Book Description
Photographer Traer Scott's endearing portraits of dogs living in American shelters are irresistible and heart-rending - and make a passionate appeal to dog lovers everywhere. Some of the dogs subsequently found good homes; others were never adopted. The portraits reveal the strikingly intense emotion, dignity and, sometimes, humour and whimsy that Scott saw in each face despite the dog's circumstances. By documenting the undeniable expressions of emotion in the dogs encountered in her volunteer work, Scott raises awareness of animal rescue causes, and especially the need for more adoptive homes for abandoned dogs. This book of true portraits of fifty beautiful shelter dogs is a poignant and loving tribute to all dogs.
Customer Reviews:
Haunting yet Beautiful..........2007-08-20
I love this book! The pictures are so beautiful... and the dogs eyes...well, they speak to you. I love that she tells you happens to the dogs in the end. Good or Bad...it is the truth of what happens at a shelter. Traer Scott has given these dogs a beautiful & touching memorial. One of my absolute favorites!
Can't break the five star review!.......2007-08-02
A simply wonderful book with exceptional black and white photos of the most gorgeous dogs! All three of our dogs have come from a shelter..they are 16, 14 and 4 years old respectively. We wouldn't consider a dog from any other place. I had tears streaming down my face just looking at the photos..looking into their pleading, soulful eyes. Most have happy endings, yes, but it's such a shame for the few that didn't. People need to be responsible pet owners and, unfortunately, there will always be those who aren't and we will always have some sad endings.
Please, spay and neuter your pets and be responsible pet owners. WE are their voice.
Sad but Inspiring.......2007-07-12
This book is full of the sweetest dog photos I've ever seen! Most of them have a happy ending to their stories. A few were heartbreaking and I couldn't get through the pages without crying....If you are looking for a dog in your life, please give a shelter dog a home....if I didn't already have 3 I would adopt another one...
Excellent photos, great way to educate the public about how wonderful dogs are killed due to irresponsible owners........2007-06-13
I first heard about this book when someone had told me that my recent shelter dog photos resembled ones from a book she had seen. I ordered it and found that comment to be quite the compliment! Traer Scott is extremely talented and is very concerned about animal welfare. I recommend this book to photographers, animal lovers, and especially to those who need some education about how many thousands of dogs (and cats) are euthanized daily in the US due to overpopulation in shelters. These people need to understand the importance of sterilizing their pets, and to adopt instead of buying a dog from a pet store or breeder. I happen to be involved in animal rescue AND am a photographer, so this book almost brought me to tears with its beautiful images. A MUST have for your book collection! Proceeds help the ASPCA, another bonus of purchasing it!
She'll also be publishing a book entitled "Street Dogs" this Fall- buy them both!!
I need more tissues.......2007-05-29
Beautiful pictures. If only everyone would adopt an animal, and stop breeding them, every pet would have a home.
Product Description
Is your dog afraid of strangers? Would he rather hide than play with other dogs? Does he take cover at the sound of thunder, or cringe when you pick up a brush or nail clippers? Never fear! Whatever your dog is afraid of, this comprehensive guide to the treatment of canine anxiety, fears and phobias can help. Topics include learning how to read your dog's stress signals; how your attitude affects your dog's behavior; how to set up a Firm Foundation program at home; how to establish leadership so your dog will feel more secure; the influence of good nutrition and regular exercise on your dog's fear issues; four essential skills to teach, and how to apply them in everyday life; and much more. Written by a professional trainer/behavior consultant of over 20 years who specializes in fear issues, the book includes easy-to-follow, step-by-step behavior modification programs that really work. 15 specific fears are addressed, including those of people, other dogs, sounds, touch, nail-clipping, riding in the car, and being left alone. Get advice on products and cutting-edge complementary therapies that can help to calm your cautious canine. Filled with photographs, illustrations, and over 400 pages of specific, immediately useful advice, written in a down-to-earth and humorous style.
Customer Reviews:
Thanks from Bubba.......2007-10-03
I adopted a year old dog that had been rescued by a friend from a puppy mill. Bubba was scared of the world, cowering in his crate for the first week. He was afraid of every noise, scared of every person. I bought the book,"Help For Your Fearful Dog", and proceeded to follow the suggestions of Ms. Wilde. It was slow going at first, but as each day and week progressed Bubba began to make astonishing progress. As suggested in the book, we started to school together (Bubba is on his third class)and it has made all the difference in the world. This book and its gameplan for your fearful dog works. Just ask Bubba.
help for shy dogs.......2007-09-17
I found this book very helpfull. It is technical yet easy to read, and I love the end of chapter summaries. I have already started my timid rescue dog on a plan based on this book.
