5 comments about Prestressed Concrete: A Fundamental Approach (5th Edition).

1. I used this book for a senior/graduate prestressed concrete class. The chapter headings looked appropriate. But the book is loaded with errors. As near as I can tell, no example in the book is correct. Early on I contacted the author about a few errors and got no meaningful response. Finally, I sent a partial list of errors and the names of my unfortunate students who bought the book to the publisher. They allowed my students to exchange the book.

   Recovering from selecting this book and switching to other resources cost me many hours. Although, going through the books by Collins and Menn was very useful.

   In my opinion, your best bet for a class is to contact PCI or start with M.P. Collins (out of print, but I found a used copy), the PCI handbook, and fundamental papers.




2. Sure there may be some typographical errors, but the subject of prestressed concrete design is itself complex and detailed. To address the complexity, the author lays down systematic methods that, in the end, is only limited to the abilities of professionals and students who use them. Furthermore, the structure of the subject matter and example problems offers practicing engineers a valuable reference for prestressed design.



3. Like all of Professor Nawy's books, this one is extremely badly written. There are numerous typos and mistakes, although some are kind of entertaining. The Reinforced Concrete Book for example discusses the "modulus of rapture" of concrete. The chapter on Unbonded Post-tensioning in the Concrete Construction book discusses "prostrating tendons".

   This is probably not a bad book for an experienced engineer, and might even be considered a useful exercise, since nothing in the book should be relied on without checking at least one other reference. It is not a book that should be used to learn prestressed concrete design however.




4. There are seven of us (structural engineer / bridge designer) have been using this book successfully for our daily bridge design.
   Our experience ranges from 20 + years to 3 + years. The clear detailed definition of each subject (theory), the recommended specifications from different organizations such as PCI, ACI, AASHTO, the step by step procedures, great example solutions and the flow charts gave us the opportunity not only to understand it well but also to be able to write it in several simple computer programs.
   We have been enjoying using Dr. Nawy's book for years.



5. This book is full of errors. The publisher will do great service to the engineering profession (to humanity by extension) by immediately withdrawing this book from the market. Unorganized, incoherent, almost schizophrenic.

5 comments about Treehouses: The Art and Craft of Living Out on a Limb.

1. I was looking for something practical to help me design and build a tree house for my 5 year old. This is a great book if you want to consider "possibilities". It helped a little, as well in terms of providing conceptual designs. It was not as good in providing detailed plans on how to build a specific tree house. If you are an experienced builder you could probably take what they have here and develop your own blueprints. If you are a novice,and need detailed plans this book will not get you there.



2. This book is 90% inspiration and 10% technical information. I don't think that there is enough information for someone wanting to build their own treehouse, but if you already have one of those books, then this one is a good companion for inspirational purposes.



3. Great Book, with lots of great pictures. Some technical stuff also. Another book that has a little bit on building tree houses is called "Shelters Shacks and Shanties by D.C. Beard. I love tree's myself but for you tree huggers complaining about a few nails, sheesh, your houses are full of lumber. Look in the walls at the studs, under the floors at the joists, kitchen cabinets, dining room table and chairs, bedroom furniture, etc. etc. so don't worry about a few nails in a tree eh, they love the iron in them anyhow!



4. I found the drawings of treehouse construction principles helpful and potentially life saving. The photos were beautiful and inspirational. This isn't the only treehouse building book I will own, but it was a good one to start out with.



5. I'm not sure what to think about this book. Sometimes I read it with joy. At other times I wonder why I bought it. Nice pics, little advice on building.

5 comments about House.

1. We're going through a major remodel, so I jumped at the opportunity to read this book. It's been a pretty good read, with fairly accurate descriptions of each party's position during the construction project. All parties come across as sympathetic and genuine, which make their conflicts more real. My biggest disappointment is that I wanted the analysis to be deeper so that I could takeaway lessons about what to do and what to avoid, but this isn't that kind of book.



2. If the Souweines were happy about their house, they probably weren't happy with this book. I got the feeling that Kidder set out to be totally impartial about all of the people in this book, but by the end, he was sick of the whiny Souweines, in the same way that the carpenters set out to do the absolute best work they could but finally just wanted to get er done.



