The Small House Book [Color] [Paperback]

Jay Shafer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2009

In 2008, a used house in the U.S. averaged $244,000. That is far more than the average American can afford. Jay Shafer shatters the myth that affordable housing needs to be cheap. In his book, Jay reveals the ugly truth about residential planning and the needless overbuilding that is, in part, to blame for today's mortgage crisis. Did you know that you can't build a house as tiny as the one Jay lives in? That is, unless you know the loopholes! He's done the research, and shares it with you. You'll learn why it is necessary to build on wheels, and see the process of attaching a house to a trailer with step-by-step instructions and pictures. Jay Shafer, the author, personally built a dozen tiny houses and lived in 3 different ones. He is recognized as a leader in the Small House Movement.

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Tumbleweed Tiny House; 2nd edition (2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1607435640
• ISBN-13: 978-1607435648
• ASIN: B0026HUQYU
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,128 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

170 of 172 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not what you think it is. August 1, 2010

By Allstar

Format:Paperback

For those who have seen Jay's houses on Yahoo! or otherwise and want more information, you might consider this book. I said "might." Jay goes through his history of living in small homes, and then goes on a bender about why small homes are preferable to large ones, why people who design large homes and large neighborhoods are poo-poo heads, calls a few architects pretentious and arrogant, then goes on to talk mostly about how to go about designing these homes in architectural terms. He writes about symmetry of design, and so on, covering more ground in cosmetic design than practical usage of space or structural considerations.

There is useful information, such as how to legally build and live in one of these homes in your area, though the topic isn't exhausted by any means. He also discusses the general building process, but if anything his youtube videos or his website are more detailed.

It's just...Mr. Shafer is preaching to the choir. By the time you've bought a $36 book, you've got your own ideas about why you should build a tiny house. What you want to know is the nuts and bolts. What kind of solar and batteries to buy and how to manage them; how to plumb the house; how to downsize your lifestyle (what to get rid of, what to keep and what to get); things of that nature that just aren't present in a real way. Jay is writing for the home designer, not the homeowner. So if you buy his plans, he's writing a book that's mostly intended for himself.

I guess he wants you to attend his lectures. ;)

Edit: A few folks have asked in the comments for an alternative that does cover the how-to information. I would recommend "Off The Grid: Simple Solar Homesteading" by LaMar Alexander. Check out his youtube channel "solarcabin". He provides a lot of information about his off-grid cabin. While not on wheels like a Shafer Tumbleweed, many concepts still apply.

61 of 64 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars a small book for small houses December 2, 2010

By Lucky Maria

Format:Paperback

I was so dissapointed when I got this book after reading the description given on the website. For $36 and a claim that this included, 'plans and how to' I expected so much more.

Is it filled with beautiful color pictures of adorable little houses? Yes. Is it a coffee table book? Not unless your coffee table is tiny. I was shocked by the books size. It measures 7" x 7" meaning the floor plans, which are on half a page are less than 3" square. Forget real detail.

My complaint isn't that the book isn't pretty or interesting but it is being 'sold' as a how-to and it simply isn't. Save your money.

56 of 59 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A book whose time has come July 30, 2009

By J. Hopkins

Format:Paperback

The Small House Book is not a plans book. It is an inspirational book. And it is a guide book to the exploration of micro housing. There are many possible ways to go and these are explored with in the books pages.

First is minimizing impact and maximizing affordability: this is in the sense that a house needs to be affordable and allow a lifestyle that does not kill you just trying to make the payments for the reward of conspicuous consumption. The houses are simple and efficient shelters that in their own right are works of art. In conjunction with this is the minimization of the use of utilities and unneeded environmental impact. Because of the scale of the houses solar and wind are much more effective for sourcing electrical and for passive solar. These facts apply to both the mobile and fixed structures.

Unique to the mobile houses is the addition of freedom. Many of us are being forced into job paths that result in a transient life style. This type of housing allows for the flexibility to move from place to place as required and still have a sense of a personal space. As Jack Sparrow said "She not just a ship love, she's freedom". Well the same truth lies here. Freedom to move, freedom from debt, freedom to live.

The book is very colorful and well illustrated. It can be used as a guide book to get you thinking and as inspiration to do it.