History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Building Wealth One House at a Time: Making it Big on Little Deals

Average customer rating:

Great Value
Building Wealth One House at a Time Describes the Big Picture
Great Read for All RE Investors
If you 're flipper or interested in flipping
Entry level info

Building Wealth One House at a Time: Making it Big on Little Deals
John W. Schaub
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0071448357

Book Description

Strategies for creating real estate wealth by star ting small--and always making the right moves

Nationally known real estate expert John Schaub learned his craft in the best way possible--on the job, and through every kind of market. Over three decades, he learned to bank consistent profits as he built an impressive real estate mini-empire. Building Wealth One House at a Time reveals how virtually anyone can accumulate one million dollars worth of houses debtfree and earn a steady cash flow for life.

Unique in that it focuses on buying houses in good-quality neighborhoods, Schaub's nine-step program includes:

Renting to long-term tenants, with financial incentives to pay on time
Avoiding the temptation of bigger deals, which invariably include bigger problems
A 10-year plan to pay off debt and own houses free and clear

Customer Reviews:

Great Value.......2007-09-11

This is just great basic but very valuable information, and a keeper for a long term reference for anyone investing in houses. I've been a student of John's (and also Peter Fortunato, who has also commented here), for years and always continue to learn from his good quality advise.

I've bought several and give them away to folks that ask about how to invest in real estate and has been a great start for several and a good reference for experienced investors that often find themselves venturing into high risk, marginal properties instead of staying with a good old house.

Building Wealth One House at a Time Describes the Big Picture.......2007-07-31

This is one of the outstanding real estates investment books on the market. John Schuab writes as one who has years of experience and knows the ropes.

The advice in this book is rock solid: buy good houses in good neighborhoods, learn to buy at wholesale prices, and attract long-term low-maintenance tenants who will pay off your loans and improve your property value.

One thing I really like about this book is that John Schuab sees the big picture. He may act in the short-term, but he always has a view of the long-term consequences. So, he doesn't' buy a house because it is priced well, or near a school or a shopping mall. He's thinking 20-30 years ahead to what that house's value and rental desirability will be way down the line.

You have to admire that kind of thinking. That's the kind of thinking that invests in houses that will pay big dividends. Good investments and patience pay off in John Schuab's world. Patience is more than a virtue with John Schuab, it's a commandment. The guy still has the first house that he bought 30 years ago, and its one of his best rentals.

Lincoln said, "I will study and get ready, and perhaps my chance will come." "Building Wealth One House at a Time" is one book worth studying.

Terry Sprouse -- author of the forthcoming book "Fix 'em Up, Rent 'em Out: How to Start Your Own House Fix-up and Rental Busines in Your Spare Time"

Great Read for All RE Investors.......2007-07-24

John Schaub's book is a must read for all Real Estate Invesotrs. From the beginner to the experienced investor, all will gain some very useful insight from this book.
It is not a get rich quick book hyping up Real Estate, but rather a very
low no nonsense way to wealth build through Real Estate one house at a time. John Schaub is not just a promoter, he still buys and sells houses for his own portfolio today.
It's great to learn from such a pro. He also does a couple of seminars a year on Real Estate. They are also a must for any one wanting to get into the Business (I've been to several of them-they are great!).
Bottom line-Great Book, a must read.
Reggie Lal, Be The Smart Investor . com

If you 're flipper or interested in flipping.......2007-03-31

I didn't expect to learn much from this book, and I wasn't disappointed. I only read the book because it was available from the local libarry. This book is for those interested in acquiring rental houses and accumulating over a lifetime. That aside, I didn't find any value to the book. You could learn more on finding, negotiating, inspections are several flipper books, even if you interested accumulating rental properties. The author pays too much for his houses. He should be more selective, even if he intends to hold onto the houses.

Entry level info.......2007-03-10

I was hoping for a text with more than the very basic, very repeated information in most books of this subject. If it's your first book on real estate investing, it will be great. If you're seeking more advanced subject matter, look elsewhere.

Creating the Not So Big House: Insights and Ideas for the New American Home

Average customer rating:

The not so big house is more of a Not so inexpensive house
A must when designing your home
MORE NOT SO BIG
What a Great Idea Book
Good Idea, But . . .

