Johnston Books

If you are one of those insecure individuals who feel intimidated by the accomplishments of others, don't read this book. For everyone else, you are truly in for a treat. This book not only tells the remarkable life stories of Ohio brothers, Powell and Lewis Crosley, but also takes the reader for a fascinating trip through history. From Crosley's dominance in radio, ownership of the Cincinnati Reds and winning a World Series, appliances, aviation, automobiles and even helping to win World War ll- the list goes on and on. The monumental accomplishments of these two brothers literally "transformed a nation" and greatly impacted the lives of millions of Americans.

Kudos to the authors for their meticulous research and a beautifully written biography. I certainly will have a higher degree of pride driving my '49 Crosley Hot Shot having learned the fascinating history behind the Crosley name.

I did not know anything about the Crosleys until I read this book and was amazed at all the products Powel Crosley dreamt up and created. It is a very thorough book about their lives and successes, and failures, but I give it 4 stars only because the writing sometimes detracted me from the story. (How many Exit, Stage lefts/rights can you put in a book and who even writes that way?) plus too much info about minor or unimportant things (Lewis' dog?) but still a good read, and entertaining and informative.

Great read for a radio fan or anyone interested in early 20th century business moguls.

I bought this book for my brother who owned a Crosley years ago, but I read it before I gave it to him. Great book! One of the best I have read in a long time.

It was a great history lesson and you do not have to be a Crosley buff to enjoy it.

Would highly recommend.

Richard Flory

The person for whom I purchased the book absolutely loves it!! It's the story, the pictures and presentation that just makes reading it so enjoyable. I'm very glad that I made this purchase.

This is a pretty coffee table type book. This would make a nice present for someone who loves Arabians. Johnny Johnston is a very famous equine photographer. Beautiful color photos of horses in different poses.

When I was a girl, I had the privilege of having Johnny Johnston take my photo as I received an award at an Arabian show. It was the best photo of my horse and I that anyone had ever taken. When I look at it now, I still think how amazing it is to have this moment frozen in time. The book is filled with personal moments like that as well as representations of the moods and talents Arabian horses are capable of, whether at rest in the pasture or in their racing colors with a jockey aboard. This book is worth every penny you spend if you are lucky enough to find a copy.

Back in the 1970's I had the pleasure to see Johnny Johnston's photo demonstration at the Kenntucky Arabian Horse Fair. And I was excited to buy this book, by Johnny Johnston himself. It was exciting to see the great and famous Arabian horses he has photographed. I will treasure it as a picture-photo book for my Arabian horse library. Where I found fault with this book is it's lack of substance. Of course, Johnston couldn't feature all of the famous Arabians he has photographed in his career to date. Maybe I was expecting too much when I thought there might be some photography instruction in this book. Anyway, it is a beautiful book.

I was expecting photos of the old greats...Muscat,Bask,Huckleberry Bey etc, also more body shots of the horses. When I saw Padron on the cover I thought "wow, I can finally find a book with some pictures of Padron in it"....not!
It is a really nice book with excellent photography of horses but not the horses I expected.
Also I agree with a previous rating that the book is too thin and could have been of more substance. Not a great tribute to such a great photographer.....too bad.

This purchase was a disappointment. It is not what one would call a true "coffee table" book, judging by the contents, the number of pages, or the over-all quality. Several of the reproductions are grainy or seem to have been included more for their landscape interest than the horses that happen to be in view. It is unpaginated and there are only 75 numbered photos. Anyone who has subscribed to one of the Arabian horse magazines for any length of time in the past has already seen the best of Johnny Johnston's horse portraiture. It took less than 30 minutes to read this thin volume and to look at each picture. There is mention on the last page of a second volume to follow. Too bad they didn't double the size of this one to start with to make it more worthwhile. I'll spend my money on carrots for the horses instead of buying the "next" book.

For a Civil War unit, here is another quality Civil War historical novel by G. Clifton Wisler: Mr. Lincoln's Drummer and Red Cap. This book is based on a true story about ten-year-old Willie, who became a drummer in the Union army. The class will want to look on a map the various locations that are mentioned. The language seems easier in this one compared to Red Cap, although this book is also 5th grade reading level.

This book was set in the time period of the Civil War. I thought it was interesting overall, but sometimes the war vocabulary was a little confusing and hard to follow. If I were more familiar with the geography of the area, it may have been easier to understand. If you like to read detail about historical wars, this book does that for the adolescent reader. I liked the main character, who showed s lot of bravery and character.

