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.

The Complete Guide to Creative Landscapes : Designing, Building, and Decorating Your Outdoor Home (Black & Decker Home Improvement Library)

Average customer rating:

The complete guide to creative landscape
It can't be replaced!!!
Great Book
Not bad depending on what you are looking for
great book!!

The Complete Guide to Creative Landscapes : Designing, Building, and Decorating Your Outdoor Home (Black & Decker Home Improvement Library)
Creative Publishing international , and Jerri Farris
Manufacturer: Creative Publishing international
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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The Complete Guide to Landscape Construction: 60 Step-by-step Projects for Creating a Perfect Landscape (Black & Decker)
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The Complete Outdoor Builder: From Arbors to Walkways: 150 DIY Projects (Black & Decker)
The Complete Photo Guide to Outdoor Home Improvement (Black & Decker Outdoor Home)

ASIN: 0865735794

Book Description

-Aimed at the fastest-growing segment of the how-to market: gardening landscaping.

Customer Reviews:

The complete guide to creative landscape.......2007-05-14

This is a great book with so many very well illustrated projects. I have just built a new home and am beginning to landscape my 4 acres I find this book very useful. All the projects are described in great detail with lots of pictures. Thanks L. Rocha

It can't be replaced!!!.......2006-05-15

I bought this book over a year ago. I've read through each project a dozen times. I love about 94% of them. Our house sits on a lot that is ~ 100 feet x ~ 120 feet. I was going to get crazy this spring and summer with a new patio, arbor, and several garden areas.

Sometime a couple of months ago, my book disappeared. I have searched nearly every square inch of our attic and basement, in addition to every closet, underneath every bed, and even in the garage. My wife has looked as well, but to no avail.

I'm 32 years old, and losing this book has nearly made me cry on at least four occassions. It's that good.

Our library doesn't have it. None of the hardware stores in town have it. We have one bookstore in town - and they don't have it. Last weekend, I finally broke down and bought two other books, thinking that by doubling up it would somehow take away the pain of losing my B&D Creative Landscapes book.

It hasn't worked.

I'm purchasing another copy on line this afternoon. There are just too many things in the book that I can't find anywhere else. It's nothing that difficult, but they do such a great job of making things easy to follow, and each project gives you ideas for three more.

Buy the book. Buy two copies. And be sure to hide one in your drawer where no one can take it.

Great Book.......2002-05-12

This book is so well layed out. I give this book 5 stars because it has excellent descriptions and pictures. I built the terra cotta fountain in the book and I love it so much.

Not bad depending on what you are looking for.......2002-01-13

This book is great as general advice. There are SO MANY different projects though that there is not a great level of detail on any one. Just enough of an overview and "how-to" to make you feel comfortable about taking some of these projects on for yourself or answering those questions that always used to make you go "Hmmmmm." Still, for a first time homeowner it will give you a lot of ideas and confidence to start making plans.

great book!!.......2000-10-28

I have been in the search of a home for months now and the one thing I kept telling myself was that when I finally bought it, I would also buy this book. I looked at lots of books at Home Depot, B & N, etc. but this is one of the best and most creative landscaping books I have found. So today, knowing that I have a home and YARD that I can call my own, I am buying it!!

Building Green: A Complete How-To Guide to Alternative Building Methods Earth Plaster * Straw Bale * Cordwood * Cob * Living Roofs

Average customer rating:

great service
Building Green
Great Book...not for northwestern climates
Excellent and Comprehensive Intro and Education.
Nicely presented intoduction to several green techniques

Building Green: A Complete How-To Guide to Alternative Building Methods Earth Plaster * Straw Bale * Cordwood * Cob * Living Roofs
Clarke Snell , and Tim Callahan
Manufacturer: Lark Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

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The Hand-Sculpted House: A Philosophical and Practical Guide to Building a Cob Cottage (The Real Goods Solar Living Book)
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The Natural Plaster Book: Earth, Lime and Gypsum Plasters for Natural Homes (Natural Building Series)
Earthbag Building: The Tools, Tricks and Techniques (Natural Building Series)

ASIN: 1579905323

Book Description

Clarke Snell and Timothy L. Callahan, whose popular Good House Book helped environmentally-minded readers create an earth-friendly home, have returned with a photo-packed, amazingly complete, start-to-finish guide to "green" housebuilding.

