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 Workbench Silencers: The Art Of Improvised Designs (Silencers).

1. Ignore the people who say it is illegal or this books is useless. They know not what they say and have likely never even made or owned a suppressor.
   
   For the money, this is a great basic book on suppressors.
   
   The nay sayers have no idea of the BATF NFA Title II process that legally allows one to make a suppressor using a Form 1 (5320.1) (see www.atf.gov and click on forms then guns for form 1). You need to make sure your state and possibly county/city will allow you to make or possess a suppressor. MOST states allow suppressor ownership!
   
   This book gives one a great starting point to understand how a suppressor works. It is not meant as a do-all / know-all. For that, buy some of the others authors well written books. It is easy reading and gives a person the basic knowledge of how they work.
   
   Various websites provide information on how to buy or sell suppressors. Use Google to look around for sites, such as www.subguns.com.



2. It's a decent starting reference for those wanting to delve into 22 cal. silencer experimenting. Good pictures and lots of details on how to make examples in book.



3. This book might make you think you can manufacture a suppressor with your pocket change, and you can, but you'll probably end up wounded, maimed, jailed, or dead. The pressures created by modern firearms requires fairly precise engineering to build a safe, functional suppressor. Other requirements such as accuracy, securing the suppressor to the weapon, maintainence etc, require the same level of engineering effort. But this book does have a purpose, it serves as a perfect example of how not to manufacture a suppressor, AND, to bring those out of the woodwork who think we should not be allowed to exercise our First Amendments Rights. Case in point is the reviewer who thinks the law should keep tabs on those who purchase books of this topic and then come get us. But if you are new to this topic the book is useful as a way to learn how to identify unsafe features of home made suppressors. And remember, many people in the emergency room (and many serving a sentence) got there with this famous phrase, "Hey, check this out!".



4. This book does a tremendous job of de-mystifying firearms and muzzle blast.
   
   It is interesting to read and should never be called "amusing" or fun to read since the author diligently researched the topic.
   
   The book describes how to use 12 ounce soda cans, plumbing tools such as clog busters and how to thread them to common weapons such as a Ruger Mk 22, Colt .45 and Norinco SKS including how to fit attachments to the barrels using simple plumbing fittings.
   
   The author apologizes immediately in the forward section with the disclaimer he never made any of the devices depicted in the book since doing so is a major crime and the man can't admit to that in writing !!!
   
   Regardless of whether or not it is illegal or what makes it illegal in different jurisdictions, this is an interesting book.



5. 
   I came across references to this work while researching improvised silencers and decided to check it out. The author writes a good introduction to the subject of silencers in general and then goes on to show how objects such as aluminum cans and oil filters can be used as components for improvised disposable silencers. Photos of all the components of the silencers are shown, followed by photos of the assembly process, leaving no doubt that the components can indeed be assembled and attached to the end of a gun barrel as demonstrated. This gives the book a plausibility not evident in works that show only drawings.
   
   I also found no evidence of the supposed deficiencies cited by some of the other reviewers. Yes, the author does state that he didn't really make or test any of the silencers in the book (wink, wink, nudge, nudge), that the finished products are just plaster of paris-filled dummies stuck on the ends of guns (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). But I took this as a ruse by the author to keep his butt out of trouble with the ATF. What of the allegations that soda can silencers won't work on larger caliber weapons, that the author doesn't take into account the pressure generated by the larger caliber weapons, and that the author knows nothing about silencer maintenance? Well, the only soda can silencers in the book are for .22 caliber, not larger caliber. The author specifically discusses problems associated with the higer pressures generated by larger caliber weapons in a highlighted section on p. 47. And finally, disposable silencers require no maintenance because they are disposed of (duh!) after use.

5 comments about Prefabulous: The House of Your Dreams Delivered Fresh from the Factory.

1. This is a terrific book that I use in my daily business as a REALTOR who is specializing in affordable, green, prefab solutions for my clients.Prefabulous: The House of Your Dreams Delivered Fresh from the Factory



2. Fairly good. But thought maybe it would have had something included about the Dome houses also.



3. Lots of good pictures, but VERY LITTLE indepth and/or technical info about processes and products. Not for someone interested in really learning much about factory fabrication, except "look what we can do".



4. Usually, I find books like this very disappointing. I actually checked this one out of the library to make sure it was worth the money before I bought it. All I can say is YES, it's worth purchasing, and I cannot wait to receive my copy.
   