I read Mr. Lincoln's Drummer. This book is historical fiction. This is a high 5th grade book. There is a lot of gore and sadness. You would love this book if you like to learn about the children of the Civil War and if you like to read gory books. The story takes place in Vermont and on the battlefields in the South. You should NOT read this if you don't like reading about blood or sadness in a book.

I read this book in the summer of 1999. It opened my eyes to history and I have now developed such a love for history and deep interest in the Civil War that many have called me a "Civil War Buff" and now actively take part in Civil War re-enactments with a Confederate artillery unit. Now I'm much older. Mr. Wisler, thank you so much for this book. It has truly changed my life.

P.S. I met you once at the Missouri Literature Festival a few years ago. Thanks for being so nice! (A lot of the other authors were pretty mean to us)

My spirits weren't lifted when we entered the anchorage off Fort Monroe. A sea battle had taken place there recently, and the U.S.S. Cumberland, a big sailing ship, had been sunk by the rebel ironclad Merrimack. The Cumberland's masts still stuck up above the water, and a flag blew bravely from one of them. That both saddened us and cheered us. I couldn't help thinking about the drowned sailors, but that defiant flag put us in a fighting mood.

In G. Clifton Wisler's Mr. Lincoln's Drummer, ten-year-old Willie Jonston joins the Civil War as a drummer boy. His job is to signal retreat, breakfast, and other things. The Confederate general, Robert E. Lee, is a tough fighter. The general for the Union, Ulysses S. Grant, is just as strong. In the beginning, Lincoln isn't doing very well. He lost the first few battles. By the time Willie came, the war had gotten very rough. One day, the battle of the two ironclads took place. The Union lost many battles. Will Willie survive this dangerous war, or will he fail? Although the main character in this book may be a boy, this book isn't only for boys. Girls that are interested in the Civil War may also like this book because that is what this book is about. This book is probably best for fourth graders because in fourth grade, we learn about the Civil War.

I also bought this book for the photos and to learn about the Ziegfeld girls. I was really impressed about the variety of subjects that Mr. Johnston photographed.
The text was illuminating and really "fleshed out" the subjects of Mr. ACJ's photos. It left me wanting more and now I want to learn more about this underappreciated man and his work.
Buy this book if you are into the history of Ziegfeld girls, 1920's fashion photography, or interested in an amazing photographer.
I, too, wish the book was a bit larger so the pictures could be really appreciated.
A must have!

This is a spectacular book in every respect but one - it's size. The photos are fantastic, the layout is fantastic, the quality of its production is top drawer, everything about it is classy and well refined, but it's a downright unusual size for a book of this type, and that's why I only give it four stars.

This needed to be in a large format to fully appreciate the photos and the beautiful layout work, but instead, it's sized about the same as most hardback novels, and when you place four photos on a page of that size, the images tend to be very small and you lose the overall impact of those photos.

I highly recommend this one, get the hardback while you can before being forced into a reprint paperback, but I would've prefered the book be a sized more in keeping with most art and photography books.

the book is beautifully designed and printed. the ziegfeld girls, many of whom are familiar, are all gorgeous.. it's a window into the roaring twenties and the spectacular beauties of the jazz age.

This book is gorgeous. The photos are reproduced quite well, and the book looks and feels like quality. Included is a nice history of Ziegfeld Follies, along with brief biographies of many of the women.

Julie Newmar provides a fascinating Foreword (her mother was in the Ziegfeld Follies and posed for photographer Alfred Cheney Johnston--as did a teenage Newmar). We also learn much about photographer Johnston.

The highlight of the book for me, though, is the photographs (some are nudes) of actresses, including Renee Adoree, Adrienne Ames, Tallulah Bankhead, Theda Bara, Lina Basquette, Clara Bow, Louise Brooks, Billie Burke, Norma Shearer, Claudette Colbert, Betty Compton, Dolores Costello, Marion Davies, Claudia Dell, Billie Dove, Jeanne Eagels, Mary Eaton, and more.

Like George Hurrell, Johnston was a true artist. His work makes these beautiful women immortal.

Obviously a wonderful collection of images with historical and insightful text accompanying. Nonetheless, as a photographer, I was moderately disappointed with the manner in which the images were presented. The images are all presented in a sepia tone which I doubt is true for all of the originals. More concerning, however, is that most of the images lack the sharpness and fine detail which was undoubtedly present in many of the originals. While one reviewer compliments the "soft focus" techniques, I have seen several of the images before in very sharp focus with fabulous detail. To soften any of the images for publication for any reason betrays the brilliance which Alfred Cheney Johnston displayed in creating the images. It is still a wonderful collection.

