5 comments about The Outdoor Shower: Creative design ideas for backyard living, from the functional to the fantastic.

1. Just getting ready for another project and this book sheds great light on outdoor showers



2. Terrific ideas and with great pictures to go along with....great book to day dream with. Also very practical information and instructions for doing your own project.



3. SAVE YOUR $$$ and skip purchasing 'THE OUTDOOR SHOWER'. I bought and then returned this book as I found it to be lacking in fresh, new ideas on the subject of choosing and installing an outdoor shower. The text was blah and un-engaging and the all-important photo-illustrations were badly shot and not at all inspirational. I purchased this book thinking it would give me an overview of styles/periods/designs from which I might be inspired to install my own outdoor shower. Instead, what I found were amateurish, candid photos that were mundane, souless and frankly BORING. Avoid this book and head instead to your local newstand or library to find imaginative ideas in the shelter magazines: Coastal Living-MS Living-Yankee-Sunset all have featured pieces on this topic with a fresh outdoor lifestyle slant. This book was a dud with a capital D.



4. This book is a practical guide to putting in an outdoor shower. I would've liked more photos of what people have done to create great outdoor shower spaces- the book seems to mostly focus on Martha's Vineyard- but this book has some good advice on plumbing from the house, drainage, and partitions. It is a good place to start if putting in an outdoor shower, but I found the internet and my local guys at Home Depot to be better resources for some things.



5. The book has some interesting ideas and nice pictures, but it really comes up short in planning and building an outdoor shower. Eventually I did it myself and, by the way, there were some plumbing errors that should be pointed out to the author, specifically there are two kinds of PVC pipe, one for hot and cold and one just for cold water.

5 comments about Speed Cleaning.

1. I got a bit confused by the other reviews, and I bought this book not knowing whether it would be any good. Thank God it is a step-by-step guide of the weekly cleaning of bathroom and kitchen, and bedroom-livingroom, without any fuss.
   
   It is true that the tone of the book is strict. I suspect they think they are being funny. Also, no mention on stainless steel appliences. It must have been written before the age of self-cleaning ovens. But other than that..
   
   .. a really good book on speedy WEEKLY cleaning of all your rooms. I had thought of doing 10 minutes of cleaning every day. But then, when would I do the organizing and decluttering? And when would I do the heavy-duty jobs, like windows, shutters, the veranda? Enter the answer: "Weekly cleaning is the subject of this book. Daily cleaning is de-cluttering. And then, there is spring cleaning." Voila, my question answered! I am going to check out Clutter Control next. Karen Kingston's book on De-cluttering with Feng Shui is priceless, but I tend to forget a bit the lessons I learned from it. So another prosective might be nice.



2. I just finished reading the book and will be putting Jeff's techniques into practice soon. There are a lot of really good tips about how to clean specific areas of the house. I particularly liked the section on cleaing the tub & shower area.
   
   A number of reviews here take exception to the tone of the book, calling it "strict". Well, forget about it. The tone is light-hearted and fun. He is emphatic about using his methods but I completely understand why. In my own business, I've discovered methods that are the most efficient way to accomplish a task. But when I tell other people to use that method, they insist on going their own way. They go through the exact same testing, retrying, and learning curve that I already went through and they end up doing it my way after all. It's frustrating! Just listen to the voice of experience!
   
   For heaven's sake, Jeff has gone through these processes and discovered the best way to do it! Get yourself out of the way. Believe him. Try it. Then if you find a better way, write to him or write your own book.



3. Wonderful! I got the book yesterday, and started using his methods today, and I was able to clean my whole house in an hour (it used to take me 4 or 5 hours) and it looks sparkling. I recommend this book to people that like to see their house clean but don't have the time to do it. The book explains in a very detailed way room-by-room how to clean your house efficiently and faster.



4. My mom didn't teach us the art of housecleaning - at least not in an organized time saving manner. I will agree with some of the others that have left feedback - The author is a bit on the bossy side - but that said, the book has great advice on cleaning quickly. I was left with many ideas that helped to speed up my weekly cleaning. I will say, that after reading each chapter, I was inspired to jump up and clean.



5. The book describes a pretty good cleaning methodology. It seems a little out-dated as far as some of the equipment goes, but that is about the only complaint I have.

