3 comments about Suzanne Kasler: Inspired Interiors.

1. I purchased several design books this year, and this is by far the best. The style of Inspired Interiors is fresh, classic, timeless and never stuffy or overdone. The commentary is very easy-to-read, and offers straightforward, pragmatic advice. Whether you are looking for a gift, or want a good guide for yourself that looks lovely on the coffee table, you can't go wrong with this book.



2. I've been a fan of Suzanne Kasler for years. Her work is polished and refined, yet casual, relaxed and effortless. I had the privilage of working with her as a rep when I managed a trade-only showroom in Atlanta. She has phenomenal taste and her style is unique. Her work is definitely worthy of it's own book. Great job Suzanne, you've always inspired me!



3. I would recommend this one, especially if you have a transitional style of decorating. Very glamorous rooms with a good balance of femininity and splashes of color mixed with neutral tones.

5 comments about Building Construction Illustrated.

1. Smooth transaction and great price. The packaging, however, is a little too much. I am not really sure why a used book was shipped in a big box filled with bits and pieces of styro foams. It's a little messy.



2. Great book. Lots of good building info and the images help you really visualise the building process.



3. I got this to help with some of the harder construction code requirements. Handy book to have if you get a building code book and need a bit more explanation. For instance, I was looking at foundations - it illustrated different types of foundation systems, support systems, footings, walls, foundations on different kinds of grades, etc. If you are a visual learner, definitely a must.



4. I thought the book was the 4th edition as the thumbnail( cover illustration). I was made me misunderstood. When i got a book I was so upset because it turned out different edition. I got 2nd edition.
   
   I am so disappoint for buy stuff online. If you are not sure about the cover book's illustration, please write which edition is it.



5. I bought this as required text book for my Architectural Course at College, it has been very useful converting my UK Construction industry terminology into USA terminology, easily understood and so many illustrations, recommended !

5 comments about Keys to Drawing.

1. The best drawing book out there! I recommend this one to all of my adult and teen students.



2. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R27B82B4AIGAX3 Here's a pretty good book for anyone who's thinking of picking up drawing. Bert Dodson has written it in a crisp straightforward manner. The are 55 keys of drawing, introduced at a very comfortable pace. Alongside are 48 easy-to-follow lessons.
   
   The examples are all sketches from Bert Dodson, his students and selected pieces old art masters. They are all pretty sketchy but this book isn't about techniques on realistic drawings. It's also not about specific technical rendering techniques, although some are briefly introduced.
   
   This book is really about the approach to drawing, which aims at helping students tackle any subjects confidently.
   
   The principles are very similar to The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: A Course in Enhancing Creativity and Artistic Confidence. I prefer this book as the lessons are shorter but effective, and the book can be picked up at anytime after reading for some inspiration.
   
   This book is recommended to beginner artists.
   
   (More pictures are available on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)



3. I have purchased this book enthusiastically reading all the excellent reviews, and it is with mixed feelings that I write this review, since I was fooled by the good reviews which all lacked a neutral point of view. One thing that is crucial is do I want my drawing to be artistic, similar to painting, or do I want it to be illustrative, as in comic books? It is the difference between art and illustration. This is a book for illustrators, there is no doubt about it, and the author is an illustrator. This does not mean that the book is bad, but the book is a bad choice if you try to be an artist in the classical sense--it lacks information of the drawing's decomposition, upon making correct lines on the first try, detailed analysis on the changing of angles and on drawing the change, and it lacks the detailed discussion of the scope of the drawing tools, as would be needed for academic drawing. On the other hand, the author does not try to hide that this is a book on illustrating, and moreover that is a book mainly for beginners, so in a way my criticism is a bit unfair, since the ones to blame for the ill purchase I made of this book is not the author, but the reviewers.
   
   Anyone who draws for some time know not only how to draw with an HB and a 4B pencil, but also how to draw with a songle pencil on any surface, but this could be a better subject than simple perspectives.
   
