Book Description
Tree houses capture the imagination of the child in all of us, and they have never been more popular than they are today. This inspirational yet thoroughly practical guide shows even the most inexperienced weekend carpenter how to design and build a lifetime of memories for the entire family. With more than 200,000 copies of their popular Weekend Project Books sold, David and Jeanie Stiles have become America's First Couple of do-it-yourself woodworking. In Tree Houses You Can Actually Build, they explain basic building procedures through clear, simple instructions and non-technical line drawings that illustrate every step of the project, from the earliest sketches to the final cedar shingle. The authors outline five basic designs that can be adapted to virtually any set of conditions, and throughout the book, they emphasize safety for both adults and children. In addition to line drawings, the book contains a section of full-color photographs highlighting a variety of tree house projects, plus helpful building tips based on interviews with their owners.
Customer Reviews:
Lively little sketch book, very conversational.......2007-07-27
Works for kids, works for adults, very clear and very helpful. Very graphics oriented and the sketches make the text very clear.
Unfortunately does not even mention escalating tree houses beyond the backyard project - if this were a full-revalation book, you would see the new engineering miracle, the Garnier Limb.
We were quite pleased - PS we are hard graders, hardly anything gets a 5.
Title for Tree Houses You can Actually Build.......2007-06-01
I think you have to be a master carpenter to actually do any of them in a week-end but the detail is pretty good.....odd thing is, I bought this book and already had it at home! I must have really liked it!
To find the kids, look up.......2007-05-21
Color pictures of some fantastic tree house ideas. No limits on imagination here. One caution: Don't let the kids see it first! Can't wait to start one of these ideas.
Great Help!!.......2007-05-08
Excellent guide for treehouse construction. We used the book as a basis for our treehouse and modified one of the designs. This book was extremely valuable for us and guided us through alot of potential pitfalls. Highly recommend!
you CAN actually build one of these!.......2007-05-06
What a fantastic book! My kids and I have had so much fun browsing through and getting ideas for their tree house. From the basic tree house to more elaborate designs, it's in here. With the help of this book, you can actually build one affordably.
Book Description
Treehouses & Playhouses You Can Build shows how average "do-it-yourself" families can easily and affordably bring to life a "Hobbit's Treehouse," a "Pirate's Playhouse," or a "Crow's Nest" in their own backyards! There are a lot of books out there filled with enchanting photos of elaborate treehouses and playhouses built by professionals and costing tens of thousands to build. For the rest of us, there's bit of elbow grease, a lot of imagination, a trip to the hardware store-and Treehouses & Playhouses You Can Build.
Customer Reviews:
Many missing instructions and difficult paths.......2007-09-03
I built the Treeless Treehouse on page 81. During the project, I found the instructions lacking, and sometimes incorrect. Dimensions critical to building were many times left out. There might have been a bright side to this, as I now know my trigonometry, which was critical to getting lengths right. I also found that the recommended decking was heavy and hard to work with. They recommended 2X6 in order to reduce the number of floor joists. A bad trade-off in my opinion, as these are heavier and harder to work with than a 1X6. They recommended installing the railing posts inside the deck as opposed to the outside. A bad recommendation in my opinion, as it necessitated cutting patterns out of 2X6 which is hard to do. In fact, they recommend using a jig saw for this. I used a skill saw and a hand saw. I don't think a jig saw would cut it. I recommend looking elsewhere for a do-it-yourself book.
Great All-Around Treehouse Guide.......2007-07-05
Help me out greatly. I am below novice in construction knowledge. The book explained, diagramed, and visualized lots of great methods and ideas for building treehouses. I find myself going back to it again and again for efficient methods of accomplishing the task at hand.
All the information you need.......2007-04-19
This book is great. Lots of great ideas and detailed explanation on how to build a treehouse/playhouse. From how to choose the best tree to many different house plans. We just finished building a treehouse and this was the only guide we used.