This absolutely groundbreaking manual doesn't just talk about eco-friendly building techniques, but actually shows every step! More than 1,200 close-up photographs, along with in-depth descriptions, follow the real construction of an alternative house from site selection to the addition of final-touch interior details. Co-authors Clarke Snell and Timothy Callahan (a professional builder and contractor) provide thorough discussions of the fundamental concepts of construction, substitutes for conventional approaches, and planning a home that's not only comfortable and beautiful, but environmentally responsible. Then, they roll up their sleeves and get to work assembling a guest house that incorporates four different alternative building methods: straw bale, cob, cordwood, and modified stick frame. The images show every move: how the site is cleared, the basic structure put together, the cob wall sculpted, the bales and cordwood stacked, a living roof created, and more. Most important, the manual conveys real-world challenges and processes, and offers dozens of sidebars with invaluable advice. It's head and shoulders above all others in the field.

Customer Reviews:

great service.......2007-09-05

recieved product within one week great book thinking about building using all natural products

Building Green.......2007-02-12

This is an excellent book that is easy to read and actual tells you step by step with over a 1000 beautiful photos how to build your own "Green" building. I am an inexperienced owner-builder and after reading this book I feel that each step of the process was described so clearly that I can use it as a guide for building my own house. None of the other books I've read on the subject have provided this level of clarity or detail - all in an upbeat, easy to read and sometimes humourous style.

The first part of the book does a good survey of the differnet types of materials used in green building and the considerations of siting and design as well. The second part covers actually building the house and what to do or to avoid in the process.

Great Book...not for northwestern climates.......2007-02-07

This is a VERY informative and educational book. I LOVED it, however, I live in a wet climate in Northwestern Canada and the methods used in this book are not condusive to this area.

Excellent and Comprehensive Intro and Education........2006-04-29

I have been looking for a book that would educate me on exactly what green building is, whether it is actually practical and what it would take to achieve it. This book answered all those questions. I think it has filled a void in the information market. So many people are not satisfied with current building practices especially in the US yet finding one comprehensive source for reliable answers is extremely difficult. There is lots of experience bound up in the very well-written, easy flowing text. The mass of photos is extremely instructive and attractive. This book is not clouds-in-the-sky, blindly pro-environment babble. Neither is it full of the marketing lies that exploit the "green" movement. It is useful for normal people who are interesting in trying to build earth-friendly but practical, efficient and affordable homes. The writers are very honest in their educated opinions and recommendations. And they actually built a small green building in order to write this book. So you get the useful, hands-on advice that they learned themselves the hard way even with their past, extensive building experience in the US. I appreciate their effort and book very much, and can't recommend it highly enough as one every non-expert should read if they have a possible interest in green building in the future or even in just building a marginally more efficient home.

Nicely presented intoduction to several green techniques.......2006-02-27

A very nicely presented 'survey' of several green building techniques with a practical and mainstream perspective. Less inspiring and holistic (in terms of presenting an overall philosophy of building AND living) than the likes of The Hand-Sculpted House (Evans, Smiley and Smith), etc. but the beautiful photography and clear writing is a powerful tool to use in convincing the skeptical that green building is a legitimate and aesthetically pleasing option in construction. Really more of a 'complete introduction' than a 'complete how-to guide' in my estimation- if you are really going to build you'll need to suppliment your knowledge with additional in depth books on the particular system(s) you choose to use, but this book will expose you to some of the options and provide you with an informational foundation to 'build' on (pun intended).

The Complete Guide to Contracting Your Home

Average customer rating:

Contracting Your Home
A great handbook for planning your home building
Good resource
Good book but sometimes too basic
Cary

The Complete Guide to Contracting Your Home
Dave McGuerty , and Kent Lester
Manufacturer: Betterway Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

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The Owner-Builder Book: How You Can Save More Than $100,000 in the Construction of Your Custom Home, 4th Edition
Building Your Own Home For Dummies
Build Your Dream Home for Less
Tips & Traps When Building Your Home
Everything You Need to Know About Building the Custom Home: How to Be Your Own General Contractor

ASIN: 1558704655

Customer Reviews:

Contracting Your Home.......2007-09-01

This is a great guide to how to build your own home. Their are tips on how to work with subs, local officals. They have a step by step instructions, along with drawings of what the project should look like when finished. The forms listed, through out the book, can help you advoid legal, contract and problems threw out the entire the project.

