Amateur Books

I think you have to be a master carpenter to actually do any of them in a week-end but the detail is pretty good.....odd thing is, I bought this book and already had it at home! I must have really liked it!

Color pictures of some fantastic tree house ideas. No limits on imagination here. One caution: Don't let the kids see it first! Can't wait to start one of these ideas.

Works for kids, works for adults, very clear and very helpful. Very graphics oriented and the sketches make the text very clear.
Unfortunately does not even mention escalating tree houses beyond the backyard project - if this were a full-revalation book, you would see the new engineering miracle, the Garnier Limb.

We were quite pleased - PS we are hard graders, hardly anything gets a 5.

Excellent guide for treehouse construction. We used the book as a basis for our treehouse and modified one of the designs. This book was extremely valuable for us and guided us through alot of potential pitfalls. Highly recommend!

What a fantastic book! My kids and I have had so much fun browsing through and getting ideas for their tree house. From the basic tree house to more elaborate designs, it's in here. With the help of this book, you can actually build one affordably.

This is a great book for a beginner because it covers every plumbing task in detail with pictures. It would be good for the experienced as well because the book is set up in away that makes it easy to zero in on any topic you are interested in.

received book in excellent condition and in a timely manner

It is an excellent book not only for handyman beginners but also for construction professionals to review plumbing details.

This book, The Complete Guide To Home Plumbing, (although the title is certainly misleading) is an OK book for general/basic plumbing information and is useful to most homeowners.

The book is somewhat annoying in that almost every project or plumbing procedure you are looking at constantly refers you to other pages in the book. It seems that just as you are thinking you have a good visual grasp from the pictures, every other paragraph or sentence sends you away to some other page.

All in all, this book is worth the money, but don't be surprised if you still need to Google for plumbing info on the net. This book is FAR from "The Complete Guide..................."

This book is chock full of photos; so much that it detracts from providing information. I was trying to use it to replace a leaking shower faucet, but couldn't find any useful info about my setup. All there was were pictures of valves that weren't mine. I would like to see more troubleshooting chapters, and more possible fitting/material variations outlined. For instance I would like to know how to go from plastic to copper to galvanized etc.

Still if you doing a new install and have access to the exact material they use then it is good for that.

This book has a wealth of information for the inexperienced and beginner, film editer, or anyone who is looking for a good book on the subject. I have found it to be very helpful, as I am still learning how to do professional editing!

This is NOT a "how to" book for what some students may be looking for, but it is however, the best book I've read on the "ART" of editing. Insightful and well written, it helped me to really understand when to make a cut that works and when to avoid those that don't work. I would recommend it to all my friends who are editors.

This book was required reading for my editing film class in LA. I had little editing experience and needed a book to improve my editing. THIS BOOK IMPROVED MY EDITING by 200%!!! I learned where, when, how, and why to make a cut, dissolve, etc. I learned something new in every chapter and highlighted lots!!!

P.S. This book is clear, concise, and easy to read.

One frame out of place can make all the difference. This book gives you the tools you'll need to approach editing like the pro's. "Blink of an Eye" is mandatory reading at the NW Film Centers' School of Film in Portland, OR... it's that good.

This book was a required reading for my national university on-line class in digital video editing. The book is a short read that can be accomplished in two sittings. I read the second part of the book on digital editing first, as I have been editing for the past 10 years and have made the leap from analog to digital, myself. Murch relates the changes from a professional's point of view. He compares analog versus digital editing He outlines how the workflow of the editor and, indeed, the whole industry, as filmmaking is such a collaborative art, is changing due to the inevitable transition to a totally digital medium. I read the first part of the book next. Smartly, this saved the best for last as his most profound advice for editing is contained in the middle of the text, at the end of part one. Here he explains a moment in editing when he understood the essence of his editing choices on a particular movie, thus revealing the title of the book. This is a gem of a read for anyone interested in the working mind of a seasoned editor. I recommend it to film fans, students, and anyone interested in getting into the industry professionally.

I find myself ambivalent about this book. On the one hand, I enjoyed the multiple red herrings and the overall arc of the murder mystery -- it certainly kept me guessing up to the end. Craft populates his small town in WI (I live in one too) with many colorful characters (way more than I know here!) who have enough backstory and history with each other to make them rich fodder for this book and many others. I especially appreciated his description of how quickly poor Thad became the 'bad guy' in the eyes of other teens.