5 comments about Bungalow Style: Creating Classic Interiors in Your Arts and Crafts Home.

1. So you've bought a bungalow--now, what do you do with it? Maybe it's a fixer-upper; maybe it's too small, or doesn't have enough storage space; maybe you're just not sure what kind of furniture to get. This book is a great start toward deciding where to go next. Illustrated with hundreds of full-color photographs, it shows not only many of the features by which you can tell an Arts & Crafts house when you see it (I was surprised to learn that the big old foursquares such as my grandparents lived in for 40 years are included in this classification), but gives actual ideas carried out by other homeowners, even unto before-and-after floor plans. The author's advice is thoughtful and well suited to the houses she writes about, too. And if you just like to look at pictures of vintage American homes, this would be a good volume to add to your collection.



2. If you are planning any kind work where you are going using allot of wood this is a great book, it is full of ideas. The photos have great detail. One of best books I have on Craftsman/Arts& Crafts interiors.



3. This is a good book if you are looking at remodeling a craftman type home or if you are planning to build one. I did like some of the idea's and the pictures.



4. I was very excited to get this book as we plan to incorporate some craftsman style elements into the 1970s bungalo we're buying. The interiors in the photos were not terribly attractive and leaned towards kitschy. Unless you want to turn you house into a museum to 20th century cheasiness, don't buy this book.



5. My wife and I appreciated this detailed book and incorporated many ideas we found in our new (old) residence

5 comments about Home Maintenance for Dummies.

1. Ideal for stupid people who are interested in home maintenance.



2. I purchased this book along with two other home maintenance and repair books because I am a new homeowner and would like to be on top of my game. I also bought it because I was really concerned about how deeply technical the other two books would get and I knew this would give me a good foundation. This book is good because it breaks down a home into it's various systems and gives you a good general overview of how each of them work and what they're comprised of. The best part about this book, in my opinion, is the Home Maintenance Schedule and Checklist. It gives you a good description of what needs to be done when and you can refer to the book for instruction if necessary. I imagine this book will be instrumental in keeping my home in great condition through the years.



3. This book tries to cover everything on home maintenance and ultimately fails to adequately explain in detail the things you might really use.
   
   Take, for example, insulating an attic space. It's covered, but only very briefly. I ended up using various websites that had more detail and were more helpful when I took up that project.
   
   There's an entire chapter on pools and spas, an entire chapter on decks, and several others that seem to be a bit more specialized. That's not a problem; the problem is that the general home stuff that almost any homeowner would need (e.g. plumming or HVAC or normal repairs) get less treatment.
   
   I have no doubt the authors would be able to repair just about anything in most houses. But their book, supposedly for idiots, glazes over far too many normal repairs without enough detail for us idiots to actually be able to use this book.
   
   There are some helpful tidbits in here, and if you already have a collection of DIY type home repair books, this might make a good addition. But if you're looking for a good general home repair book to help you with most normal home repair projects - this isn't it.



4. This book has provided me with the knowledge that I needed to complete jobs around the house that I could not otherwise have been able to do. This book provided me with the incentive to do it myself.



5. First, it arrived on time: Second, I just started working on the house, fixing petty electricity problems etc..It's relly helpful

5 comments about Get Your Act Together: A 7-Day Get-Organized Program For The Overworked, Overbooked, and Overwhelmed.

1. another great book by the slob sisters! highly recommend to anyone who struggles with organization!



2. I bought Sidetracked Home Executive in 1983 and I did the program. It worked for me as a mother of two young boys. I bought SHE as a gift for a newly-wed friend and "Get Your Act Together" for me. I read the book and laughed and cried as I related to the sisters stories and tricks and tips for those of us who are born disorganized. I like the new format for the card system. I can't wait to set up my box for my new stage in life--empty nest. If you buy both books life I did--read the GYAT book first. This will save you a lot to time when you do your card system. Read the SHE book second and laugh with these two crazy sisters.



3. I have enjoyed reading both of the slob sister's books. "Get Your Act Together" and "Sidetracked Home Executives". I enjoyed the "Sidetracked Home Executives" so much that I read it twice. They offer great insights on organizing your life. They also make it fun and humorous.



