5 comments about Shop Drawings for Craftsman Interiors: Cabinets, Moldings & Built-Ins for Every Room in the Home (Shop Drawings series).

1. This book contains very good drawings of various craftsman details. Everything from front doors to various builtins. The author shows the historic details and how to recreate them with modern construction methods and materials. There are no color photos, but none are need for the type of book it is. I would love to have this author release a book on Craftsman Exteriors!!!!



2. This is a great book for the craftsman wanting to actually build Mission style furniture. While designs for many pieces are not included, the concepts of design and construction can be used to make pretty much any item you can dream up. A craftsman style entertainment center? Stickley would never have dreamed of it. You can combine a few designs and he would be proud of what you conceived.



3. The built-ins shown in this book are just what my old house needs to make it rustically "modern". I've hired a team of Amish carpenters to build them, as I don't trust my skill in that area just yet. Great book!



4. We own a home built in the Craftsman era, and are currently remodeling / restoring it. I have bought several books about home rehab, Craftsman furniture, etc., and was disappointed with every one of them. Then I purchased this book. The level of detail regarding moldings, for example, is incredible. The complete set of dimensions including radius data for the cove are included. Not only are all the major variants of Craftsman design illustrated and specified, the original drawings for cabinets are shown and then separate, updated drawings that conform to modern kitchen design standards are presented. Anyone who is interested in the architectural details of the Craftsman era should own this book. It is a MUST HAVE!



5. If you're looking forward to doing the interior trim of a craftsman or Roycroft style home this is the only book you need. It has page after page of clear shop drawings of all the trim that will need to go in every room of the house, and covers every interior trim eventuality throughout the entire house.
   
   Crown, base, casing, chair and picture rail moldings are shown in detail. Cabinet work for kitchen, bath, dining and living rooms, beams, columns, paneling, and doors are all shown in detail with full construction and assembly drawings.
   
   This book, a few power tools, and access to a lot of oak is all it will take to create comfortable, inviting interiors that look like they're a hundred years old. Even if you aren't finishing off a craftsman house the book is great reading to fully understand the style, and could easily be the impetus for a lot of shop projects.

5 comments about Simply Slipcovers (Simply...).

1. I am an experienced sewer so I didn't think I needed a book to teach me how to make a slipcover. After all, I had made slipcovers for two upholstered chairs before. But I decided to buy this book to get "tips" on slipcovering my sofas--definitely much bigger projects than 2 chairs. I am happy I bought it. I love their techniques for roughly cutting out all the fabric you'll need in rectangles and squares and then simply draping these pieces over the couch, pinning in place, removing and sewing. This resulted in a very fitted and tailored look. One sofa down, one to go..... I'll admit I didn't follow all of their instructions--they are so long and detailed! They would probably be helpful for a beginner, but like I said, I've sewed for years so once I got to the pin-fit method on the couch I didn't open the book again.



2. I have never seen such a wonderful and varied collection of slipcovers in one place. There are examples of slipcovers with piping, ruffles, bows, ties, swags, borders, pleats, fringes, scallops, cording, tassels, and flanges. And then there are some plain, unadorned slipcovers for those who prefer that style. Then there are excellent and easy directions for creating the slipcovers. The photos are all in color and the drawings are very good, and also in color. My one complaint about this book (ISBN 0376015144) is that the pages are glued to the paperback cover and they are coming loose. What a dreadful way to put together a book that deserves so much better!



3. As both a novice seamstress and an avid thrift store/ antique mall/ flea market shopper, I needed to learn to make a slipcover. After reading the reviews, I bought this book - and it's been amazing. The instructions are clear, and my confidence (and competence) has grown immensely. I've been slipcovering everything that will stand still long enough.



4. Very interesting book - can't wait to see if it's as straight forward as it appears. The directions are clear and encouraging. Some of the covers are really beautiful. Great value for money and the fabric calculator is very helpful.



5. I have been studying this book and plan to begin my slipcover project just as soon as I find my perfect fabric. This book is of great encouragement to me and I believe I will be successful on even my first attempt at slipcovers. Sandra R.