On the other hand, I am uncertain about the characterizations in the book as well as the book's use of sexual scenes. I did not find the lead character -- Mark -- all that sympathetic due to his seemingly-constant roving eye and mind and his rather inappropriately laissez-faire attitude toward his ward, Thad. The kid is going through a huge crisis being the chief suspect in a murder case as well as the focus of the town's gossip to say nothing of being attacked by friends of the deceased and Mark doesn't seem to provide much emotional support (did he even talk to the kid about the attack?) As far as the sex goes, let me state that I am no stranger to nor fearful of reading gay or straight sexuality. What I don't care for in any sexual scene is the disjointed use of it (huh? They're having sex suddenly in the kitchen before breakfast while the teenager's in his bedroom? Whoa. As a parent, I found myself shocked by that. Did they want the kid to walk in on them?)as well as unnecessary description -- in this case of the emmission of bodily fluids. I get how men climax, I don't need a description of where and how far it's going, thanks. I guess the problem is that the scenes did not strike me as erotic, but rather as gratuitious, (which has its place LOL) but this was not very well written gratutious sex. I mean, "manfruit"?

After reading this book, mushrooms are now at the bottom of my Preferred list. Craft has produced a clever interweaving of adolescent emotions and superior sleuthing that reveals his own maturing as a mystery writer. One of the best characteristics of this series is the aging of the principals and the strengthening of the relationship between Mark and Neil.

Michael Craft is a great storyteller. Citing just three of his novels: (1) "Body Language," (2) "Boy Toy," and (3) "Hot Spot,"which should be read in this order for the best continuity, I found the novels less engaging as mystery novels and more delightful to read as well-drawn out expositions of life in the small town of Dumont, WI, where practically everyone is normal, even gays. The mysteries, qua mystery, lack the usual heightened suspense one expects from this genre. But, the diminution of suspense is more than compensated by good character development, well-structured plots, engaging personae, and a literate writing style. The fact that some of the characters are gay seems incidental and relatively unimportant, which in a idealistic fashion, is the way it ought to be. These are good people to whom the misfortune of crime occurs, and Mark Manning, the local newspaper editor and the central character, seems equipoised to solving the crime. There's no "mining" of the text with incredulous characters or situations to bring about the near-impossibility of solving the caper. Rather, through the use of intuition, inference, and critical thinking, Manning always seems to get to the core of the crime with a flair for being ordinary and going about matters in a normal sort of way in the sleepy Wisconsin hamlet. Those who enjoy up-and-close personal stories about "ordinary" people struck by "ordinary" misfortune with "mystery" as a somewhat subsidiary part of this ordinary existence will like these novels. There's nothing that is strikingly out of the ordinary. Those who want a "D'Vinci Code," on the other hand, will be sorely disappointed. I found the novels exceedingly likeable, and I was not disappointed that the mystery involved is in many ways subordinate to plot, character-development, and literate style.

BOY TOY, the fifth novel by Michael Craft in the Mark Manning Mystery series, starts out rather slowly but gathers momentum to become a suspenseful thriller, something that indicates a story certainly worth reading.

All the usual suspects are here, that is, the characters we that read this series have come to love, like, dislike-- or in some instances, despise: first there is the suave newspaper editor Mark Manning; his lover Neil; the gay sheriff Doug; Roxanne, the attorney from Chicago; Lucy and Glee Savage, both employees of Manning's newspaper; Danny Diggins; and last but certainly not least, Thad, the seventeen-year-old who has become the apple of Manning's eye, in the best sense of the word.

The story is about the murder of another seventeen-year-old, Jason Thrush, who is found dead the evening he is scheduled to star in a summer play that also stars Thad, who unfortunately becomes a suspect in the case. But you'll have to read further to find out anything else.

As Mr. Craft is prone to do, he introduces us to a subject that many of us have no knowledge or-- and in some instances not much interest either. In previous novels we have learned much about both cats and dollhouses, but not in the same novel. Here we get quite a taste for mushrooms.

Five novels down and two more to go. Mr. Craft has staying power.

Once again, Michael Craft has given us another wonderful, funny, page turning mystery in the lives of Mark Manning and Neil Waite. Each of his books is a joy to read and I for one can't put one of his books down without anticipating picking it up again to find out what happens next.

Thank you, Michael for inspiring me with your wonderful stories of friendship, love and honor.

The Rankin/Bass animagic Holiday specials are as much a part of my childhood memories as putting up the tree, hanging the stockings and painting the eggs.

It is nice to see Rick Goldschmidt drag them from the foggy haze of my nostalgia and bring them back into the light. I never new that there was so much information on Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass. "The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass" has it all, from the most obscure cel animated cartoon to the classic animagic of Rudolph and Santa.

