5 comments about The Backyard Lumberjack.

1. 
   This is a fun and informative book. I recommend it for anyone considering doing anything
   with wood before burning it. The book covers every step from tree to ashes, but there
   is something in it for those that start with delivered log lengths, or shorter pieces,
   split or unsplit.
   
   I've been cutting and splitting wood for about 20 years, mostly purchased log lengths,
   but also some trees on my lot. The only mistake I found was a one time confusion between
   BTUs and Kilowatt Hours. The sections about limbing and bucking were correct, but a few
   more examples and illustrations might have made them even better.
   
   A substantial part of the book is not needed in an instruction manual. There are stories
   about people (characters) the authors have known, sermons about the good life burning wood,
   even a description of lumberjack competitions. You might not laugh as often as I did, but
   if you don't smile frequently, you really are a grump.



2. There's more to cutting wood than swinging an axe. Learn the finer points of wood splitting in this book.



3. This is a great all-purpose book if you have a woodlot or even if you don't. It covers just about everything you ever wanted to know about trees, identifying them, felling them safely, splitting, stacking, aging and burning them! We heat our house exclusively with wood, most of it taken off our property, and have found this book (like most Storey publications) to be genuinely useful.



4. I just bought a chainsaw for my 12-acre woooded property, and after reading the manual cover to cover, I was terrified of using it. This book was very helpful, and the pictures were great. It has given me some confidence that when I get out there, I will know what I am doing.



5. This is an ok book. Probably the most helpful info was the section on how to cut down a tree. Not worth keeping on the personal library shelf and I don't recommend buying it. I'm sorry I bought it.

5 comments about Quality Toolbox.

1. This is just about the most relevant and useful quality book I have come across. It provides a comprehensive library of tools to use to solve different kinds of problems. Many of the tools covered in this book are covered elsewhere, but in this case the author has a knack for guiding the reader through a set-by-step process in a way that it was very easy for me to instantly apply the tools to my job.
   
   I also welcomed the fact that the book covers the overall history of the different quality methodologies. This is important because there are many choices to be made when it comes to choosing a quality methodology, so knowing where a tool came from helps you determine whether it applies to your particular problem.
   
   If your job relates to quality, this is money well spent.



2. This is one of the best books I have ever reviewed. It is so easy to know the quality tools but understanding the tools is the key to effective implementation. The book provides a comprehensive review of all the tools in the quality profession with indexed case studies and applications. I use the quality tools while training Meirc participants on Total quality, six sigma, simplification of work processes and procedures in Dubai seminars and it is certainly has gained our participants lots of benefits on applying these tools. I would highly recommend this book for all quality professionals in the quality management and training.



3. This book is so well done. For Six Sigma and Quality professionals it will become one of your most well worn books.



4. I got this book as part of a college course i was doing, but in reality it is so good it has helped me out in my job. There are times in our jobs when we dont get a chance to do new things and this book actually makes it very simple to introduce new initiatives. I would highly recommend this book to anyone considering a career in quality mangement.



5. I am a CQE & Six Sigma Black Belt and have owned this book for a little over two years now. This book provides a very handy and useful reference for the tools used in problem-solving, quality management, six sigma and project management as well. The Tool Matrix in the first chapter divides the tools under various categories and helps to identify the right tool needed for a certain stage or situation.
   
   The chapter on Quality Improvement Stories show the use of these tools in successful continuous improvement projects. The quality tools are arranged in alphabetical order with details like when, what and how with a very relevant example.
   
   This text is recommended for anyone in the area of quality/process improvements. It is a learning book for beginners and reference for advanced users.

5 comments about Mexicocina: The Spirit and Style of the Mexican Kitchen.

1. The pictures are glorious and the text is very well written, concise and informative. I have travelled to many of these kitchens with Betsy McNair and it's like taking the tour all over again. There's no better guide to Mexico than Ms. McNair. She really knows the history and the people. If you can't go with her in person then the book is the next best thing.



2. My husband and I are building a new home in Mexico and wanted to make sure we kept it as authentic as possible, thus the book orders. This particular book is filled with spectacular photos of Mexican kitchens ranging from the most spectacular to the more common. Each page is filled with building ideas as well as decorating inspirations. Who would have thought of collecting beautifully carved wooden spoons for a wall display ! The authors include much narrative explaining background of the kitchens and various decorations/selections, as well as history. Everyone will enjoy the brilliant colors and artwork as each page is turned.



3. I ordered Mexicocina because I was looking for decorating ideas for my kitchen. But, I found so much more! This book is not only equipped with beautiful Mexican kitchens, but also the history behind the kitchens, and tasty recipes. Me and my husband's favorite country to visit is Mexico. This book gave us some great information on bed and breakfasts in different areas of Mexico.
   
   This is a great coffee table book too!
   
   Thank you,
   Adrianna



4. I'm addicted to Mexican style, colors, and design aesthetics. This newest book in the "Mexi-" series focuses entirely on kitchens. The photos are profuse with color, light, and (if you love this stuff the way I do) decorating ideas!
   
   As a bonus, if you own all the books in this series (Mexicolor, Mexicasa, In a Mexican Garden, and Mexicocina), they themselves become a terrific Mexican-style design accent placed together on your bookshelf. :-)



5. If you have a Spanish style home, or are merely interested in decoration, this is simply a wonderful book. The kitchens are all brilliant with color and festive with decoration. Lots of tile, alcoves, and sunny spaces captivate the eye. This is happy book, and full of inspiring ideas.

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.

5 comments about Letitia Baldrige's New Manners for New Times: A Complete Guide to Etiquette.

1. I originally requested this book for Christmas because of both Ms. Baldrige's conservative reputation and the fact that it was said to address the roles of gays and lesbians in the family. I was not disappointed. It is a fabulous general etiquette book that my mother could respect and would read. And it includes my lifestyle too!

   With so much controversy going about these days regarding the definition of family, Ms. Baldrige provides us with guidelines that allow all of us to congregate in peace and without shame. Her anecdotes effectively illustrate her points and are quite funny at times. She also obviously knows how to have a good time-- and in a way that is level-headed and won't alienate those at the more conservative end of the spectrum.

   Ms. Baldrige is one of those sort of people you really have to work hard to dislike. And her years of experience lead to a wise commentary that is hardly dated. In her own way, she gives all family members permission to love one another without a bunch of anxiety over who is doing what that isn't anyone's business anyway. And she provides all the tools you need, in the form of advice, to throw a great party. When's the next family reunion? I actually want to go now! :-)




2. In this updated guide to ettiquette for modern times, she addresses marriage etiquette in "blended" families. In her NEW Etiquette for Executives, which is a bit outdated, a woman should dress according to her profession. Seeing a woman move up the ranks at the local transit system, going from old-fashioned denim dress with boots to cover the rest of her, to dressing like a common street walker, I had to make a comment, "You need to dress professional." Her boss, attired in orange pants and ball cap at a special "Meet the Manager" day, dressed down to what he perceived is the level of the riders; he asked me, "Do you think I should be wearing a suit?" and I merely said, "I will tell you what I did Ms. P, "You should dress professional." The rudeness of some transit employees show their disrespect for the older person of different races and for their job. When we get on that bus, our lives are in the hands of these rude, surly, prejudiced persons who say derogatory remarks to and about passengers in front of others. They can refuse to stop to pick you up at their discretion, and they take advantage of that. It's not just bad manners. It shows how regressed a certain percentage of the population has become. They are ignorant and uneducated, and show it.
   
   A man should never wear frayed shirt collars and cuffs no matter what the occasion is. I saw a local celebrity on the sidewalk outside his office with a torn place on his pants leg. Some people have no pride in their work or position in the community. Her advice: "Know who you are" and dress accordingly. In the Northeast, you must never wear white shoes and accessories after Labor Day, but that doesn't apply to the South.
   
   A good rule for both sexes is 'Never dress in clothes that are too tight; they make a thin person look gaunt and a large person twice as heavy. Well said.' Those people not interested in how they are perceived dress according to the weather and, even in public, wear ill-fitting casual wear. If they could just see themselves from the rear!
   
   Ms. Baldrige has lived a glamorous life as a diplomat for the United States government, has been there, done that, and knows how to help others to act in a manner befitting a Queen. Her non-fiction book, OF DIAMONDS AND DIPLOMATS, relates her years with the Kennedy administration.



3. Author Letitia Baldrige worked as Social Secretary to an ambassador in Paris, Special Assistant to an ambassador in Rome, and the Social Secretary to the White House and chief of staff for Jaqueline Kennedy - and this book reads like it.
   
   If you live on Manhattan's swanky Upper Eastside, throw lavish dinner parties for visiting dignitaries, and vie for a place on a high profile hospital or not-for-profit board this is the book for you. If, on the other hand, you feel a little clueless about the basic rules of etiquette and would like to use the right fork at a fancy dinner party, you might want to try a book like "Etiquette for Dummies." Baldrige comes across as a very warm and friendly person. She write eloquently and engagingly about the very heart of etiquette - respecting other people's feelings and acting accordingly. But most readers really don't need a book of this length that outlines the proper behavior for dinner with the president (no exaggeration). Comprehensive - yes. Entirely practical to most mere mortals - no.



4. If you're looking for just one etiquette reference, this is the one. It touches on everything without being intimidatingly exhaustive. Baldridge offers additional helpful thoughts on situations one is likely to encounter in today's life--multicultural celebrations, funerals in other traditions, wedding invitations to same-sex couples--without being sappy or condescending. Having perused several similar books, I also found that this one has the best treatment of business and professional etiquette. Easy to read, entertaining, helpful, and never loses sight of the main point. Was an excellent gift for my soon-to-graduate-college sister--those pesky etiquette dilemmas start popping up quickly.



5. This book is terrific. It has everything in it. Before I do anything (go to a wedding, a funeral, write a thank you note or condolence note, throw a party), I look it up in this book. It really is wonderful. I never feel as though I don't know what to do. She gives advice for how to dress, how to act, what to say when you are at a loss for words, and anything else you need.
   
   I'm not an upper-crust socialite, and this book is my guide to life. I love it and would whole-heartedly recommend it to anyone.

5 comments about The Book of Masonry Stoves: Rediscovering an Old Way of Warming.

1. As mentioned, the book is not a modern day catalog, but a historical look at masonry stoves dating back to the first harvesting of fire by humans. Fascinating look at the historical developments, especially around the middle ages
   to the nineteenth centtury. Also includes many examples from non-western cultures. Many informative diagrams and photos portraying the myriad styles. Appropriate for the uninitiated.
   Not an overly technical review.



2. I wouldn't have thought a book about stoves would be such interesting reading, but this really is a good book. I bought it in hopes that I'd be able to attempt to build a stove myself. That did not happen, in fact I'm not even sure what type of stove I'd like. However, the book has increased my faith in a wood stove keeping my home comfortable, and be environmentally sound. I liked the writing style, which is pretty rare for a book of this type. There were times when I couldn't put it down. Honestly, I was on this page again to sell my book, but now I find I'm not ready to let it go, so I'm writing a review instead.
   
   While it is old and could probably be updated, the art of the wood stove is also old, so much of the most valuable information may be old as well. Certainly, history has a lot of lessons to teach us about masonry stoves. Also, the book talks about past mistakes of masonry stoves, so if you're thinking about building your own, this would be good reading.



3. great refrence book, it goes back to the beginning of the use of fire indoor as heat, then goes into masonry heaters. lots of nice pictures also.



4. This is an outstanding and comprehensive book on a timely subject which is gaining renewed interest. Even though it's a bit out of date on the calendar the information is still right on target.



5. When I started flipping through this book, I became excited -- very excited. This is not a Black & Decker complete guide to masonry stoves. There are no step-by-step instructions on how to build a masonry stove. You cannot walk into the Home Depot and buy a masonry stove or a masonry stove kit. But this book is an absolute treasure trove of theory and diagrams (many historical, but we learn from the past, right?) which, with a little imagination and chatting with your local building inspector, can potentially yield results in the form of energy-efficient, high quality heating for your home -- and, depending on your execution, much more aesthetically pleasing than the forced-air beast currently occupying your basement.

5 comments about A House on the Water: Inspiration for Living at the Water's Edge.

