a number of references to other sources of information on the topic.



4. I found this book to be more satisfying that the author's more popular book, "The Solar House". Of course, they aren't functional substitutes for each other. This book goes deeper into renewable energy systems available to address the energy needs of residential buildings and related topics. I appreciate his discussion on conservation, the breakdown of the energy consumption of a 'typical' residence, etc. This book goes deeper into energy than "The Solar House" goes into passive design, providing almost enough information to evaluate and size some systems. The amount of information presented varies by system, as solar photovoltaic and wind power get a more detailed treatment than biomass. For someone wanting enough information to select, size and/or design systems -- or more realistically to evaluate the proposals generated by a systems provider -- supplemental information will probably be required.



5. Not only did I find this book useful, I enjoyed reading this book. I am not a techy science person, nor do I usually seek out nonfiction, but I found that this book was written for people like me - people who are interested in making some changes in our homes to help our planet and lower our bills. The book was set up with clear chapters outlining the pros and cons of various types of renewable energy sources (wind, water, solar, and more) and how we can retrofit our homes to use them. It contained several comparison charts for the different options described, including cost comparisons, and the author provided detailed information about the information in those charts. The book also explored small changes we could easily make, and there was a section about the future of renewable energy. Written to be thoroughly understandable and readable, this book helped me become much more aware of things I could do to make some "green" changes, which was exactly the information I was seeking. All in all I recommend this book highly!

5 comments about One Year to an Organized Life: From Your Closets to Your Finances, the Week-by-Week Guide to Getting Completely Organized for Good.

1. This book has a great premise, breaking down a specific organizational task over the course of a month, and has you writing a journal while you do this. So why only 2 stars?
   
   Too much info about the author. We continually hear about her own experiences, her high-end clients, etc.
   
   Too much focusing on the past in the journal exercises. The more you dwell on the past, the harder it is to make the future better.
   
   She calls herself the Zen Organizer, but there is a lot of New Age content in the book also. Would rather have had more organizational tips.
   
   She has an entire month dealing just with Thanksgiving. Really. If she'd combined it with Christmas and New Year's, as "holiday planning", it would have been plenty.
   
   The chapter on moving was pretty good, but should have been written with lists instead of all the good information being buried in paragraphs (and this was also a problem in other chapters).
   
   Overall, I would rate the book 2.5 stars. Good premise, and several good organizing tips, but it gets bogged down in places. Check it out from your library first--you might prefer her approach to that of FlyLady.



2. On page 24, Regina Leeds says just about everything that needs to be said on the subject: "Everything you do needs to be scheduled". This happens to be the same message David Allen delivers much more effectively in his "Getting Things Done".
   
   Of course, saying it is a lot easier than doing it, which is why people like Leeds and Allen can count on their books selling year after year.
   
   Leeds takes the approach of teaching you how to organize your life over the course of a year, with new projects every month. For me, the approach simply doesn't work. Too much territory is covered. For example, I'm not going to be moving into a new home, so that chapter - and the month's project - is wasted on me.
   
   Also, Leeds is a bit too "New Age" for my personal taste. Tidbits like an "affirmation" for the month strike me as treacly. August, for instance, tells you: "I am guided with ease to my new home. I embrace the life waiting for me. I also bless and thank my current home. I release it to the new occupants. I am thankful for all the participants in this transition."
   
   Regina Leeds has quite a following, apparently, but I don't think I'll be joining it.
   
   Jerry



3. As a home and garden author myself, I love Regina's new book and I've read them all! (It didn't make the New York Times Bestseller List for nothing!) Her friendly tone, combined with her "real world humor" and room by room how-to tips will help the overwhelmed and organizationally challenged person break their challenges down into realistic organizing projects. A great organizing tool!



4. This is the first book by Regina Leeds for me.
   So far, so good!
   At first I was worried that I bought it in May and not in January - "oh no!! I'm already behind!!"
   But after reading the forward (and you must) my fears were put to rest. You don't have to DO the month IN the month.
   What has worked for me so far is this: I did January first because it deals with alot of why, etc. Now I've moved on to managing paper.
   I enjoy hearing the personal side from the author. I, too, have a golden retriever. Enough said!
   I even emailed her with a question, never expecting a personal or quick response. I got both the former and the latter!!
   I say: Enjoy the ride, it is definitely worth the price of admission!



5. This book has great ideas. It gives good examples of how to organize certain spaces. You don't have to start organizing on January 1st. You can jump in any day of the year. It's a nice motivating tool.