Everything you could want is here: Behind the scenes photographs, a complete list of Rankin/Bass works, well-written articles and a jumble of Rankin/Bass memorabilia. This book is even more relevant, now that the Rankin/Bass filmography is being released on DVD. It will make you chomp at the bit for each new release.

If Peter Cottontail, The Snow Miser and Heat Miser, Frosty the Snowman and Happy the Christmas Baby ("those ears!") ring any bells for you, then you will enjoy "The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass."

I think the other reviewers here have just about covered it BUT I wanted to add that this is the way a book should be done on a classic HOLIDAY TV SPECIAL. It is loaded with information and gives background on everything from the voice actors to the Stop-motion animation. In Rick's other book he covered the entire body of RANKIN/BASS work, which was quite an undertaking, considering there were many reference books out there with incorrect info. In this book, he covered the process. The two book collection cover the history of RANKIN/BASS PRODUCTIONS very nicely! A Perfect Holiday gift set!

The 2nd printing is WONDERFUL! So glad to see this book come back! Make your HOLIDAYS HOLLY & Of Course JOLLY! This book is it!

This book is my favorite book I have ordered from AMAZON.COM! The color pages have tons of pictures and they are the most vibrant I have seen! There is tons of incredible material in here! RANKIN/BASS Rules! Josh

If you LOVE Rankin/Bass, holiday specials, or childhood memories, then this is a MUST have book! Mr. Goldschmidt's love for the R/B TV specials & movies, shines through on EVERY page! VERY informative & detailed!I was lucky enough to get a hardcover version, but thank goodness they've released a 2nd printing for the people who missed out on his book the 1st time! Purchase this book, you WON'T be sorry!I can't wait for his upcoming; Making of R/B classic- Rudolph the red nosed reindeer! I'm sure it's gonna rock! Let's hope he follows it up w/another of my ALL-TIME favorite R/B productions; Mad Monster Party! Have some HOLLY JOLLY holidays! ;-)

I asked for this book as a gift, and was happy with the first 30 or so pages. At that point it turns into a photoshop primer, with step-by-step instructions on how to manipulate your image. But what if you don't have or use photoshop? Too bad. I've had a couple of classes in Photoshop Elements, but that's not enough to penetrate this book.

Bottom line: this is not a photography book, this is a photoshop book. What if you'd prefer to take better photographs so that photoshop is not necessary? I'm not sure, but don't get this book.

I am new to photography but I am also the type who gets deep into things. This is a really beautiful book. The author is obviously an incredible artist. He writes in a passionate way and even when he needs to get technical he never loses that passion. It is a step by step introduction to Digital photography written by someone who has been out in the field for years. It has become my bible. A professional photographer I know said it helped him get "back to basics" in the non condescending meaning of the word.

Lot's of good information without it being too technical. Just like Scott Kelby's book on digital photography, easy to read and understand for beginners and I'm sure for pros as well. Money well spent.

This book deserves a 10 star rating, as it is not only well-written, but the information is worthy of continual review. It doesn't talk about non-essential gimickry, but instead how to caoture and transform the essence of light. Examples include using GRAD filters, scrims, reflectors of gold versus silver, and black to absorb light --creating shadows when there are no shadows. Gold and silver reflect 80 to 90 percent of the light into shadowed areas of the face or body, depending upon the size of the reflector. The black "absorbers" also come in various sizes depending upon the subject at hand.

I've been in film photography for a long time and am familiar with the photographic terms that span both mediums. However, I'm a begineer when it comes to digital processing and digital photographic terminology.

This book is inexpensive and chock full of important information that was barely touched in two local digital courses on which I spent over $200. If I learn how to use levels, curves, and layers properly, the book will surpass those local courses tremendously. But, there is more important information in the digital processing lab that I know nothing about and a world to explore.

Therefore this is a book with which to grow and improve my photographic skills and to use as a digital photographic bible. It is definitely worthy of more than the inexpensive sticker price.

I thank the authors and editors for making "Perfect Digital Photography" available, and my daughter, Heather, for giving me this book for my 65th birthday.

First off, this is written for the more "serious" amateur. It does, therefore, figure that you are probably something of a photographer to begin with. He refers to f/stops and other "more technical" photographic terms. I am just beginning to get into photography, so some of what he was talking about was above my head. This is not a bad thing. While I may not use all this information at this stage (I only have a Point & Shoot Kodak), if I decide to get into this more and get a true SLR or DSLR, this will come in handy.