Great Treehouse Book!.......2007-03-08
This book is a wonderful how-to book for those who need all the help they can get on building a treehouse. The plans are great and we are building the basic treehouse which is perfect for our 8 and 5 year old kids. Lots of ideas on everything from picking trees, buying lumber, safety tips, to flexible extras. We bought all three of David Stiles treehouse books and this was by far the best and we could have just bought this one and been happy but are glad to have them all. Would highly recommend to parents contemplating building a treehouse or for kids who want to dream of one.
the perfect book.......2007-01-12
Even I did'nt build the tree house so far, I think, I found exactly the right book. The different pictures give wonderful ideas of what you can do, the book shows how different techniques work and how to do it, even you are no professional carpenter.
Book Description
A comprehensive, region-by-region guide to selecting and gardening with exceptionally beautiful, easy-to-care-for, ecologically beneficial native North American plants. The definitive reference for an important new concept in gardening.
4-color photographs.
Customer Reviews:
Cullina's book is better.......2002-12-29
Interesting plant descriptions, with lots of information on hardiness zones, landscape uses, height, culture, etc. However, Cullina's books are more exhaustive and generally superior in all areas. There are puzzling omissions, such as wintergreen, and this is probably because the book is biting off a lot of territory.
The introductory travelogue on the regions of the United States is outstanding. When it comes to the plants themselves, though, Cullina does this book one better.
Don't Pass This One By.......2000-09-28
If you are interested in wildflowers, natural habitats, or just plain curious about what this country has to offer you and the world in native plants, this is THE BOOK. It has become my resource of first choice whenever I need data about native plants (and as a professional garden writer and environmental landscape consultant, this is frequent). Everything you need whatever your level of garden experience to plan a landscape of any size including native plants. Great ideas for problem sites, too!
Clear, easy to understand, divided by geographic region in the front, and by plant type in the plant list section (annual, grass, shrub, etc.)in the back. Packed with info and a wealth of well labeled photos, plus mature plant dimesions, soil requirements, wildlife interest and even fall color notes! Outstanding.
An outstanding primer on North American native plants!.......1998-12-18
This book gives an excellent overview of horticulturally useful and interesting plants native to North America, particularly the United States, and the number of species described is very extensive.
The pictures give an excellent idea of the plants described in the text. The text is also very helpful, providing not only the expected information pertaining to cultivation but also engaging observations by the author concerning the plants described.
An awesome all around book.......1998-12-01
This book is wonderful from pictures to text. An invaluable over-all text on native american plants.
Book Description
It seems that almost everyone likes treehouses. Smiles of recognition turn into grins of enthusiasm as more people discover them and dream about making their own private retreats or family play spaces. And it's nice to remind ourselves that treehouses are built into the oldest and most forgiving, living things on earth. Also, history records treehouses as being built as deliberate follies, as challenges for arboreal designers, for merrymaking, and for keeping the spirit of fairy tales alive. But treehouses can also be social places. We will visit many that were built to entertain, to hang out with friends, or as guest houses. Trees welcome all types.
Master treehouse builders Peter and Judy Nelson, with David Larkin, have embarked on yet another treehouse-discovery expedition across America, this time adding the investigation of backyard playhouses to their agenda. Now, in The Treehouse Book, they reveal their findings, illustrated and described in the most complete volume yet. From casual treeshacks made from discarded lumber to multitiered feats of fancy, they found shelters representing
myriad builders-interesting characters ranging from childhood fanatics grown up, to weekend carpenters, to those who want their grandkids to have the best clubhouse on the block.
Detailed how-to information, including plans and drawings, is woven with behind-the-scenes tales of each structure's occupants and stunning interior and exterior photographic explorations.
Customer Reviews:
The treehouse book.......2007-07-05
This book has the best pictures and if your looking for ideas
and inspiration, this is the book to buy.
You can judge a book by its cover!.......2007-03-08
This book along with Treehouses of the World are inspirational page after page. If you are a fan of treehouses, this book is a must in your collection.
The Treehouse Book Review.......2007-01-11
This book is just as good as the front cover picture suggests: pie-in-the-sky treehouses. The kind that you dreamed about as a kid? Its obvious from this book that some adults still think about and make their dreams become beautiful structures in reality. If you ever wanted a pictoral book of treehouses representing your wildest imaginations, this is the book for you!
