Customer Reviews

A Little House of My Own: 47 Grand Designs for 47 Tiny Houses

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I came across this book after reading Michael Pollan's excellent _A Place of My Own: The Education of an Amateur Builder_, in which it is mentioned that the Lester Walker book _Tiny Tiny Houses_ had helped inspire Pollan to build his own little writing cabin. This book, _A Little House of My Own_, is effectively an update and expansion of _Tiny Tiny Houses_. (At the time of this writing, Amazon has paired the two Lester Walker books for its "buy this book with ..." feature; don't be fooled into buying both books!)

I quite enjoyed _A Little House of My Own_, and am a bit surprised at the number of reviewers here who were disappointed by it. My best guess is that they were expecting something other than what they got, and they didn't see beyond that to what the book does have to offer: it is a fascinating study of simplicity in architectural design, and presents a refreshing counterpoint to the current trend of constructing soulless McMansions. The book's history of very small houses and workspaces, illustrated by forty-seven different examples, is a welcome reminder that people can live well in much less space than so many of us are now accustomed to.

While this book contains drawings and floorplans to accompany its photographs, the material given is not enough on its own to use as a guide for construction. Walker states in his introduction that the beginning builder who wants to try putting up a small cabin like one of the ones presented should "read one or two of the basic housebuilding books listed in the Bibliography and then become very friendly with a local housebuilder." The intention is not to provide templates for construction, but to help get people thinking about the space they occupy, how to use it best, and ideally to inspire them to design and build a place to call their own.

As a city dweller renting my apartment, I'm not going to be doing any construction work anytime soon. But I would like to, one day, and if I do, I will definitely want to have this book on hand as a reference. The combination of history and technical information presented here is unusual and eye-opening.

This is a wonderful book - all the detail anyone could want about a very simple house-let, good for a garden or an ice floe or a forest or just a delightful daydream. (Be aware that this author has several books out, but they all contain the same houses and pictures and comments; order one and you've ordered them all.)

What was the average home like in Plymouth Colony? What is meant by "living in a bandbox" (Philadelphia town houses in the Federal period)? Do you want to look inside several "gingerbread" cottages at those Methodist Church summer colonies? Can "America's first architect", Thomas Jefferson, bring the same style and elegance to a very small structure that he brought to Monticello? Where can you turn to for a modern timberframe cabin (or two) that combines style with a pre-cut kit? In "A Little House of My Own", Lester Walker gives the answers--in prose descriptions that hit the high points by explaining useful features; in lovely color pictures of exteriors and interiors; in three-dimensional scale drawings that show rooms as they were furnished for use.

The author's selections of experimental small houses take us "inside" the architect's profession to show readers how one uses cutting edge materials or meets special housing needs. Unfortunately, these projects usually only exist as cut-out models and they are not as compelling as the built forms that have stood the test of time in so many of our communities. My conclusion: this is a book I have read and reread with great interest...and I bet you will, too.

I have been looking for ideas for a cabin I plan to build and live in full time. This book did not offer much along those lines. The variety of "houses" was surprisingly vast, but as far as structures one could actually live in it was slim pickin's. From an ice fishing shanty to a canvas house this was an interesting read, but didn't offer the sort of home where one would place the computer desk and hang a picture. As a collection it is interesting and sometimes fun. But I don't regard this book as much help for someone wanting to actually wind up with a place to call home.

Unless Amazon made an error these books are exactly the same. I bought Tiny Tiny Houses a year ago and just discovered that the contents of A little house of my own is the same.

The houses contained in this book are small little testaments to human's need to have their own space. Although I don't own my own house, I hope that when I do, I can create my own little hideaway in the backyard. A writer's den, potting shed, a quiet place to think. The houses in this book show that square footage doesn't equal endearment.

Each house is coupled with a short description, diagrams of how it is built and its completed layout.

The quality of the book's construction, layout, pictures, and organization is veyr nice. This definetly makes a nice book for reading in a doctor's office.

The author clearly states that the book provides little in the way of specific construction methods for small homes or floor plans. The floor plans could have been at least double the size that they are. There is too much white space on the pages with the floor plans. I almost needed a magnifying glass to read the notes on the floor plans.

There are lots of pictures from the outside of the homes - perhaps drive-by pictures. There are very little pictures on the inside of the homes. The efficient use of less space could have been better addressed with pictures and sketches.

The bottom line: If you want a nice looking book with an interesting topic, buy it. If you want substance, look somewhere else.

Though I do not recommend the authors book :"The Tiny House Book", this book is great! Great photographs and drawn pictures that detail the building being written about. More of an idea book for the home handy person than a detailed instruction book, it contains enough information to easily build a number of the buildings illustrated. This book focuses on very small buildings most under 600 sq ft but the ideas presented could be used to build any sized home or out building.

A fun and functional presentation of very small dwellings - all unique. Some practical living spaces for thrifty, eco-conscious builders, some just plain genious spacial designs. All are meticulously illustrated - a great idea book!

This is an attractive book with lots of pictures. However, I was disappointed with the shallow treatment given to most of the houses. The author does explain that he is not presenting plans or architectural guidelines for the houses. But what is presented is a strange mix of information about each building. Some historical, some fanciful. Only the section about "Camp Houses" is dealt with in depth. It's an unbalanced book.