[.ca] Working Alone: Tips & Techniques for Solo Building (ISBN 1561582867)

This is a must for the home do it yourselfer!:
Anyone who has tried to stretch a tapemeasure over 8 feet in the wind or on a ladder can appreciate this book. These tips are all helpful. You may not use them all right away, but when it's time, you'll be glad you had this book. I wish I had it before I built my two story shop. I recently purchased it before working on my deck and it's great.

A Thing Well Done:
This book is marvelously well illustrated and the text is very lucid and conversational. I think there is not a wasted sentence in the entire book. Clear explanations throughout. Interestingly, the last 8 pages deal with the limitations, when the author recommends NOT working alone, and he explains his reasons completely and convincingly. Throughout the book, he explains not only how but why, in terms of relating his experience.

Speaking as a novice...:
this book was extremely helpful to me in building a detached room for my son. The book was recommended from a website about building small houses, so I reserved it through our library. Having read the book, I found the tips and explanations for framing rafters provided clarification for the sketchy instructions from the 5 other books we have about building outbuildings. Perhaps using clamps and homemade jigs to support work is a given for a professional, but it was an eye-opener for me! I did extensive renovation on my historical house, but had help from friends to do it. Building this room from the ground up mostly alone is a different matter. I wish we had this book when we were trying to square the foundation. I am now ordering the book for myself, as the library wants their own book back!!

The pros are right.:
While I don't do so at the moment, I have made a living as a contractor. This book may be great for a novice but if you're a pro and don't know most of this stuff already maybe you should find someone to apprentice to... I did learn one or two things, but this book is no where near the tome of magic answers some of the reviews imply it is.

If your a builder, pass on this. It was no wealth of info.:
First off I just want to say I build houses for a living. I bought this book thinking it might give me some ideas on how to make my job more effecient. Waste of money! Not even good enough for me to give as a gift. I have better methods already in use. Im sure it would help a novice, but they would learn more in less time by just working for one week on a modern framing crew. Most of his tips are common sense, and John readilly admits that he plans his work around using helpers. I can build a house by myself too, if you dont count the times I need more than one person such as rolling large trusses.