Written by: Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb
Illustrated by: Maria Tonelli
Published by: Bubble Gum Press
Reviewed by: Stephanie Rollins and Parish Rollins (age 4) for ReviewYourBook.com 9/2008
ISBN: 0-9650910-0-7
"Every Little Girl Should Have This" 5 stars
A friend and I were discussing how to teach our daughters that they do not necessarily have to grow up, marry, and have children. How do we teach them that it is okay to be single? This book is the answer.
It is a modern-day fairy tale. Through cute characters and scenarios, it teaches little girls that happiness comes from being okay with yourself and through loving God. It shows that it is okay to marry, and most of your friends will marry. It is also okay to not marry.
The illustrations are adorable. I had to wait to review it after my daughter's bedtime; she did not want to let it go! This will make a great gift!

What a wonderful book that helps to teach young girls that their happiness is not dependent upon a "prince". A great balance to today's messages that would have young girls believing that their future rests on their ability to attract someone to rescue them. Thanks Susan and Kim for an alternate "happy ending" that will help my daughter to believe that she is beautiful and valuable just as God made her!

REVIEWED BY: Wayne S. Walker
Being an "old-fashioned" type of person and having read some of the promotion for this book, I was not sure that I would like it. However, I determined to read it with an open mind. Behold, I found that I did like it. Most every little girl wants to grow up to be a Princess who finds her Prince Charming. And most parents would like this for their little girls. Yet, it is plain that it does not always happen for everyone. For those young ladies who must learn to be content with their singleness, there is Princess Bubble, who graduates from college, gets a job, buys a palace of her own, and watches several of her friends get married.

Many of her married friends begin to ask her why she has not found a prince yet, and eventually her mother tells her that it is time for her to find a prince. She does try and makes many new friends in the process, but finally learns from her fairy godmother that "living happily every after is not about finding a prince. True happiness is found by loving God, being kind to others, and being comfortable with who you are already." So, what will Princess Bubble do with what she has learned? This is a lovely story with an important message for girls (and for their parents) who can read it to help be prepared whatever may happen.

This is great book for my niece, very uplifting for young girls. I purchase this book for all my nieces.

As we see from the promotional blurb, Princess Bubble is a book written as a means to offer girls of all ages [an] updated version of the traditional fairy tale. No longer a `Damsel in Distress,' this princess travels the world, helps others, and finds `happily ever after' even before she finds her Prince!

Thus, what we have in a thin tome is a fantasy wherein women are not as they actually are but as the authors, along with legions of feminists, would like them to be. It is child lit created for the purposes of manipulation. It seeks to convince girls that they can have it all without marriage.

Pardon me for my lack of outrage regarding this subject, but, at this point, I am well-acquainted with their ploys. Slipping dogma into entertainment and educational materials is simply what our social engineers do. Their habits surprise me as much as snow in January.

Of course the book really cannot do much harm because it only will be appreciated by adult females as opposed to children. A cursory reference to "loving God" also negates the possibility of it ever appearing in the public schools--assuming that curriculum specialists take the time to examine it before ordering it which may well be a wild assumption on my part.

The story itself is a yawner. The protagonist is confused and devoid of strategy in regards to dating. This is revealing and should make its message resonate with a plethora of single women. Princess Bubble will be a big favorite among mindless extroverts in general. Their expenditures fuel our consumer sector and their contamination of the public square with hyper-verbal utterances has made the contemplative life in America as rare as a encountering a De Lorean on the highway.

Young Bubble, she eventually decides to give up her quest after concluding that no man is capable of bringing her everlasting happiness. Her assumption is highly accurate, but evaluating significant others on the basis of whether they can produce everlasting joy is a bogus criterion for relationship selection. Such an expectation is both fantastic and completely unreasonable. Thinking that somebody somewhere--even Vida Guerra!--is capable of bringing you eternal fulfillment is absurd. People just aren't like that. Some of us may be wands but none of us have magical properties.

Besides, in my view, happiness is largely dependent on one's having an internal and an external life. This simply is not possible for most extroverts. They spend their waking hours manufacturing conversation and stimuli in the hopes of avoiding boredom, yet this habit purges every worthwhile thought and idea from their craniums. It renders them uninteresting and directionless. They personify the phrase "if you're bored then you're probably boring." And they usually are.

With dating, the healthiest test--I mean, assuming one actually wants to be happy which is not always a given--is to assess the potential worth of another within the context of, "Does this person, on aggregate, enhance and improve my life?" This is a very sensible approach but one that clashes melodramatically with the aim of "having it all." Yet the last thing an interpersonal test should ever do is attempt to ferret out perfection. Nobody's perfect...even single women in America [who would have guessed?].

This book is not only an excellent introduction into the field of emotion but it is probably the only assessable modern synthesis of cognitive science with fundamental biology-evolution and emergent phenomenon. I would also add that anyone interested in artificial intelligence or artificial life will find Dr. Johnston's outstanding and timely simulations of evolving emotional intelligence outstanding examples of empirical cognitive research. If you are professor, graduate student or even a candel stick maker and even remotely interested in any of the following fields; emotion, behavior, evolution, AI, AL, or beauty, by all means buy this book.

A fabulous book - Johnston gives voice to his concept of "hedonic tone" which has roots in Maslow's idea of "hierarchy of wants" and even Elizabeth Duffy's concept of emotions existing along a continuum. Johnston's assertion that mental representations of the "real" world are just digital fabrications is also fascinating. (In other words, an apple isn't inherently "red" or "sweet"; we have just evolved to experience such perceptions when we see one and bite into it.) Further, Johnston integrates nicely with MacLean's Triune brain theory which has strong evolutionary logic behind it. Johnston has built a very powerful and compelling theory.

The core of this book is a few chapters on the evolutionary benefit of emotion. I found the theory rich and convincing, and the writing clear; the theory explains, for example, why one emotion (positive or negative) evolved into multiple emotions, each related to a different aspect of gene survival, such as satisfying hunger, finding a mate, etc. Johnston's theory of emotion is a special application of a more general theory of consciousness. The rest of the book is kind of a grab bag. Johnston devotes too much space to refuting an alternative theory of human consciousness which he never adequately explains, and I suspect he is creating a straw man to argue against. There are a few chapters devoted to Johnson's own simulations and special interests, and a quick review of evolutionary processes in general. The review may be too quick for the unfamiliar reader. The simulations involve genetic algorithms and neural networks. I found the discussion of the former clear, but I was already familiar with the topic. I am also somewhat familiar with neural networks, and the book is inadequate here: Johnson seems to despair of explaining neural networks in a simple way, so kind of assumes the reader already understands them. Outside of his special areas of expertise, Johnson may be prone to error. Certainly, he is unaware of all the research on the socialization skills of primates, and I suspect that some of his statements on early child development are overly simplified.. All in all, this was a five star book for me, but it may not be for others with different backgrounds, either because they know less than me, or know more than me.

Wow. I am what could be described as a "slacker" with "some college", but I enjoy reading books about science, particularly those that aim to explain why things are the way they are...I picked up "Why we Feel" because it seemed like an interesting topic. As a matter of fact, the guy at the counter read the tile and commented "That's a good question!". I feel that this is a book everybody should read. It gives so much insight into who we are that I feel truly thankful that I read it. Feelings. What would life be without them? As the author argues, there would be no point to life at all.

This book goes a long way to answering questions like why do some things feel good and others feel bad? I would sum it up thus: There is, in reality, no point for life to exist. So, emotions are nature's way of motivating us to keep on living! When you do something that will increase your chances of reproducing, you feel good. This includes falling in love, having sex, gaining resources such as food or shelter, etc. As an example on how a negative emotion helps you live, consider if you were a cave man and you found a bone with a particular size and shape that allowed you to beat up your enemies and kill animals for food. If you lost this tool one day, you would feel deep sadness. This negative feeling would be nature punishing you for losing a valuable resource that increases your chances for survival. The author explains how emotions evolved, and other concepts such as why we consider certain characteristics as "beautiful" and certain tastes as good are really just nature's way of steering us towards what we need to reproduce.

The book is short and completely free of fluff or egotistical rambling. The author writes extremely well and keeps a nice constant pace throughout. I read this book in two sittings and will re-read it many times I'm sure. As a non-scientist I found it slightly dense at times, but it's short and interesting enough to re-read. I recommend this book to anyone who is curious about why things are the way they are. If you want to learn about life, not just Human life, but your dog and animals as well, this is a wonderful book. You'll never look at yourself or other people the same way again after being exposed to what modern science has to say about the origin and purpose of human emotions. I will definately buy his next book, if there is one.