Excellent coffee table book.......2006-02-28
This book has some excellent pictures of treehouses. I love it! It is one of my favorite treehouse books. It is not for someone looking to build a treehouse; for that, i recommend "Home Tree Home", by Peter Nelson. Back in 1999, I built my own treehouse, primarily using ideas from "Home Tree Home" and prior treehouse building experience. I lived in it for 5 years.
a question for "A reader from NY".......2003-12-26
I've looked for this "original" the treehouse book by david stiles, and can't find it....
please help.
Book Description
A treehouse is a wonderful idea, but how in the name of creation do you actually build one? In this delightfully illustrated handbook, David Stiles, the unofficial world grandmaster of the treehouse, shows how.
Not assuming anything about the treehouse builder, Stiles starts with the basics: how to nail, how to buy wood, what kind of screws and nails to use.
Then it's on to an A-frame design so simple that it can be built in a weekend out of four sheets of plywood, followed by lean-tos, a tree hut, and a Tarzan-style jungle hideaway. There are also forts of every description, including a 21-foot-tall lookout tower modeled on one George Washington built to keep an eye on the redcoats.
Stiles also adds a design for a snowball catapult, an igloo and even a Nerf-loaded cannon.
Written for children, with an adult peeking over their shoulder, Stiles's TREEHOUSES, HUTS, & FORTS is a dreamer's handbook, offering practical results.
Customer Reviews:
One of the best books ever.......2007-02-06
This book is extremely awesome and has a special section on stuff to build like snowforts, catapults, and cannons. The forts are really awesome. Great buy.
How to Build Treehouses, Huts and Forts .......2007-01-26
Great book if you want to build a treehouse or fort with your son (or sons) or if you just want to build one for your son (or sons) so he can have fun. Love this book and I HIGHLY recommend it.
A READER.......2005-07-09
Please don't buy this book unless you are comfortable reading vague plans and are an experienced carpenter. For all the other "Weekenders" like me who appreciate step-by-step instruction with diagrams/pictures, detailed information on techniques for their projects, discussion regarding suitable materials and tips on finishing the project (i.e. painting, etc.) PLEASE choose a book more suited to your skill level. ... I sense impending doom if I attempt to build his cover playhouse which, by the way, seems rather small at only 6'x6'. I think I will join the ranks and order Norm Abrams plans and video as well. DONT BUY THIS BOOK
Wonderful For Kids And Their Parents.......2005-05-21
Most kids, if not all, dream of building a treehouse. It is a very powerful dream that many times does not happen because the task and resources needed to build a treehouse are formidable. This book can make the dream a wonderful reality. The treehouse, of course, must be built by the kids and this book is step-by-step making that quite possible. Parents can help out with the kids permission. A parent that gives this book to a kid dreaming of a treehouse will be a hero in the kid's eyes.
Book Description
For every gardener desiring to add apples, pears, cherries, and other tree fruit to their landscape here are hints and solid information from a professional horticulturist and experienced fruit grower. The Backyard Orchardist includes help on selecting the best fruit trees and information about each stage of growth and development, along with tips on harvest and storage of the fruit. Those with limited space will learn about growing dwarf fruit trees in containers.
Appendices include a fruit-growers monthly calendar, a trouble-shooting guide for reviving ailing trees, and a resource list of nurseries selling fruit trees.
Customer Reviews:
Everything I need to know.......2007-08-23
After killing a peach tree and three cherry trees, I decided I better try to find out what I did wrong.
This book is pointing the error of my ways. It has all I need to know.
The Backyard Orchardist: A Complete guide to Growing Fruit Trees in the Home Garden.......2007-05-12
Great! This book contains essential common sense information for growing fruit trees in a easy to read format.
Growing fruit trees.......2007-04-05
This book exceeded our expectations. We highly recommend it for anyone who wants to grow fruit for their own consumption. Other books we've tried to read were much too technical and always intended for commercial growers. Stella Otto's book is clear, concise, and chock-full of information. We loved it and feel confident we will now be able to better tend our 10 fruit trees.
Read it, but a word of caution........2007-01-01
This book is a great place to get started, and to finish if you live in USDA climate zones 8, 7, 6, ..., 1. But those of us who live in "low chill" winters, and low-heat summers: southern california, mid-to-southern florida, coastal climates with marine layers -- you need to digest this book and read further about what works in your area.