Creating the Not So Big House: Insights and Ideas for the New American Home
Sarah Susanka , and Grey Crawford
Manufacturer: Taunton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1561586056
Release Date: 2002-02-01

Amazon.com

Sarah Susanka has a not-so-insignificant idea in Creating the Not So Big House. She contrasts the glamorous, glossy-photo house plans of vaulted ceilings and palatial living rooms with the livable, day-to-day pleasure of cozy window seats and comfortable breakfast nooks, and her conclusion is resonating with families across the country: bigger but shoddier isn't better than smaller and well made. Descriptors like "spacious" and "expansive" fill the real-estate promos, but Susanka seeks the elusive yet affordable qualities that turn a house into a home. And she provides more than mere ideals around which to rally. She selected 25 house designs, from a southwestern adobe to a Minnesota farmhouse to a New York apartment to a Rhode Island summer cottage, and she profiles each home in great and well-illustrated detail.

Her ideas for interior as well as exterior views, airy stairways, diagonal views, and framed openings translate well in an array of different houses appropriate to childless couples and large families, as well as hot climes in Texas and cooler regions in Vermont. There are traditional designs to fit in with Massachusetts styling and contemporary designs to adapt to California cliffs, and they range from country spaces to suburban homes to city apartments.

Susanka selected house plans that are available for sale, because her purpose is to make affordable quality housing accessible to the general public, but they're also presented as catalysts for your own designs, because the house that worked for one person might inspire the plan that would work best for you. Whether you're in the market for a new house, want pragmatic renovation ideas, or are interested in the concept of space-saving abodes from a city-planning, philosophical perspective, Susanka's book is an eye-opener and a mind-expander, providing conceptual and practical tools to assist you in planning your own livable home. --Stephanie Gold

Book Description

Sarah Susanka's The Not So Big House spoke to millions of disenchanted homeowners who want to downsize their dream home without diminishing the dream. By evaluating what makes them feel at home and letting their activities define their rooms, homeowners end up with cozy areas they like and use rather than oversize formal rooms they never enter. Creating the Not So Big House explains what homeowners and potential homeowners need to know to get the home that fits their dreams and their lifestyles. Featuring 20 new houses and five remodels of the best Not So Big House designs, Creating the Not So Big House gives readers insight into successful home design.

Customer Reviews:

The not so big house is more of a Not so inexpensive house.......2007-06-20

We have read both books and did find some things interesting, there was only one or two houses in either of the books about the Not So Big House that would have worked for us. One thing we did find that the cost of the "not so big house"; because of many of the materials used; it is really more than what a number of people might find too expensive for their budget.

A must when designing your home.......2007-06-09

We are remodeling our house and my daughter and husband are about to build a new house. A friend of us got many great ideas from this book when they built their home, so they recommended it to me. I had purchased it as a gift for my daughter who, along with her husband, have been reading it since then word by word, and studying the pictures. They are so excited by the concept of a great home and the excellent ideas found in the book. It gave them the direction that they will definitely take when designing their new home.

MORE NOT SO BIG.......2007-05-04

A FURTHER EXPLORATION OF THE NOT SO BIG PHILOSOPHY, QUALITY OVER QUANTITY. INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE, GOOD COMMON SENSE.

What a Great Idea Book.......2007-03-11

Creative ideas for the practical person. No cute gismos and such, just solid ideas and ways to make them work. Highly recommended.

Good Idea, But . . ........2006-12-29

Her premise that quality beats quantity is a good one. Unfortunately, her taste in architecture (or at least interior design) leaves a lot to be desired -- most of her examples are visually cluttered and will seem dated very quickly, as some indeed already do.

Lower Your Taxes - Big Time! : Wealth-Building, Tax Reduction Secrets from an IRS Insider

Average customer rating:

An Outstanding Small Business Tax Planning Guide
Not as useful as I thought
little guy disaster
It's alot easier to start a home-based business than you think!
Well-referenced

Lower Your Taxes - Big Time! : Wealth-Building, Tax Reduction Secrets from an IRS Insider
Sandy Botkin
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 007140807X

Book Description

Strategies from an IRS insider for slashing taxes, maximizing legal deductions, avoiding audits, and more

Completely updated for all of the new 2005 and 2006 Tax Laws!