1. As a landscape designer, I was consistenly impressed with how these wonderful houses fit into their site, lifting out the critical views and respecting the nature of the place. Having enjoyed the houses that Robert Knight designs, I was pleased to learn why his houses and those selected for his book are so satisfying to see and experience. O'Rourke's photographs are spectacular and with the plans, really help to visualize the structure and the setting and how they fit together. Design professionals and homeowners alike with whom I've shared this book rave about it. A perfect gift for friends and family!



2. I found this book both educational and handsome in content and in photography. As an architect practicing in different regions of the country, I'm always thankful for having opportunities to do design work in Maine. Maine, as a place to live, is simply wonderful and unique, but the sense of peace in these "Houses on the Water" is elevated creating a noble inspiration for the reader.



3. This book is wonderful at capturing the rare beauty of various architectural wonders through vivid photographs and welcoming text. You never get bored flipping through this book and it is incredibly inspiring. It combines several differently designed homes that will appeal to a variety of readers. Reading this book is like daydremaing on paper. Highly recommended.



4. I was excited to get this book in the mail, as I thought it would have some real good ideas on how to build a larger home on the water that had some character. I found most of the homes rather odd, homes for people that would name their children Jupiter or Flower. I am back today ordering more books. Also most homes either are RIGHT on the water or set back in rock. Didn't find much in the way of regular 100ft setback from the water, woods, maybe a walkout basement type of MN lakes home. There was one from WI but again, it was right on the water, which you normally can not build now days.



5. If you are about to build a home...or just enjoy seeing the details that make other structures a "home" then you will love this book...
   
   Very informative...beautifully executed...homerun all the way...

5 comments about Color: The Secret Influence (2nd Edition).

1. This book is like Reader's Digest. It trys to cover too much subject matter and winds up turning into a survey. It says a little about a lot. I returned it.



2. This is the best book on color I've ever found. It gives a really comprehensive overview of how color affects your entire life. If you want to redecorate your home, or influence people by how you dress, or learn how to use color to make your life healthier you absolutely must read this book. Color: The Secret Influence really goes way beyond anything I've ever read about color before in showing how it totally affects our lives. It clearly states that the serious study of color is in its beginning stages but it also gives an amazing amount of information that anyone can use today, right now to make their lives better. You've gotta read this book!



3. The book was in fairly good condition. But ,I paid to have it shipped in two days, It didn't come for 2 weeks!!



4. This was a required textbook for a color course at Colorado State and was truly a poor choice. The content was overly generalized and sometimes simplified to the point of being meaningless. At other times, it was simply wrong. Comments on the cultural significance of specific colors were often inappropriate or perhaps the product of careless or stereotypical thinking. For example, there is an assertion that all Buddhist monks always wear yellow robes dyed with saffron because yellow is such an important color in that culture. (That culture? Buddhism is the dominant religion in multiple countries throughout Asia. Are they all to be lumped into one inaccurate stereotype?) My own travels tell me that only Thai Buddhist monks wear yellow robes dyed with tumeric (saffron is far too expensive for monks to use as dye!). In Burma and Tibet, Buddhist monks wear maroon robes and in Japan, indigo or black sometimes mixed with white. Because of these kinds of identifiable inaccuracies and the general tone of simplistic sweeping assertions, I doubted the content that I couldn't verify by my own experience and found the book worse than useless. There are so many other books available on color, why choose one as poor as this?



5. I'm a student taking a color class at my local junior college and this is the required text. This book is the most awkward book I've ever read. The authors continually repeat themselves and ramble on about nonsense. The authors actually have the exact same sentences repeated within a chapter. This book is poorly written and poorly edited; there are misspellings, and incorrect information! While discussing complementary color schemes, the authors explain that complementary schemes involve colors directly opposite on the color wheel. Then they list the following examples "red-green", "blue-yellow", and "orange-violet". These exampes are INCORRECT. Blue and orange are complements, as are yellow and violet. If the author can't get such a simple statement correct, it seriously comprimises the rest of the text. In short, this book is simply the most awkward, frustrating book I've ever read. Please please please, spare your sanity and buy another book on color.

5 comments about Building Electric Guitars: How to Make Solid-Body, Hollow-Body and Semi-Acoustic Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars.