Great Book For Owners of Fearful Dogs.......2007-06-24
This is one of my favorite dog behavior books in the last 5 years. As a dog trainer and behavior consultant, I have been recommending this book to my clients as a complement to their training programs. They love it! They are so glad to have a resource that they can share with family members and friends to help everyone better understand their dog. Nicole Wilde does an excellent job of presenting information in a way that is easy for the average dog owner to understand, but still keeps it interesting for the professional dog trainer.
I give it 5 stars and 4 Paws up!
I Love "Help for Your Fearful Dog"!.......2007-05-28
As a professional dog trainer and behavior consultant I have to say this is a "must have" on every professional's bookshelf as well as many dogowner's. As have many of Nicole's books in the past, this one lived up to its name. Not only is it helpful but it is written in "plain English" and with a lot of humor to boot! I now make a habit of consulting the wonderful bullet-point summary at the end of each chapter before I finish my behavior treatment plans just to make sure I haven't forgotten another great suggestion that my clients will want to try out!
I also like how Nicole delves into complementary therapies such as TTouch, aromatherapy, Flower Essences and more.
This book is well worth the price!
Woofs,
Nannette Morgan, BA, CPDT
Pawsitive Pals Dog Training
Morgan Hill, CA
Steve Pica,CPDT.......2007-05-18
This is by far one of the best resources, not only for dog owners, but for dog trainers as well. It is full of some of the very best information on treating and managing fearful dogs. Nicole Wilde has done it again! Yet another wonderful book from her. Congratulations.
Book Description
Half the households in America include an animal companion. Yet, each year, community shelters take in six to eight million unwanted dogs and cats who face an uncertain fate. With compelling photos and moving vignettes, this book chronicles the true stories of 75 animals who entered a typical U.S. animal shelter during one week witnessed and documented by the authors.
Customer Reviews:
buy it.......2007-08-31
It's such a good book. Many stories are sad, but it also offers real hope as to what we as individuals can do. Highly recommended. You'll go back to it when you find you need inspiration.
Review of One at a Time.......2007-05-13
As someone who has adopted 3 animals from a shelter, I appreciated this book thoroughly. This book puts names and faces together while also educating the reader about the importance of adopting from your local animal shelter. The theme of this book is you can actually save a life. There are heartwarming stories alongside tragic ones. If you want to learn more about the animals at the shelter and their stories this book is for you.
Tough Topic Handled Well.......2007-04-16
This is a very difficult book to read as it covers all kinds of situations that occur in an animal shelter, including details of the euthanasia of animals that simply don't deserve to die. There are many hopeful and heartwarming stories along with those of heartless and selfish owners. Make sure you are in the correct frame of mind when you read this to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Some of the pictures are explicit. However, the subject is covered very well with some very good information and statistics.
INCREDBLE book!.......2006-12-09
I read it in one night . . tears pouring down my face! How could a book do this to me? Because it's real . . . it's true! Some of the truths in this book are shameful. This book is unforgiving. This needed to be written . . . and it needed to do done with this much dignity and heart. Compassion . . kindness, why is it so hard? This book yanks at your emotions to teach us compassion . . it allows the animals to teach compassion to us through their lives and yes, deaths. Hopefully their lives will not be in vain, and we can learn compassion in their honor to not only other animals, but maybe they can show us that all lives are important. From shelters where animals are victims to injustices to Rwanda / Darfur and the like. This book is absoltely incredible. Thanks to the writers who had the balls to write it and then fight hard to get it on the streets. Thanks to the beautiful souls of the animals.
Companion animal euthanasia; a worldwide epidemic........2006-11-04
I volunteer in an animal shelter in Australia. A vet at the shelter loaned me a copy of One at a Time: A Week in an Americal Shelter as she thought I would appreciate the content. Appreciate is an understatement...what I thought was exclusive to our shelter proved to me that the reality of these animals circumstances is a worldwide epidemic NOT exclusive to Australia. The stories are written with honesty and in an uncomplicated fashion accompanied by touching photographs. These animals and their circumstances could be at my shelter. In many ways I found this read comforting, however, if you're not already working or volunteering within a shelter environment, it could be quite confronting. I bought several copies to share amongst colleagues at our shelter.
Book Description
Covers tools, materials, foundations, framing, sheathing, wiring, plumbing, and finish work for barns, woodsheds, garages, fencing, and animal housing. 264,000 copies in print.
Customer Reviews:
small barns.......2005-08-14
I was under the impression that it had COMPLETE plans It shows you bits and pieces of the constrution .
The book itself (for being used was in ex condition almost new condition).all in all it was worth the 8.00 bucks
fairly good.......2004-12-17
This is not a bad book, but about half is on basic building skills which anyone who is going to build a sizable strucuture ought to have acquired first. You can get that from a Time Life or Readers Digest 'Home improvement' book on basic carpentry skills. Very general instructions without a lot of detail- for example, window fininshing details, roof details- you have to figure out the details yourself, and everyone knows that is where the devil is! And when the chapter on electrical wiring starts out by reccomending that you shouldn't do it yourself, well... it's just a sign of too many lawyers in the USA.