5 comments about The Stonebuilder's Primer: A Step-By-Step Guide for Owner-Builders.

1. I rarely write a review despite the fact that I read so many books, but felt this one deserved special attention. I am looking to build a log home in Southeast Alaska and wanted to have a nice rock wall foundation and a spectacular fireplace. After reading this book I am confident that I can do most of the work myself (except the footing for the foundation) and feel confident that it will look totally professional (and be bomb proof). The book is well written, very readable, has good photos, and is probably the only book you will need to do any and all stone work. It is not a book on slip form and it is not a coffee table book - it is for building in stone.



2. If you are considering building with stone, give this book a try. I like the author's writing style and he does a great job explaining the process.



3. The experiences of Mr. Long will interest many 'would-be' masons, contemplating construction of a stone wall of any form. The book is not a 'how-to' guide as much as a 'how I figured it out' or 'how I got the rock to the top of the wall.' Those with masonry experience will probably find this unnecessary, but anyone considering a masonry adventure will find the reading well worth the effort. Mr. Long's experiments in man-handling rock, using ramps and building scaffolds are exactly what amateur masons need to read.
   
   The book if fairly shy about the author's handiwork. The finished house is never displayed, and 'example' photos are generally shots of 19th century buildings. Additionally, there is nothing on how long it took to accomplish their tasks. There are lots of photos showing the author and wife man-handling rocks, though.
   
   The book seems to be set in the north-eastern United States, and Mr. Long's advice for finding rocks may be unsuited to other areas. As best I can tell, the book advises picking up a suitable rock when ever one one. This might happen on the shoulder of a highway, while driving past a farmer's field or wandering around old quarries. Mr. Long suggests all non-masons are overjoyed when anyone hauls away a rock. I'm not convinced.



4. This is an excellent beginning book on building with stone. No mention of necessary information regarding general house building is included. You are supposed to find that elsewhere. This is about building stone walls to become a building. The technique it presents is different than slipform wall building and creates walls that are remarkably good looking, straight and will endure for decades, maybe even centuries. Great book and I highly reccomend it for anyone thinking about using stone as a building material.



5. I was very pleased with the level of detail in this book. I was specifically looking for information on stone fireplaces and chimneys and the author does a fine job of being quite specific about measurements and practicalities of building a heavy, tall stone structure. All of the chapters appear to have explicit and careful directions. Many thanks for this valuable resource. It will remain in my library long after the house is built!

3 comments about Statics and Strength of Materials.

1. As a college instructor, I try to choose texts based on quality, but with consideration of price. I thought this book was a good compromise, but wish I had kept my previous text. This has way too many errors for a 2nd edition, and has received considerable critisism from my students for being hard to follow. There are better choices out there.



2. I have used the first edition and was generally pleased. The second edition, however, is unacceptable. The rewrite added a few interesting and a few less useful topics. The problems at the end of each section were changed but the answer key referred, in many cases, to the the first edition. Sometimes the solutions were large deviations from the stated problem. There were occasional proof reading errors, far too many for a major text. The students were frequently frustrated in their efforts to justify the answer to the problem as stated.



3. This book gets its point across. It is a textbook and that is what it is supposed to do. It gives you everything you need to be successful in the class you are taking, though I only used the second half about the strengths of different materials. The first half, which is statics, could be really difficult to understand using this book, though it is a hard subject to understand period.

5 comments about True Balance: A Commonsense Guide for Renewing Your Spirit.

1. I'm a Sonia Choquette fan. Everything I've read by her I've found helpful and enlightening.
   
   The step-by-step instructions in True Balance make this "how-to" book advice easy to implement. Whether you're just a little off kilter or way out of alignment, True Balance suggestions get you quickly back on track so that you can think clearly and function optimally. I highly recommend this book.
   
   Judy Marcus, author, WHERE ARE MY KEYS?, Memory Training You'll Absolutely LOVE



2. The benefits of this book are that these instructions on every chakra are easy to follow. Anyone could do them and in that, it achieve the author's goal of helping people get into balance. The explanations are clear and concise and the case stories illustrate the point well.
   