4. The book arrived in a timely fashion and in very good shape. Love these authors!



5. Had this book along time ago. Worked wonders, then I got side tracked and lost the book. It will work wonders again.

5 comments about How to Get a Date Worth Keeping.

1. I bought this book for my two single adult children, based on a friend's recommendation. This book is very much about helping single people think about their lives in a rational, human, holistic way. It pulls the focus off getting a mate, and puts it on being an involved, healthy person who has good, real relationships, which, yes, will lead to a mate. There is some specific Christian guidance in here, but it is embedded in the main topic, so this is not a biblical commentary on singleness. A strength of the book is that he gives some pages to addressing the issues that cause a person to pick the wrong companions over and over again, and perpetuates craziness and dysfunction from generation to generation. It is a valuable book for any single person, Christian or not, as it addresses head-on the messed up thinking they can get trapped in as part of the single life. The only thing that would make the book stronger is a section on some of the angst of what a Christian life is really supposed to look like, and maybe some discussion on singleness as a calling of God. The singles I know feel like the church treats them as 2nd class citizens, as in, "get married and then you can be part of the real church."



2. This is absurd!!! Everything this book says goes against what God teaches us in the Bible regarding dating. The Bible teaches that our ONLY fulfillment in life is Jesus Christ. This book states that we can be completed by our spouse. AND DATING A NON-CHRISTIAN?!?! My parents always taught me not to date someone I wouldn't want to marry. It goes hand-in-hand with the love is blind thing. You can fall in love with anyone, even a non-Christian. Don't follow this man's advise. He obviously isn't very wise anyway (although I don't know how he achieved getting a doctorate degree?), and you're not going to find a date worth keeping with this advise!!!



3. When compared with other Christian dating books this author's perspective seems secular. He mentions the fundamental importance of a personal relationship with God, and then focuses on practical ways of learning healthy dating patterns. The book is not directed at teenagers but adults who are either not dating or in a dating rut. He is a professional councilor and this book systematically addresses common psychological pitfalls involved with dating.
   
   While some Christians might be disturbed with the idea of dating around, he emphasizes the importance of actively pursuing members of the opposite sex. This is not worldly dating; in his words "Dating is an activity where you do fun, meaningful things with interesting people." I like the way he emphasize the importance of casual dating as a way to strengthen one's dating muscle. "Dating is not about marriage!" I often fall into the trap of requiring an interesting person to pass my large list of internal marriage requirements before I'll think of asking her out to do something. This would be fine if I had a strong dating muscle, but my weak dating muscle leaves me feeling over-anxious and under-prepaired in the rare event I find a "worthy" candidate.
   
   Of the half dozen dating books I've read this one is the most useful. In fact--I'm rereading it.



4. This book has some good ideas but unless you are ready to totally go out of your comfort zone and try some different tacticts this book isn't for you. You have to rethink some of your ideas on dating and that is not a bad thing but his idea of date every thing and any thing because it is "just a date", is too out there for me. He want's you to put Dating for marriage out of your head but ultimately isn't that why we date? We all have standards (religous views) and I am not going to put them to the side "just for a date". I plan on being equally yolked and don't want to accidentally fall in love with the wrong yolk because it is "just a date"



5. This book is the healthiest most well rounded advice I have ever read. After reading this book and applying its principles I met a great guy in less than 6mths. Most Christian books I've read are full of broad religious themes. How to Get A Date Worth Keeping is not one of those books.This book is truly effective. If you follow the program exactly you will be successful in finding a Date Worth Keeping.

5 comments about Use What You Have Decorating : Transform Your Home in One Hour With Ten Simple Design Principles -- Using the Space You Have, the Things You Like, the Budget You Choose.

1. ...and yet I only give it 4 stars. Why? Because first of all, there is very little advice that applies beyond the living room, and that's a formal living area - not the family gathering and watching TV area. I would love to see a book of hers that will address other areas in the house.
   
   Beyond that though, I love this book. I'm a down to earth person, always looking for a quick and cheap way to re-do things. This book taught me decorating principles that were easy to put into practice. I like the before and after pics, explanations and the occassional room layouts. After studying this book a few times, it took me less than an hour to re-arrange my living room. It's so much more inviting and comfortable now, that I don't want to leave it! As for color vs. black and white photos, of course I'd prefer color. But I can live with it, because the content is so helpful. I have the older version too that has a middle insert of color photos as well.
   