The 1st chapter in this book is entitled 'The Grand Illusion.' This is not some pessimistic assessment of the human condition, like we've all been fooling ourselves for naught all the long; this is merely the same caveat that the likes of the ancient Buhddists, the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (himself often accused of pessimism), and modern science writer Torr Norretranders have also elucidated: namely, we're sort of idealistic in how we process what we perceive to be the external (and internal) world. It's not so very egregious that we're like a bunch of asylum escapees, hallucinating some vastly inaccurate version of a reality we can never hope to know, it's just that neither are we ice cold observers of an objectively understandable interaction between our organismal selves and reality. It's a subtle distinction but one well worth knowing. Dr. Johnston does such a good job of delineating this concept that I had to rate this book the maximum of 5 stars. It is even more germane that he does so in the context of evolutionary psychology by stating that we, evolved primates that we are, did not nor did we need to evolve an ability to perceive and understand reality directly; that would have been nice and all, but what we did, and by virtue of it having happened, what we needed to accomplish was some means by which to survive and leave offspring in the field (remember, the way things are is no endorsement of any normative value for or against). Not only do we perceive and process reality in very creative ways, but we also color the heck out of it to squeeze the maximum utility out of it, hence, sugar (high quality nutrient) is sweet and good, and sharp teeth and gutteral growling sounds (the theme of not a few scary, supernatural movies) are bad, nay, downright evil! Thus, by the very acts of perceiving and cognizing, do we add and embellish hedonic tone to our experience. In general, this book is a good cummulative grouping of modern cognitive science research findings sans the fluff. It's too bad Daniel Dennett has already claimed the title "Consciousness Explained" and Steven Pinker "How the Mind Works." Either title would have suited Dr. Johnston's work very well.

I love it. The speaker is a pleasant voice to listen to and the wallet is very nice with a small handle on it. I love it and am so glad that I purchased this wonderful book on CD.

There are a few minor volume glitches in what I have listened to so far, but overall the quality is great. The one strange thing is that some chapters are split between two cd's, so continuity is lost in listening to it. Copying it to an ipod or MP3 player allows you to get the continuity back.

I have become addicted to listening to the Bible and the New King James is beautiful! Stephen Johnston is my favorite narrator. Thanks for getting the NKJV on tape...what about CDs?

This is a narration of the Contemporary English Version of the Bible...it is superb to listen to and is so clear and understandable. Stephen Johnston is the best narrator of our times! Well worth the money.

If you want to understand the KJV and still find the poetic magic of the English translation the NKJV is for you. Wonderful narration by Mr. Stephen Johnston

I passed the Psychology Clep with the help of this book. I knew nothing about Psychology and needed something easy to digest. I had the REA book, although concise and informative it was a bit dry. This idiot's book made me look forward to learning more. Used in conjuction with instacert.com- I passed the psych clep with a score in the 80's!

Dr. Johnston has done an excellent job appealing to readers on a very broad topic. Her style and wit are worth the read!

Teaches you the basics of psychology and in a funny and friendly way...

I am studying for the Praxis II Social Studies Test for my teaching certification which includes a section on psychology, a subject I intentionally avoided in college. I got the idea to look at Idiot's Guides from another high school teacher who uses the Idiot's Guide to U.S. History as the text for his class because he says it "includes everything they are required to know and the school authorized text is poorly written and condescending." This teacher is a highly rated and effective teacher so I felt compelled to check it out and I did use the Idiot's U.S. History guide to brush up for the PRAXIS II (and it was excellent!) I was very skeptical that an idiot's guide would be the right study tool for psychology, but the customer reviews on this were so good I decided to give it a try, and it turned out to be really great! I was truly surprised at how comprehensive (and up to date) this book is and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a good overview of psychology or who needs a comprehensive review.

First, don't get mixed up; this is the Complete Idiot's Guide to Psychology, not the Complete Guide to the Psychology of Idiots. So no help on your annoying boss, but much help for basic psych classes and just those curious about the way the brain works.

There is a section on memory, how it works, how you can improve or take advantage of how your memory really captures information. That was interesting. And a good section on how someone like a worrywart or a pessimist can adjust their attitude to be less anxious (hint, don't try to be all Polly-Sunshine, in fact,figure out the worst thing that can happen and have a plan in place.) There is a very fine section on substance abuse and how to tell if you might be heading in that direction.

There are discussions (basic) about Freud, the MMPI-2 (psych exam) and other textbook items, so as a study guide, this could be helpful. If you aren't familiar with the science of psychology, this is a great place to start.