   On the flip side, I agree with another reviewer's honest appraisal of this book. While I find it very useful for the most part in my life, I agree with two other commentators of the Pollyanna approach in this writer's tone. I've also wondered how true to life these case histories are because the theme seems to suggest that Choquette's guidance is a form of ultimate salvation towards one's dreams fully realized just like Moses was to the Israelites when he delivered out of Egypt and Pharaoh's bondage. Choquette seems to suggest that those who follow her instructions get their dreams and those who don't perish just like the heathens on the Tower of Babel.
   
   For the most part, the resources in the back of this book with recommendatoins connected to each chakra are very valuable. But some of Sonia's selections don't seem as "safe" as others: Sai Baba (an Indian guru with controversial allegations of abuse on young followers), A Course in Miracles (written by a woman in New York City who was an agnostic Jew yet claims to channel the voice of Jesus Christ), Lynn Andrews (a plastic shaman who has been exposed for making all her books up), and The Avatar Course, Started by a former Scientology Mission holder--Harry Palmer. This recommendation to the Avatar Course is the one resource that had me step back from True Balance.
   
   In a Petition to the office of Governor Jeb Bush of Florida by the Avatar Survivors League (now I have never done Avatar but felt that if something like this was sent to a Governor's office, it is worth mentioning for the purposes of consumer protection):
   
   This Delaware corporation is registered as a for-profit enterprise selling a series of courses under the trademark "Avatar." The courses are described as "personal development education." In reality, Star's Edge is a quasi-religious cult with roots in Scientology.
   
   MISREPRESENTATION OF ORIGIN, CREDENTIALS AND PURPOSE
   * The founder and sole owner of Star's Edge, Harry Palmer, operated a Church of Scientology Mission in Elmira, New York for 15 years. After he was excommunicated in 1986, he soon introduced the Avatar Course.
   * Palmer claimed the course resulted from revelations gained during a prolonged series of "sensory deprivation" sessions in a flotation tank. He promoted the course to former Scientologists as providing "the entire span of the Scientology bridge, the Buddhic path and beyond."
   * Over the past decade, Palmer has broadly advertised himself as an educational psychologist. This unlicensed imposture as a health care professional is a felony in Florida and throughout the US. In truth, Palmer never received a degree in psychology, and has never held any credential or license as a psychologist. His college degree was in secondary education, and he was certified in New York to teach high school English.
   * The basic Avatar Course consists of mental processes that induce a state of hypnotic trance. They are similar to those taught in Scientology, Raja yoga, Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Buddhist meditation, among other practices. Yet the materials are represented as "confidential," and students are required to sign a nondisclosure agreement that defines them as unpublished trade secrets.
   * Avatar Course trainers engage in mental manipulation by indoctrinating vulnerable students into the belief that the Avatar "network" is key to creating an Enlightened Planetary Civilization that holds the key to solving the woes of mankind.
   
   UNETHICAL AND ILLEGAL BUSINESS PRACTICES
   * Star's Edge and its licensees recruit students for a nine-day course to become "Masters" (individual trainers) licensed to deliver the basic Avatar Course. The conditions of full licensure are not fully disclosed beforehand.
   * Successful graduates receive a "provisional license." They are required to pay internship fees for an indefinite period until they become "qualified" by Star's Edge. Meanwhile, they are pressured to take successive trainer courses.
   * Qualification requirements are arbitrary and unpublished. The licensing contract allows Star's Edge unilaterally to revoke any license issued, without explanation or recourse.
   * Trainers are pressured to fix fees for the basic Avatar Course at the full "suggested" amount. This practice violates fair trade and competition regulations in virtually every jurisdiction worldwide where the Avatar Course is offered by independent licensees.
   * The licensing scheme is a pyramidal multilevel marketing operation with the primary objective of selling successive courses for the financial benefit of Star's Edge, rather than providing a viable business opportunity for licensees. As a result, the vast majority of those who completed the Master course have since failed and given up on teaching Avatar as a business.
   
   MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MALPRACTICE
   * Although Palmer falsely advertises himself as a psychologist, most of his works (including those registered as published) are claimed to be confidential, and have never been subjected to peer review.
   * During the top-level Wizard course (which costs $7,500) Palmer reveals to students that they are infested with multiple possessive spirits or "entities." These are similar to the implanted "body thetans" of Scientology lore.
   * Palmer has stated that these entities are the true cause of fatal illnesses, including AIDS and cancer. Their influence is said to be responsible for psychotic breaks that may occur during the basic Avatar Course.
   * As a result, Avatar Masters who have taken the Wizard Course sometimes spread unfounded rumors of miracle cures. Many claim that taking the Avatar Course(s) will enable students to cure themselves of various medical conditions, including bipolar disorder. This amounts to a fringe religious doctrine akin to those expounded by Scientology, Christian Science, the Jehovah's Witnesses, Voodoo and other groups that practice faith healing.
   * On the Wizard Course, students finally learn that Palmer is a sort of New Age messiah. This is the culmination of a progressive indoctrination into an occult belief system. It all began with the deceptive promise that the Avatar Courses only enabled students to examine and restructure their own personal and religious beliefs.
   
   Also in her later book Ask Your Guides, Sonia also references Dr. Emoto on the impact of thought energy on matter. Dr. Emoto's Ph.D. is also from a questionable unaccredited university and his findings were done not according to scientific protocol nor have his reports been peer-reviewed to maintain quality control. Before stating anything as gospel (even the gospel itself) do due diligence for your own good. If you see someone who is licensed you have recourse if they cause harm. Psychics are not regulated so it is "at your own peril"... and often at high fees (Sonia charges $800 USD/hour) you can never recover. My strongest criticism of Choquette despite her best intention is that she recommends homeopathy and flower essence remedies in the section on the throat (fifth) chakra. There is no evidence to this effectiveness apart from placebo and many of these products are not tested for safety in human consumption.
   
   To Sonia's credit, her suggestions to do The Hoffman Process, The Artist's Way, Gestalt, Imago Relationship Counselling, Improv, and get massages were a tremendous benefit to myself and others who read her books. Nonetheless, most people new to chakra work will like this introduction but the Eastern original take on the kundalini is the truer to source form.



3. This book came into my life at just the right time. It gave me concrete simple steps to help me with my spiritual journey. It also taught me about Chakras or energy centers, something I knew nothing about. It has really motivated me rediscover myself.



4. true balance shows some simple ways to balance yourself. it seems like a good introduction to the topic of energy balance. I was looking for more advanced techniques.



5. True Balance is a wonderful book that has helped me so much. It gives an explanation of the chakras and what each one does. From the first--the firm foundation--to the seventh--spiritual atunement with God. Choquette helps you acheive an even flow of energy where you have an imbalance. The third--your soveignity as a person, your decisions and your will to achieve your goals was particularly meaningful to me as it helped me to realize the need to respect myself, set my own priorities, and not expect others to take responsiblity for me. Respecting others and not intruding on their personal space is also part of this very important chakra. This wise insightful psychic gives practical down to earth advise to help you balance these seven physical/psychological centers on your body so that you can live a happier, more harmonious life.

5 comments about Setting Tile (Fine Homebuilding).

1. Like most Taunton Press publications, Setting Tile skews abit toward the art side of its trade, and it glosses over quite a few things that an absolute novice, or even a fairly skilled worker in another trade, needs in order to get a good result. As other have pointed out, he doesn't go into using mastics or epoxy-based mortars. But those seem like decisions based on his experience with the materials. He simply uses thinset. Enough said.
   
   One ommission that did seem a little odd was the lack of information about working with wet-wall installations. He only uses backer board, which for a worker/writer who is so thorough and skilled seems strange.
   
   Especially given the fact that he does such a great job of explaining, step by step, how to build a shower pan, which is a fussy, finicky, yet back-breaking job if there ever was one.
   
   One other fault (and this may be a fault of Taunton books in general): he doesn't help me anticipate errors. For example: Mr. Byrne recommeds that you fur out the backer board above a shower pan lining so that the board can hang over the lining without getting bumped out. And he recommends butter the back of the board with thinset where it mates with the lining (since you can't drive screws through the board as it would pierce the lining).
   