   This book will be helpful if you already have a house of furniture or maybe suffer from TMS syndrome (too much stuff) and if you enjoy being creative with what you have. If not, then this book will probably frustrate you.



2. This is a good book for people who have no experience or formal training with decorating. I found the top 10 tips for avoiding design disaster to be helpful and easy to understand. The pictures in the book are very outdated, but made me feel like I might have a fighting chance with my own space.



3. I am a professional interior designer and I found this book great because it provides great information in a easy to read format. I read more than half the book in one evening. Some people have stated that even though they love the book they wished it was in color. I love the book in black and white because the emphasis really is on the placement and not so much the color. I find that when items are related in color it is easy for the eye to make the "connection" and ignore the real placement of the items. When the pictures are in black and white, it forces the eye to look at where and how the items are placed. This is a great book and I would recommend it to the novice, lay person, or professional designer/decorator looking to add an additional service that they can offer their clients. I give it two thumbs up!



4. I give the book a 4 star rating. Would have been good if we had some colour photos and show some living rooms that do not have the fire place a the focal point of the room but some other feature. Also how do you decorate a room with steep dormer features, that create angles. I like Lauri's books though I have Home Therapy.



5. Laurie Ward has hit on a great idea here - redecorating with your own stuff. And she does give some great advice in this book about creating a conversation area situated around a focal point, and about how high to hang art. I have been "tweaking" my house ever since I read the book and for the most part her suggestions are very helpful. I also enjoyed the "before" and "after" photos of real peoples' homes. But a couple things bothered me about this book. The first two-thirds of the book are basically paraphrased repetitions of this idea: create a U-shaped conversation area around a focal point. By the fifth or sixth example, you're thinking "gee, I wonder what genius furniture arrangement she'll come up with this time...SURPRISE! U-shaped conversation area!" She gives only a little information on how to re-arrange a dining room, bedroom, bathroom, or ANY OTHER room in the house (and what about those of us with open floor plans? throw me a bone here!), and what few suggestions she does give seem to have been added as an afterthought. The other thing I did not like is a matter of taste more than anything else: I thought some of her advice was a bit old-school (and not in a good way), in particular her advice about how to arrange and group art and other decorative objects (i.e., "don't mix media"), but also her advice against using fridge magnets and patterned paper towels comes off as a bit snobby. However, overall I do recommend the book if you need some help rearranging your living room.

5 comments about Raising Adopted Children, Revised Edition: Practical Reassuring Advice for Every Adoptive Parent.

1. Be fair. Social conventions have changed markedly in the 20-plus years since this book was first published. So it's natural that the author would not have written all her chapters in quite the same voice she might have used in a new book, issued in 2008.
   
   Despite its age and shortcomings, however, this book has numerous useful sections from which adoptive parents (and ultimately, their children) can benefit.
   
   The chapter on Attachment, for example, is quite interesting and helpful--particularly considering the medical community's lack of awareness on attachment disorder, which frequently affects adopted children. As noted here, "both learning disabilities and conduct disorders can be signs of an unattached child," as can short attention span and poor impulse control. To this day, many psychologists are unaware of these basic facts. This book can help bring them up to speed.
   
   Another beneficial chapter is "Talking with Children About Adoption." Citing adoption expert Betty Jean Lifton, the book notes, "instead of worrying about the right time to start talking about adoption, parents should be concerned about setting the right tone." Allow the adopted child to express his or her doubts, fears, questions and fantasies. Sympathize, listen, let the child express their grief, and redirect their fantasies when they are completely off track.
   
   If the child thinks their birth parent lived in a castle and rejected them for their looks, obviously they need more information about the true circumstances. Parents can say, (for example) "We don't know much. But we do know your birth parents were young, and could not keep you safe."
   
   There are also excellent details about medical histories, and what to do in the cases of suspected mental or genetic disorders in the biological families. These problems can be detected, and treated.