A great handbook for planning your home building.......2007-07-12

There are so many things covered in this book that a list will be drastically incomplete, but I will give a few:
Deciding if it's worth it to contract your own home. Buying land. PLanning your home for that land (position, site issues), energy saving measures, supplies you need, how to hire contractors and deal with them. Things that can go wrong and what you need to do. What each aspect of building involves and how to prepare for them. Ways to cut costs. Deciding what you want most for your money. How much house you can afford. And many more.

In response to a previous post, there is a small section on ways to save money on construction. Most of them are very simple, some are from official sources (like ways to avoid waste, which also saves money). I agree with the previous post that you should be careful of cutting corners on things you don't fully understand. Like how wide to space supports. Verify with local builders and compare to building code. Something HE also suggests. But with things like plan your house in 4' segments so you waste less drywall (which comes in these widths). You can safely follow advice like that.

This book has many excellent qualities. Unlike most, he's giving your the forms and information you will need to contract your home, not just endless descriptions on why it's great to do it. His timeline showing the time range for each aspect and what needs to be done first is priceless. So many pages I found were "aha" pages where I said to myself "That's JUST what I've been needing to know".

I do agree that you will want more than one book on the subject. This is a huge investment! It's really a great book to keep on hand for helping you plan this experience and do a good job of it.

The book is dated 1997, so some things are going to be dated. He has a small section where he plays up computers and the internet which seems a little dated. Also the $$ amounts given will seem awfully low. Not too many of those, though.

Something this book is NOT is an artisan/artist's guide. For making things beautiful and artistic, you'll want other books to give you ideas.

I've read several books from the library and ones I've purchased, and I'm buying this one first to have my own copy.

Good resource.......2007-05-28

This book is good as a starting point but you need to consult more sources as some of the information is little dated.

Good book but sometimes too basic.......2007-05-09

I only gave this 4 stars because it was not as advanced as I thought it would be. It's a great book for someone exploring the possibility of building their own home, but if you've got any experience or knowledge of the contracting process already then this book may be too basic for you.

Cary.......2007-02-16

I almost didn't buy this book because of some of the negative reviews, but, being a first time home builder, it's exactly what I was hoping for and is helping me greatly. I think if you were more of a professional, then this may be a little basic. I recommend it.

Passive Solar House: The Complete Guide to Heating and Cooling Your Home

Average customer rating:

Fabulous and excellent EXCEPT for...
Solar Home Design
Subtitle Misleading - This Book is about Passive Solar Heating
Describes some original thinking into solar houses
A welcome and "user friendly" guide

Passive Solar House: The Complete Guide to Heating and Cooling Your Home
James Kachadorian
Manufacturer: Chelsea Green Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Renewable Energy | Technology | Science | Subjects | Books

The Solar House: Passive Heating and Cooling
Solar Water Heating: A Comprehensive Guide to Solar Water And Space Heating Systems (Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series)
Sun-inspired House: house designs warmed and brightened by the Sun
The Natural House: A Complete Guide to Healthy, Energy-Efficient, Environmental Homes
The New Ecological Home: A Complete Guide to Green Building Options (Chelsea Green Guides for Homeowners)

ASIN: 1933392037

Book Description

For the past ten years The Passive Solar House has offered proven techniques for building homes that heat and cool themselves, using readily available materials and methods familiar to all building contractors and many do-it-yourself homeowners. True to this innovative, straightforward approach, the new edition of this best-selling guide includes CSOL passive solar design software, making it easier than ever to heat your home with the power of the sun. Since The Passive Solar House was first published, passive solar construction expert James Kachadorian has perfected user-friendly, PC-compatible software to supplement the design process explained in the book by allowing homeowners/designers to enter the specifications of their design and see how changing a variable will affect its energy efficiency. This is the building book for a world of climbing energy costs. Applicable to diverse regions, climates, budgets, and styles of architecture, KachadorianÂ's techniques translate the essentials of timeless solar design into practical wisdom for todayÂ's solar builders. Profiles of successful passive solar design, construction, and retrofit projects from readers of the first edition provide inspiration to first-time homebuilders and renovators alike.

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous and excellent EXCEPT for..........2007-06-13

First to address TJ in Houston's cooling problems. 1) movable awnings over windows and walls exposed to sunlight 2) slit windows at the bottom and top of the north side wall will allow heat to escape at the top which will pull cool air in at the bottom, especially at night and especially in a two story building. You might also explore cooling towers which essentially do the same thing.

I've been involved with building houses for several decades, and I've been thinking passive solar for quite some time too. In fact many of the ideas in this book are very similar to ideas I've developed independently.

I've seen everything on thousands of jobs from everyday homes to ultra gigantic mansions. One thing I've learned from the BEST builders is to avoid the experimental. Avoid extravagant shapes. Build simple buildings. Put your money into quality material and hardware... unless you want problems. And please keep the place neat. Nobody likes tripping over or cleaning up garbage the last guy left. Call your subs BEFORE you need them and ask them what drives them nuts, instead of finding out you made the same goof everyone makes, after you've spent a bunch of TIME and MONEY building it wrong.

I have to say the slab thing, and the ideas about the Sun's inclination etc are ingenious. They've changed my thinking considerably.

WHY THEN ONLY 3 STARS?

Well mainly some small, but galling, typos, and the lack of a website, or at least an obvious website. James needs to get feedback on these problems and the revisions need to be posted somewhere so they don't keep driving people nuts:

1) on page 76, Table 6-10 it says "see appendix 4." If you use appendix 4, like I did, it will totally confuse you and give you a headache. It SHOULD read appendix 5. The data on appendix 4 LOOKS like it MIGHT work which makes the problem worse. This one took me almost an hour to figure out.

2) The book has many pictures and come with even more on a CD, many useless, like a picture of a truck delivering stuff. I've seen trucks on roads before James. This is no help. However there is no CLEAR picture of HOW the slab is CONNECTED to the foundation walls. I'd like to see a close up. The diagrams are not clear enough on this issue. I don't have that much experience in this area and I'd like an answer. It seems to me that if the slab is in contact with the foundation wall there will be heat loss thought transmission from the slab to the foundation wall. Isn't that why the wall is insulated on the inside? If the slab does not contact the wall it seems to me that it's free floating which makes me nervous. In the diagram it looks like plywood ties the slab and wall together which make me think termites. Poured concrete slabs are usually tied together using rebar or similar. What is the secret?

3) on page 67 he goes though a series of equations to derive the elegant end equation I=Btus/hr·ºF. However you don't need the last equation to derive the information on the next pages. You need the NEXT to the last equation. It took me half and hour to get past that confusion. I kept looking for the LAST equation. Where oh where was it? The math is moderately difficult for us non engineer people but this typo made my head hurt. Ouch!

4) the diagram on page 46 appears to have a stud that makes a 45 degree turn and then another 45 degree turn??? I really don't think it does this, but I'll be durned if I can figure what they are trying to illustrate.

Anyway James, if you see this please put up a little tiny website with your email address please, so we can contact you about errors. A web appendix with corrected typos would be nice too. Websites are cheap and easy now days and you don't need much of a website really.

Otherwise great ideas.

Solar Home Design.......2007-01-10

I have been using this book as a text book for my class - Solar Home Design for the past several years because the thermal analysis worksheets are an excellent way for my students to learn the fundamental principles of energy & thermal performance of various building envelope systems. The worksheets allow my students to calculate any size or type of building and design for any location desired. Students conclude via the worksheets the Solar peformance ratios per month and annual solar performance , plus the needed supplemental heat required from a variety of heat sources.
This is an excellent book for teaching thermal performance and energy balances of residential buildings to adults interested in designing a comfortable Solar Home.

