Customer Reviews

A House of Straw: An Odyssey Into Natural Building

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
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I recommend this book to everyone, but especially to anyone who has a dream that they are not sure they can accomplish, but are dying to try. Carolyn Roberts is an outstanding example to those of us who are willing to work hard and to stand up for what we believe in.

Life is full of choices and we all know that the choices we make shape our lives for better or worse, but to challenge yourself and have the courage to deliberately make difficult choices based on what one truly feels is right is a rare thing. Most of us feel that we are so busy that we don't have the time or energy to develop our own personal code of ethics. We forget about our standards and how our actions drastically affect the people and environment around us. This book beckons us to stop and think that maybe there is something we can all do by actively making choices about the way we live our lives and especially how we manage natural resources. Most of all, this book encourages us to do just that: stop and think.

This book is not just a workshop on natural building, but a testimonial to why this world is worth saving. It's a look at the world through the eyes of someone who has wandered the forests of New England in her youth, raised children on the shimmering beaches in the lush tropical island of Kauai, Hawaii, and decided to make her home a sanctuary in the unforgiving Sonoran Desert's harsh and dramatic splendor. The appreciation of the glory of this planet and what it provides for us not only to live, but to enjoy life, is as refreshing as a cool breeze on the hottest summer day.

This book is not as much about how to build a house as it is about how to build a life, and about making decisions based on a responsibility to humanity and respect for nature. In doing so, we strive for excellence and accept nothing less than everything we can give, and the results are truly marvelous. This book is an exercise in how to triumph by simply standing behind your beliefs and having the courage to pursue your dreams.

I am utterly inspired by this charming woman who has truly put into practice the theory that life isn't about what you have, but how you live. Read this book whether you are planning on building a house or not.

This is a great book of building dreams and manifesting your own destiny. As I read I was brought out into the hot sun, crying, sweating and blistering along with the builder. It has never ceased to amaze me what human beings can bring about if they really put their mind to it. Carolyn Roberts is truly a warrior of life and creates a reality we can all live with. Keeping life simple allows one to focus on realizing one's dreams. And Carolyn's dream is one of giving. Giving back to Mother Earth and giving us a good example of how simple, healthy, loving life can be.

If you are interested in building a house, especially one of straw, this is a must read. It prepares you for the pitfalls and the joys of accomplishing challenges you never thought you could.

Chicken soup, that is, with a lot of nuts and bolts thrown in for extra fiber!! All though this is, more of a what happens to you in the process book, than it's a "how to do it" book? It should be the second book following "Build it with Bales II," that you should read. Even if written from the female perspective? It will give anyone invaluable insight regardless of your gender, to build your dream home (right). Without needlessly killing yourself or your spouse (or kids) in the process. Her centering herself in spirit and connection to the earth pulls her through, as it will you. After buying and reading this book, you can move on to the other coffee table books on the topic.

I'll admit bias, I was there in the early stages to help Carolyn get her dream up, and out of the desert dirt. I am "Spuds" (Chapter 9). Until I read further into the process, I couldn't believe she would have had more difficult times? After working hand and glove, sweat and toil with this absolute dynamo of a woman? I can tell you she writes it as it happened and her writting, reads just like she speaks.. honest, straight forward, focused, sincere and connected to her purpose. By keeping focused on the goal, she surmounts obsticles that most of us would cave into. But not her. Due to her indominatable connection to spirit, she, rejects "no" for an answer. It didn't take me long to learn that aspect of her persona first hand.

In the previous reviews, short shrift was given to the envolvement of community and personal commitment in the process.
Carolyn, would be the first to step forward with a long list of names. The point being, Staw Bale, by it's nature is a event that "makes" community happen, and long lasting friends.

Of all the books written of the topic, this one alone stands as the testimate from the beginning of the dream to the; blood, sweat, tears, fears, and toil it takes... It's just not that easy. If you think it is? Read this. And, if you take her path, you'll eventually feel the same gratification, and relief that is "almost" done....