The sections on barns and other strucuture are interesting, with lots of ideas that one can adapt to your specific needs. Most are reworked from USDA Cooperative extension plans- which you can view a huge number for free from Univ of North Dakota at this link-
http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/plans/index.htm
Since I found this website, my opinion of the book has gone down a lot, since so much is not original material.
The other challenge I would have is on pole frame constuction- all his plans show huge concerte footings 16-24" dia 8-12" thick under poles for his buildings. Digging/drilling and pouring these negates the advanage in work/cost saving of pole frame building. In the area where I live, poles are commonly set in our heavy clay with a little cement or just well tamped soil around them. I understand the concern about bearing ability, and I'm not an engineer, but these poles function as pilings- they hold up the load not just from their bottom surface area, but also from the friction of the post in the ground. Any professional can correct me if they feel otherwise.
All in all, it is an interesting book but he could omit the first half and flesh out the rest.
A great guide book.......2000-04-26
From permits to the finish coat of paint, this book will guide you through your building process. Burch describes the advantages of different framing methods, roof styles and materials and backs his text with useful reference tables and concise construction details. The book presents plans for five small barns, two two-stall stables, a root and storm cellar, a carport, a tool shed, a woodshed, a smokehouse and shelters for hens, pigs and rabbits.
Very Impressed with this book.......1999-06-18
If you are a "do it your selfer" you need this book. In my opinion, the title is no accurate. This book contains much more than just info on how to build small buildings. It includes how to build a good fence, how to build a smoke house, how to wire a two way switch, ect. It contains everything that is not common knowledge to the common man, and it has lots of pictures. If you live on the farm and do most things yourself, this book is a required tool.
Average customer rating:
- A decent book but a lot of the same old stuff
- What Lila Thinks
- 768 pages where almost nothing happens.
- The Shelters of Stone
- Once more with feeling
|
Shelters of Stone, The (Earth's Children®)
Jean M. Auel
Manufacturer: CD Unabridged
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Similar Items:
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The Plains of Passage
-
The Mammoth Hunters
-
The Valley of Horses
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The Clan of the Cave Bear
-
Clan of the Cave Bear
ASIN: 1587889919
Release Date: 2002-04-30 |
Amazon.com
Jean Auel's fifth novel about Ayla, the Cro-Magnon cavewoman raised by Neanderthals, is the biggest comeback bestseller in Amazon.com history. In The Shelters of Stone, Ayla meets the Zelandonii tribe of Jondalar, the Cro-Magnon hunk she rescued from Baby, her pet lion. Ayla is pregnant. How will Jondalar's mom react? Or his bitchy jilted fiancée? Ayla wows her future in-laws by striking fire from flint and taming a wild wolf. But most regard her Neanderthal adoptive Clan as subhuman "flatheads." Clan larynxes can't quite manage language, and Ayla must convince the Zelandonii that Clan sign language isn't just arm-flapping. Zelandonii and Clan are skirmishing, and those who interbreed are deemed "abominations." What would Jondalar's tribe think if they knew Ayla had to abandon her half-breed son in Clan country? The plot is slow to unfold, because Auel's first goal is to pack the tale with period Pleistocene detail, provocative speculation, and bits of romance, sex, tribal politics, soap opera, and homicidal wooly rhino-hunting adventure. It's an enveloping fact-based fantasy, a genre-crossing time trip to the Ice Age. --Tim Appelo
Book Description
After their epic journey across Europe, Ayla and Jondalar have reached his home, the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, the old stone age settlement in the region known today as southwest France. Jondalar's family greet him warmly, but they are initially wary of the beautiful young woman he has brought back, with her strange accent and her tame wolf and horses.
Ayla has much to learn from the Zelandonii and much to teach them. She is intrigued by their clothes, their crafts, and their home, and wants to learn their customs and the ways that they live, so that she will fit in. She is delighted when she meets Zelandoni, the spiritual leader of her people, a fellow healer with whom she can share medicinal skills and knowledge. The Zelandonii are surprised to learn she was found and raised by the Clan, the ones that they call flatheads and think of as animals, and are skeptical when she tells them they are people.
After the rigors and dangers that have characterized her extraordinary life so far, Ayla yearns for peace and tranquility, to be Jondalar's mate and to have children. But her unique spiritual gifts cannot be ignored, and even as she gives birth to her eagerly-awaited child, she is coming to accept that she has a greater role to play in the destiny of the Zelandonii.
Customer Reviews:
A decent book but a lot of the same old stuff.......2007-09-14
So I have read the Earth Children series a few times and I thought that this was a decent addition, but it has nothing on the first two books. I agree with the review that talk about how great it would be if Ayla and Jondalar had mediocre sex for once and if Ayla could become less of a godess. I kept waiting for the people in the book to proclaim Ayla The doni in person and build her a throne of gold. I did enjoy the Summer Meeting and seeing Ayla and Jondalar finally mate. A lot of people go on and on about how wonderful the historial descriptions are but personally I skip over them. I can't spend 20 pages reading about the color of a lake!!! All and all pretty good but not the best. I am looking foward to the 6th book and I hope we finally get to find out about what happens to Durc and the Clan.