2. As an adoption specialist for 20 years, I always recommend reading this book before, during and after adoption. Not everything applies to everyone, but on a whole, it gives the best and most accurate information about the adoption process. Just like any "manual" on how to do something, there are parts that won't be for you or about you. Take what you can from the book. Keep it on your nightstand and in years to come you will want to refer to it. I call it the "Dr. Spock of Adoption". Not every scenario about adoptive children will happen to your child, but when one does, you will be more prepared. She must discuss all the potential issues. There have been many books written since Lois wrote that book, but it is still one of the best. Make it part of your adoption library, along with some others.



3. Deep into the adoption process we are hungry for information on what our adventure in child-rearing will be like because of going with an adopted child. If you are in that position this book is worth skimming but not worth reading. It is a very dry book which would work better as a website where key topics are identified and you can skip to the parts of interest to you. Or rewrite it as a simple list of topics with 2 sentences under each ("oh I wonder how my adopted kids will react to X").
   
   Reading this book from cover to cover, on the other hand, will leave you feeling like every aspect of life is a potential threat to the mental health of your child. It took all my strength not to throw the book in the trash when the authors talked about the issues the adopted child might have dealing with seeing the baby Jesus at Christmas time. There is a point where simply outlining every possible source of stress may not be helpful. This book likely reaches that point. It's not that these things can't possibly be stressful but it feels like this book may be giving equal weight to every possibility. In many cases it feels like what is being shared are merely anecdotes which feel as solid as if a coworker said, "I heard on the internet that...."
   
   The book is probably good to have around during stressful times when you might want to find, in writing, proof that others have had these issues, too. And for that reason I can't be too critical of the book. It's reference pages also are very good. But this is a text not a book- a collection of thoughts rather than a well thought out guide for parents.



4. Good practical advice to set teh worried adoptive parent at eae about a lot of things.



5. It is a good book but not really what I needed. It is geared mostly towards infant adoption, both internationally and domestically.

5 comments about The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair: With 350 Projects and 2300 Photos (Black & Decker).

1. Good book with lots of color photos, helped me replace all elecrical outlets in a couple of rooms. Great to look at to get an idea for projects and "how to". Very informative on tool types and also the items you will encounter during the project. I would reccomemd to a rookie homeowner to an advanced. Wish had some info on ceiling fans, washing machines and dryers. But altogether great!! Want to buy the new one coming out!



2. The recipient of this book, a new homeowner, was thrilled with this gift! His father, a homeowner for over 30 years, wished he had been the recipient.



3. Excellent book! Very comprehensive book on materials, techniques and just a very detailed how-to DIY manual in general. Tons of detailed pictures and small steps to help the biggest layman out there. I am very happy with my purchase, got exactly what I wanted.



4. Between this and the B&D Home Improvement book, pretty much everything you need to know for basic homeowner do-it-yourself projects and repairs is covered. I've used it several times in a few months, and it is wonderful to have on hand as a reference. The book is sturdy and easy to understand too. It would get 5 stars if there weren't so much overlap with the Home Improvement guide--the two should be better coordinated to avoid redundancies.



5. Not only does this book have lots of useful, step-by-step instructions but it also has clear and detailed photos to help you along! Highly recommended!

5 comments about Mortgages For Dummies, 2nd Edition.

1. As a first-time homebuyer, I was looking for some in-depth knowledge of mortgages. This wasn't it. It gave a very broad overview and told me very little that I didn't already know. It is fine for the true dummies out there.



2. This book saved me about $22,000 when I purchased my house. It prepared me to know what to look for and what to ask for when searching for a mortgage! I had purchased the home buying for dummies book and while reading that I learned I needed to know so much more about the financing aspect. Since it was my first home purchase I was clueless. This book walked me through and helped me discover what my personal needs were. I found my dream house, a perfect fit mortgage, and closed all in 2 weeks. AMAZING!



3. Very well written... useful not only for mortgage shoppers but also for professionals working in fields related to Financial Services!



4. The book touches on the very basics of buying a home. Lots of industry terms defined - this solves a communication barrier to often seen in this industry. Often times, some lenders forget to check the literacy of there clients and breeze through the whole process without defining some key terms. With this book, loan officers/brokers/agents and clients are on the same page.
   
   First time buyers who read this book will feel a little more confident, especially with reading articles and books pertaining to buying/investing in a home.



5. I learned nothing from this book that I didn't already know. After talking with friends and family and finding a good mortgage banker I trusted, I knew what I needed to. I was very disappointed in it!