Customer Reviews

Prescriptions for a Healthy House: A Practical Guide for Architects, Builders and Homeowners

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
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When this new edition of "Prescriptions" came out, it was the most complete of any book about Healthy Homes/Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. The combination of architect/doctor/building specialist as authors works very well.

The information is thorough and well documented. They can back up what they say. It is very well organized.

As a Home Builder, I find this to an excellent resource on MCS. On the down side, it is a little bit of a dry read.

This book covers most aspects of building a healthy house in full detail. It is not easy reading for someone who is unfamiliar with construction, and many of the suggestions may be beyond the average reader's capacity. There are sections on more basic areas like appliances, paint etc. which are easier to implement than some of the major construction suggestions that the authors go into. Overall, it is a good book and resource guide, with plenty of phone numbers and addresses. I, myself, located and bought a Neff kitchen from his resource information and recommendation.

This is a comprehensive and user-friendly guide by an experienced architect whose commitment to healthy and sustainable building is complete. There is no fluff to be found here - from foundation to finish, Paula Baker tells us how to select materials which work for both us and the environment.

If you want to stay healthy or have any health challenges, you should read this book. I recommend the book to most all of my patients. It is complete on what are the best products to use in your home to keep from making you ill.If you are building, or remodeling, this book will assist you in making healthier choices. The 3 writers should be congratulated for their extensive resource lists and efforts they put into the life saving information in their book.

Ones' home is one of the most important factors in ones health, I believe. Todays houses are filled with toxic chemicles that slowly (sometimes quickly) erode the health of the occupants. Paula Baker-Laporte knows from first hand experience how a home affects its occupants - she herself has suffered from chemical poisioning in houses.

As an an architect, she is sharing her years of research and personal experience with the public so that they can also live in a healthy home. The information contained in this book is useful to homeowners, builders, prospective home builders, and even apartment dwellers. some of the concepts are as simple as buying non toxic cleaning materials.

This is a book that everyone in the civilized world should read. It is well written and filled with great information.

The book's major strength is that it gives specific wording to put into your contract that will try to ensure a healthy house. But some contractors will take one look at these specs and laugh "yeah, right!" Overall, I recommend John Bower's book "The Healthy House" over this one because it covers more topics and gives much more information.

The introduction is a great primer on household toxins that affect us all, and includes references. Everyone should read it!

Most of the book is geared to what to insist on when building a home, but it gives important insights if you're buying a home or wanting to make yours more healthy. Very good section on wiring errors (and how to explain to the electrician what you want), although some of the explanations of how electro-magnetic fields should be understood are slightly inaccurate. Unfortunately, not much about how to mitigate microwave signals, which is perhaps the biggest problem a lot of people will face. Still I wish I'd read this book years ago!

If you want to stay healthy or have any health challenges, you should read this book. I recommend the book to most all of my patients. It is complete on what are the best products to use in your home to keep from making you ill.If you are building, or remodeling, this book will assist you in making healthier choices. The 3 writers should be congratulated for their extensive resource lists and efforts they put into the life saving information in their book.

This is the perhaps the best book available for architects and builders wanting to create healthier homes. The book that not only explains what the potential hazards in a home are but provides lots of product information, i.e., where to order alternative building materials, less toxic-paint, safe insulation, etc.

A must have for any architect or builder or home owner thinking of building their own home.


Dan Stih is the author of Healthy Living Spaces: Top 10 Hazards Affecting Your Health