Subtitle Misleading - This Book is about Passive Solar Heating.......2006-11-29

A more accurate title / subtitle would be: The Passive Solar House: The Complete Guide to Heating Your Home. I say this because there is only a page and a half out of 224 pages given to cooling (that is pages 110-111). I realized that I may have purchased the wrong book when I read in the Preface the following:
"The knowledge imparted in this book has been accumulated from over 30 years of data gathered from several hundred solar homes located in the northern tier of the United States, from North Carolina to and including Canada and west to the mountain states. These are locations that are primarily focused on heating."
I live near the gulf coast, and was interested in learning about passive means to cool my home, in addition to heating. (As I write this just after midnight, at the end of November, my Air Conditioner is necessarily on!) This is probably a 4 to 5 star book for those living in the cooler regions of the country, and I do not intend to discourage those living in such areas from reading this book. And, if I move to a cooler region after retiring, I will probably pull this book out and review it.

Describes some original thinking into solar houses.......2006-11-14

This is the first book on solar house design that I've seen where the author is a professional engineer who worked in the housing industry. He built houses of the conventional design when energy was cheap. When the price of energy started going up he began looking into solar heated homes and eventually got a patent on a passive system that is remarkably inexpensive when compared with other systems.

Basically he designed a large mass of concrete that acts as a big heat sink. That is, when the house is warmer than the concrete, heat flows into the concrete, cooling the house. When the house is cooler. Heat flows out from the concrete, warming the house.

There are a lot of solar systems that work this way, the advantage of his is that it uses standard, i.e. cheap, concrete blocks and a poured slab. He further designs the layout of this concrete so that air would flow through passages in the concrete blocks without the necessity of having blowers to force the air through.

All in all, the book contains some very clever ideas, and has both simple explanations of how it works with enough theory and mathematics to enable you to design your own house. This is made easier through using the software contained on the CD supplied with the book. Here is a fairly complete, fairly simple design tool that will allow you to do a lot of the basic design work of your own solar home. This is not the style of your home, it is the design of the solar aspects.

Anyone thinking of a solar home would be foolish to not spend the few dollars this book costs to get and understand Mr. Kachadorian's concepts.

A welcome and "user friendly" guide.......2006-11-05

If this book's title sounds familiar, it's because it's a revised, expanded edition of a popular survey of the author's patented Solar Slab heat exchanger, which offers a technique for builders to produce houses that virtually heat themselves. THE PASSIVE SOLAR HOUSE: COMPLETE GUIDE TO HEATING AND COOLING YOUR HOME expands upon the prior edition, adding more knowledge gathered from some thirty years of data gathering from existing, successful solar houses. THE PASSIVE SOLAR HOUSE is a welcome and "user friendly" guide recommended to homeowners who are seeking to reduce the expenses of heating and cooling regardless of the age or condition of their houses.

The Complete Guide to Bathrooms: Ideas & Projects for Building & Remodeling (Black & Decker)

Average customer rating:

Good overview but can't do it all
Excellent book
he Complete Guide to Bathrooms: Ideas & Projects for Building & Remodeling (
Home Improvement projects

The Complete Guide to Bathrooms: Ideas & Projects for Building & Remodeling (Black & Decker)
The Editors of Creative Publishing international
Manufacturer: Creative Publishing international
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Complete Guide to Kitchens: Design, Plan & Install a Dream Kitchen (Black & Decker)
The Complete Guide to Flooring (Black & Decker)
The Complete Guide to Home Plumbing: Newly Expanded 3rd Edition (Black & Decker Complete Guide To...)
The Complete Guide to Doors & Windows (Black & Decker)
The Complete Guide to Ceramic & Stone Tile (Black & Decker)

ASIN: 1589230620

Book Description

-The most in-depth step-by-step information of any bathroom remodeling book.

Customer Reviews:

Good overview but can't do it all.......2006-08-02

This is a nice overview of bathroom remodeling projects. It's targetted at the DIY-er but even if you're contracting out, it will give you some design ideas and help make you aware of the choices you'll need to consider. It contains a number of how-tos with lots of photos for both demolition and construction or remodeling. However, if you are serious about DIY, this book is just a start. It lacks detail in many important areas. For instance, the drywall section is a laughable 3-4 pages and the tub installation is definitely minimal. (Nothing in there about framing to make an enclosed tub fit the space!) I don't regret buying the book, but I ended up purchasing additional plumbing, eletrical, drywall, and tile books for my major DIY bathroom remodeling project. Also, for those who own several other Black & Decker home improvement series books, you'll find recycling of many photos and instruction in this book. There is clear duplication of content with the B&D plumbing and electrical books.