What Lila Thinks.......2007-08-29
This is the best book I've read so far. I can't wait till Jean M Auel writes the next book in the series. I love her books.
Lila Guptill
768 pages where almost nothing happens........2007-08-09
I just finished reading *Shelters of Stone* after it sat on my bookcase for almost four years. I enjoyed all four of the preceding novels. Therefore, I forsook my '39 page rule' (if the author hasn't hooked me by the 39th page, I give the book away.) I thought in almost 800-pages, Ms. Jean would get around to introducing new concepts, new cultures, new `happenings', or new stuff. But *SoS* turned into a repetitious travelogue of *Plains of Passage*. It is long, ponderous, dull, and boring!
I was astounded when I noticed that this is review #756, and the average rating is 21/2 stars. It's as if the author got tired of writing this book, padding it with repetitive recollections from past novels instead of finishing it off in 400 pages. I hate to say this but I think Ms. Auel was paid by the word
I kept plugging away, getting more and more upset at Ms. Auel for explaining almost everything repeatedly--the long-winded name introductions; the stories of finding and domesticating her animals; the customs of the Clan, how much Brukenval looked like her old tormenter Broud when he looked angry. Even the `sharing Pleasures' parts were repetitious. And when the `The Mother's Song' was repeated for the nth time, I almost gagged.
What's also bad about this mammoth effort is that nothing happens. No new inventions and no new places (other than some under-described caves and cave paintings). She introduces new characters, but most are one-dimensional and uninteresting. The ones who do show some promise--like Brukenval, or Larimar the brewer, Echozar of the mixed spirits, or even the ponderous Zenandoni are neglected, under-described, or under-utilized.
In the previous novels Ayla and Jondalar, were responsible for most of the technological and philosophical advancements of humankind to that point: the spear thrower, use of flint and steel to start fires, the sewing needle, domestication of the wolf and horse, the horse halter, the travois, human genetics theory (Ayla's theory of mixed spirits), and where babies really do come from. In *SoS*, Ayla and Jondalar invent nothing, go nowhere, and do little except share Pleasures, get mated and have a baby. There are no major threats from nature, animals, or people; no clash of cultures. Just flares of Cro-Magnon temper and different opinions on the nature of `flatheads'.
For almost 800 pages I kept waiting for something to happen, for Durc to show up at the head of The Clan. For a blizzard, a flood, a plague or earthquake to hit. Another adventure or trip somewhere would have been nice. There wasn't even the trademark Auel anthropological monograph on how to make a flint axe head, basket, or garment.
I'll probably get suckered into the next/last book in the series if she ever completes it. But first I'll read the Amazon reviewers opinions and rigorously apply my 39-page rule.
The Shelters of Stone.......2007-05-14
I was so disappointed in this book that were supposed to be the last in the series. The endless repetition was enough to drive me insane. How could this book ever have been published? Was it only for the sake of money that could be made out of the sale of this book, because everyone who followed the series was waiting in anticipation for it. I still can't believe a person who wrote Clan of the Cave Bears, Valley of the Horses etc, could give her readers something like this......????
Once more with feeling.......2007-05-13
Jean Auel has done it again! This book is magnificent, and i have come to expect no less from this author.
Amazon.com
Rosehips, rich in vitamin C, will remedy scurvy. Poplar, red cedar, elm, and willow are preferable for friction fires. If stuck on a flat, shelterless desert, dig a shallow pit (east-west) to lie in; even a few feet can result in a 100-degree temperature change. This is the sort of information outdoor enthusiasts will find in Bradford Angier's classic guide to survival in the wilderness. Divided into four parts (sustenance, warmth, orientation, safety), How To Stay Alive in the Woods is packed with woodcraft tips and age-old tricks--and it's packable as well, so don't leave home without it.
Book Description
HOW TO STAY ALIVE IN THE WOODS is a practical, readable-and potentially indispensable-manual for anyone venturing into the great outdoors.
Broken down into four essential sections, Sustenance, Warmth, Orientation and Safety, this enlightening guide reveals how to catch game without a gun, what plants to eat (full-color illustrations of these make identification simple), how to build a warm shelter, make clothing, protect yourself and signal for help. Detailed illustrations and expanded instructions, newly commissioned for this deluxe edition, offer crucial information at a glance, making How to Stay Alive in the Woods truly a lifesaver. A sturdy, durable rubber cover with Dayglo type protects this must-have from the elements.