   Now a non-idiot (not me!) would know that the mortar would tend to push the backer board out, especially in the corners where the lining is folded to three times its typical thickness. Such a non-idiot would fur out a little extra and use a little less mortar.
   
   But not me: I butter the hell out of the back of the backer board and by the time the mortar set the board's bottom was out of pumb a good 3/16 of inch. Not a huge deal, until you try to make the tials look nice and perfect.
   
   So some idiot warnings would be nice. Sort of a follow my advice, but here are some things to watch out for.
   
   Then again, no taunton book I've ever owned (quite a few) does a good job with newbies.
   
   Regardless, this is a good, solid look at installing tile, especially installing and designing complex patterns. But you might need to augment it with something from Time Life say ;-)



2. Michael Byrne's work in both his book "Setting Tile" and his DVD "Tiling Floors with Michael Byrne" are excellent resources for beginners, and were I an experienced tile setter, I would say so for those folks, too.
   
   As a complete novice I recently completed my first tile project, re-doing my bathroom, some 50 square feet. In my opinion it turned out very well considering it was a first time effort. I relied heavily on Mr. Byrnes's works. That would be small by most accounts, but let me assure you, for me, it was large. I am in the process of doing another 500 square feet of work on a plywood substrate. After that I have another 500 feet downstairs on a concrete slab to do.
   
   He makes it simple for anyone to understand. These works will remain life-long resources in my personal library.
   
   While it is not possible to cover everything in any works like these, some areas I would suggest for improvement are some more clarification on areas around door jams in terms of doing the tiling around those, trimming them. More information on toilet removal and installation would have been helpful. The toilet borders on plumbing and that is a subject unto itself though. One more area that would be helpful is the area of cementitious backerboard. There are several kinds on the market and each has its own idiosyncracies.
   
   But if one is considering undertaking a project like this, you can always rely on Amazon.com for additional material.
   
   Works by Taunton Press, the publisher of these media are also recommended. But again, no one resource can be everything. And finally, there is no substitute to finding reliable people to talk things through.
   
   Again, I rate Mr. Byrnes's work as 5 Star.



3. We recently built our new home & I used this book & Tile Your World to do all the tile work. One of our best & proudest features is the masterbath I built with lg garden tub and oversized corner dual head shower with dual niche all tiled together - We love it. I can't believe I was able to do it all with friends & family and alot of sweat/work.
   
   Saved thousands over best few estimates. I see why the labor is so pricy now....
   
   Recommend both books.



4. Excellent book apparently. I got a copy for a friend who is tiling her bathroom. She thought it was a wonderful and informative publication and a must for anyone who is doing something of this nature.



5. This is a great book for learning to set tile. Don't rely on the info from your local hardware store... Get this book and learn how to do it right!

5 comments about Understanding Construction Drawings.

1. This book is laid out like a text book course of study, which I like, however one important thing to note is that there is no answer key for the tests. The answer key is a seperate book and I have been unable to locate it. Fortunately I work for a General Contractor and have been able to have my co-workers check my answers for accuracy. But as far as being a good source for systematic learning, this book definitely is.



2. The book itself is generally good quality and well-written. I'm learning about construction & drawings for the very first time, so some info was hard for me to really understand - not enough explanation and, oh yeah - the DRAWINGS that are referred to throughout the ENTIRE book - uh... are NOT included! I HOPE someone sees this comment so that perhaps an addendum to the book's description could really warn buyers what they're in for by trying to save money on the used book. Honestly, you really lose at least half the value by not being able to refer to the plans...so: BUYER BEWARE!



3. The book is very informative how ever i feel some of the questions could have been a little more precise in what they were asking. I needed the book for my construction management class when i was taking another class on materials and methods for construction so a lot of information overlapped which helped concrete it in.



4. The book came on time however there was a page of the plans missing. Other than that everything was good.



5. The book does not match with the drawings that are included. It has a lot of type-Os. It's very difficult to understand.

3 comments about Build Your Own Treehouse: A Practical Guide.

1. Build it and they will come! After having visited Mr. Barkley's truly amazing backyard of creations, we had to buy a copy of his book as a keepsake. The photographs are wonderful...so much better than ours. My husband is currently building a clubhouse on stilts for our daughter and will undoubtedly reference this book for ideas and instructions. You don't have to be a child to fall in love with the tree houses, various swings, many collectibles and gorgeous gardens. Everyone who has looked at our copy of the book has been impressed. If you are ever near Rochester, NY, I recommend a visit to the tree houses and a souvenir copy of his book.



2. I had the joy of climbing in and around the treehouses built by Mr Barkley with 4 of my grandchildren. His book is practical and contains lots of "how to" information with close up pictures and diagrams. His tree houses are a delight, and Mr & Mrs Barkley are friendly and generous hosts to their treehouse neighborhood. Lots of thought and planning went into the book, to make it a pleasant read and useable reference.



3. This is the fourth treehouse book I've bought. If it had been the first, it would probably have been the last. There isn't much he doesn't cover from site evaluation and preparation to safety gear. I like following in detail a single project to completion through the book.

5 comments about Stonework: Techniques and Projects.

1. Wonderful black & white pictures of stone walls, stone arches, stone bridges and sundry projects. The author makes much of ancient Scot stone work. There are a lot of nice pen drawings used for 'step by step' construction programs. There are many, many suggestions regarding stone choice and stone placement. These comments are the best feature of the book. Finally, there are a few pages on handling large stones with hydraulic booms, pick-up trucks and front-loaders. These suggestions are not going to be found in many books.
   
   There isn't much said about hand power-tool options, nor stone shaping. There are few 'construction tips'. For example, the details of mixing motar specific to your job are only broadly discussed and there are no aids for determining correct mortar wetness. There are no 'good' and 'bad' stone arrangements to illustrate stone arrangement tricks. If you are looking for a 'first project' guide, the Black & Decker 'Stonework & Masonry projects' book offers more assistance. If you've got a few walls completed and want to take the next step towards being a mason, this is your book.
   
   Table of Contents:
   Intro: Why stone?
   Part 1: Working with stone
   Chapter 1: Types of Stone
   Chapter 2: Sources of Stone
   Chapter 3: Handling Stone
   Chapter 4: Selecting Stone for a Project
   Chapter 5: Cutting and Shaping Stone
   Part 2: Stonework Projects
   Chapter 6: Basic and Inspired (curving) walls
   Chapter 7: Retaining walls
   Chapter 8: Entryways
   Chapter 9: Stone steps
   Chapter 10: Stone Projects for backyard and beyond (bbq, birdbath, sculpture, walkway, etc.)
   Chapter 11: Stone Bridges
   Chapter 12: Stone in Interior Spaces



2. If your looking for a book about stone masonry in general, this will give you a great primer for authentic stone masonry. He details some basic projects and gives you a great detailed how to. I was looking for something a little more advanced but I wished I had a resource like this when I was first starting out. Don't know if I agree with his technique for drystone retaining walls. He says start skinny and step back, I am a hard headed Irishman who believes that your wall should be just as wide at the base as it is tall. I will have to do some more research.
   
   Good read, very useful for beginners



3. Chuck will keep you smiling as your read his books. They contain plenty of humorous stories while they display the stone arts. There are better guides but you should read as many as possible: you'll need it.
   
   Stone work is the hardest task you'll probably ever do in your life. If your project is big, it seems to never end and you'll doubt you'll ever finish. One rock can take 2 hours to lay whereas if all goes well, you can lay 5 in an hour. So, if you are interested in stone work, I'd advise to start small on the first few projects. This book is a good guide to helping you along the way.



4. I really like the detail that this book has, as well as the fabulous pictures. The pictures not only of works in progress, but beautiful, finished works as well, often demonstrating the technique being presented. Thanks for a wonderful resource.



5. this books is a good intro to the fundamentals of stone working. there are a lot of great pictures and illustrated diagrams. it's only drawback in my opinion is that it's all in black and white. If you don't already own it, mcraven's "stone primer" is a wonderful read and superior in production quality.

No comments about Construction Project Scheduling and Control.