Houses are Designed by Geniuses & Built by Gorillas: An Insider's Guide to Designing and Building a Home [Paperback]

Bob Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1998

This book is a must for anyone planning to have a home built or contracting it themselves. Full of helpful hints,flow charts, and step-by-step planning advice, it shows a perspective seldom seen in home building. Written in a light-hearted manner with wit and wisdom, it is high-lighted by dozens of "war stories" of building problems and how they were solved. This book will keep you out of trouble while providing a fuller understanding of the building process and the home building industry.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Written by Bob Johnson, a licensed general contractor in North Carolina who has built hundreds of homes and held key management positions in a number of the country's largest building companies. These companies include Ryan Homes, Inc., one of the nation's top 10 production builders, Timberpeg, Inc., one of the oldest and largest timberframe companies, North American Housing Corporation, a leading modular home manufacturer and Hearthstone, Inc. a leading log home company. Bob has also been a land developer and is currently the general manager of Anthony Log Homes, the nation's largest laminated log home company. Bob has presented seminars and taught college courses on home building throughout the country and at three different colleges. He is a 1974 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and has an M.B.A. from Campbell University. He lives in Hendersonville, North Carolina with his wife Pamela and three sons.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886110484
• ISBN-13: 978-1886110489
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,421,976 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, Bad Title, November 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Houses are Designed by Geniuses & Built by Gorillas: An Insider's Guide to Designing and Building a Home (Paperback)

I've built one house, remodeled another, and now starting to build on my first rural location. I've done a lot of research over the years and spent a lot of money learning lessons the hard way. THIS IS THE BEST BOOK IN ITS CATEGORY. Great attitude and writing style, complete ideas that are clearly communicated, and "Case Studies" peppered throughout that reinforce the points Bob is making.

"Reviewers" who don't get past the title haven't read the book.

55 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gem of a book, December 4, 1999

By 

George Ehrenhaft, author of The Builder's Secret (Katonah, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Houses are Designed by Geniuses & Built by Gorillas: An Insider's Guide to Designing and Building a Home (Paperback)

Houses are Designed by Geniuses and Built by Gorillas by Bob Johnson

The book's subtitle --"An Insider's Guide to Designing and Building a House -- while not as glitzy as the main title, accurately describes the book's contents. This book is crammed with straight talk about building a house. Bob Johnson sounds like one who's been there and done that, and he gives it to you straight, in an in-your-face, no-holds-barred style -- as though he's sitting with you over coffee at the local diner. He holds nothing back, telling you everything you need to know, and more. More than half the book is devoted to matters that need attention before the first nail is driven -- everything from siting a house on a piece of land to getting building permits. Bob is also a raconteur. He illustrates many of his points with so-called "war stories" that recount his own experiences on the job. Even within chapters, he doesn't mind digressing a bit. So, he spices up what could be textbook-dull narrative with his opinions. He tells you flat-out what is stupid and what isn't, what works and what doesn't. As a result, this is one of the most readable and entertaining building books I've come across.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Succinct well written and informative book, February 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Houses are Designed by Geniuses & Built by Gorillas: An Insider's Guide to Designing and Building a Home (Paperback)

The reader who gave this a one star did not read the book. It acknowledges the fine qualities of the builders and the architects - in the forward as well as throughout the book. Maybe he should read books before he reviews them.