Customer Reviews:
A fun and handsome book to have around, great to read through or just occaisionally reference........2007-09-08
Like most people who have read this book, I received it as a gift. Perhaps some innate mountain man spirit or boy scout tendencies of mine made somebody think this was an appropriate present to give me around the holidays. Anyways, I appreciated the gift and have only recently gotten around to reading and reviewing it. In this edition of the book the cover is bound in olive drab, grip rubber, not unlike a basketball. This unique cover material makes the book a handsome and manly looking piece of literature if there ever was one.
So what about the content? Well, as a former soldier, I found much of the material consistent with standard military survival manuals, particularly when it comes to woodland survival. The language of the writing is classic 1950's American English, not too removed from those elitist publications put out by the East Coast gentry who cranked out books on every subject following the war. It is, however, not pretentious or condescending, Bradford Angier genuinely has written a book he hopes will assist the stranded, starvation-bound "Average Joe American (or Canadian)."
A fun and attractive book to read with at least a little insight into roughing it, either deliberately or not.
REVIEW EVERY BOOK YOU READ, AUTHORS, READERS AND PUBLISHERS DESERVE YOUR HONEST OPINIONS.
Survive Anything.......2007-04-12
You won't believe the skills you'll pick up from this handbook on survival in the wild. You'll be able to start a fire with only a piece of ice, among other tricks.
This is a great book.......2007-01-10
I really enjoyed this book. Yes, it is a little outdated, but the ideas are just as valid today. This is written by a writer who lived off the land and knew exactly how to survive in situations that others would give up on. The fact that this was written before the GPS came around doesn't make it any less valuable a resource.
How on earth do you start a fire with only a piece of ice? Read the book! (And yes, I really don't think I could start such a fire even with the book in front of me, but it's nice to know that it is possible...)
How do you create a fish trap out of sticks? How do you create a snare? How do you find civilization if you are lost? How do you find water? What type of things do you need to bring with you on camping trips? What is safe to eat, and what is not? These types of things are all answered inside.
I've read it cover to cover several times and I believe it is the perfect type of book to give to an outdoorsman or to keep down at a cabin for a little light winter reading...
Highly Recommended!
Its ok but i would not recomend it.......2006-04-05
This book was ok but I would not recomend it.Bradford Angeir is not that great of a writer, so there are many parts that are hard to understand.But if you have time on your hands and want to know about the baics of wilderness survival it is preaty good.
Good Book.......2004-02-29
I have never had to use any of the information contained in this book in a susrvival situation but as a kid I did use the information about trapping and snares to catch rabbits in Alaska as a kid (I'm using the third printing 1966 version.) I also built snow shelters to play in. Everything I tried from this book worked.
Average customer rating:
- One of my favorites
- A little bit of every other book.
- Ideas and ideas that have worked
- A Shelter Sketchbook
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A Shelter Sketchbook: Timeless Building Solutions
John S. Taylor
Manufacturer: Chelsea Green Publishing Company
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Similar Items:
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Shelter
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Home Work: Handbuilt Shelter
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Micro Architecture
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Dwellings: The Vernacular House Worldwide
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Built By Hand
ASIN: 1890132020 |
Amazon.com
In a new take on sustainable living and building, John Taylor presents a stunning array of traditional building techniques and housing solutions from around the world and from history. Most are motivated by available materials, economic necessity, and local climate and terrain. In this time of growing interest in earth-friendly building techniques, Taylor shows us that we need to relearn many practical aspects of constructing shelter and must blend the technologies of the present with the traditions of the past, with those of other cultures, and even with those of our own grandparents. Taylor, an architectural designer, has filled this delightful book with remarkable drawings and sketches of building techniques gleaned from his travels; it is a feast for the eyes as well as the brain.
Customer Reviews:
One of my favorites.......2007-01-11
If I had to start my architecture library all over again, I'd start with this book. The Designer's Eye is also a very good, inspired refence book.
A little bit of every other book........2003-02-18
This book seems to have sketches of just about everything to do with Shelter. I have seen most of these pictures in full colour
at one time or another after having read lots of other books on architecture, but it is quite nice to have them all sorted out in
one book, each with a short description.
Ideas and ideas that have worked.......2001-03-09
The book was recommended to me as a sourse for a shade problem I have with my house. I live on the West Coast in California's Central Valley. Our house is in the middle of a large pasture. We have NO shade. The trees we have planted will not have any shade value for many years. The West side of the house bakes in the summer. What I wanted was a solution to my problem. An aesthetic design and technical information on shading our house with structures, vegetative, and or fabric (pictures, line drawing, Etc.
What the book provided was many ideas for what I wanted not the solution. I am happy with the book and will use it for many projects. I enjoyed reading and looking at the pictures.