3. As a builder myself, I find that Kidder presents a fascinating picture about the process of building a house. I, like the builders in the book, always try to create something beautiful and lasting. All I can say is that the homeowners got lucky in finding builders that care so much despite the owners' pettiness. All too often, I am called in to repair a job in which the builder did not care or the owner was trying to "cheap out" or both. Most of the time you get what you pay for. In this case the owners got lucky to find true gentlemen who loved their craft. This is a book espousing that truly talented craftsmen are worth so much more than their weight in gold. A side note, Bill Rawns's architecture firm is now huge and well decorated, and Jim Locke, one of the builders, has written his own book called "A Well-Built House".



4. Unlike most others, I disliked this book. I tried to get through it twice, separated by a few years, but I give up.
   
   I'd hoped that this would offer fresh insights to building, but it was simply a painful replay of the psycho-drama involved: who's going to take the risks, who's going to "win" in what is presented as a zero-sum game.
   
   No wonder so many people end up hating their builders, and no wonder builders approach customers with distrust!
   
   I'm a serial renovator and will soon be building from the ground up. I'd suggest that there IS another approach - it's called teamwork. Do the research and make the effort upfront and find a builder you can work with and trust. Keep them running a tight budget with multiple bids but be respectful of their risk too! It's possible to create an environment in which everyone wins: on projects this significant, it's worth working to create it.



5. I fell in love with these builders. I was so happy to see that Jim Locke did his own book and is apparently successful in his business. I just hope the others are too. There is so much slipshod work done these days - build it big, lots of fancy extras, lots of problems later.

2 comments about Rustic Fireplaces.

1. Beautiful book written by one of my favorite authorities on rustic!!! I enjoyed this book but had a few reservations . I own all of Ralph Kylloes books and love them but my complaint with this book was,( and he did address this in the book) alot of the pictures of fireplaces were in his previous books so I was already familiar with a majority of them, but he did manage to sneak a few new ones in also that were enjoyable to view. My other complaint would of been the fact the pictures were very small but Im also aware he probably had to do this alot as there were so many pictures and this in return made for a fully loaded book but I found myself using my magnifying glass to zoom in the details of each picture more clearly. Anyone out there building a rustic home or wanting to get ideas on remodeling their current fireplace or simply to treat themselves to some rustic eye candy- this book is for you. Although I myself already own a gorgous floor to ceiling river rock fireplace I still delight in seeing what other rustic lovers have!!! I like to see whats on the mantels, and what kind of andirons they use and fireplace screens as well, not to mention what the rest of the room looks like- these pictures have it all but in smaller scale.



2. You can get sooo lost in these beautiful photographs. After purchasing two, I'm sure to continue collecting Ralph Kylloe's books - what a pro!

4 comments about Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction: The Architect's and Builder's Guide to Design, Planning, and Construction Details (Ramsey/Sleeper Architectural Graphic Standards Series).

1. Following in the terrific legacy of the benchmark Architectural Graphic Standards book, this edition clearly makes building for residences an easier task. I've found innumerable details that I've used in my residential practice on a daily basis, details not found in other reference books. Of particular help are the pages that give an overview of how parts of a house interconnect with each other, such as foundation-to-framing. Also, there is a wealth of info on HVAC, new window technology and other things I've found very, very helpful.



2. Experienced readers will benefit from its brief summaries and drawings covering the broadest range of topics imaginable. Some economizing is evident in the paper and printing quality, some of the drawings look 50 years old, but there is lots of reference information, like span tables, solar position data, etc. Probably not the last word on every topic, but still worth consulting.



3. Although these editions change little, this review is based upon AGS 10th Ed. & AGSRC 2003.
   
   
   Negative:
   This is bascially a regurgitation of the more complete Architectural Graphics Standards, distilled to a "residential" focus but appears as volumous because some details have been photo-enlarged (in poor-average quality). Few, if any new residential details/information has been provided.
   