Very Informative.......2006-08-20
I found this book very informative and comprehensive in answering my questions and concerns with my trees and how to care for and protect them. I highly recommend reading this book to others who have equal concerns and interest in the care of fruit trees.
Book Description
This comprehensive guide addresses one of the most common problems for gardeners. Shade Gardening has over 250 color photographs of the 350 best trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, bulbs, ground covers, vines, ferns, and grasses for shaded areas. Articles cover the basics of growing plants in the shade as well as such subjects as city gardens, flowers, foliage plants, pests and diseases, and lawns.
Customer Reviews:
Gardening.......2005-08-25
Provides lots of interesting gardening information if you are planting only trees and shrubs. Book does not detail anything for vegetable gardeners. Title should be changed to include the word "Forestry" rather than the broad term 'gardening".
Very helpful handbook.......2005-02-07
This is a great reference for those gardening in shade. It is organized in a logical format and can be easily used. The photos are nice and the information helpful as plants are considered for a shade garden. While it may not be adequate for those gardening in the deep south, it is very well suited to zones 5,6, and 7.
A must have.......2002-06-22
This wonderful little book (thick, but only 4.27" wide) is an absolute necessity for anyone who wishes to do some gardening in a shady area. In fact, this book is really three books rolled into one. The first section looks at shade and shade gardening, it is straightforward and highly informative. The second section is entitled The Color Plates, and gives a long list of shade-loving plants, including a very nice color picture, and a highly informative description. The third section goes hand-in-hand with the second, and gives more in-depth information.
This book is really great, a must have for those of us who wish to do some gardening in a shady area. I highly recommend this book to all gardeners!
Great idea book with pictures of shade lovers.......2001-03-22
The Taylor's Guides are very reliable sources for gardening information and great pictures, and the Shade Gardening Guide is one of the best. Shade gardening is difficult for many reasons. There are not that many very showy flowers for seasons other than Spring, and there are many types of shade. The descriptions are very specific and helpful: light shade, dappled shade, "the more shade, the less moisture is needed," and so on. The soil and shade descriptions for each plant are excellent and detailed.
Although the plants are listed alphabetically for the cultural requirements, the pictures are listed by groups: trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, summer bulbs, ground covers, vines, grasses, and ferns. I would recommend that people using the book for plant selection read the "Encyclopedia of Plants" part as well as the brief but good descriptions with the color pictures.
Keep in mind too that the flowering times are primarily for New England (zone 5). Furthur South you may get earlier and more flowers. For example, Ceratostigma is listed as an Autumn bloomer, while in PA, it blooms from July through October. So you get more than the book suggests. Not bad. Anyone with shade should experiment with the plants in this book. As a gardening professional, I see so many great and underused plants listed and described in this book.
Not a good resource for Southern gardeners.......2000-09-09
Having recently purchased a condo in Houston with a north-facing porch, I eagerly awaited delivery of this book. However, I was quickly disappointed. This book should be titled "Shade Gardening in the North," since virtually all of the plants listed are for Zones 5 and lower...not much help for my Zone 9 garden. It did contain a couple of pages of information for shade gardening in the South (which they consider to be North Carolina!), but I was really looking for specific information on the types of shade plants I could plant here. This would have been a great book if I lived in Ohio, but not so good for us Texans.
Book Description
HereÂ's a book for romantics—but with a practical flair! This beautifully illustrated volume guides readers through all stages of planning and constructing a treehouse. TheyÂ'll find plans for several different treehouse styles, from a simple but attractive rustic shelter to an arboreal dwelling featuring modern creature comforts with electricity and cooking facilities. The author describes all needed tools, equipment, and materials, and discusses the type of tree most suitable for each of his designs. Readers are guided through construction of platform or foundation, frame, ladders, windows, and doors. They also learn the more complex aspects of construction, such as roofing, staircases, and connecting electricity for lighting and heating. The finished result can range from an idyllic playroom for children to a handsomely furnished space for adult leisure hours or even business conferences. More than 350 handsome color photos show every aspect of treehouse construction.