Just finished a re-read of Pat Johnston's novel "Boatswain's Mate" and, once again, I re-lived my navy career with his character "Jake"! Some of the locations "Jake" served, I was there at the same time, and it almost seems I knew him! This is an outstanding book for any one ex-navy, or any one intrested is what navy life is really like. Terrific reading!!!Harry A.Moore, Aviatiom Boatswain's Mate, U.S.N.

Reading Boatswain's Mate brought back a flood of memories. From those nervous moments in the recruiting office to stepping aboard the quarter deck of a new ship and proudly saluting the colors,the sailor in me came back to life after over fifty years. What a fine tale Pat Johnston weaves as he tells the story of Jake Rickmyer as Jake marches on the grinder in San Diego, to his final days as Chief Petty Officer. Jakes adventures in three wars and the lifelong frendships he forms will put the sea legs back on anyone who has had the privilege of serving in the U. S. Navy. There are the sights, sounds and the feeling of awe as one walks down the streets of a foreign port. The lifetime frendships and the women who become lovers and wives are all part of an intriguing tale. If you didn't know 'Boats' on your first tour you'll be glad you signed up for this one.

Don Moore, EM2 '52-'56
A 'Tincan Sailor'
Cerritos, CA.

Pat Johnston,has been reading my mail!!! I began a Naval career in the same time frame was a Coxswain [BM3]up to Chief Boatswains Mate made Ensign retired Lt Commander.All my duty station were about the same as JAKE in the book,including small boats Destroyers North China,Korea,and Viet Nam.I to had a Admiral as my mentor,but stayed clear of politions,had a run in similar to his in RVN,extracting a grounded boat,I made it back.This book is SALTY in the language,but thats the way Sailors were in that time frame.A good read looking forward to the movie.CJ Thompson Lcdr USN ret.44-75

Bill Chadwick BM1 USNR-retired A must read for any sailor from the 50's, 60's, or early 70's. We have all met a Chief like Jake Rickmeyer, Bo'sun or otherwise. This story will bring back great old memories ( and maybe some not so great ), but I heartily recommend this book. I couldn't put it down. The ending was a surprise, but did ring true. Many of the other sailors in this book could have come from guys I knew during my 7 years of active duty and 18 years in the reserves. Non-sailors will get a real feel for what Navy life is really like.

The first word in Jake Rickmeyer's vocabulary is duty. Fleeing an abusive childhood, Jake joins the navy and sees history unfold before him. Pat Johnston's novel follows the arc of Jake's career, from World War II to Korea, and finally the rivers of Vietnam.
Jake gives his life to the navy, suffering a broken marriage and lost buddies in battle. Even though Jake rubs elbows with admirals and senators, he stays true to himself and to his duty. But this loyalty gets Jake into trouble on his final mission on the rivers of Vietnam. On this last ill-fated mission, Jake discovers an unexpected ally, but is betrayed by those he believed were his friends.
Pat Johnston has done his homework. The thrilling history of the navy is woven integrally throughout Jake Rickmeyer's three decades of service.
Jake Rickmeyer is a sailor's sailor. If you want to learn what the navy's all about, read Pat Johnston's book.

Great book, covers vast majority of important topics, and written by ex-contractor with real-world experience and building knowledge. Def recommend.

this book was well written and fairly clear, even to me as a building novice. i was fairly disappointed, though, at how many of the green approaches seemed to focus on expensive, high-tech commercial green materials. i was hoping for a lot more on how to integrate traditional and very basic do-it-yourself techniques such as recycling used materials, mud plastering, simple greywater systems, and so on into existing buildings. in the end, i could hardly use any of the information in this book because i couldn't afford the materials. if you have the money, though, and are hoping for a very polished and professional look, you will probably enjoy this book.

As a recent Interior Design graduate I was looking for books to remodel the interiors of homes in a "green", sustainable way. I ordered this book but upon inspection found it to be more suited for an owner/builder. I ordered "Good Green Homes", by Jennifer Roberts as well and found it to be similar in that it would appeal more to owner/builders/architects.

A good reference book for any contractor new to green building.

Explains the basics of indoor air pollution and how to choose different building materials that are both "green" and healthy. Broken down into different sections, i.e., the kitchen and bathroom for example makes it an easy to follow guide. The check-lists at the end of each chapter offer an easy way to make sure you've considered everything with the project.


Dan Stih, author of Healthy Living Spaces: Top 10 Hazards Affecting Your Health.

I read the book from start to finish but found myself skipping over many passages of repeated information. Although the information provided was useful, the same exact info. is rehashed many times in the same chapter and throughout the book. The book format may have something to do with that with it's many recaps and review.

Good basic introduction to the green industry with much information.