Excellent book.......2006-07-30

I'm reasonably handy but I don't have any professional construction experience. I'm in the process of completely remodeling a bathroom from the studs & joists in. In preparation, I've read a lot of books on construction and plumbing. This book is my favorite of the bunch.

First, it's VERY well illustrated--you could probably learn 90% of what you need to know just by looking at the photographs.

The captions accompanying the photographs are for the most part reasonably clear. I say "for the most part" because the instructions on installing fixtures suffer a little bitfrom a lack of specificity. You can't really blame the authors for this, though--copper pipes are more or less the same no matter who the manufacturer is, but what's true for a Price Pfister faucet may not always be true for some other brand. On the other hand, the professional advice given in the instructions and sidebars more than makes up for any shortcoming. Personally, I feel like I got my money's worth .

he Complete Guide to Bathrooms: Ideas & Projects for Building & Remodeling (.......2006-02-28

This is an excellent book for the beginner through pro. It provides many helpful insights.

Home Improvement projects.......2005-06-08

I bought several of the B&D books and they are helpful but they routinely copy items from the other books. The bathroom book and plumbing book share alot of the same content - disappointing when you purchase two books but you are only getting 1 1/2 of new material.

The New Ecological Home: A Complete Guide to Green Building Options (Chelsea Green Guides for Homeowners)

Average customer rating:

Excellent introduction to wide array of green building options
An Excellent Overview of Green Building...Superb!
Ok, but not great

The New Ecological Home: A Complete Guide to Green Building Options (Chelsea Green Guides for Homeowners)
Dan Chiras
Manufacturer: Chelsea Green Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Landscape | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Reference | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Landscape | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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

General | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Energy Efficient Design | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Reference | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Solar House: Passive Heating and Cooling
Green Building Products: The Greenspec Guide to Residential Building Materials
The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture
Good Green Homes
Green Remodeling : Changing the World One Room at a Time

ASIN: 1931498164

Book Description

Shelter, like many other elements of human existence, comes at an extraordinary cost to our planet and its inhabitants. In the U.S. alone, construction of 1.2 million new homes a year results in a massive drain on Earth's natural resource base. Today, nearly 60 percent of all timber cut in the U.S. is used in building houses, not to mention construction wastes and the huge amounts of resources used in the day-to-day operation of the "modern" household. In addition to environmental costs, there are the personal economic costs--the thousands of dollars each homeowner spends each year to heat, cool, and power our homes. Today, a new generation of architects and builders is emerging, intent on creating homes that meet human needs for shelter while causing only a fraction of the environmental impact of conventional housing. The New Ecological Home provides an overview of green building techniques, materials, products, and technologies that are either currently available or will be in the near future. Author Daniel Chiras provides a wealth of up-to-date, practical information for home buyers, owner-builders, and anyone interested in building for a sustainable future. Included are chapters on: * The Healthy House; * Green Building Materials; * Wood-Wise Construction; * Energy Efficiency; * Earth-Sheltered Architecture; * Passive Solar Heating and Passive Cooling; * Green Power: Electricity from the Sun and Wind; * Water and Waste: Sustainable Approaches;* Environmental Landscaping.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent introduction to wide array of green building options.......2006-12-11

During the planning phase of building our first home, this book was very helpful. We liked the emphasis right at the start on site selection -- what to look for in everything from the overall community to aspects of the land itself and how to environmentally protect that land during construction. A comparison checklist for assessing lots is included. Even though ours will not be a "natural House" (rammed earth, straw bale, etc.) and though those types of construction are covered, there was plenty of solid information on building a more energy efficient, and less wasteful, home of wood and concrete. Also included are chapters on design, using green and non- or less toxic materials, sustainable approaches to water and waste, environmental landscaping, and enery-efficient design, heating, and cooling. As this will be a retirement home, we especially appreciated the chapter on accessiblilty and ergonomic design.

An Excellent Overview of Green Building...Superb!.......2004-11-05

Author Dan Chiras has produced a series of amazing books on green building, including The Natural House, The Solar House, Superbia!, and The Natural Plaster Book. His books are extremely well written, well organized, comprehensive, and extremely well illustrated. He's truly one of the best, if not the best, writer in the green building field.