I'll sum up her book in one word.. backbone! She's got it. If she can get it done, so can you. If you doubt it? Start reading.

"A House Of Straw" is an unique addition to the bale-building literary circle. This is not a boring academic reference book, but instead it's a moving human interest story that provides the potential home builder (bales or otherwise) with a valuable reality check. The unending struggles this woman went through in the process of building her own home are almost unbelievable. Stacking up straw bales was the easy part! What amazed me was the agony one has to go through with county building codes and inspections. Yet after all the rejections and reinspections, the author is open minded enough see why things are the way they are. This well-paced story remains interesting throughout, with many surprises encountered along the way. I recommend this book to both potential do-it-yourselfers, and anyone who enjoys an inspiring story of a woman who did something out of the ordinary and beat the odds.

This was my second copy of this wonderful book, and arrived in such great shape that it made for a perfect donation to our small town library. It was the first tome covering straw bale building on Blanche K. Werner's shelves and has been constantly checked out. I am currently ordering another volume

Not a story about exactly how to build your own straw bale house ... rather an easy read about one woman's choice faced with adveristy in her life and wishing to provide an economical, quality solution to a home for herself and her two sons. There is lots of good information about the stumbling blocks one must face, especially at a time when this architecture was relatively new to the Tucson area. Mostly I found in this book what I was looking for personally ... a story of inspiration and success. As it happens I have had the opportunity to see the final product and it is truly a beautiful home in an area close to the city of Tucson but remote enough, and on enough land to allow further exploration of alternative energy and a self sufficient lifestyle. Carolyn has done a magnificent job of making her home happen and of writing the story about it.

An inspiring book for anyone thinking of building their own house, straw bale or otherwise.

This is an inspiring book.

Carolyn Roberts takes us on a journey of discovery, & not just about the pleasures & pitfalls of building your own straw bale home.

She is very honest about how the whole process changed her life immeasurably - for the better. As she battles the various authorities for permits, tries to find money for materials, & makes many friends, you learn all the important things about building your own house.

It's not a "how to" book with step to step instructions, but Roberts shares all the details of what's involved at all stages of construction. This would be extremely helpful to anyone considering owner building.

Carolyn Roberts is a wonderful writer, who is very open about all the ups & downs of her life. Her story is a real lesson in having faith - in your own ability & in the understanding that while we may not get exactly what we first wanted, we will get what we need.

A marvellous read, even if you're not building a straw bale house. And absolutely essential if you are.

This truly is a great read whether you're building a house of straw, wood, recycled soda bottles, old tires or anything else. Although I wouldn't consider this a how-to-manual, it really does provide the reader with a great deal of information you wouldn't usually get your hands on unless you paid a building contractor or consultant. This is a fantastic story of a very brave woman who bucks the system and builds a house on her terms, her way, and largely by herself. You experience the highs and lows, mania, confusion and every other human emotion as she devotes her very being to the birth of her house. Overall, I found this to be an amazing story, written by someone with an inner strength and conviction few of us seem to possess in this day in age. Very inspiring and a must read to anyone crazy enough to embark on a similar journey.

An excellent book! A House of Straw is an honest, well-written, highly-detailed account of building a straw-bale house DIY style. If you've ever considered DIY, then this book is a must-read. While it's not a "how-to" book in the general sense, A House of Straw is just as valuable and informative because it chronicles the various phases of DIY construction.... things you won't see on a half-hour HGTV program.

I am very happy with this book having purchased about 10 straw bale related books/dvd's in the past 2 years. I've been out of the DIY field for about 20 years (having helped my parents build 3 conventional vacation homes that were later sold). This book brought back a lot of memories and reminded me just how exhausting, cost-saving, and worthwhile DIY construction can be.

Again -- an excellent book! If you're considering building your own house (even a conventional, non-straw bale house), you'll benefit from reading A House of Straw.