   This book is a really good introduction to prefab housing options and building materials, with photos spanning the basic models to very VERY high-end examples of the houses that can be built using this approach. (I have to agree with the reviewer who said that, if you want a really in-depth look at the technical side of the process, this is not the best choice for you.) "Prefabulous" manages to make a potentially-daunting subject accessible to readers without being overly light and fluffy or using that condescending tone that so many of these types of books have. Likewise, it's been very handy to show this book to family members and neighbors who are interested in prefab housing as an idea, but don't know anything (yet!) about the nuts and bolts of the process. This book has been really eye-opening for them because of its beautiful photos and well-written, clear, concise text.
   
   All this being said, I should probably explain that I have a Masters Degree in Urban/City Planning from an "Ivy-league" university. Even with my academic and professional training, I found this book to be very informative and fully anticipate that it will be a fine addition to my personal library.



5. In the author's 3/22/07 post in her blog above, she states, "In today's world I believe we are all concerned about preserving our resources and saving energy - prefab construction is an excellent option towards both of those ends." Her book, however, presents huge prefab houses as examples of this perspective. Of the 25 houses in the book, 12 are in the 5000 - 12,000+ sq. ft. range. No matter what construction method is used, excessive materials and space waste natural resources and energy.
   
   Given that the author's previous book was Modular Mansions, it's not surprising that she recommends such wasteful houses. It is highly unfortunate, however, that Sarah Susanka, author of The Not So Big House, chose to write the forward for this book. She said, "Prefab is definitely an idea whose time has come, and this is the book that tells us how to make it happen". Did she even look at the book before writing that recommendation? It is a total contradiction from her own books and apparent philosophy towards building houses that minimize resource use.

5 comments about The Ultimate Serger Answer Guide: Troubleshooting for Any Overlock Brand or Model (Creative Machine Arts Series).

1. If you are new to serging or even experienced, you will find this book a valuable asset in your sewing library. I am new to serging and have found it to be a very helpful. Most owner/instruction manuals tell you how to thread and use your machine but don't get into a lot of detail about the actual how-to of serging or problem-solving. This book covers everything from needles to sewing with various types of threads to troubleshooting with lots of illustrations and photographs.
   
   There is a reason why people buy sergers and never use them. Unlike sewing machines, sergers are a little more complicated and can be down right intimidating, so good reference books are a MUST! This book, along with "The New Singer Sewing With A Serger", have been very helpful to me. Sergers are great machines and reference books such as this will give you the confidence and ability to get through problems and master your serger.



2. My wife was a first time user of a serger that I bought her for Christmas (I know - great Christmas gift - but it was what she wanted!) - anyways, she tells me that this book is very helpful for providing a lot of useful hints past the basic instructions you get with a new serger - she would recommend it for anyone who usually needs just a little more hints tht a basic instruction guide provides



3. I am looking to buy a serger, and this book is helping me decide what features I should look for. I find this book to be very informative and is layed out well for easy skimming. This book came to me highly recommended, and I now can highly recommend it.



4. I had borrowed this book from the local library and knew I had to have one on hand as a reference guide. It's primarily a trouble-shooting book, (you won't find creative techniques or project ideas) so if you know that up-front, you can't find a better book of its type. It covers everything from understanding and making adjustments to tensions to telling you where to look for typical causes of malfunctions. (I could have saved a trip to the repair shop a few months ago if I had this book and known my breaking needle was caused by improper threading -- who'd have guessed!?) It also has a wonderful section of photos showing the use of unexpected threads in the loopers to create decorative finishes and giving tips and difficulty ratings for those finishes. For me, this was a must-have reference book.



5. I recently bought a serger. I have have never used one before and donot have technical backup from the dealer (I bought online). Anyway this book is one of three I bought on serging and it is the best and indepensible to anyone who owns a serger. The photographs and information are clear and easy to use. This book and your manual are all you need to get the best out of your serger in my opinion.

No comments about RSMeans Square Foot Costs 2008 (Means Square Foot Costs).

5 comments about Foundations and Concrete Work (For Pros by Pros).

1. I have a couple of other books in the "for pros by pros" series and they are great. I was disappointed in this one, however.

   Rather than a guide that started at the beginning and followed a logical progression, it was merely a compilation of articles from Fine Homebuilding. They were each good, but several mentioned that "space limitation prevent me from expounding on..." While this is true in a magazine, it shouldn't be the case in the book.

   Also, with so many authors, there was a lot of contradictory information. In one "chapter" the author showed exactly how to (and how not to) use rebar. In a subsequent "chapter" another author was shown using rebar in precisely the way the first author said was incorrect. This went on throughout the book. How do you know who is right?