A Shelter Sketchbook.......2000-04-04
I came across this book while assembling reference material for planning a treehouse at the cottage. While most of the books I was looking at were hands-on/how-to type, I found this book interesting, and there are a few ideas in the book I can definitely use. At first glance, the book has, as the title implies, just a bunch of sketches - each page has four or five architectual details and hand-written notes explaining or referencing the drawing. Despite the rough-draft appearance, though, there is a lot of organizing of the 600+ drawings, and they obviously draw on a wealth of structure details. Examples range from villas in ancient Greece, Japanese houses, African huts, Aztec dwellings, to the current UNESCO headquarters in Paris and modern Frank Lloyd Wright homes. The book is arranged in three sections: protection (from sun, wind, cold, water); accomodating human needs (sleeping, cooking, eating, sitting, etc.); and structural elements themselves (roofs, doors, windows). Each section draws on examples from all parts of the world, and much of history, to show how, in many cases, simple solutions from 'simple' people, and even animals, solve basic living problems, and I found it quite interesting how different cultures at different times came up with similar solutions to such things as drainage, ventilation, etc. I found the ideas in this book useful for my treehouse project because I wanted simple construction, low cost, and flexibility, and the concepts in the book, being drawn as they were from basic construction principles, quite practical. This book would likely be of interest to several groups of readers: those studying architecture (there is an extensive bibliography), those building or designing energy-efficient homes (it is somewhat humbling to see so many concepts that we may think are new and radical, that natives somewhere have been doing for centuries!), or just for general interest (the book explains such things as roof angles on saltbox houses, cupolas, etc.)
Book Description
Building on the enormous success of the original Shelter, Lloyd Kahn continues his odyssey of finding and exploring the most magnificent and unusual hand-built houses in existence. Among the intriguing domiciles described in Home Work are a Japanese-style stilt house accessible only by a cable across a river; a stone house in a South African valley whose roof serves as a baboon trampoline; multi-level treehouses on the South China Sea; and a bottle house in the Nevada desert. Over 1,500 photos illustrate various innovative architectural styles and natural building materials that have gained popularity in the last two decades such as cob, papercrete, bamboo, adobe, strawbale, timber framing, and earthbags.
Customer Reviews:
a true gem.......2007-07-25
this book is even better then the other books by Lloyd Kahn, and i didnt think that was possible. The photographs are outstanding, the text interesting, informative, and captures thoughts, people, homes and places of times past, present and some that look futuristic! This book is for anyone who has a passion for architecture, and culture. a great coffee table book.
So much more than a coffee-table book.......2007-02-24
This book is absolutely stunning. I spent hours poring over the pictures. It's mostly pictures of creative, unique houses people have built, with a few stories about builders' experiences and techniques.
It will put into perspective the amount to which we have limited ourselves when it comes to traditional housing. It shows how a house is not just shelter, but art, expression, and passion as well.
This will inspire you!
Great bathroom fodder.......2007-01-16
This book has been sitting on my toilet for about a month. its one of those. you can reread it and look at those photos many times before you get tired of it. plus this book gives you many links to other sources or information. which really is its strongest point. you look, find a style you like, and then can look up more books on the subject.
inspiration spring !.......2006-11-06
many pictures are bad but this book is still highly commendable for its great inspiration source ! I'm planing a yurt type building ! not easy with constructions'rules ! built with naturals materials, it will be a powerful places (the higher l've ever draw- I'm doing dowsing too), to get a strong health ; a sacred place as all dwellings should be ! I will send pictures to the writers as soon as possible !
An expertly written, informative, and rather unique compendium of a seemingly limitless arrangement of houses .......2006-04-10
Home Work: Handbuilt Shelter by long-term publicist and experienced house-builder Lloyd Kahn is an expertly written, informative, and rather unique compendium of a seemingly limitless arrangement of houses that have been "handcrafted" one at a time by their builders. Introducing the reader to Builders; Homes; Natural Materials; Photographers; Fantasy; Trips; On The Road; Living Lightly; Barns; Old Buildings; and enhanced with a reflective "Moreover" commentary, a bibliographic reference for other thematically appropriate books, as well as an Appendix, Home Work maps an intricate and detailed selection of every imaginative, creative, fun, innovative, indigenous, traveling, and eclectic house drawn from diverse cultures ranging from Nova Scotia to Mongolia. Home Work: Handbuilt Shelter is so very highly recommended to architectural students and non-specialist general readers, particularly those with an interest in building their own unique and memorable home or shelter.
Book Description
At fifteen, sick of her unbearable and increasingly dangerous home life, Janice Erlbaum walked out of her family’s Brooklyn apartment and didn’t look back. From her first frightening night at a shelter, Janice knew she was in over her head. She was beaten up, shaken down, and nearly stabbed by a pregnant girl. But it was still better than living at home. As Janice slipped further into street life, she nevertheless attended high school, harbored crushes, and even played the lead in the spring musical. She also roamed the streets, clubs, bars, and parks of New York City with her two best girlfriends, on the prowl for hard drugs and boys on skateboards. Together they scored coke at Danceteria, smoked angel dust in East Village squats, commiserated over their crazy mothers, and slept with one another’s boyfriends on a regular basis.
A wry, mesmerizing portrait of being underprivileged, underage, and underdressed in 1980s New York City, Girlbomb provides an unflinching look at street life, survival sex, female friendships, and first loves.
“A fast and engrossing read in the spirit of Girl, Interrupted.”
–Entertainment Weekly
“Gripping . . . a wry, compelling memoir of what it means to stand up for yourself, especially when no one else will.”
–Bust
“How satisfying to watch Erlbaum survive adolescence and produce a smart, engaging book.”
–The New York Times Book Review
“Erlbaum’s survival is hard-won, the journey rendered with page-turning intensity.”
–New York Post
“A fast and engrossing read in the spirit of Girl, Interrupted.”
–Entertainment Weekly
“Gritty . . . perversely riveting. You want her to survive.”
–The Washington Post Book World
Customer Reviews:
realistic.......2007-06-18
I am 15 and when I read this book I couldn't get past the description of Janice's mother and stepfather. It was everything I had wanted to put into writing about my mother and stepfather but hadn't thought of the examples or gotten the dialogue down.
Janice's book kept me hooked, from getting abused in the shelter to living in the group home to living with Sebastian to everything else. This was a great read and I liked reading about New York City, my fav place I have lived for 2years (and am moving back this summer)! Go Janice, luv the book xx
good (mis-)education for all girls.......2007-05-26
This account summerizes the very immediate women's issue; their struggle for their own place and safety. The troubled teenager's journey to winning her own place against all odds was also a struggle for early independence and self awarenesse.
The trouble that I found on the way was the editorial one; the book consists of two parts and the latter part read as a departure from the theme of 'halfway homelessness' as the book had initially picked up. Later I learned why all the sequence of events were brought together. Still, the whole structure should have been improved, or could be two different projects. The false impression somehow endured even after I had aknowleded why the latter part was integral.
By the end, the author recognized how important it was for her to prioritize her independence over her boy craze so that she would not have to repeat the same mistake hwe mother had made. She had put herself in the situation exactly same as her mom put her to, from where she had had ran away initially. It was then that I thoght I understood better the whole point and the significance of the experiences, why it had to cover all the trouble she went through even after her mom had removed the wrong step dad from the household, who was supposed to be the cause of all the hardship in her life. She came to terms that it was her and her mom's dependent mind set on men that
1) could not cease the troubled relationship with the step-dad who put the whole family into abyss
and
2) made the author move in with her boyfriend without spending any time in the newly regained stepdad free environment.
She leaned the lesson and got her very own room in the end and exorcized the demon running in the family. That is the whole point of the author's journey to the real independence, which equates a safe environment any woman should deserve.
The book offers a good look at the loophole of the welfare system and the institutional defects as well as the women's rights' and its limitation back in 80's. Or, I am wondering if we are in any better shape or have made no progress after two decades in terms of the women's condition. Any girl has to learn to put herself first at the 'risk' moment, especially when her mom does not teach how to do so and when. The hard won wisdom and lots of guts are the education that Girlbomb offers to today's youth and women.
I couldn't put it down.......2007-05-17
I flew through this book. It's a straightforward account of the author's teen years, which were insane, when compared to my teenage years. She tried everything once. Or several times. I like that she makes no apologies for the choices she made. I was a bit disappointed with the ending. It seemed a little too hopeful after all that the author had been through. Clearly, things turned out OK for her because she published this book, but I would have liked to find out where she was 5 or 10 years later or if she slipped up again before finally getting straightened out.
Waste of time.......2007-04-12
Memoirs can be enticing and addictive. In a bookstore, I always give new ones the once-over in the hope of finding a good story. I've read many enjoyable memoirs, including "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius;" "Running with Scissors" and "Dry;" "A Child Called It," "The Lost Boy," and "A Man Called Dave;" and even `A Million Little Pieces," which, though riddled with falsehood and deceit, still managed to be well written and thought-provoking.
I picked up "Girlbomb" thinking that perhaps I had found a book of similar caliber. Regrettably, I felt that the book fell well short of not only my high expectations, but also of what could even be considered a mediocre read. Erlbaum failed to endear herself to me, not just once, but repeatedly. A large portion of her problems seemed to stem directly from her own behavior. The promiscuity, the drug-habit, the partying, all did a great deal to further complicate her already bad situation. But she either did not realize this, or did and refused to accept her share of blame. Her trial and tribulations came across as shallow and petty: the violence was less like violence and more like quarreling; the racism was less like racism and more like squabbling; the abuse was less like abuse and more like neglect.
That's not to say that she did not face difficulty and hardship, but even these parts seemed shallow and transparent. Sadly, there is little here to compel feelings of concern or even interest. Erlbaum herself seems to be indifferent, failing to communicate anything redeeming from her years spent in misery. The book comes across as resentful, bitter, and self-pitying. Erlbaum does not appear wiser because of her experience; she does not appear to have gained anything from her ordeal. The book lacks sincerity and earnestness, and winds up being tiresome, tedious, and ultimately forgettable.
Up and down........2007-04-05
Janice writes very well and the story is very interesting until she no longer is in "the system." Once Janice went home from living in the group home her high school life of drugs, drinking and sex is no longer all that shocking. I felt as if she was dragging out the story just to keep the reader interested but it didn't work.
The story was OK but I was not blown away or inspired.
Book Description
Developed primarily for long-distance treks, the ultralight method is considered by many traditional backpackers as too austere. Author Ryel Kestenbaum shows that thanks to recent improvements in equipment design and manufacture, as well as in food processing, ultralight backpacking now offers a safe and comfortable alternative to traditional backpacking methods. In The Ultralight Backpacker, he dispels the myths surrounding this rapidly growing trend. Kestenbaum acquaints readers with the ultralight philosophy and shows how backpackers can once and for all do away with heavy packs and move quickly and comfortably on the trail, whether on a day-trip or season-long trek. He also provides the most complete survey available of ultralight equipment, clothing, and footwear, along with tips on how to select the right gear for each reader’s unique interests, needs, and personality.
Customer Reviews:
Pretentious Poppy-cock.......2007-01-27
I purchased this book after having heard good things about it. What I got was one of the biggest disappointments of my life as far as books go. Kestenbaum has a right to hike however he wishes, but to pass off his personal ideas as the "one true way" is absolute bull!
First, he talks about how no extra ounce hitches a ride in HIS pack. He religiously cuts every tag and extra strap off of every piece of gear he owns. He carefully selects his gear. Yet, he still maintains a pack of over 12 pounds. The vast majority of people who consider themselves ultralight maintain a base pack weight of UNDER 12 lbs, not over it! Kestenbaum continuously skips over gear that many ultralighters love, and gives preference to his personal selections, despite the extra weight involved. Yet remember, no extra ounce hitches a ride in HIS pack!
Second, and this is the worst of the book in my opinion, is that the section on meditation (yep, there's a section on meditation) is longer than the sections on hygiene and water treatment! Please Mr. Kestenbaum, explain to me how meditation is more important to backpacking than hygiene and meditation?
Kestenbaum's work has some useful information, but not much. In truth, the vast majority of the useful information is available on the internet for no money. Of the ultralight authors out there, Ryel Kestenbaum shouldn't even be mentioned. His base weight exceeds the limits of what is considered ultralight, his philosophy is pointless to ultralight backpacking, and his information is weak at best. Money spent on this book would be best spent elsewhere.
Trim the fat........2007-01-15
This book goes over the writrers gear list of his commercially bought products that he cut the labels off of and shortened the straps to lighten the load. Most of the info in this book is stated on the internet in better wording and a more practical manner. Much of this book is just his opinion of how things might work because he never enven tried the products. From my understanding he doesn't even have any serious experience under his belt. He has hiked several hundred miles but never completed any long distance trails. His biggest achievement is that he attempted the PCT. Save your money and do some online research or if you want to buy a book, find a copy of Ray Jardine's "Beyound Backpacking."
Good if you're just beginning.......2007-01-09
We were interested in getting into backpacking and were given this book for Christmas. As folks who knew nothing about backpacking, the product info in this book has been very useful. It is obvious that this book will become quickly outdated, but for us it has been quite useful to understand what we need and what is available.
Other books are much better.......2006-11-21
This book has some useful information and guidance so I decided to give it two stars. It isn't the worst book I've seen on backpacking but it isn't very good. I understand why others don't like the "preaching". The book is loaded with it.
The author recommends that you cut tags, cut straps, cut off toothbrush handles, etc. According to the author, this gets you into the state of mind for ultralight. It isn't what lightweight backpacking is about. It is about knowing the weight of everything you put in your pack. In the clothing section, the author only mentions fleece for the insulation layer. This is very out of date. There are far better insulation layer alternatives that are much lighter. In the shelter section, he doesn't cover tarps sufficiently, the only option for someone going ultralight. In the section that covers water, he recommends iodine tablets, a very poor choice with Aquamira and other chlorine dioxide products on the market.
After reading lots of books on backpacking, reading the internet, and practicing it for two years, I came back and read this book again. Some books I get something of value when I read them the second time. This book was a complete zero for me the second time around. If you're interested in lightening your backpack and want to read a short book like Kastenbaum's Ultralight backpacker, I strongly recommend Don Ladigin's Lighten Up! book. It is far better.
Not enough specific information..........2006-06-26
This book would be better called, "Lightweight Backpacking". With the exception of cutting off extra material and drilling holes in your toothbrush, most of the info is covered better elsewhere (see Chris Townsend's "The Backpacker's Handbook") and doesn't really fall exclusively into ultralight backpacking.
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