Through his years as an IRS tax attorney, Sandy Botkin discovered that most Americans could legally and dramatically cut their tax bills by establishing themselves as independent contractors or businesspersons. In Lower Your Taxes--Big Time!, fully updated for 2005 and 2006, Botkin explains how, outlining a straightforward program for writing off everything from family vacations to movies and plays, and receiving a subsidy of $5,000 or more from the IRS each and every year.

From tips for launching a business to strategies for audit-proofing a return, Lower Your Taxes--Big Time! is a gold mine of information for every frustrated taxpayer. Tax-cutting strategies include:

How, why, and when to incorporate
Fail-safe methods for deducting a home office and family car
Simple but essential record-keeping tips
Tax advantages of being a consultant,independent contractor, or independent businessperson

Customer Reviews:

An Outstanding Small Business Tax Planning Guide.......2007-07-23

This book is perfect for anyone who currently has (or is contemplating) a small business and wants a lot of general questions answered about business entity structuring, deductions, taxes, and more. It doesn't attempt to replace the need for professional legal or accounting advice. However, it does help you to become more informed about the issues, and that means you're better equipped to profitably steer your business. This book might be too basic for some people. However, it's extremely reader-friendly and is the ideal starting point for anyone who is unfamiliar with these topics. Save yourself some expensive legal and accounting fees by reading this book BEFORE you seek professional guidance in setting up your business or redefining your structure.

Not as useful as I thought.......2007-04-02

This book concentrates a lot on deductions you can make if you own a business. While there is a lot of useful information (and all legal if you keep abundant records), I was expecting more creative ways to lower taxable income.

little guy disaster.......2007-02-13

This book is geared to business people and not for the average individual. A lot of the tax saving strategies are fantasy too!!!!

It's alot easier to start a home-based business than you think!.......2007-01-12

This book is absolutely amazing! Great tips, awesome information, and everything backed up with references. You can get started with a home-based business (Watkins, Avon, etc) for next to nothing, and the money you save on taxes in one year should more than pay for the cost to get started with a familiar company. This info in this book can help you start saving tax dollars from day one.

Cindy
www.cindygrobert.com

Well-referenced.......2006-11-01

Much of this book does apply to me (a sole-proprietor). You can get a lot of the information from other sources, but this book does cram a lot into a fairly compact and easy to read format. Although the book is not exhaustive, it does have a benefit over many other tax books (including a couple of the NOLO tax guides): It cites the IRS rulings, private letters etc. that you would need to back up your tax strategies in the face of an audit. My accountant is only willing to claim deductions that he can justify to the IRS. The citations make this easy.

The book is not particularly well-organized, so you do need to read the whole thing to find specific tax deductions.

The book has saved me some money on taxes over the past couple years. In that respect, it has been a good investment. More importantly, it has suggested strategies for me going forward.

I will buy the new edition when it comes out.

The Big Book of Ceramics: A Guide to the History, Materials, Equipment and Techniques of Hand-Building, Throwing, Molding, Kiln-Firing and Glazing Pottery and Other Ceramic Objects

Average customer rating:

A book to treasure
neither very big nor very useful
Not a helpful resource for learning on the wheel
Very Broadly informative
The Big Book of Ceramics

The Big Book of Ceramics: A Guide to the History, Materials, Equipment and Techniques of Hand-Building, Throwing, Molding, Kiln-Firing and Glazing Pottery and Other Ceramic Objects
Joaquim Chavarria
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0823005089

Customer Reviews:

A book to treasure.......2004-07-29

A true guide on technique,
but also to build excitment and passion for this craft.

neither very big nor very useful.......2002-09-19

Pleasing to the eye but it surely fails to live up to the promise of its title. The instructions on constructing and throwing pots is adequate (though scanty).The sections on other aspects of the craft are more an outline than a guide. Disappointed, I searched our local community college library and found several comprehensive instructional texts on ceramics that were bigger and better than this book - though most were written 30 years ago.

Not a helpful resource for learning on the wheel.......2002-06-24

I was disappointed after receiving this book. While it gave a nice overview of different types of ceramics, it did not give the detailed information I was looking for. The summary on wheel throwing was relatively small and gave virtually no information regarding types of wheels or information on selecting one. The description of the book does seem a bit misleading...leading one to believe that this book would be an invaluable, detailed reference source. I found this not to be the case and would not recommend it for those looking for a reference document.

Very Broadly informative.......2002-06-21

This book covers all major types of clay and ceramic activities. If you are interested in only one type (for example, casting in a mold from clay slip)it may not give you as much information as you want. If you are curious about clay, generally, or want an overview to decide what you might like to try, this is a very useful book. The illustrations and directions are very clear.

The Big Book of Ceramics.......2001-11-07

I was so absolute beginner in ceramics and afraid of even touching a clay. In the same day I got the book I've made my first piece. And... was satisfied :=)
Guy is great, I've bought two more books by this author, and was thrilled even more, it's great book to begin with, but also to stick with all the time... full of good information, practical advices, things that you just can't find a person to ask and many many pictures that helps so much.
Anyway, you won't regret buying it.

Start Small, Profit Big in Real Estate: Fixer Jay's 2-Year Plan for Building Wealth - Starting from Scratch

Average customer rating:

Follow Columbo's Lead
I've read this before in his other book
Start Small, Big Profits in Real Estate
Good start but lacking finances.
Start Small, Profit Big in Real Estate

Start Small, Profit Big in Real Estate: Fixer Jay's 2-Year Plan for Building Wealth - Starting from Scratch
Jay P. DeCima
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0071443800

Book Description

From the BusinessWeek bestselling author of Investing in Fixer-Uppers--a plan for building a real estate empire with little or no money down "

Fixer Jay" DeCima, the acknowledged king of fixer-uppers, delivers a much-anticipated guide to realizing financial independence through real estate investing. Written in DeCima's trademark folksy style, Start Small, Profit Big in Real Estate provides a complete two-year plan for making it big in real estate starting with little or no money of your own.

You'll learn how to:
Scout out properties with the highest return
Calculate the payoff versus the effort involved in any real estate investment
Find motivated sellers who will finance your properties
Use leveraging and compounding to utmost advantage
Negotiate with sellers and win every time
Make big bucks with rental properties

Customer Reviews:

Follow Columbo's Lead.......2007-08-17

This book has the strong qualities of Jay's first book - written in a easy-going, lay-back style that makes it enjoyable to read, and it presents an eminently useful model that really works.

Jay says to avoid slick and flashy techniques because "slick is another word for slippery." He points out the gurus who formerly expounded on a wide assortment of get-rich techniques are "either bankrupt or working in gas stations." Jay advises to stick with run-down, fixer-upper types of properties. Buy low, and improve their value, and rent them out. I's a winning formula that I, and many others, have used to make money in real estate.

I particularly liked Jay's technique of taking a low key negotiation approach, like the former TV-detective Columbo when he interrogated suspects. Instead of putting the seller on the defensive, don't directly tell them what's wrong with their house. No one wants a complete stranger to come up and criticize their house. Always show respect to the seller, and have the seller tell you what's wrong with the house by asking him a series of polite questions. Listen carefully to what the seller has to say. You can learn a lot by listening. Don't be critical, never talk down to anyone. Even sellers who must sell, won't sell to you if you try to intimidate them. Jay points out that you still must diligently verify any information you get from the seller. One way to do that is to ask for their "Schedule E" tax form.

Another key to Jay's formula is turning motivated sellers into bankers. This is something that a lot of us, myself included, need to work on. If we follow Jay's advice and get the seller to finance at least part of the loan, the purchase process suddenly becomes much easier.

I also liked Jay's memo system of dealing with renter problems. In using this system, I find it simplifies my dealings with renters. If you call and tell them to do something, they forget. If they see it in writing, in an official-looking memo, they will usually, but not always, do what you ask them to do. It reduces direct contact with them and it gives you written documentation in case you later need it later to remove them from the house. I like Jay's comment "tenants don't intimidate me because they are simply no match for my landlording skills." A bold attitude that we should all aspire for.

The book does get repetitive at times, particularly in touting the benefits of having a rich lifestyle. There was maybe one too many statements about Jay going to the mailbox in his pajamas to pick up his checks.

Also, when Jay describes "carryback" financing when he sells a house, he never addresses the issue of the potential problems that you can encounter if you try to "wraparound" a loan from a bank or other traditional lending institution. If the lending institution finds out that the property has changed hands, they may "call" the loan and require immediate payback of the outstanding balance. Many off us are dealing with those type of loans, and it would have been helpful to address that issue.

Overall, there is a lot to like about this book. If offers sound advice for the new, and the seasoned, investor. The Columbo negotiating technique alone was worth the price of the book for me.

Terry Sprouse is author of the forthcoming book: "Fix 'em Up, Rent 'em Out: How to Start Your Own House Fix-up and Rental Business in Your Spare Time."

I've read this before in his other book.......2007-02-19

I loved Fixer Jay's original book, Investing In Fixer Uppers, so I was thrilled to buy his second book as soon as I heard about it. It is an ok book, but it is his original book in a new cover. Even some of the sentences are the same. It was kind of like listening to a friend who tells you the same stories without remembering that he has told you already, using the same words, gestures and inflection. I was dissapointed that there is actually no explanation for creating a 2-year plan anywhere in the book. The closest thing that I could find to a 2-year plan, was a sentence on page 8 that said, "Two years after you acquire your first property, you should have a dependable income, assuming that you're following my strategies." Then comes an analogy that investing in real estate is like kissing frogs to find a prince. I suppose that it is, but it didn't help me with a 2-year plan. If you are interested in fixing up houses to rent for income, don't hesitate to buy Jay's first book-I have read it 5 times, and am using his strategies from that book right now, having just fixed up an older house in my neighborhood. With 3 month's part time work, I now have 28k in equity, and 209.00 per month positive cashflow, on my first fix-up ever, thanks to his first book. The house was even owner financed, 2% down, and deferred payments too! (Jay's strategies) Don't bother with the 2-year plan book though, because it isn't anything new.

Start Small, Big Profits in Real Estate.......2007-01-18

The author gave "how" examples and easy to understand explainations to help you build wealth.

Good start but lacking finances........2006-12-21

This is a good beginners book to start buying, fixing and profiting from your real estate fix-up labor. The author describes very well how to find and profit from various types of properties: condos, town houses, single family, etc. The area that I thought was most interesting was the research to search and find apartments, the advise was more practical then other books. The more boring portion were the financials as I did not think anything was innovative in his approach: Buy low, fix then rent for cash flow and/or sell to profit. The author should have elaborated more on the mortgage and financing portion of real estate. If readers follow as described and if you can find the properties the 2-year plan should work.
Enjoy the read and good luck!

Start Small, Profit Big in Real Estate.......2006-02-21

This author is clearly very successful as a real estate investor and appears to have a great interest in sharing information and tactics to help new investors. His style is "down home" however my guess he is more sophisticated than portrayed in the book. I recommend this book for new RE investors.

The Big Book of Small House Designs: 75 Award-Winning Plans for Your Dream House, All 1,250 Square Feet or Less

Average customer rating:

pleasant but not fulfilling
Small House Design
Small House Designs
Just what I was looking for
Not even nice pictures

The Big Book of Small House Designs: 75 Award-Winning Plans for Your Dream House, All 1,250 Square Feet or Less
Don Metz , Catherine Tredway , Lawrence Von Banford , and Kenneth R. Tremblay
Manufacturer: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Design & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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House Plans | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1579123651

Book Description

The Big Book of Small House Designs is a collection of more than 500 drawings illustrating all aspects of 75 small homes of various styles, from a New England farmhouse to a sophisticated steel frame to a Santa Fe ranch. Each design includes detailed floor plans, section drawings, elevations, and perspectives, as well as a description of the materials used and landscaping around the home. Keeping in mind that a chief priority for a small home is often energy efficiency, most of the plans incorporate some energy-efficient element. There are dozens of plans suitable for every environment and climate in the country. The designs are all a direct result of several international competitions that solicited from architects the best homes of 1,250 square feet or less. Contact information for the architects is provided in the back of the book.