1. I am in the final stages of my first electric guitar. Just about another 10 coats on the neck and a little wiring. Terrible pictures, great info. I find myself refering to Melvyn Hiscock's book (Make Your Own Electric Guitar 2nd edition) for the great (how to) photos and schematics. Both books were a great help. HINT... If this is your first guitar, DON'T use poly-urathane on the neck or body. The book says don't also. So I did. Looks OK now but would have saved me alot of hours if I used lacquer as recomended. I am using autobody (spray can) clear on the neck and it looks great. Have fun



2. Wow, there is a lot of info packed into this book. I agree with most of the other reviewers in that the appearance could be improved. Photos aren't as good as they need to be, but Mr. Koch does a great job of explaining things and the written content is excellent. The only other weak spot, for me, was not enough wiring info for the semi-acoustic version, which is what I intend to build. However, Mr. Koch is accessible and he graciously answered my questions. I'm well pleased with this book.
   
   Ron



3. I purchased this book to aide me in my quest to produce a solid body electric ukulele. I'm having some difficulty understanding the electronics but every other part is easy to understand.



4. Book arrived in excellent condition within the time frame stated. My son was very excited and is working on building his first guitar.



5. I recently purchased this book and I'm impressed at the breadth of information meticulously presented within this book, including how to make your own pickups and how to prepare your wood if you happen to be gung ho enough to saw your own lumber.
   
   I'm not exactly sure how a few others drew the conclusion that this book was poorly organized since my copy seems to be organized clearly enough, unless they have earlier printings. The illustrations and images in my copy seem to be clear enough too as I suspect the author has applied a great deal of effort to tweak later printings to improve his book.
   
   The only downside is that one needs a bit of patience when reading, since Koch is so detailed. This book isn't exactly "Guitar Building for Dummies." On the other hand, patience can be a life and limb saver when operating sharp power tools--so think of his book as a lesson in Zen as well as in lutherie.

5 comments about Horses Don't Lie: What Horses Teach Us About Our Natural Capacity for Awareness, Confidence, Courage, and Trust.

1. A friend and fellow horse lover loaned me this book. I found that as I read it I learned more about my equine partners. Being a trainer, horsemanship instructor for people and certified in equine assisted psychotherapy, I am always trying to learn more about horses, people and the interactions between them. I found this book helpful especially in understanding some of the confidence and fear issues that my clients have when it comes to working with their horses. It is not always easy to empathize with them when you have never experienced these same issues. This book gave me a deeper perspective and awareness when it comes to working with both horses and their owners.
   
   I think every new horse owner should read this book before they buy a horse, because there is a lot more to horse ownership than getting the horse to do things physically so that you can ride them. There are plenty of books about the physical and mechanical aspects of training, however many leave out the mental and emotional stablility of the horse and rider. This book is a nice bridge to fill that gap, because it helps us understand how the horse thinks, and why he does what he does.
   
   Thank you Chris for sharing your experiences and insight about the psychology of horses and how they can make us more aware of our own issues. I have quoted from this book in the equine psychology classes that I teach my students.



2. This book presented good insight into the horse/human bond and the understanding that can occur between the two. It was helpful especially in the presentation of the point of view of the horse as a prey animal. The author is particularly aware of this viewpoint as he deals with horses and is able to make it clear to the reader. He is amazed, as we are when we read his accounts, of the unusual trust that the horse has in humans, since we are predators. I found that this point of view stuck with me as I worked with my horses after I read the book. I found myself more aware and grateful to my horses for their trust.



3. I'm sure that the author is a great horse person. However, I never got the relationship between horse traits and our traits. Yes, horsses teach us patience, awareness and leadership. However, there are not a number of examples that demonstrate how that happens in the author's experience. The book rambles. The author speaks mostly in generaalites. Interwoven is the facts of Irwin's life with horses. I work with horses. I've read many "Horse" books. This is not one I'd recommend.



4. As a horse person,riding instructor, and seeker, I was happy to see a man writing about his journey. Everything he spoke of, I have experienced with horses. It was good to have it in words.



5. This book is not a "new age" feel good book. It doesn't only tell you about why horses are good therapists for those of us who are hooked on horses. It talks about training issues that arise because Man is a Predator, and horses are Prey animals. Our "language" toward them is always naturally predatorial! We are SO rude!! It gives you a lot to think about.