   Positive:
   Those ONLY interested in residential construction and NOT requiring a full brace of ALL details will find this quite a good value - compare its price to Architectural Graphics Standards.
   
   Recommendation:
   Anyone in construction should have one, but not both of these books as a prime resource. The content does improve every year, although some years it's like watching grass grow.
   
   Challenge:
   IF there are numerous portions of the Residential version that are unique and new to it, exclusive of passages in the larger AGS version - I would really appreciate a review that contains how to locate these passages, as I've spent enough time trying to find them. If enough of these exist, it would give thought of updating this resource once in awhile.



4. This book is an excellent reference book for use in designing, planning, and building a new house or remodeling an existing one. Whenever I plan on doing something on the house, I double check with this reference before finishing my designs and plans. It's a must own book for serious do-it-yourselfers.

5 comments about Basic Box Making.

1. I found the book to be good for ideas and technique. Great pictures. Very well organized from basic to more advanced. I especially liked the descriptions of useful jigs. Doug Stowe makes beautiful boxes. I have a basic skillset and this book was purchased to give me ideas on future projects. Taunton books are great to look at and filled with great ideas for all skill levels.



2. I just bought the book and did the cover project.Easy steps to follow.project came out great and I am begining the pencil box, however you must have a full woodworking shop,router,table saws,jointers etc.If your looking to make boxes with hand tools, this is not the book.



3. I bought this and the accompanying DVD. I recommend both as to use together. I have been wood working for over 30 years and this book is great for a beginner or season wood worker.
   
   It is easy to understand. There are some great ideas for jigs in the book that you can use for making boxes and also many other things.
   
   What you learn is how to use the power tools you have in a very creative way. The author takes you from the basic to the more complex in an easy to follow and do manner. It should give you the confidence and knowledge on how to create something special.
   
   I really like and enjoy this book. I think the DVD is great. I highly recommend



4. I bought this book and happy to give it 5 stars. This is a great tutorial in box making, which I do. The only higher recommendation that I can make is to buy the DVD which is awesome.



5. Well written, easy to understand basics, and plenty of photos and diagrams.
   Well worth the price to expand your horizons in box making.

1 comments about Electrician's Exam Study Guide (McGraw-Hill's Electrician's Exam Study Guide).

1. A good start for the journeyman electrician test prep. This book is an excellent text book and is used by a local technical college in an electrical training course. The practice exam questions are on target with the Experion, Block, ICC, and Tompson-Prometric tests I have taken. By using this text and a loose leaf copy of the NEC an apprentice should be able to pass their exams with flying colors.

2 comments about Construction Contracting: Business and Legal Principles (2nd Edition).

1. At first I was disappointed when I realized the book was written primarily as a teaching text for senior students in baccalaureate university programs in construction engineering or construction management. However, the book is so well written and full of case law references that I was immediately provided with excellent material for two in-process construction claims packages.



2. I was terribly disappointed in this book. I teach construction law at a community college and was assigned to use this book my first semester. I'll not use it again. The organization of the information was questionable. Many statements contained in the book were flat wrong or presented only a misrepresentative portion of a bigger picture. Many key topics were completely unaddressed. I can say that where the book is correct, the information is presented in plain English and provides the student with useable information about the basics.

5 comments about The Black & Decker Complete Outdoor Builder: From Arbors to Walkways: 150 DIY Projects (Black & Decker Complete Guide).

1. As a do-it-yourselfer, this is a wonderful addition to my DIY library. The pictures are colorful and add to the project explanation and the directions are clear and consise.



2. This book is worth all others on this subject. It is good money saver for me.



3. I have dozens of these "how to" books in my library and was most impressed with not only the concepts, but the instructions this book offered. This book could keep the outdoor handyman busy for a dozen summers. Very well done and most original.



4. Black & Decker is of course synonymous with power-tools, but less well known is that they make really excellent how-to books as well. This one is outstanding. If your interested in carpentry, masonry, and landscaping design, this book is first rate. The emphasis here in on things like fences, gazebos, stone walls...things with an outdoor landscaping theme. There is also excellent coverage of decks, porches, and sheds, too. A nice and very comprehensive book. Tons of color and detailed illustrations. You can't go wrong with the B & D series or the Better Homes and Gardens series.