   Or better to say, a book dealing with the analysis of the traces made by Escher or Kokoschka, i.e. what pencils did they use and how on which drawing would be more in the line of what I was looking for, and what the title suggested-- keys to drawing in my mind means tips on drawing, not drawing for beginners.
   
   This book offers none of that. In my opinion, a better title would be ''Illustration for beginners'' or something similar, and in that case I would give it five stars, but the title is too badly misleading,and most of the reviews do nothing to correct the wrong impression one could have, so my final verdict is three stars: one star down for the misleading title and one star down for taking in account only the illustration part of drawing



4. This book, is probably the best drawing book i've ever read. Not only does he cover so much, but Bert Dodson also goes into detail with out boring the reader to sleep (unlike drawing on the right side of the brain)
   If you used amazon.com's online reader and see some drawings that look childish inside, don't let those discourage you. I was discouraged by those and immediately saw a new light when I actually READ the book. Many books that have fanciful pictures haven't covered NEARLY as much as Bert Dodson's book. I am ordering his other book, Keys to Drawing with Imagination: Strategies and Exercises for Gaining Confidence and Enhancing Your Creativity
   
   Keys To drawing covers things like drawing what you See NOT WHAT YOU KNOW. Drawing from your mind or knowledge tends to be the problem with most people, it is not that they necessarily know that they are doing this because that is how the human mind is. It is by that, that we as humans think we can't draw. Because our minds dont take in as much information and detail about the subject as we think it does.
   It also covers things like restating, self critiquing, analyzing, the power of squinting to flatten objects around you, mapping, light sources, shadows, negative space, merging shapes, proportion and so on (all of which I thought weren't going to help me the least bit, but were actually the mistakes i made in drawing.
   
   Has anyone ever read those get rich quick books that always promise you that they know ways to make YOU rich, but always disappoint you anyway? Those people sell those books to you so that they could make more money, they don't have any wealth of information stored in them. Well, keys to drawing is definitely the opposite. He breaks the stuff down clearly and doesn't encourage you to draw one specific way or clone someone else's style of drawing. Some artists or authors have a hard time explaining themselves but him, oh he definitely knows what he's talking about.
   I'm only thirteen so please excuse the lame review and just hold my word to it. I drew little people who were far from realistic, but with this book, along with Carrie Stuart Parks books (Secrets to Realistic Drawing, Secrets To Drawing Realistic Children, Secrets to Drawing Realistic Faces) I can already see drastic differences. I would also recommend Lifelike Drawing with Lee Hammond. But lifelike drawings with lee hammond probably doesn't break it down as easy and have as much detail as Bert Dodson because she tried to squeeze so much things into the book without putting much detail for each subject.
   
   All in all i wish i could rate the book higher. I can not begin to describe how pleased i am with this book.
   P.S the book is about the size of a textbook with less pages. (REALLY BIG) and I got my own (new book btw) for a really low price because I don't buy from amazon, i buy from the sellers within the amazon website.



5. I love this book so much, that I recommend it to my friend and bought one for my grandkid who loves art.

5 comments about Build Your Own underground Root Cellar.

1. This pamphlet contains fairly detailed instructions on how to build a 12'x8' root cellar on a flat piece of ground (dig 4 feet down, stack the cinder block walls, put on a wooden roof, and heap the excavated soil over and around it. It contains no information for modifying or enlarging the design, how to use the cellar, or anything else. Still, it's reasonably priced, so I was satisfied with the limited info.



2. Nice inexpensive book with the details to construct your own root cellar! Easy to follow instructionsI live in the country and have about 25 fruit trees that usually have much go to waste because I didn't have ample storage space. I enjoyed this book, easy to read, clear instructions.



3. This is a very well designed book that will show anyone how to build a cellar, easy to understand and complete with well thought out diagrams.



4. My husband built our root cellar using only the instructions in this book. Having this kind of storage is wonderful! Carrots, beets, all root vegetables stay amazingly fresh for months packed in damp sand in the cellar. We've been using the cellar for three years now and have never had a rodent get into it. Building a root cellar by hand from scratch is a major project, but well worth the effort!



5. Certainly informative and thorough, however I question the practicality of their plan for the type of person (me), who would actually build something like this. This is a plan for the Rolls Royce of Root Cellars

5 comments about 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School.

1. This book is a quick read. His 101 selections are quick and to the point. Each written page has a visual communication to accompany it, so if you're a visual learner, you will appreciate this.
   
   i.e. He writes, "A good presentation meets the Ten-foot Test. The essential elements of the drawings you pin up for a design studio presentation in particular, labels and titles- should be legible from 10 feet away." On the opposing pages is a sketch of a crowd viewing a presentation and a board of what should be legible from 10 feet.
   
   Is this rocket science? No. But sometimes the most obvious isn't always obvious. It's a fast read. I do about 3 or 4 quick pages every night before bed.



2. this book is perfect for any age architect or architecture student. Both funny and informative. Buy it!



3. A delightful book for an engineering type to buy and read. Practical knowledge with some wisdom... I liked this a lot and personally find it useful.



4. One of the best books I have read.
   You can read it in 30 minutes and you will love it



5. I'm a grad student in architecture and got this book during my second year, but didn't look at it too closely until my thesis project (3rd year). Seriously, this book is like a breath of fresh air in an architecture environment filled by relativism and differing opinions. I have often wondered if there were absolutes in architectural education, and this book sets them out (at least as close to absolutes as you get in our postmodern world). The book mentions that you should initially have a basic parti, or idea, to begin your design; and that parti should inform the whole design. Wow of course, that's so simple and common sense, but rarely heard. This book really breaks it down and gives many little pearls of advice to inspire your thoughts. It helped me get out of a rut I was in with my thesis design. I would definitely recommend this to any architect or architecture student.

5 comments about What Your Contractor Can't Tell You: The Essential Guide to Building and Renovating.

1. For most of us - the investment we make in home renovation is one of the most expensive single investments that we will make -- and it makes sense to be as well prepared as possible for the role we need to play in a renovation venture. This book is a solid overview of the fundamentals of your role as a customer -- a very important role, when you consider your professionals' incentives are not aligned with yours...



2. I borrowed this from the library and decided that it was well worth buying. If you're going to build or renovate the more information you have in advance the better the experience is likely to be both for you and your builder. It really spells out some of the simple things you can do to help your project succeed. My favourite tip is about thinking ahead for the future - e.g if you can't build all the extension in one go what could you do this time to cut the costs next time e.g. framing a door into the room that won't be built for a while and hiding it with drywall.



3. If I had paid $114.00 for this book, it would still be worth every penny. I am going to be a better client for my architect and contractor because of what the author has explained in this book. This book is the best investment we will make in planning our new home.



4. I just want to make a short review which is this book is wonderful by helping everyone out in the construction process because the more you are informed about what is going on, the better your decisions will be not only making you happier, but making the project and experience more successful. I am an architect in which I deal with many people who are not sure of any part of the process from conceptual to realization and it can be a daunting task which there are truly few contractors who don't take advantage when they have the upperhand. This can be frustrating to everyone and very costly to you. If you are on the fence about investing in this book, you will not regret it.



5. I was so impressed with this book I left feedback for the first time. It is very comprehensive, and "levels the playing field" so that one can make intelligent decisions early in the building process and avoid costly mistakes. From site prep to contract types, this is a great read. It will definitely boost one's confidence in an area that few home buyers enter more than once.

5 comments about The Solar Electricity Handbook 2009: A Simple, Practical Guide to Using Electric Solar Panels and Designing and Installing Photovoltaic Solar PV Systems.

1. The book was real good explaining the basics of the solar systems - however I was looking for something more in depth. If you are just starting out looking for the basics on solar systems this book would be great.



2. Nice book, very easy to read and contains a very good amount of useful information.



3. I bought this book for my boyfriend after much searching. He liked it! He found it informative, well written and to the point. We've built an off the grid mountain cabin and want to incorporate solar for heat and power. The charts and wiring diagrams are incredibly helpful.



4. While this book does have some good information, the author has an unfortunate habit of shifting between various monetary and measurement scales. He will go from British pounds to American dollars, from kilograms to lbs. to "stone" (Whatever that is!! I never have figured that one out!) and sometimes he'll do it all in the same paragraph.
   
   I grew up with a dictionary by my side while reading. I can't see any need to have a conversion chart with me as well. It just makes for somewhat "jittery" reading, as your mind shifts gears.



5. This book is a great introductory book for someone thinking about taking on a small to medium size solar project. The book starts from fundamentals and does not assume any prior knowledge. It clearly explains theoretical concepts which are required later to help the designer.
   For a solar project to be successful a considerable amount of thinking and planning needs to be done up front. The author leads the reader through the design process and discusses the various options that a designer is presented with. Attempting to make decisions without this information could prove to be very expensive making the book a complete bargain. The book uses the example of a vacation house installation to explain how decisions could be made for a particular project.
   
   In addition to the design and installation guidance, the book includes quite a bit of useful data for the US and UK reader.
   
   - Solar Insulation values
   - Latitude and Sun height charts
   - Typical Power Consumption figures
   
   In conclusion, the book is an excellent purchase for anyone contemplating taking on a solar electricity project. The information is presented clearly and is well organised. It is not intimidating for the beginner but also provides useful reference information for the more experienced.

5 comments about How Your House Works: A Visual Guide to Understanding & Maintaining Your Home.

1. This book has some of the most beautiful diagrams I have ever seen with fantastic tidbits on the most common problems to check first when repairing the described system. Truly remarkable just how many appliances and home systems are made to look so simple with these illustrations and accompanying text! This is a must have book. Having been completed in 2007, this book should remain pretty up-to-date for a very long time.



2. I gave this book to my son when he bought his first house. It explains the mechanics of each individual system in his home and familiarizes him with the vocabulary associated with them. He doesn't like to fix things himself but he reports that he's now able to diagnose problems around the house and to communicate effectively with repairmen.



3. My 11yo son loves this book. He is a visual learner and very curious about how everything works.



4. Only useful for absolute rookies!
   
   I bought this book based on other people's reviews that seemed fantastic. I am totally disappointed. Too generic and introductory material. I already knew 80% of the information in this book by browsing the internet. I was expecting to get some real practical information.
   
   What I am saying is that you should get this book if you are just absolutely beginners. Otherwise save your bucks for something more specialized.



5. I bought this for my son in law who at the age of 30 just moved into his own house for the first time after renting all of his life. This book with its illustrations and easy to follow explanations for most common household problems and solutions to try before calling in expensive help should help him to understand how to keep up his house for a beginning do it yourselfer!

5 comments about House Beautiful Colors for Your Home: 300 Designer Favorites (House Beautiful Series).

1. I saw this book at a friend's house and came right home & ordered it. It's great because it actually tells you what colors are used in the pictures (what a concept!) and even though images in print are much different than the real color, it gives you a good idea.
   I love the designer's descriptions of the colors too! I've already used 2 of the colors that were shown & described & they're both great!



2. I absolutely love this book and have made far fewer color mistakes with its help! It has paid for itself many times over. I agree with the other reviewers who said that the chips in the book weren't a reliable guide, however, that's true with the chips from the paint store as well.
   
   I think the designers descriptions are a much more reliable guide. They often make comments such as:
   
   "Works in any light"
   "Brings light into dark rooms"
   "My favorite 'go to' neutral"
   "Has red undertones"
   "Has green undertones"
   
   House beautiful also has a great color tool on their website. Don't worry if it takes several tries to get the right color. Designers do the same thing! Don't give up until it feels just right to YOU!



3. I love HB and this book is exactly what I expected it to be. A compilation of the magazine feature of favorite colors. The book is a smaller size and contains page after page of paint swatches with the designer's description of the color. If you spend the time to read all the descriptions, be prepared to read the word "depth" a lot!



4. Choosing paint colors can be overwhelming and can feel like a full time job, so I LOVE this book because it has really helped me narrow down the field. I had ideas of what shade I wanted but just needed help sifting through the hundreds of shades available, this book has been really helpful in doing this. For example, I knew I wanted to paint my room a pale bluish-grey, and this book helped me determine which actual shade would be the best. I feel like I can trust that the decorators and designers have experience with which paint colors really seem to work the best and stand the test of time. I would not use the swatches printed on the pages of this book exclusively though- I don't believe it is intended to replace the real paint swatches you get from the paint store. You really need to go out and get the actual swatch of what you see in the book because it will look slightly different in paint than how it's printed on the page of a book. The book is more of a means to an end rather than trying to be the actual paint fan deck, if you know what I mean. It gives you ideas and the names of the colors, and then it's your job to go out, get the swatches, and paint swatches on your wall before committing to buying gallons of paint.



5. I love color. I am inspired by color. I love House Beautiful magazine, but this book is nothing like the magazine. I liked looking at different color chips in the book, but that's about it.
   
   Pictures of rooms were few and far between, mostly pictures of color chips. All the rooms illustrated are very traditional looking, no modern looking rooms at all.
   
   Also I was particularly interested in suggestions on how to combine colors. I have an open floor plan and would love to use paint as a visual (but harmonious) separator. There was nothing in the book to address color schemes.
   
   Hugely disappointing. The only reason I gave the book 2 stars instead of 1 is the "by room" color inspirations.

5 comments about The Death and Life of Great American Cities (Modern Library Series).

1. In spite of the modest shortcomings that have emerged with age, I still have a deep and abiding fondness for this book... after all, it is what decided me on a career change into urban planning. And unlike much of the specialist literature that I've had to read since then, this book is thrilling, passionate, accessible, and inspiring.
   
   For me, at a certain point -- probably about 2/3rds of the way through Death and Life -- Jacobs seems to start to repeat herself a bit, but many of her insights as to what creates vibrant neighbourhoods and vibrant cities remain as applicable today as they were when she was feuding with Robert Moses over the future of the West Village. This book should be required reading for all planners, highway engineers, and developers; many neighbourhood associations would also probably be the better for having a copy to hand.
   
   But Jacobs' greatest strength, I believe, is that she combines great insight with clear prose that is devoid of the 'fancy' specialist terminology that practicing planners and academics use to talk about the forces driving change in neighbourhoods, towns, and metropolises. Anyone can read this book, and everyone should.



2. My son is a college senior who is taking a seminar class in urban studies. He was born in Manhattan so it was not a surprise that he should develop an interest in the subject. While I was purchasing another 'leisure read' to send to him, I saw this book as a suggested other possibility. It got very high marks in all the reviews and I thought it would be a great addition to his collection of books in this area. I was not wrong. He loved the book and when he brought it to class, his professor was delighted that he had a copy and called it "the classic for studies of cities". He has even introduced me to Jane Jacobs' work as he reads more and more of this book. I hope to read it from cover to cover when he brings it home from college later this year.



3. Jacobs argues masterfully against the popular assumption that urban density leads to slums and decay. Instead she describes how a dense concentration of people gives a city vitality and provides a built-in source of security through "eyes on the street". Throughout the book she discusses various ways to achieve this density and manage the vitality it brings, all the while challenging misconceptions about how cities work.



4. Living in Detroit in 2009 I find the book quite relevant since we are now on a journey to remake the city.



5. I bought this book as a required reading for school. It was very easy to read and covered many interesting topics. I would recommend this book to anyone that is interested in learning more about the urban environment.