Having said that, there is a lot of good information for a lowly beginner such as myself. It is written in a fairly easy to understand way so even us true amateurs can understand. The addition of the section on Photoshop is also a wonderful thing. One may as well learn to use all of the 'tools' of the trade. Some may see Photoshop as a crutch; I feel it is a good way to perfect the picture you took to get it to be more of what you saw when you first snapped it. Why suffer with a picture that is less than perfect when you did everything correctly when you can contrast it better or sharpen it up?

All in all, this is a book very worth picking up, whether you are a true beginner, a harder core amateur, or a total professional. It will teach everyone something, regardless of skill level.

Following the Arcade scene for a few years, I've been promising myself this book once I'm ready to sit down and start building my own MAME Arcade cabinet.

After getting the book and skimming through the pages, I was disappointed to find it's either information I've already discovered on my own by surfing the Internet, or the links to additional content or files are severely outdated and a number of external links no longer work. The copy of MAME they provide you is ver 0.7x (Latest incarnation of MAME is over .100)

Don't get me wrong, this book is great for those who haven't already done the research and want an all-in-one book on how to do it. For me however, I gained nothing from the book.

This is a good book.
My only thing is most of this is on the internet and may even be more updated if you find the right websites.

But it is helpful as for the beginner will help you plan things out in advance. Would be nice to have a few more illustrations like some sample wire diagrams of the controls etc.

But again..it has lots of reference websites listed in the book that can also assist.

My suggestion is -> don't build a Mame Cabinet if you don't have the internet...because you will need it.

Seems to have covered all the basis and the added cd is a nice touch.

This book is a lot more "Techie" than I expected. It involves taking apart and reconfiguring quite a few things to get what you need. Sure it shows where to buy the components if you wish, but then why not just buy the arcade game already made. It does show you how to build the case. I thought it would show how to take your X-Box or Playstation and build an arcade enclosure to get the arcade feel. That is not what this book is about. You take a computer and several components, plus a moniter to make an arcade game. It is very informative but not quite what I expected. It is not a 1 or 2 weekend project. Do a search for mame to see what I mean. Mame is very important to this project.

This book covered so much more than what I was expecting. If you have never built an arcade cabinet before then I would recommend this book if only to see how many different ways it can be done.

I like the book. but i wish to warn buyers about outdated parts. in the book and on the cd it lists many links. but many of the website have gone down and are dead. in the description for the book it says it gives details on making controls, but some cases it just gives links. some of are dead. but it does give good info on emulator, encoders and many other things that are hard to find on the web. but i think the man should have cut some parts short and added controle construction.

I have learned all the needed information required to build a Strip kayak.

Yet! the kayak plans in the book are not good enough for building a kayak. Purchase plans separately!

Nick Shade is an artist, not a woodworker. He doesn't fret over minute details, or force you to make things perfect. But his designs are positively gorgeous. Since his book is a recent print, he covers many aspects of construction the older books do not cover, and many of the ideas are his own and are used professionally on the curent market. He does not cover everything, and if you want to find out the most recent developments as far as boatbuilding, you have to subscribe to the blogs online. (such as on Ted Moores' site). He is not as clear as Ted Moores in KayakCraft, but sometimes has more ideas. I suggest to buy both and visit all the websites.

This is a very good book. Schade's style is very easygoing and informative. A pleasure to read and learn from.

With all the rave reviews already stated, I add my own.

Mr. Schade will break your heart in the very introduction of the book; at this moment you will come to understand the true dedication of this author to his craft (and love for his wife). Then there is a descent into the inner secrets of this craft that he loves. As an accomplished gymnast, he will certainly make this kayak-building appear easy, almost too easy, and yet the details are in place to convince you that, yes, you can do it yourself.

You have to pinch yourself to bring yourself back to the reality that you will spend many hours building this kayak, that it will cost you quite a bit, and that the process is not as easy as it looks. Then stop pinching yourself and start planning; the reality is that you can do it!

There are a few gaps in the details that I had to think my way through, but none of these gaps are intentional. In fact, these opportunities are more exciting than aggravating.

This is not the only good resource available for learning the strip-building technique. I am already modifying Mr. Schade's designs to include elements provided elsewhere, as he would even encourage himself. On the other hand, this book is all you need to make a great kayak, and the information in this book is superior to anything that I have seen elsewhere.

I would recommend this book even to those who never plan on building a kayak if for no other reason than to appreciate this fine art of shipbuilding.