5. This softcover, colored picture book is the one to have. Be sure to have a pad of Post-It notes handy because you'll be marking pages for future reference. I saw this book in my local mall's bookstore and thumbed through the pages. I liked it so much I went home and ordered from Amazon.com for $[...] less than the bookstore and also received free shipping!
   
   I bought this book because I've been trying to design a porch and deck. Most books have deck plans and ideas but nothing about porches. This book had pictures and detailed diagrams complete with top and side elevations. It showed beam layouts and spans with measurements.
   
   Of course there are many other sections in this book about pathways, patios, fences, walls, gates, sheds, outbuildings, and outdoor accessories such as kids' play structures, raised garden beds, fire pits, and many more. This is a great reference guide for all of us who love to build things but sometimes need guidance. It'll be the best investment under $[...] you'll make.
   
   Bruce Campbell
   Camden, Delaware

5 comments about How Smart Is Your Baby?: Develop And Nurture Your Newborn's Full Potential (Gentle Revolution).

1. Few modern, working parents (the author advocates against working mothers, by the way) have the time or resources to build the variety of apparatuses required for this program. Crawling track? Neck brace? Unlikely for most of us. Our parental instinct also (wisely) makes us wary of some of the more dangerous activities promoted by the author.
   
   The book does, however, give readers some interesting tools for evaluating their babies' reflexes and developmental responses at a depth well beyond what pediatricians assess in routine visits. And it offers a variety of activities (again, employ your parental discretion) designed to demonstrate and build upon babies' natural abilities, as well as their desire to bond with their parents.
   
   If you pick and choose, this book offers some valuable information and interesting activities. But take it all with a grain of salt....
   



2. I loved the book. I would suggest it to all parents. If you are too lazy to build the crawling track then I don't know why you would read the book anyways. I suggest you watch some late night paid programming that guarantees the impossible with no work.



3. Several other reviewers have already praised this book, and so at first I was not going to add to the chorus. But then I noticed a few calling it "impractical" or "cheesy," and advising readers to "take it with a grain of salt." That got my dander up, so here goes:
   
   I am well acquainted with the Doman program for neurological stimulation, since I took my brain-injured son (then 18 months old) to their Institutes in 1986 and kept him on their Intensive Program for the next four years. During that time, he went from complete immobility to walking with perfect coordination, among other astonishing improvements. (No one who knew him then would say that this "would have happened anyway.") The same techniques discussed in this book were part of his daily regimen back then.
   
   Late in life, I became a parent again, and this time my son was born 7 weeks early. On discharge from the hospital, we found ourselves referred to numerous public agencies that proposed to follow our baby's development, since preemies often experience delays. I recoiled from those resources, because in my earlier experience they'd proved worse than useless. My first son wasted a precious year and a half of his early life while we waited for someone to tell us what could be done. Anyway, if this new baby might need extra help, I already knew to start providing it without waiting for him to start missing milestones.
   
   An old friend who once worked at the Institutes mentioned that this book had recentely been published. I ordered it, built the crawling track per its specs, and am now beginning to admire the results. This baby is going to surprise some people when his next assessment comes up!
   
   The point I hope to make with all this is that a baby emphatically does not have to be disabled or at risk to benefit from the kind of stimulation recommended by the Domans. Children -- and families -- can thrive on a joyously implemented home program. Such a program will always be misunderstood by folks who have some philosophical objection to the pursuit of excellence, and I have no patience for debating with them. But if you're intrigued, do consider it. While I think most stuff marketed to eager young parents is unnecessary at best, the information in this book is vitally important. If you're expecting a baby, please read it. If you know someone who's expecting, what a gift this would be!



4. a must have. so unhappy that hv it when my daughter is 5mth now. but still help!!!!very organized &easy to follow. step by step method. highly recommended!!!



5. I did not find this book to be practical or helpful at all. Better books include: Einstein Never Used Flash Cards; Baby Minds; and Raise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten.