Amateur Books

J.M. Gore is a realtor & William Null a builder, and together they have written a very helpful book. From the introduction--where you learn the importance of gathering information to make decisions, staying in your budget, and avoiding delays--to the comprehensive workbook (plenty of room for schedules, materials, subcontractors, etc.) and index, this is a useful book; and it also includes samples of the various forms you'll work with. The authors cover the basics of surveys, soil testing, easements, architects, house plans/blueprints, construction loans, liens, hard & soft costs, the importance of the value of houses in your neighborhood, resale and upgrades values, etc.; and they list and discuss the things that add to your construction cost: roof pitch, gables, plumbing and wiring, ceilings, fixtures, cabinetry, flooring, and change orders!

Having written a book myself about building a house, Building a Cool House for Hot Times without Scorching the Pocketbook, I was impressed by their book; they cover what you need to know, and they also point out that each house and property is unique, plus they've included examples of problems that homeowners have had to deal with. I learned a lot, including pitfalls I missed, fortunately. I'm keeping this book for building my next house.

I bought this book to see what the process of building a house is all about and this book provided just that, a brief overview of whats involved. I finished this book in about half an hour (didn't do the worksheets) and while its helpful, it lacked the specific information I was looking for (for ex., where should I submit the house plan? what exactly is a lien?). For first timers like me, this book generates more questions than answer. Overall a good starting point, with the dozens of worksheets which may prove to be helpful later on, but if you are looking for detailed information... you need another thicker book.

AS a construction project manager and author, myself, of a book on that subject ("Get Paid for a Change", subtitled, "The Contractor's Blueprint for turning Extra Work into Extra Money--through Change Orders", I was very interested in this book. I live construction project management every day, and really am aware of what happens on virtually every building project: changes to the original design and unanticipated site conditions. In fact, this is so prevalent that my columns "Full Contact Project Management" are carried in four trade magazines.

To that end, this book is a real help to the would-be owner-builder. I believe that you can never have too much information on a subject, particularly when you are about to risk your own money on it! This book will go a long ways toward helping you make informed decisions. Even if you just decide after reading this book that you are NOT going to build it yourself, but will hire a builder, or that you should hire a superintendent, you will soon realize that the $20 you invested in this book paid huge dividends. You really need this book!

Gary Micheloni

I recently bought this book to get a general idea of what it takes for a first time home builder and the $20.00 dollars I spent saved me more time, money and hassle than I can describe. I would recommend this book to anyone who is even thinking of the adventure of house building.

$20.00 will save you Thousands!!!!!

With the seemingly endless upward trend of real estate pricing, potential homeowners are constantly on the lookout for cost-cutting tips and organizational ideas to help them make the right decisions during the construction of their "customized dream house."

And this title, "So... You Want to Build a House," by J. M. Gore and William Null does just that by providing readers with useful information about subjects such as: the "perfect house;" consulting with realtors, architects, and subs; controlling both hard and soft expenses; finding the value of an upgrade; learning how that "one little change" can impact the overall outcome; and more.

But the book also helps guide the reader through the complicated process of building by including over a dozen worksheets specifically designed to help with the planning, budgeting, and building process--covering most every stage from the purchase of the land all the way through to the closing.

With all of this workbook's tips and insight, this proves to be a helpful text for anyone who may be considering a home building project (even though the inclusion of an additional set of the planning sheets or duplicates would have been appreciated).

But overall, "So... You Want to Build a House" is still a solid workbook and a great reference for anyone who's even thinking about any kind of residential project (whether they're building by themselves or through a professional)!

Good Job!

I bought this book when we decided to tile our kitchen backsplash...our first tiling project. The book was helpful but could have elaborated on the types of adhesives for different tiles and different applications a little more. However, it is still overall a good book that I would recommend. It also includes how to repair tiles.

Having some previous tiling experience, I was pleased to discover that "Tiling Complete" contained many well-informed tips and clear, straight-forward instruction -- simplifying and illuminating each step involved, including the handy features addressing mistake-prevention and trade tips. This is the clearest, most thorough book on tile-setting I've come across.

This book gave me the courage to tackle the floors and walls of my master bath, project is going great using the tips and techniques in the book. The "what can go wrong" feature has helped me from making shortcuts and costly mistakes.

This is an outstanding book. We have done a variety of projects over the years and I have learned the hard way many of the lessons that these authors highlight in their book. If you want to tile, and you don't want to waste your time and money making stupid mistakes (as I have done in the past!!), buy and read this book.

I just love starting new projects, but I was scared to death to begin tiling. This book gave me all the information I needed to have the guts to proceed. The instructions were very clear and I can't say enough about all the photographs. These authors did an amazing job showing what they do best. Thank you for writing this book for those who must do it by themselves.

Great boat for really simple very small boats. This is an excellent reference book for someone who has never build any kind of a boat. I had hoped for more larger stitch and glue boats, like in the 15 to 19 foot range such as the Diablo and Diablo Grande.

I don't know of any pleasure greater than enjoying an outing in a vehicle that you built with your own hands. A boat is one of the few vehicles that most people can actually build from readily available materials and without years of training and a treasure trove of specialized tools. Unfortunately, too many would-be boat builders jump in too deep, too soon. Mr. Atkin teaches us that anyone can build a boat and provides a perfect entry point for anyone thinking about leaving terra firma in a craft of their own making. Not only does he include many free, easy-to-build designs, but he teaches through clear, comprehensive text and illustrations, the basic skills and techniques that apply not only to build the designs in the book, but to future projects beyond the book. If you're planning a boat project with kids this is THE book. As an added bonus, Mr. Atkin invites us to join his discussion group, where we can share tips and tales with the author and others who have built and enjoyed his designs. Ultrasimple Boat Building is not only a great starting point for newbies, it's a great launching point for future hard core builders.

This book belongs on the shelf of anyone who is contemplating building their own boat. This book was a special treat for me because there is a picture of a boat I built in it.
The prospect of building a boat can be very overwhelming. It is a process of figuring out your needs and then deciding on an appropriate design. This is followed by determining if you have the tools, money, space, skill, and time to see a project go from a pile of wood to a pleasant afternoon sailing on a local lake with your family. If you are like me you begin this process by reading as much as you possibly can prior to actually creating sawdust.
Gavin Atkin's book is divided into two parts. The first part deals with the "how" to build a boat. Although you may supplement this information with additional material from other sources, Atkin gives enough practical information to actually build a boat. Atkin makes building a boat for someone who has never done it seem very doable, even fun. The second part of the book is filled with designs to whet the appetite of anyone who
is in the process of trying to decide what would would be the right boat for them. Mr. Atkin includes complete plans for seventeen of his own designs, all very doable, plus he reviews designs done by other popular designers.
My boat recently succumbed to dry rot and was hauled to the dump. I am now in the process of deciding which is the "right" boat to build and Gavin Atkin's book, "Ultrasimple Boatbuilding", has renewed my interest in building my own boat again.

Gavin Atkin has been designing boats and distributing those plans for free on the web for many years with his main enjoyment being the photos and letters he received from builders. I built his flying mouse and found it to be wonderfully stable boat in a short and light package, not a normal combination. His book is a must-have addition to his plans for the extra instruction and advice he gives. He also has all sorts of different boatplans in this book to choose from for your build. Finally, you not only get the book but Gavin is readily available and responsive through the mouseboats yahoo group to answer any questions you might have during the build.

Excellent example boats in the well written boat. The author explains his choices - of boat types and construction types - very well. Inspires me to try and build a boat better than one he would build. Well at least with a nicer finish, "better" is open for dicussion. And I would not mind discussing better with the author, I would gladly pay for the for pint.

This book is excellent. It arrived yesterday and I sat down and read the "build it yourself" chapter first (I'm thinking of building an ATX system from scratch). Went back and started at the front and by the end of the Monday night game I had read through to chapter 7. Will plow through the rest today (it's that good). I found that the text is clear, the admonitions on point (especially regarding my previous mistakes) and useful todo's abound. The only thing I would have preferred is for the book to be spiral bound so it would lay open while I work on my system.

I am an IT professional who writes software on a PC all day long. Although I once added a tape drive and CD-ROM to my PC (which is now almost ready to be upgraded or replaced), I don't know much about the internals of a PC or things like the difference between the types of slots or kinds of RAM but have always wanted to learn. So when I read about a book that claimed to explain all these things and more such as slots, USB ports, hard drives and CD-RW in a way I could understand, I was very interested. And as soon as I learned it was written by the publishers of an excellent electronic newsletter (TheNakedPC) which I've received for quite some time, I ordered it immediately believing it would be full of useful information presented in a clear and readable way and I am happy to say I wasn't mistaken.

The book is full of all kinds of useful information from web sites that have lists of motherboard and BIOS information to where to find utilities to analyse and tell you what is in your current PC. Each chapter covers a different part such as hard drives and video and, after explaining the options available, goes into step by step instructions on how to add, replace and upgrade the items.

Although I may decide to just order a new PC instead of upgrading mine, this book will help me determine which is the better road to take. I will also be able to make more intelligent decisions about what to look for in a new PC since I now know more about what the parts do and how they work together. And if my PC ever breaks, this will be the first book I grab off the shelf. I feel is was certainly worth purchasing.

Do you know whether to buy SRAM, EDO RAM, SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, RDRAM or SLDRAM?

Do you know the difference in IDE, EIDE, and SCSI?

Do you really know whether it's worth forking out your hard-earned cash at this stage for a DVD drive?

Okay, Okay, of course you do! But until I'd read this book I didn't. Don't let the title put you off. If you are an "Absolute Beginner" then this book is for you, but you would have to be pretty high up the PC Knowledge food chain not to pick up at least half a dozen absolute gems of information.

Like most of us I plough my way through the magazines, e-zines, etc. looking for the pearls of wisdom that will make my system bigger, better, faster and tuned to that peak of perfection. Then I do nothing. This is usually because I have either lost the cuttings or I have lost my nerve.

The first time you "open the box" it is a fearful sight, full of wires and ...er, whatever they are. With this book by your side, they all make sense. Every card, slot, socket, port, chipset...(think of any widget you want!)... is fully explained.

If your question is anywhere between "What is a 3.5 inch floppy disk drive, do I need one and how do I add/change it?" to "What is everything I need to know to be able to build a PC from scratch?" then the answer is in this book.

The authors certainly don't talk down to you, but somehow they have managed to crack that difficult of problem of writing in a style that makes a potentially complex subject seem easy. They actually make you feel that they have written the book specifically with you in mind, and if things do get tough, there are lots of sidebars and an excellent glossary and index to fall back on.

Even if your idea of an "upgrade" is to add a printer or plug in some speakers - it's in the book. Too simple? You want to be at the leading edge and flash the BIOS - it's in the book.

On the other hand, maybe you're not sure whether to take any risks at all, and another thing, is it worth it? Should you just buy a new system? The authors have covered that too - if it's not worth upgrading then that's what they'll tell you.

Everything is organised in a logical linear way. What are the merits of the upgrade, the cost, the degree of difficulty, where to source the parts, what equipment do you need, is there a comprehensive checklist...???(you get the drift). The references and URL addresses alone are priceless and however did I manage for so long without knowing about "SANDRA".

BUT, I nearly didn't buy this book. I was one click away from cancelling my order. The problem? - The title. Maybe "Absolute Beginner..." would be too simple for me. I agree that it's not an advanced book, but I can't for the life of me see why the publishers didn't call it "The Absolute Beginners or Beginners or Intermediate Type of Persons Guide to PC Upgrades". I think a snappy little title like that would have described the book perfectly.

This book is great. I wanted to add memory to my tower: it had diagrams and talked me right through it. There are good tips in the margins on computer repair, and it is also easy to navigate with a clearly organized Table of Contents and Index. I was able to find answers immediately to my questions to get the job done. I looked at quite a few on-line when I was thinking about doing repairs myself and this book truly worked miracles for me. I highly recommend it for everything you want to do on your home computer!!!

Whether you're a novice or semi-literate PC user with the desire to either figure out how your system works or desire to upgrade, this book is perfectly simple to read and understand. The subject matter will not go out of date and the authors are reader friendly. If you send them an email, they will respond quickly. I don't have a lot of time to spend reading a book from one end to the other just to figure out a simple process. With this book, I don't have to. This is a lot of book for [the price] and we consumers are lucky it's on the market. Thanks TJ and Lee for making our lives a little easier!

The ARRL Antenna Book: The Ultimate Reference for Amateur Radio Antennas, Transmission Lines And Propagation (Arrl Antenna Book)

I agree totally with the text on the cover, this is the ultimate reference on antennas. I had a specific target in mind when I bought it and as expected I found the topics I was looking for but also and to my surprise found the other chapters very interesting to read and I am now reading the book from cover to cover - really enjoyable, interesting and packed with info.
Especially I appreciate the fine balance between theory and practical info
Further it's a great feature to get the complete book on a CD in the PDF format - great!

Ejner Nicolaisen OZ9EU

The Arrl Antenna Book is a must have for any antenna designer. Amateur radio operators, shortwave listeners and commerical users will benefit from both the theory provided and the practical examples of proper design executions.

This is the bible for ham radio antenna design. Also covers transmission lines and propagation. Both theory (at graduate EE level) and practice (at the level of mere mortals). -- ws2i

The definitive book on antennas theory, design, and construction. If you're serious about building your own antennas then you need this book as part of your collection!

I first became acquainted with Michael Green's marvelous book when I picked up a used paperback in a book store in Long Beach, Calif. in 1979. In the years since, I have read the book at least two dozen times -- always thinking that THIS TIME I'll be able to peruse it with a straight face, yet always, inevitably, dissolving into gales of helpless, tearful laughter before ten pages have turned. This is not only the funniest book ever written about acting, but one of the funniest books on ANY subject in the English language. Many books dicuss the "high end" of acting -- character, subtext, internal monologue, etc. But none of them offer pointers on what to do if a fellow actor muffs his lines, or if you need to get off (or on) stage and the door won't open. Green fills that void in the most diverting manner imaginable. If you've always thought the phrase "I laughed till I cried" was only a figure of speech, then this is the book for you. By the way, I have it on good (though unconfirmed) authority that Michael Green is the son of the late Hermione Gingold, the legendary British character actress

This tome is full of useful information for the coarse actor, including "How to Steal the Scene, Even though Unconscious," "How to be a mere Spear-Carrier, and still ruin a scene," "Basic Makeup Tips for the Coarse Actor," and the useful diagram on set building "The Human Cleat." Anyone who's ever been in a performance of "Arsenic and Old Lace" will appreciate this book -- as will anyone who's ever sat through the show. (Not that I'm slamming "Arsenic and Old Lace," I think it holds up remarkably well.)

Should be required reading in all theatre coarses. Oops, I mean courses...

In one memorably ruined production this was the director's obsession, so he gave the actor playing Lear tiny, birdlike movements.

Alas! The set designer strongly disagreed and burst forth with a magnificently bare stage relieved only by a giant phallic monument at the center.

His vision being that King Lear was: "A Man Lost in a Wilderness. "

They never did reach an agreement.

But, as Green points out, it really wouldn't have mattered, because if one is brilliant enough to be obsessed about Lear being 'A Man Trapped In a Tube', neither Shakespeare, the cast, nor the audience has much of a fighting chance. . .

-----------------------------------------------------------------

This book is a deliciously hilarious spoof of the British stage, with heavy emphasis on 'cultural' amateur societies. It is a satire on producing as well as acting, directing,--and the gurus who teach it.

But in a wonderful twist of irony, it is now required reading with many Theater Arts depatrments in universities around the world.

( "Do NOT go to acting school!"--- Eleonora Duse )

As well it should be. Filled with outrageously improbable anecdotes , it nevertheless hits home too well for anyone in the profession.

It is a true masterpiece of ham, which offers marvelous advice for directors on how to succeed through obscurantist doublespeak.

No director, for example, should EVER say anything that remotely sounds 'practical' such as : "Well, frankly, I have to get 'em to speak up. "

Far, far better, according to Green, is to say things that sound profound but mean nothing, such as : "I'm not interested at all whether the audience hears my actors, but---it is vital they should hear them thinking. "

Heavy . . .

( "If a director writes in his notes: 'The Oedipal complex is obvious in this scene, must discuss with the queen'; the sooner he is packed and thrown out of the theater, the better it'll be for everyone! "-- George Bernard Shaw )

Shaw has an ally in Green who, based on personal experience, is convinced that the director's primary job is to weed out the obvious psychotics in the cast during the first week of rehersals.

As to actors left on board Green believes he is far more practical than Stanislavsky, whom he does not admire on the grounds that 'these method people are so vague.' He advises actors should carry a chart (1. Speak Slower. 2. Speak Faster, etc.) for whenever the director goes off into interpretive raptures, Oedipal or not.

Simply ask him to point to which number he wants.

Ah! And who could possibly forget the classic: "How To Steal a Scene Though Unconscious" which puts anything ever written by Constantin to shame. . .

An very, very funny book, which suprisingly does contain unexpected gems of commonsense.

Five stars are not enough.

Hi all. This book is hilarious! I bought it to learn what NOT to teach my acting students, and it really helped. And it was a great read - the author is British, so there is plenty of dry wit, and the anecdotes had me in hysterics. I learned a lot, and laughed out loud every chapter. How can you miss? Sincerely, ElizaBeth

I first read this book as a teenager, while spending much of my spare time in amateur theatre, and have become Green's slave for life.

Whole segments of the book are quotable, and painfully - hilariously - familiar to anyone who has ever been involved with the stage, paid or unpaid. I remember reading excerpts to my brother over the phone, while both of us cried because we were laughing so hard ... because although these are not your own experiences, they might as well be.

Every actor - amateur or professional - will have come across a coarse actor in their lives: somebody who "knows his lines, but not the order in which they come", leaving everyone floundering; the blatant scene stealer who takes everyone's eyes away from the real action; the sets that collapse when they shouldn't, or don't collapse when they should.

I could go on. But you'd be far better served by reading the book instead, and keeping a box of tissues handy to wipe away the tears of hilarity.

This softcover, colored picture book is the one to have. Be sure to have a pad of Post-It notes handy because you'll be marking pages for future reference. I saw this book in my local mall's bookstore and thumbed through the pages. I liked it so much I went home and ordered from Amazon.com for $[...] less than the bookstore and also received free shipping!

I bought this book because I've been trying to design a porch and deck. Most books have deck plans and ideas but nothing about porches. This book had pictures and detailed diagrams complete with top and side elevations. It showed beam layouts and spans with measurements.

Of course there are many other sections in this book about pathways, patios, fences, walls, gates, sheds, outbuildings, and outdoor accessories such as kids' play structures, raised garden beds, fire pits, and many more. This is a great reference guide for all of us who love to build things but sometimes need guidance. It'll be the best investment under $[...] you'll make.

Bruce Campbell
Camden, Delaware

I have dozens of these "how to" books in my library and was most impressed with not only the concepts, but the instructions this book offered. This book could keep the outdoor handyman busy for a dozen summers. Very well done and most original.

Black & Decker is of course synonymous with power-tools, but less well known is that they make really excellent how-to books as well. This one is outstanding. If your interested in carpentry, masonry, and landscaping design, this book is first rate. The emphasis here in on things like fences, gazebos, stone walls...things with an outdoor landscaping theme. There is also excellent coverage of decks, porches, and sheds, too. A nice and very comprehensive book. Tons of color and detailed illustrations. You can't go wrong with the B & D series or the Better Homes and Gardens series.

This book is worth all others on this subject. It is good money saver for me.

As a do-it-yourselfer, this is a wonderful addition to my DIY library. The pictures are colorful and add to the project explanation and the directions are clear and consise.

Greg and I are now in the process of completing an updated version of Celestial Delights, which will track naked-eye events from 2003 through 2010 (and in some cases beyond). It is slated for release in October by Celestial Arts, ISBN 1-58761-157-0, 7 x 10 inches.

Thank you all for your supportive comments!

I received this book as a gift in 1995 and have referred to it monthly sharing with others the upcoming events of the celestial sky. I hope the authors of this fine book will release same for the next ten years. I keep searching new releases for information regarding same. I look forward to the new release!

I agree with Steve from Ketchum, ID.
When will we be able to learn what to watch for from 2002 to 2010 in the beautiful sky here in Springdale (Zion National Park), Utah?

I hope you authors plan to do the next edition to cover 2001-2010. I found the current edition very useful for what to look for and when. Eclipses, times etc. All very helpful.

This book is easy to read and understand with lots of diagrams and illustrations. It covers everything from meteor showers to eclipses to viewing planets. There are illustrations to show exactly where to look in the sky (helpful for those of us who aren't too familiar with the constellations), and a calendar in the back which shows you what will be happening each month till 2010. I have always enjoyed astromony, but I always felt like I missed eclipses or forgot about meteor showers. This book will solve those problems!

This is a wonderful, inspiring book for the alternative minded owner builder. Lots of useful information.

I have read this book front to back and really enjoyed the multitude of information contained within. Parts of it are so detailed that you can get a complete picture of the entire home building process.

I have come to the conclusion that cordwood is one of the most underrated construction techniques in America today. While Strawbale has gotten a lot of attention in the media, Cordwood is still a buider's secret weapon when it comes to cost and ease of construction.

One of the biggest downfalls of traditional Cordwood masonry is radial shrinkage. This can easily be fixed by plastering one side of the wall. But of course this will cover up some of the beauty of the log ends...

Rob Roy is one of the authorities of this construction method and this book is a must read if you are interested in alternative building methods. The traditional frame construction method is an ecological desaster when you look at the whole picture. Yes, it is fast... But, you are building a home that was stored piece by piece in a warehouse, instead of organically built from the land!

This book is a great read on an excellent method of alternative house building.The author has written a series of books on cordwood construction and in doing so has arived at what could be called the final word on this method.The book is well laid out and illustrated but watch out for important tidbits of info. that are sometimes buried in the text . When read cover to cover , the reader gains both valuable information and confidence and I highly reccomend this one to owner/builders everywhere.

Rob and Jaki Roy have done a nice job of organizing their cordwood manual into useful chapters for the differnet stages of owner built cordwood house construction. The included photos of other cordwood houses was both exciting and informative. The best part of the book is how they tell you what products and methods they recommend highly, those they don't, and those others have tried. A must have practical manual for anyone considering building their own cordwood house!

This is an excellent book on the construction of a house using cordwood (firewood) "bricks". If you have the inclination and minor construction skills to seriously considering self-constructing a unique house or structure, you should look at this book. Lots of pictures and examples of houses constructed by students of the author and others, a candid walkthrough of the evolution of the author's house, and (best of all) a step-by-step illustrated guide to the construction of a cordwood house. On the down side, two minor points: 1) The book does not have sufficent engineering details on load calculations for my county building inspectors; You will need "official" building plans to meet code; and 2) The book is dated with respect to mortar additives; Several are available now which retard moisture loss and retain elasticity. Minor points.

The most amazing part of this construction is the asthetic beauty of the houses. If you're picturing a pile of firewood slathered in cement and a pole roof with room for just one cot, the Colman, and the dog, outhouse close by, think again. These houses are as sophisticated as you care to make them with a unique, personnal "fingerprint" to each one.

This is an excellent read, extremely informative, and you can successfully build your house using this book.

Extremely well written tongue-in-check humor. I've lent my copy out to at least 10 people who'd love to have their own copy - if only it was still in print!

I am a great fan of written humor & have an extensive collection. NOTHING comes close to this. If this were re-issued today, it would sell millions. Dereck Williamson for President!

A battered copy of this book has sat on my shelf for years. There is no quicker way to shake off a frustrating day, than to read Mr. Williamson's oberservations on do-it-yourself home wiring jobs, or building dog houses, or being visited by the Men With Masks. This is the most reliably entertaining book I've ever read. Remember about ten years ago, before Dave Barry became a tired old burn-out, and you'd look forward to his column? Well, Dereck Williamson is at least twice as funny as Barry ever was.

I have a copy of this book that I haven't read in at least 15 years. When I picked it up a few weeks ago and read it again I was in tears. Anyone who aspires to be a "Mr. (or Ms.) fixit" would love this. I would love to find a few copies to give as gifts.

Dereck Williamson authored the funniest book ever written and then dissappeared, possibly resurfacing years later as Dave Barry