Customer Reviews:
Cool photos, not that practical.......2007-03-27
This book outlines the stages, techniques, and materials to build one particular, very complex treehouse. While it does attempt to use the specific example to provide general guidelines and recommendations for treehouse building, there are other books out there which do a better job at this. That said, the author of "A Treehouse of Your Own" is obviously an incredibly talented guy, and it is cool just looking at the photographs of the featured treehouse as well as some of his other projects. The intricacy of design is truly incredible, and there are some cool features which might actually be practical to a backyard treehouse. Basically, I think there are very few people out there who will be building the treehouse described in this book or anything even close to it, as it would require the right tree, lots of expensive tools and materials, a huge amount of time, and a reasonably high level of expertise. But, if you want to challenge your conception of what is possible, this book will certainly do it.
Book Description
The best bonsai book on the market! A complete guide to the art of bonsai, from design and choosing the tree, to pruning, wiring and propagating. It offers precise step-by-step instructions on how to work with each of the 15 classic bonsai styles.
Customer Reviews:
AWEsome BOOK.......2006-05-27
Very good the best in all one i see best book A++++++++++
A Great Place to Start.......2006-03-21
By no means would I ever be considered an expert on the art of Bonsai, but about 5 years, I took up the hobby. As an avid reader, when my interest blossomed, I bought several books on the subject. Of those, by far, I found BONSAI by Harry Tomlinson to be the best "beginners" book, but it is also one I have turn to time and again since I first took up the hobby.
This book is in six chapters, following the logical progression; The Art of Bonsai, A-Z of Bonsai Species, Creating a Bonsai, Propagating Bonsai, Maintaining Bonsai, and a Dictionary of Trees and Shrubs for Bonsai.
The photography is exceptional an, for the beginner, will heighten your interest and give you goals to strive for as you are sure to see some examples you simply cannot live without. The writing, though rather brief, is equally compelling and easy to understand, even for the beginner. There might be better books for beginning bonsai, but I never found them.
Everything you need to know, illustrated.......2006-01-07
I had wanted to learn bonsai for years, but I kept putting it off because I couldn't find a reference that covered everything. Some books are great on types of plants but don't cover maintenance in much depth, some are great on maintenance but aren't well illustrated, and so on. Then I picked up this book, largely on the strength of the reviews I found here. I was not disappointed.
This 216 page book has an 'A-Z of Bonsai Species' that covers 75+ species with a pagefull of information and at least one (often two or three) full color photo of each. A dictionary of trees and shrubs at the back of the book covers the requirements and care of 250+ species. All of the major methods of starting bonzai are covered, as well as the major forms, and every aspect of care and maintenance, all with clearly written instructions and step-by-step photos. The book is beautifully illustrated throughout with full color photos. These are supplemented with very clear one-color pen-and-ink drawings in the section on wiring, which is quite detailed. There are lots of before, during, and after photos showing how bushy nurshery shrubs, seedlings, and cuttings can be turned into attractive bonsai. Every "but what about X" question I had was answered. It is simply the most comprehensive, best written, best illustrated, and most reassuring book on bonsai I've ever seen.
Kept my trees alive.......2002-07-11
Awesome! With this book alone, I have kept 5 trees alive for almost a year now (I lost one tree due to my sister's neglect while I was away).
Easy to read with great information.
Great photos and easy reference for most popular species. The species section is thoughtfully laid out with a block of easy to access pertinent information regarding watering, pruning, climate conditions, etc. for each tree.
This book really organizes the Art of Bonsai.......2001-11-22
This book is a good basic start for the beginner (me!) Bonsai enthusiast. It is well organized, the graphics are a super plus. It is a handy and compact reference that is easy and comprehensive.
Book Description
On a farmlike compound near New Hope, Pennsylvania, George Nakashima, his family, and fellow wood-workers create exquisite furniture from richly grained, rare timber. Tables, desks, chairs, and cabinets from this simple workshop grace the homes and mansions and executive boardrooms of people
who prize such excellence. In this lavishly illustrated volume, George Nakashima allows us in intimate look at his artistry, his philosophy, his life. It is the portrait of an artisan who strives to find the ideal use for each plank in order to "create an object of utility to man and, if nature
smiles, an object of lasting beauty."