The New Ecological Home is no exception. In fact, I think it is one of the best books he has written. Although the cover is pretty drab, the book is a beauty inside. The book is engaging, easy to read, and full of interesting and helpful information that will assist those who want to explore the many options for building homes that are good for people, the planet, and the economy. This book should be read by all who are considering building a new home as well as those who are thinking about remodeling their homes. It is also a valuable resource for architects, builders, and students of architecture. Adding to its value, this book has a detailed resource guide that adds considerably to its value.

Ok, but not great.......2004-10-29

This book was a little bit hard to understand, especially if you are not knowledgable on the subject. I would recommend something more clear and easier to read.

Average customer rating:

Good enough to read twice
OK if you only want to build a square or rectangular deck...
The best deck building guide by far.
Everything you need

Complete Deck Book (Complete Book)

Manufacturer: Sunset Publishing Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Outdoor & Recreational Areas | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Carpentry | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Decks & Patios | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Design Ideas for Decks (Design Ideas Series)
Decks: Plan, Design, Build (Ultimate Guide To...)
Deck Planner: 120 Outstanding Decks You Can Build
Complete Deck Book
Building a Deck (Build Like A Pro)

ASIN: 0376010878

Customer Reviews:

Good enough to read twice.......2002-03-04

I borrowed this book from a co-worker and have read it with great interest. I'm here to purchase it because the information is so clear and appropriate. Tips for making a deck last and how to repair and maintain a deck. This book will help you make it right the first time. Every home owner should have this in their library!

OK if you only want to build a square or rectangular deck..........2000-06-04

After finding that deck builders are getting $25-$35 per sq ft in MI I decided to design my own deck. If you only care about a square or rectangular deck then this book is pretty good. "The Complete Guide to Decks" from Black & Decker (available at Amazon.com also) covers the basics plus gives detailed information on including angles, circular portions, steep slope construction and multi-level construction.

The best deck building guide by far........1999-08-13

I work for a lumber dealer and one of our areas of expertise is decks and deck estimates. When customers ask for a book or something to help them through the project I always suggest "The Complete Deck Book". I have reviewed many books for my company and this was the only one that stood out.

If you are planning a deck project, this is a must have.

Everything you need.......1999-04-13

I built my deck almost entirely from this book. It's especially good at the structural engineering detail. Some other books try to steer you away from doing your own design. A nice photo selection, but no plans for any of the fancy extras.

More Straw Bale Building: A Complete Guide To Designing And Building With Straw (Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series)

Average customer rating:

Straw bale building is great!
Good book
MORE STRAW BALE BUILDING
Happy with speed & quality...
More Straw Bale Building

More Straw Bale Building: A Complete Guide To Designing And Building With Straw (Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series)
Chris Magwood , Peter MacK , and Tina Therrien
Manufacturer: New Society Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Materials | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Urban & Land Use Planning | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Serious Straw Bale: A Home Construction Guide for All Climates (Real Goods Solar Living Book.)
The Beauty of Straw Bale Homes
Small Strawbale
Building a Straw Bale House: The Red Feather Construction Handbook
Straw Bale House (A Real Goods Independent Living Book)

ASIN: 0865715181

Book Description

Straw bale houses are easy to build, affordable, super energy efficient, environmentally friendly, attractive, and can be designed to match the builder's personal space needs, esthetics, and budget. Despite mushrooming interest in the technique, however, most straw bale books focus on "selling" the dream of straw-bale building, but don't adequately address the most critical issues faced by bale house builders. Moreover, since many developments in this field are recent, few books are completely up to date with the latest techniques.

More Straw Bale Building is designed to fill this gap. A completely rewritten edition of the 20,000-copy best-selling original, it leads the potential builder through the entire process of building a bale structure, tackling all the practical issues: finding and choosing bales; developing sound building plans; roofing; electrical, plumbing, and heating systems; building code compliance; and special concerns for builders in northern climates. New material includes:

more extensive sections on electric wiring and plumbing
updated sections on bale finishes and finishing
a section on prefabricated straw bale walls
a wider selection of case studies, photographs and illustrations
a section on common mistakes
budgeting for low-, medium- and high-cost projects, and
new testing data that is in no other straw bale book.

Down-to earth and complete, More Straw Bale Building makes the remarkable benefits of straw bale building available in the most comprehensive and practical book on the subject to date.

Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series

Customer Reviews:

Straw bale building is great!.......2007-06-10

I was very impressed with the level of detail and thoroughness in how the authors explained about building with straw bales, the details, etc. If you are considering alternative building materials with an eye on energy conservation and reducing your "footprint" on the planet, this is a must for your library and to use while planning your home design.

Good book.......2007-05-20

This was a pretty good book. But, I must admit, I am waiting for one book that says it ALL!! I haven't found that book yet.

MORE STRAW BALE BUILDING.......2007-04-08

A VERY HIGH QUALITY INFORMATIVE PUBLICATION. ANYONE INTERESTED IN STRAW BALE CONSTRUCTION SHOULD HAVE A COPY.

Happy with speed & quality..........2007-02-07

I received my item quickly and in good condition. Very satisfied.

More Straw Bale Building.......2006-03-03

I have been reading up on SB construction for quite some time now and this is by far the best book yet. It is a nice blend of the glossy pics that are nice and the technical info that we need. It is also nice to see Tina taking a bit of credit for a change. Congrats folks you have another great book out there.

Nick

Building Classic Small Craft : Complete Plans and Instructions for 47 Boats

Average customer rating:

Good, but old.
Great Book!
Preserved Collection of Inspirational Designs
My favorite boat building book
Ultra-Classic written by a Classy Guy

Building Classic Small Craft : Complete Plans and Instructions for 47 Boats
John Gardner
Manufacturer: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Boating | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

Building Small Boats
How to Build Glued Lapstrake Wooden Boats
Boatbuilding: A Complete Handbook of Wooden Boat Construction
Fifty Wooden Boats: A Catalog of Building Plans, Vol.1
Clinker Plywood Boatbuilding Manual

ASIN: 007142797X

Book Description

"John Gardner's work has engaged and inspired more individuals connected with traditional small craft than will ever be counted."--WoodenBoat magazine

"Deserves an honored place on the library shelf."--National Fisherman

"Poses clear and impassioned means to go from the armchair to the open water via your own boat shop."--Sea History

This big, handsome legacy volume contains all the plans, measurements, and directions needed to build any of 47 beautiful small boats for oar, sail, or motor.

Customer Reviews:

Good, but old........2007-08-06

Good book, you can see the author did understand a lot about, but the plans are old a little, and I don't understand very well the off sets system for mark and cut the planks. The boats looks like very weight to me too. I'd prefer the Chris Culczik system.

[]s

Great Book!.......2007-01-24

This is a great book for who wants know about boat construction. It's easy to understand. I really recomend!

Preserved Collection of Inspirational Designs.......2006-09-04

John Gardner died in 1995, and left a legacy of preserving the designs of 19th century American small workboats and recreational craft. The designs are not for the beginner, and those looking for a how-to primer would be greatly served by reading "How to Build Glued-Lapstrake Wooden Boats" by Hill and Brooks. But Gardner gives great inspiration on the type of boat that your would like to invest your scarce project hours into. Gardner took the care to measure the vestiges of classic small craft that were still observable during his lifetime, and wooden boat enthusiasts will appreciate this comprehensive effort.

My favorite boat building book.......2006-05-24

What a great book! I had a hard time putting this book down and find myself going back often to compare boat designs. John Gardner places great value on traditional techniques but does mention modern materials once in a while. Still, I wonder if some of these boats could be built lighter with less solid wood and more marine plywood then he recommends. There are enough different designs to satisfy most boat builders. The plans are excellent in detail but too small really for construction purposes. You will need to loft them with care.

Ultra-Classic written by a Classy Guy.......2004-05-27

John Gardner has rightfully been called the "Father of Small Craft" in The U.S.. The fellow knew more about small boats - how to design them, build them and enjoy them - than just about anybody in the late 20th Century. This book combines two of his classic works into one. Now don't expect to start building your first boat a day after this book comes in the mail. Although the plans and construction notes are very good, John assumed that you knew how to carve a rabbet and lay a plank. I don't. And yet this book lives in my bathroom where I can open it to just about any page and be inspired in a minute or less. His description of what makes the right kind of rowboat got me to build my first row boat. I've been hooked on rowing and building since. Thank You Mr. Gardner!

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