   And while the book was published in 2003, some of the articles were from the early 80's. I was hoping for a chapter on laser layout, but there was no mention of a laser anywhere in the book. (But plenty of instructions to use water levels and transits.) It wasn't a bad book, just not what I was expecting after the Plumbing and Electrical books were so good. A better use of money would be to purchase a one year subscription to the Fine Homebuilding online archives - it's a great resource. It has everything in this book, along with thousands of other articles.




2. This book lacks the details for someone who is looking to actually do the work themselves. As mentioned in one of the other reviews - this book is just a composite of magazine article. Typical of magazine articles - shallow with little substance.



3. I bought this without reading the reviews, it was a mistake. I am designing an addition and need a clear guide from forms to finishing. This isn't it. As meantioned, it is a collection of articles. While informative, there are major gaps in coverage and I am no more ready to design my foundation than before. There is more useful info on foundations in the framing books I purchased.



4. This is good for even advanced people as it gives little trade sercerts for stronger walls. Its a good book and a must if you are doing concrete work yourself.



5. This is one of two books I purchased with the expectation of finding some detail on rebar design for monolithic slabs. Both books fall short in writing or displaying even the most basic design for rebar in a slab (see my other review on a similar book on working with concrete). This book does a little better job in showing how to make and use concrete forms.

1 comments about Outdoor Kitchens: Designs for Outdoor Kitchens, Bars, and Dinning Areas (Quarry Book).

1. This must be the first full book-length study of the increasingly popular subject of outdoor kitchens and cooking. The author's style is precise and easy, allowing the reader to understand the history of cooking outdoors, which, after all, is how cooking got started. The book is beautifully produced, with a profusion of color illustrations and drawings which illustrate the text's in-depth approach to all aspects of the subject. From simple outdoor grilling to the design and construction of a custom, high-end outdoor kitchen and dining area, the reader can develop a better feel for the glorious benefits of cooking by fire. A useful index of resources for products is included at the end.
   
   Not to be ignored are the many sidebars in the book, many of which provide essential information, such as those relating to choosing grills, the estimation of food servings for groups, cleaning a grill and food safety when outdoors. Major chefs and designers who specialize in outdoor cooking and grilling are interviewed, including 'Barbeque Bible' maestro Steven Raichlen, Dwayne Ridgaway, Food Network star Paula Deen, Richard Sandoval (author of Modern Mexican Flavors) and Dinosaur Bar-B-Que owner John Stage.
   
   We can't all afford to spend a fortune on a full-blown outdoor kitchen, but Amanda Lecky's book is a great resource for outdoor large and small, and is worth more than its weight in (gold or otherwise) briquettes. Outdoor cooking has never been so fully analyzed and featured and this book makes you want to run out on the patio, fight the fall chill and grill a great meal.

5 comments about Small Log Homes: Storybook Plans and Advice.

1. A good, usable well-illustrated book for the everyday person..the middle class "dreamer". Not focused on millionare showplaces, but homes for the average family, homes under 2500 sq ft. Cozy photos and a nice selection of floor plans. A good working tool if you are considering a log home in your future.



2. The pictures are beautiful, and there are a few floorplans at the back. The text however is useless, unless you need to be told that putting in lots of options will raise the price, create the floorplan based on your family's interests and that you shouldn't spend more than you can afford. It really isn't anything more than you could get with a 10 minutes trip to the website of a log home manufacturer, except that it has much less info!

   It tells you, for example, that you should make careful and deliberate use of all the space by planning it carefully, but does not show examples of good planning, give you thought provoking questions to ask yourself, or anything that could help you do it.

   The book mentions that there are 2 types of log cabins, names them and gives a few uncaptioned photographs, without even one word to tell you what the advantages of one over the other might be.

   It tells you that a complicated roof is more expensive than an uncomplicated one. Did you need to be told? It does not tell you what the choices are in roof styles, the advantages and weather reasons you might want one more than the other, dispite the cost, and it certainly does not tell you what the price differences are (even an approx % difference would have been a start).

   It does not suggest anything useful and should only be bought by someone who is on their way to the log home manufacturer in their area so that they can point to the pictures in the book and facilitate the teaching the company will then have to provide. This is for a person buying a finished, installed product, not building a home.

   I was very disappointed and would never have bought this book if I had seen it in a bookstore. It is meant for someone who buys magazines exclusively for the pictures and does not read the articles. This will not help you build a house.