The author's search for the meaning of life took him as a young man to Paris, Tokyo, and Pondicherry, India. In India, he found the inner peace for which he had been searching and began to find ways to work with timber. He writes movingly about the grandeur of ancient trees and stunning figured
woods and explains how he selects and prepares his materials. Above all, he impresses us with his devotion to discovering the inherent beauty of wood so that noble trees might have a second life as furniture. The Soul of a Tree looks at the world through the eyes of an artist and evokes the joy of
living in harmony with nature.
Customer Reviews:
He is a rarity.......2007-01-26
Able to tug at you in so many ways. A privilege to be able to buy his product.
great book - a woodworkers essential.......2006-09-11
Alot of philosphy, mostly biographical, has a few quotes that stick:
"Man has the audacity to try to improve the tree...."
This is a MUST read for a woodworker.
Gorgeous and inspiring book.......2005-11-27
Like the books of James Krenov, "The Soul of a Tree" is as much a book about philosophy as it is about wood. And it's a good philosophy: slow down, take your time, play with the wood, and enjoy it. The book is really about the soul of Nakashima. He outlines some of his own personal history and how he developed his ideas about craft. There's not really much on technique here - you can certainly find better books for that - but you won't find many more inspiring.
On a personal note I had a lady call me years ago to fix up `some old furniture' she and her husband had bought years ago (in the `50's I believe.) Seems when they were young college professors they found this young oriental guy down the road who made furniture in his garage. When I looked at the furniture I told her that her young oriental friend had become quite famous and showed her this book. She was flabbergasted. What she wanted me to do was to nail up some chairs that had worked loose over time. I refused, of course, and explained to her that these were valuable pieces that should be cared for properly. I also encouraged her to contact Nakashima's Conoid Studio (if it still existed) to let them catalogue the pieces. Even after years of use by a family with kids living in the sticks the pieces were obviously crafted with meticulous care and held up surprisingly well. It was a real joy to bring them back to daily use.
Pure Style........2001-08-27
The author omit needless wood and carve great pieces of furniture. It is like zen on wood. You will not regret the money you spent on this title.
This man never wasted a single second of his life.......1999-10-30
George Nakashima was not only a master craftsman in his field, he was a genius. He could pick up any piece of wood and at a glance know what the end product would be to its full potential...and more.He would let the wood tell him. Even his simplest of projects 'sing' beauty and finesse. I bought the book for insperation to my own woodworking skills, and learnt much more than i expected. Included in the book is a short biography telling us of his early life, his travelings and how he ended up the man he became, his family, lifestyle, work and good natured beliefs. It certainly gave me insperation towards beautiful woodwork and i like to think I learnt a few lessons in life as well. If i was to me this man and only shake his hand I would feel honoured.......
Books:
- Veterinary Medicine: A textbook of the diseases of cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and goats
- Water for Elephants: A Novel
- Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul
- WILD ICE
- Wilderness Medicine, 5th Edition
- Winter Chance: Walking in Wolf Tracks
- Xeriscape Gardening: Water Conservation for the American Landscape
- Your Dog's Life: Raising, Training, and Caring for Your Pet from Puppyhood to Old Age
- A Frenzy of Sharks: The Surprising Life of a Perfect Predator (Jean-Michel Cousteau Presents)
- A Physiological Approach to the Lower Animals
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
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- Twentieth Century Fox: Inside the Photo Archive
- Wild & Scenic Florida
- Wisdom of the Mystic Masters
- A Wrinkle in Time
- A Handbook of Native American Herbs
- Introduction to Quickbooks Pro 2001 Student Edition with CD's 2002
- The Quick and Easy Guide to Delegation: Key to Profitability and Growth
- In the Pink: The Making of Successful Gay and Lesbian-Owned Businesses
General
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
How to Build Treehouses, Huts and Forts
Home Tree Home: Principles of Treehouse Construction and Other Tall Tales
The Treehouse Book
Treehouses & Playhouses You Can Build
A Treehouse of Your Own: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building an Amazing Treetop Retreat