Customer Reviews:

pleasant but not fulfilling.......2007-10-01

The book is large and would be best as a coffee table book. I am looking to expand my knowledge of small homes, green living and such. This book while interesting did not cut it for me. The drawings are understandable, but the information on each design is minimal, and more photos (if the design has been built) should be included as well to give a better sense of what the house in question will look like.

Small House Design.......2007-05-13

I am pleased with the contents of this book. It was purchased as a gift for a grandson, who will soon receive it. I hope he enjoys it and will put some of the information to good use.

Small House Designs.......2007-04-16

The book is interesting but the illustrations are somewhat difficult to
visualize and understand.

Just what I was looking for.......2007-04-10

This book is a great source for small house designs. Has great plans and elevations of what the house looks like from the outside. It has a nice variety of styles and ideas that you could actually use. They also use a variety of materials used on the houses..Giving you the option to use other things like metals and woods in unconventional ways.

Not even nice pictures.......2006-11-20

A compilation of few interesting ideas and very hard to see illustrations. Poor quality reproductions. No measurements at all. Furthermore the contact information in the back was not cross-referenced with the designs & listed no phone or web contact, just mailing addresses. Seems like the authors took the cheap and easy way out with a good idea.

Taunton Press's "The Cabin" is a much more inspiring & informational book.

I do not recommend this book.

The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live

Average customer rating:

Great concepts, middling design
Inspiration & ideas for rethinking your living space
A must Have If You Plan To Build
Reviewed by Amy Lignor
Insightful book with great ideas

The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live
Sarah Susanka
Manufacturer: Taunton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1561581305
Release Date: 1998-10-01

Amazon.com

When describing a favorite room in the house, do you find yourself using terms such as "expansive," "formal," and "spacious"--a marble foyer or a formal dining room perhaps? Or do the words "cozy," "intimate," and "warm" come to mind--a cheery little breakfast nook or a window seat complete with plenty of pillows and a breathtaking view? More than likely, you--like thousands of other homeowners--are drawn to the more personal spaces in your home, where comfort, beauty, and efficiency meet. In The Not So Big House, respected architect Sarah Susanka and coauthor Kira Obolensky address our affinity for the "smaller, more personal spaces" and propose "clear, workable guidelines for creating homes that serve both our spiritual needs and our material requirements." The heart of the not-so-big house--which is not "just a small house ... [but] a smaller house," that uses "less space to give greater quality of life," and is designed to not only "accommodate the lifestyles of its occupants" but also to express "our values and our personalities," is discussed in chapter 1, entitled "Bigger Isn't Better." Susanka's urging for homeowners to get creative with their space as well as loads of ideas to encourage that creativity are covered in "Rethinking the House" and "Making Not So Big Work." Discussions of specific needs, such as a home for one and designing for kids, can be found in "Lifestyles of the Not So Rich and Famous," while "Dreams, Details, and Dollars" gets down to the nuts and bolts of the operation, looking at quality versus quantity, budgeting, and what "low end," "middle ground," and "high end" really mean in home design and construction. Lastly, the authors look at the home of the future, which involves simplifying, recycling, reducing waste, and using energy-efficient construction. With more than 200 color photographs, as well as floor plans and Susanka and Obolensky's intelligent and lively dialogue, The Not So Big House is perfect for homeowners ready to rethink their space. --Stefanie Hargreaves

Book Description

Sarah Susanka contends that people are naturally drawn to intimate spaces. Large structures inspired by outdated patterns tend to result in houses that just don't work. In The Not So Big House, she proposes clear guidelines for creating homes that serve spiritual needs as well as material requirements. Topics covered include designing for specific lifestyles, budgeting, building a home from scratch, and using energy-efficient construction. With more than 200 color photographs as well as floor plans, the book is perfect for homeowners ready to rethink their space. “Susanka says to evaluate what makes you feel at home and let your activities define your rooms.” — San Francisco Chronicle

Customer Reviews:

Great concepts, middling design.......2007-09-25

I've found this book to be an invaluable resource and appreciate the philosophy and information contained within it. I also found the numerous photos and illustrations to be helpful to convey Susanka's ideas.

The only problem is that I found the actual design and decor of the homes in the book somehow dated and uninspiring. This is definitely a personal reaction, and I'm sure others would disagree. Despite my issues with the actual look of the homes, I'd recommend this as an essential resource along with John Wheatman's books (whose design does resonate for me).

Inspiration & ideas for rethinking your living space.......2007-09-02

The ideas in this book encourage you to think about how you would like use your home space and how to accomplish this marriage of functionality with comfort and aesthetics. Almost every photo has some new little idea to think about. It gives me hope that I'll finally be able to create a comfortable home that integrates everyone's interests & needs. It's inspirational for those of us who have to adapt living spaces to growing families & to those like me who are now empty nesters (but who still need bed space for visiting family members).

A must Have If You Plan To Build.......2007-06-27

Useful, practical, creative. Anyone can gain something from this book even if you aren't building.

Reviewed by Amy Lignor.......2007-06-21

Have you ever found yourself asking, "Is this all there is to life?" We are running in a world of cell phone and blackberry technology, where life is so fast that we never have time to do what we truly want: sit back and enjoy our lives while we have one. This author, with a background in architecture, has put together a fantastic psychological blueprint, if you will, to make changes that will offer you a more rewarding life. This is not like the usual "schlock" that says close your eyes and all good things will come. No, this author takes the time to reveal that things like form and function are not only useful in building a house, they can be translated into building a better life. In a house, you can tear down interior walls to make more space and bring in more light; in your life, you can tear down your fears and open new possibilities.

This is a lovely read filled with wise advice. The author has successfully interwoven her extensive architectural background into well-compiled thoughts on how each and every one of us can make small changes in our lives that will allow us to treasure the time we have.

My advice? If you wish to begin taking time out to enjoy your life - begin by reading this book.

Insightful book with great ideas.......2007-05-26

I was starting to think I was crazy for wanting to build a small house, but this book perfectly articulates the thoughts I was having so much conveying. It is a wonderful basis for discussion and offers many practical, well thought out ideas for implementation.

Big and Green: Sustainable Skyscrapers for the Twenty-First Century

Average customer rating:

not detailed...very general overview of various green buildings
Information on the Surface
Fresh air

Big and Green: Sustainable Skyscrapers for the Twenty-First Century

Manufacturer: Princeton Architectural Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Criticism | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1568983611

Book Description

More than a century after its inception, the skyscraper has finally come of age. Though it has long been lampooned as a venal and inhospitable guzzler of resources, a revolutionary new school of skyscraper design has refashioned the idiom with buildings that are sensitive to their environments, benevolent to their occupants, and economically viable to build and maintain. Designed by some of the best-known architects in the world, these towers are as daring aesthetically as they are innovative environmentally.

Big and Green is the first book to examine the sustainable skyscraper, its history, the technologies that make it possible, and its role in the future of urban development.

The book examines more than 40 of the most important recent sustainable skyscrapers-including Fox & Fowle's Reuters Buildings in New York, Norman Foster's Commerzbank in Frankfurt, and MVRDV's spectacular Dutch Pavilion from Expo 2000 in Hanover-with project descriptions, photographs, and detailed drawings. Interviews with such leaders in the field as Sir Richard Rogers, William McDonough, and Kenneth Yeang are also included.

Customer Reviews:

not detailed...very general overview of various green buildings.......2006-09-05

book is small format. covers about 50 building/urban projects which utilize green energy. however, most analysis is only one page to 2 page including diagrams and photos, and without any detail summary. the author have divided the book in sections such as "air we breath, skyscraper garden, energy, construction, and etc". Despite a clear outline, he uses too many buildings with very little detail instead of just using 1 or 2 buildings in great detail for each topic.
unfortunately, this book is more of a guidebook of the latest green energy buildings with brief description.
I would not buy this book unless you find it at super bargain price (like $10-15). this should be 2 stars instead of 3 but I cannot change due to Amazon's editing function.