3. I'm trying to design some sort of floorplan for my future log home and I thought this might give me some ideas....it's not that great. In fact I'm disappointed from what I thought it would be and should have taken more of the reviews to heart. It basically goes over building a log home...ok - well I thought it would be focused more on its title: Small Log Homes: Storybook Plans and Advice. The advice it gives is probably stuff you've already heard before...and the plans are just more of the generic ones you see from all the log home manufacturers.



4. This book is a nice little overview of small log homes. It's not meant to be a "how to" manual, or provide detailed information. It's just a starter for those dreaming of building a log home.
   
   Some of the positives are that the book itself is high-quality, the photos are very good for the most part, and it does provide enough information to help determine if a log home really is for you. Some of the negatives for me are the photos are unrelated (there will be photos of the exterior of two log homes, followed by a photo of a kitchen, followed by a photo of a porch, followed by a photo of another kitchen . . . interspersed with text that may or may not have anything to do with the photos shown); I would have preferred groups of photos of one home at a time so I could understand the house better. And the plans and elevations at the back of the book are "stand-alones" for the most part; they are unrelated to the photos shown earlier in the book. It would have been nice to have plans and photos of homes actually built.
   
   It's a nice "starter" book, so I gave it four stars. For me personally, I would have given it three stars for its usefulness.



5. This book is a great reference for the first time log home buyer. Many links to take you down other paths. Robbin outlines a few things that many new buyers should look out for in a compact way. There are also several nice photgraphs that will add to your idea database. The floor plans in the back of the book are great general floor plans to start and modify in your own way. I nearly used the entire book to plan my cabin project. Many thanks to Robbin for a great reference.

5 comments about Clean: The Humble Art of Zen-Cleansing.

1. This is a great book. Fun to read with fabulously fresh methods for cleaning the house. It truly is a ZEN experience. I read it quickly and refer to it often. Fully recommend it!!!



2. "CLEAN" is an amazing example of how each of us can take responsibility for our environment--home, neighborhood, city, state, country, planet. It provides easy and safe recipes that replace commercial products, but more than that, it's creating a grassroots environmental movement. We all hear about Global Warming and figure, "What can I do?" or even worse, "the government will fix it." Environmentalism begins at home, and "CLEAN" is a great guidebook to get us started--if everyone exchanged just ONE commercial product for ONE "CLEAN" recipe, the process of de-toxing our planet would begin. And we all have the ingredients in our homes already--baking soda, salt, lemon juice, white vinegar and borax (OK, so maybe you don't have borax, but believe it or not--it's in every grocery store right beside the commercial laundry detergents and bleach!) You have to clean anyway, so why not do it in a way that is safer for your family, pets, neighbors and the other billions of people who share our planet!



3. I keep a copy of this book on my coffee table in my country house. I always enjoy it when my guests are curious and I can share this precious gem of a book with them. The author is genuine and exremely knowledgeable.
   I have incorporated several of the recipies and they work without hurting me or our planet. I have purchased several copies to give to friends when I visit their homes.



4. "Clean" is a true gem. When I first read the book I thought to myself sure, sure baking soda and lemon is going to do the job of the store bought cleansers I've been using for years. Well imagine my surprise when I gave it a half-hearted whirl and soon found myself surrounded by a wonderfully fresh and spotlessly glistening bathroom and kitchen. And here is the part I really enjoyed, that overbearing scent of the cleanser I normally use wasn't there. I'm sold. I've mixed up my own batches of cleansers, refer to the book on a regular basis and am converted. Thanks to Michael DeJong's book not only is my home bright and clean and I am saving money but I can help save the environment.



5. If you care about the environment and/or your health (or your family's health) you'll find the cleaning recipes in this book very useful. I remembered some of the cleaning techniques from my grandmother when I was a little girl, then they were all forgotten until now. You can find all the ingredients in your grocery store, borax f.e. is in the laundry isle. These ingredients used in this book work just as good if not better than the store bought. My grocery store offers nowadays eco-friendly cleaning products but they are very expansive, your home made version will cost you very little to make, and it's very easy. The A-Z cleaning key section is a quick way to look for a cleaning problem you have with the necessary ingredients and a link to the pages where it describes more about it. If you ever got a headache using those toxic shower cleaning products, think again, your body is telling you something...use nature's own...

1 comments about Cost Analysis and Estimating for Engineering and Management.

1. The author of the book goes over the top in derivation in his calculations. It's almost as if he's trying to show off instead of keeping the math simple and relevant. However, considering the other books for this topic, there are no better.