Amateur Books

A Beautiful book for those who love Victoriana & also enjoy making things that fit in with antiques. Some of the projects are even from the Victorian era. Lots of color photos throughout the book. If you love Victoria magazine---this book is for you!

This book lays out in some detail the contributions of early amateur astonomers. This book is an excellent source for information on a very interesting subject that almost every can enjoy because of its shear excitment. It is like the gold rush in America where everyone made an attempt at fame. This book digs deep aiming at the bottom of the iceberg where often most research looks only at the tip of the iceberg. You come to understand exactly the situation faced by "earlier eyes". It is a wonderful book on a subject that draws you closer by its clear presentation and well defined thought. It is a true testament to a modern genius and rennassiance man...

Enjoy!!

Videotape Your Memoirs: The Perfect Way To Preserve Your Family's History by authors and educators Suzanne Kita and Harriet Kinghorn is a useful and "user friendly" instructional guide and reference to recording the personal histories and autobiographies of family members for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations. Readers will learn how to choose the proper equipment, orgaize their thoughts, enlist the help of others, be at ease during videotaping sessions, utilize photos and other memorabilia toillustrate an autobiographical video, creat a personal monologue, include friends and family, use scene and setting for added interest, archive and preserve the video taped presentations. As one of the newest tools for genealogists and family historians, videotaped memoirs could prove to be invaluable resources for future genealogy efforts -- as well as providing an enduring memorial and testament to the life experiences of ourselves and our loved ones. If you are considered the creation of a video taped autobiography, begin by carefully reading Suzanne Kita and Harriet Kinghorn's Videotape Your Memoirs!

If you are planning any rennovation and want to save money, this book can help. With simple pictures and diagrams, it is east to learn how to hang sheet rock, plaster, and prep walls for finished work. With these types of projects, materials are inexpensive and professional labor would be about 3/4 of the total cost.

Robin Allan's Walt Disney And Europe: European Influences On The Animated Feature Films Of Walt Disney is carefully based on archival research and extensive interviews with those who worked closely with Walt Disney. Concentrating on the classic animated feature films produced under Walt Disney's personal supervision, Walt Disney And Europe examines the European influences on some of the most beloved Disney classics from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" to "The Jungle Book". With its painstaking attention to detail and meticulous research, Walt Disney And Europe will prove to be of immense interest to students of cinematic history in general, and the work of the Disney Studios in particular.

WEEKEND KITCHEN MAKEOVERS: ILLUSTRATED TECHNIQUES AND STYLISH SOLUTIONS tells how to update or renovate an existing kitchen - from a DYI standpoint. Remodel your own space through a series of some eleven featured weekend makeover tasks, which here receive step-by-step written description accompanied by step-by-step color photos. Any general-interest public library catering to homeowners will find this a popular lend.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This book is written in an easy to read style and gives you what you need to know to make basic auto body repairs. It's like the authors were sitting down beside you telling you what to do. Unlike most auto body repair books, they don't assume that you have an endless supply of cash to buy every tool known (a very important consideration for most of us). I took it out from the library (along with many others) but this is the only one I'll be adding to my personnal library.

This is the best book I have ever seen for the "weekend mechanic". Whether you are just starting out or are looking for a reference book as a refresher, "The Weekend Mechanic's Handbook" will serve you well. The excellent illustrations (photos and diagrams) of various model cars make it easy to extrapolate to your own car. This book covers everything from the very basics of how a car works and what type of tools you need, to minor maintenance (i.e oil change), to more in-depth repairs (i.e. brakes, coolant system, A/C). I found this book just in time- it has helped me save hundreds of dollars in mechanic labor costs. Definitely worth ordering!

If your looking for creative ways to make a big impact on your home and yard, without spending a lot of time? Weekend Projects has many easy ways to improve your home & is filled with exciting do-it-yourself projects.

Includes step by step instructions and illustrations for dozens of simple projects that can increase the convenience, beauty and value of your home in a weekend or two. With hundreds of full-color photographs, design ideas and helpful tips, this book has become a wonderful guide for my quick home improvements.

Here's some of the ideas in this book:

learning simple ways to install wainscoting and crown molding
Build an impressive wall unit in a weekend, using stock kitchen cabinets
Brighten a dark room with mirrors, glass blocks or a tubular skylight
create a stepping stone path in an afternoon
ingenious ways to add storage space

"The house lights dim, the music starts, the curtain rises, and the magic begins. Night after night audiences all across America are treated to the spectacle of young Christian kids putting their faith and religious experiences on the line in front of that glaring "Naked Spotlight". Admit it or not, that's a daring venture. After all, this isn't like sitting in Sunday School class surrounded by friends talking about how wonderful it is to be a Christian...and how everyone in the world should share this experience.

Standing on that stage in front of hundreds, maybe thousands, of nameless faces while being blinded by the spotlight is not a place for the weak in spirit. Taking a stand in that environment means "Telling It Like It Is," and baring oneself to all those who question or even express disdain for that philsophy.

I can't tell you how many times I've been a member of those audiences and have been thrilled, chilled, and even moved to tears by these young people who sing their hearts out time after time in an effort to share their Christ. That youthful zest and energy is invigorating, while the open conviction is convincing and infectious.

Having those thoughts in the back of my mind as I read through "What Do You Say To A Naked Spotlight", I was impressed with the idea that this book is not just the book of the year but the book of an era. It's exciting to see all these various music groups and young choirs popping up everywhere we turn. These recent years have been just the beginning of an era that is seeing young Christian musicians bringing a spark of life to their churches, communities, and in some areas, entire counties. People have sat up and taken note of the message as lives have been changed.

Because these groups have had such obvious and tremendous effect on their audiences and have potential for so much more I believe it's essential that all of them have an opportunity to read this book. I really dig this book! Steve Hilson is a guy I've known for several years and I honestly believe he's done us all a big favor by compiling this mountain of information.

I wish I could have gotten my hands on a book like this a long time ago."