Information on the Surface.......2006-01-15

The book was a bit dissapointing. I anticipated reading more indepth detail about the featured projects with diagrams/pictures of the major energy efficient application. Instead the information is only on the surface. It provides beautiful pictures of the building, with two page excerpts of each project (mainly pictures with a paragraph description), a list of the energy efficient applicatios and small floor plans and elevations, if any. A few projects feature the sustainable application methods, such as a diagram of natural ventilation. Overall, it's a good reference to start your research and find a sustainable building to research on, but the information is limited. It's also a good reference for lists of sustainable applications, definitions and essays. The projects are also divided up in five categories: Energy, Light & Air, Greenery Water & Waste, Construction and Urbanism. There are a lot of projects within each category that will spark your interest.

Fresh air.......2003-06-27

"Big and Green: Toward Sustainable Architecture in the 21st Century", by David Gissen, is published in conjunction with an exhibit at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. from January 17 to June 22, 2003. The book clearly shows that a group of architects has addressed the energy and environmental challenges facing many countries as they industrialize and enter the global marketplace. Their buildings indicate that a breath of fresh air has reinvigorated architectural practice to produce buildings that are climate-responsive, energy efficient, and occupant friendly while cleaning rainwater, reducing air pollucion, and enhancing the local environment as opposed to degrading it. The forms and shapes of these new buildings express these new functions in an authentic and genuine manner rather than look like relatively normal buildings with alien technologies applied to them. These buildings give hope that architecture can improve conditions for a sustainable society and not remain an energy and resource sink.

The Big Book of Team Building Games: Trust-Building Activities, Team Spirit Exercises, and Other Fun Things to Do

Average customer rating:

Superb resource book
Great book for great ideas
Great
Patronising rubbish
Big book of Lousy Ideas

The Big Book of Team Building Games: Trust-Building Activities, Team Spirit Exercises, and Other Fun Things to Do
John W. Newstrom , and Edward E. Scannell
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0070465134

Book Description

Did you know that games can be a terrifically effective way to build team spirit, communication, and trust among people who work together day in and day out? Now you can spark morale in any work group by choosing from 70 stimulating games and activities specifically designed for the manager who's looking to raise sagging morale in a department, liven up boring staff meetings, enable team members to collaborate smoothly and effectively, and much more!

Customer Reviews:

Superb resource book.......2007-05-03

I had this series of books before - loaned them out at work and never got them back (go figure!). Happy to have found them again here.

Great book for great ideas.......2007-03-14

Remember when you were in arts and craft classes, this book is like that

Great.......2007-01-12

Excellent quality and turnaround time, received when promised. The games are fun, and not immature for adults!

Patronising rubbish.......2006-11-04

It's strange how so many businesspeople I meet tend to be right-wing, anti-communist and great believers in personal freedom, yet run their businesses like Stalin's Russia. Workers are motivated by a mixture of fear and ambition and any individual opinion that deviates from the party line is seen as a threat.

I'm a manager. All I ask of my staff is that they're honest, work hard and treat everyone with respect. That's it. For my part I give them a clear idea of what I expect and make sure that they have the tools to do the job and receive recognition of their achievements. What I don't do is mess with their heads.

This book is symptomatic of a trend in management culture where it is not enough to ask people to do their jobs well, we now have to re-engineer their souls. The aim of this book is to motivate staff with 'fun' activities in staff training sessions, but the reality is intrusive and patronising. One game invites workers to mention a childhood achievement that they were particularly proud of and then get other members of the team to discuss it. Well, I believe in personal freedom and part of that is not feeling obliged to talk about personal things in a work setting.

Chairman Mao had his 'Cultural Revolution' and this smacks of the same attitude. It's not enough for people to do as they're told, they now have to have the right attitude and if they're not willing to be team players, they're out. It's like 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers'.

Buy this book to find out how emotionally dysfunctional people struggle to motivate teams and get it horribly wrong.

Big book of Lousy Ideas.......2005-10-06

This was a complete waste of money! The ideas were stale and elementary. Do not waste your money or your time flipping through it.

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