I got the book on paddle constructon but the strip-built sea kayak book never arrived. I had forgotten ordering it and wish to have it now. thanks

This book is essentially true to its title of the Art of Outdoor Photography as opposed to the science of... The author offers a lucid and accessible narrative which could generate insight for beginner or intermediate photographers. However, I felt that many of the pictures in the book were quite frankly not impressive or inspiring. It is almost as if he was only willing to part with those that he didn't want to sell elsewhere. Could be useful as part of a larger collection of books on this subject but look elsewhere for stunning photographs.

Great book that teaches a lot about "outdoor photography". Equipment, interesting technigues, locations, and many other topics are explained with many examples. I am mostly interested in landscape photography and found many advices very usefull. Highly recomended.

This is the most helpful photo book I have ever seen! The illustrations are superb, with helpful captions. Moreover, it's good for beginning levels despite what the subtitle says. I highly recommend it. Worth every penny. Also a great gift for other photographer friends.

Absolutely amazing!! This is one of the BEST photography books out there. I have bought many books on photography, but this one has absolutely captivated me. Have you ever been ever been awestruck by some lovely outdoor scenery, taken pictures of that landscape , got the film developed and printed shook your head in bewilderment and said "what the heck happened?". All the things that captured your heart and soul are still there in the picture, but it does not have the same impact? If this has happened to you, this book will tell you why.

Don't walk, run. Go buy the book!

The sub-title of the book says "Techniques for the Advanced Amateur and Professional." Hardly. This is simply one of many generalist photography books geared to beginners and "non-advanced" amateurs. Don't expect to find anything that isn't in dozens of similar books. The photos are average, and aren't helped by the lacklustre quality of the printing.

This is an excellent book. It includes patterns as well and easy instructions.

When I decided to build my own strip canoe I bought several books, including Gilpatrick's. Nearly everything I read was helpful, but "Building A Strip Canoe" was by far the best. He has included a number of different models (I built the 18' White Guide). And, his instructions are easily followed. Another plus was that Gil was available via email to help me get through some of problems, especially the fiberglassing. The result is a canoe that has made a number of trips down the Upper Missouri, and to the amazement of some of my skeptical "friends", has remained afloat. I recommend Gil's book without hesitation. "Canoe Craft" is good, too, for add-ons such as scuppers, and stem pieces.

I have many of the common books on canoe building. This book is by far the easiest to use. There seems to be two major schools of thought when it comes to strip canoe building: 1) floating furniture (The Canoecraft way) and 2) utilitarian (Hazen and Gilpatrick). I've built a solo canoe following Gil's methods and it has served wonderfully for 5 years. I've bounced it down rocky rivers and used it for many trips to the BWCA and Quetico and it has served admirably.

If you wish to build a work of art, then perhaps you should follow Moores's methods. Personally, I don't like external stems on a canoe. They widen the entry line and just look weird to me. Building them is also a fiddly undertaking and I'm not sure that they really add much.

If you want a functional and tough canoe . . . that is beautiful to boot . . . this book will help you reach your goal. If you have questions write the author, he has replied to my emails; usually the next day.

This is a great book to learn how to build a half-way canoe. This is poorly done and offers building instruction that will leave you with an inferior boat. The best option is to buy Canoecraft...Canoecraft has everything you need to build a canoe and even includes plans and lofting directions. However many of the techniques described in this book are easier than those in canoecraft. But when you are out on the water you don't want to be worrying about if your boat is gonna hold together or not because you cut corners.

I bought this book paired with the more advanced Canoecraft book and really couldn't be happier with both of them. Having read the Canoecraft book first I was left with some questions reguarding technical aspects of boatbuilding that this book answered wonderfully. The approach the author takes reflects one of an experienced teacher explaining the task with an eye toward common mistakes and how to avoid them. While the finished product as outlined is a bit heavy and lacking in elegance, as compared to the Canoecraft boat, I plan to utilize both books in the construction of my canoe. (Please note that the heaviness comes from extra fiberglass reinforcement that is a real necessity in the rocky streams of Maine, the author's state, and not so much here in the Midwest.) The real bonus, aside from the caning instructions which are wonderful, is the fact that you are also getting scale plans for eight boats which can be scanned, scaled and printed full size at your local copyshop. The project is easily completed by anyone who is remotely aquainted with woodworking techniques and in many instances the author explains multiple methods of doing the same step with a list of the pros and cons of each method. Excellent book to buy for your first canoebuilding experience.