I’d love to hear what books people are reading ,(construction related). I’m always up for expanding my mind. I read someone had mentioned a book called “Home” I think, and another about the history of screws. I tend to read my FHB mag from front to back the first evening I get it and I’m left to wait for the next.
Anyway. Whats your favorite book?
Replies
I really like to read Roof Cutters Secrets, and Roof Framers Bible. Both are very good books.
I use trusses and a few rafters on my house frames so they are both good books on rafters, and some other off the wall framing stuff.
what about fergusons drywall book? <G>
Tim
With all due respect, ummm, wouldn't expanding your mind mean reading OUTSIDE our field? Otherwise, it's just "reinforcing" your mind. Read something totally out of left field,and try to integrate it with your worldview.
My winter book goals are Paradise Lost, with a big concordance, or The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
I'll let you know if I get through either!
If you really want to read about home, or living in a house, read "A Pattern Language" - look at it on Amazon - COOL concept! Basically, a bunch or architects looked at houses around the world that had evolved to fit their users, and picked out similar "patterns" of living and how the house served that. Unbelieveably cool!
Forrest
Alright, I'd like to implode my mind with yet more technical stuff.
As far as expanding goes... last book I read was Ayn Rands The Virtue of Selfishness. Looking at 'the moral principles of objectivism, the philosophy that holds mans life, the life proper to a rational being, as the standard of moral values". That stuff that floats around in my head as I work all day alone without another rational being to talk to.
I saw that Pattern book at Chapters, really wanted it.... but 100$ could go towards another tool I don't really need.
Edited 8/18/2006 8:05 pm ET by drywallpaul
"as I work all day alone without another rational being to talk to."
That's got to be fun...I wouldn't know what to do if someone wasn't cussing me or trying to out think me. Working alone is called meditation right?
It's only as of late that I work alone. I'm finding it's getting easier but at first I felt I would go nuts. Too much thinking. I notice that I've gotten crabby now I work alone, I'll have to work that out.
I sometimes get too "into my head" and picking at myself when I work alone. I've found that Books on Tape from the library (on earphones) are just the ticket when I'm doing work that doesn't require figuring.
I try to pick lightweight mysteries & who-dunnits (Lawrence Block, M C Beaton, Sue Grafton, John D. MacDonald, Neville Shute); and books where the plot is not as important as the descriptions and the rhythm of the writing - plus, listening to an English accent for two hours just makes you feel smarter!
This way, I don't wind up crabby at the end of the day.
Forrest
Pattern Language can be requested at your local free public library - that's where I read it. You DO have a library card, of course! 8>)
why yes of course...................
...............somewhere.
Well, good. If it's lost, your friendly library staff member, who makes much less per hour than you do, will fix you up with a new one for about a dollar.Then you can put in a request for A Pattern Language, & loads of other good books, music cd's (depending on your taste) DVD's...All kinds of good stuff!You are probably detecting a partisan note here; working at the Public Library of New London is my retirement job.Enjoy!
My mother was a head librarian at a small town library, and she is also where I got my love of reading.
Thanks
Paul
Here are some that I remember right now.
1, The woodhandbook, wood as an engineering material. download it free from the FPL website.
2. Precision Framing Mike Gueirtin.
3. Some of the Creative Homeowner books are really good with a lot o fpictures. Check them out for sure.
4. FWW has a set of woodworking books and FHB has a set of home building books.
That Precision Framing book looks cool, I may order it.
I read it. Very good book. Good to have for reference.
2003 IRC code book is aways a good read, about $42.00 Much less then the old 97 UBC books.
Both of John Carroll's books are awesome. Working Alone and the one about measuring, marking and layout. I, too, work alone but I bring my Dog along is it suits. She's pretty good company. But that's another thread. Later...
http://www.bookcloseouts.com/default.asp?N=0&Nty=1&D=taunton&Ntk=Default&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&Dx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&Ntt=taunton
Just bought 26 books for less than $200. Starting my winter reading early...
that place is dangerous, I've got a ton of books in the cart and I'm still looking.
Thanks
For periodicals, in addition to Fine Homebuilding and Fine Woodworking, I also enjoy Journal of Light Construction and American Heritage of Invention & Technology.
Enjoyable books that come to mind are
For those who like to think about design, Read Susanka's book "Homes by Design. Read it with an open mind not necessairly for her style of architecure. Her points are well made; we see an awful lot of constructon that could benefit from forthought to sight lines & spaces.
Jim, have you read A Pattern Language? I haven't read "Homes by Design" but I have several of her other books and there is a lot in common there. When I first read "The Not So Big House" it seemed like a well-illustrated version of A Pattern Language.
Mike Maines
The David Macaulay books:
And then, when it is time to do some serious demolition,
Finally, for you guys and gals that know everything, his wonderful