Book Description

* A hands-on, well-illustrated reference that helps architects and contractors avoid making common errors in traditional construction details

* Graphical approach allows users to quickly visualize design solutions

* Lists the rules-of-thumb for each detail, and correct and incorrect examples of how to design or construct each detail ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Traditional Construction Patterns:Design and Detail Rules-of-Thumb
For those who want to put the home back into the house this book explains how traditional detailing works and why it makes us feel so comfortable.It's a technical manual and a spriitual inspiration.

A Good Conceptual Guide to Architecture Design
Mr. Mouzon has written a very informative book about both the terminology of architecture elements, and the reasons behind traditional construction design that just "looks right".

As someone who grew up in the building trade, most of my architecture terminology was limited, just as architecture elements implemented in most recent homes have been likewise limited. For example, the full range of classical entablature elements are seldom used today, and therefore the terminology describing those elements are not common in construction use. This book has an excellent chapter on architecture lexicon complete with a depiction of each element for ease of reference. This lexicon is very useful when describing homes built at the first of last century or earlier, and will hopefully come into use again as McMansions start rediscovering the beauty (and distinctiveness) of properly implemented classical design elements.

Concerning the appearance of correct design, this book does a great job of explaining why certain building elements are perceived as being "right" while other elements are perceived as being "not right". Originally I purchased this book so to provide guidance in the renovation of an 1884 Victorian home I purchased - I want to add on to the house but in a way that blends seamlessly into the existing structure - but found it more useful in explaining my negative visceral reaction to certain home designs I've witnessed over time, including most of the McMansions being erected in my current tear-down neighborhood of Dallas. Many of the "not right" elements I have seen are thoroughly detailed in this book - too many gables, too many different materials used on the facade, a hodge-podge of window shape and sizes, improperly scaled columns and porches, etc. I've jokingly told my wife that if another house close to mine is purchased to be torn down, I'm going to personally deliver this book to the builder with the instructions to read it before any construction plans are finalized!

This book would best benefit someone in the building trade that doesn't have a strong architecture background, someone who wants to build their own mid-to high-end home, or someone who builds spec homes of that range, all without the input of a competent architect. For the person who is building a lower-ended home many of these rules of thumbs just aren't financially attainable, though an awareness of the other applicable rules of thumbs will keep a muddled design at bay.

I will continue to use this book both as a lexicon dictionary and design reference when, in the near future, I return to the building industry.

fabulous book!
I only wish I had known about this book six months earlier!We're attempting to build a period-inspired colonial house. I was so dissatisfied with the house plans I saw that I decided to just design the house myself using library books and determination.I wanted to build something beautiful and the "anti-McMansion". If only I had had this book earlier we would've done so many things differently:my second floor windows would've been shorter to accommodate all the stuff that's supposed to be under the eaves but now won't fit.I would've put the little stoop in a different spot.My dormers would have different proportions.The only problem with reading this book is that now when I look at our house I see all the things I did wrong.

Invaluable Resource
I am not an architect, but I am a city planner and frequently work with architects and draft zoning codes which govern architecture.To me, this book is worth the money simply for the "lexicon" at the beginning which describes and illustrates the key elements of traditional building construction.No other book I have used provides these descriptions in such a readily understandable way.

Most of the book consists of a listing of "do's" and "don'ts," illustrated with photos and small drawings, that explain how each of the details should be used and work together to form a composition.I agree with one of the earlier reviewers that some of the photos are hard to read, but for the most part, it works.You may or may not share the author's strong opinions--a lot of people seem to prefer McMansions to the simpler forms of traditional architecture--but regardless of your aesthetic judgements, this book will teach you like no other how the design details come together to determine the overall look and feel of the building.

Excellent Resource
I am using this book to assist in the detailing of my house, which we are renovating right now.I lent it to my architect and he says it is a great resource and time saver.He will be buying himself a copy.This book provides many examples of what to do and what not to do and will allow you to focus in on those details that make homes look "just not right" and correct them before costly mistakes are made. ... Read more

Book Description

This book traces the cause of many chronic health problems to our modern diet and shows how a return to traditional foods can improve one's well-being.

Modern medicine now recognizes that the present-day Western diet is responsible for many of today's chronic illnesses. Nutritionists and anthropologists have noted the decline in health that accompanies indigenous peoples' transition from traditional to modern diets. In Traditional Foods Are Your Best Medicine, Ron Schmid explains how a return to a traditional diet can help you reduce your risk of heart attack by 50 percent; fight allergies, chronic fatigue, arthritis, skin problems, and headaches; recover from colds and flu in a day or two; and increase your life-expectancy. Chapters focusing on the major food groups, common diets, and health goals enable you to tailor a diet to your special needs.

New edition, previously titled Native Nutrition.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great Compliment to Nourishing Traditions!!
Awesome book on the principles of traditional healing foods. This is a great addition for anyone who wants to learn true nutrition and about the great discoveries by Weston. A Price. I highly recommend it!

good introduction to Traditional nutrition
Schmid's book was the first one I read on the work of Weston A. Price and Francis Pottenger. It is a very good overview of the subject of Tradtional diets. If you are wondering what "Traditional diets" are, they are simply the way people ate before big business took over food production, and made shelf life and profit margin more important than the nutritional quality of food.

Price was a dentist who embarked on a decade long research project in the late 1930s to find the healthiest people on Earth and study what they ate and how they ate it. His studies ranged all over the world, covering all different races. Schmid has done a good job of giving an overview of Price's findings.

The only issues I have with this book are that Schmid falls for the cholesterol scam in discussing heart disease, and that he also falls for the idea that the term "life expectancy" as used in statistics means the average age of death. (page 66) It doesn't. Life Expectancy as an arithmetic average would be reasonably close to the median age of death in a perfect Bell curve population sample, but such perfect samples only exist on paper, not in reality. The median age of death, that is the age by which half of the population died, was 57 in 1900. This means that half the population lived to be 57 or older. Kind of different than saying the average age of death was 45-50. In 2000, the median age of death was only 78, so there hasn't been as much gain as we are led to believe. Neither figure addresses the health or quality of life of people at those ages, either. A minor point in the grand scheme of this book. His discussion of life expectancy differences for those 40 and over on the rest of the page is still very much true and sets the record straight on the PR hype we are given about our current state of health.

For more in-depth information on fats and cholesterol, I recommend Mary Enig's book, Know Your Fats.

This is a great book, and will open your eyes to a better way to eat and improve your health. I heartily recommend it.

Changing a (new) life
I first read this book in 1987, when it was initially published. I'd picked it up in a bookstore on Fifth Avenue (that's how well I remember the occasion, 16 years later), started to read, and couldn't put it down. So I bought what for me then was an expensive book and finished it that night.

It was difficult to know who to admire more after after I'd completed it, Ron Schmid, who so lucidly and modestly outlined the accomplishments of Weston Price (really,the centerpiece of the book), or Price himself, an extraordinary man whose self-supported, worldwide investigations of the food traditions of native cultures were nothing less than revolutionary in what they implied for how most of us eat--and live--today. In any case, I felt oddly moved by this book--a strange thing to say considering its subject--as if some real portion of an invaluable truth had been exposed to me.

Three years later, I used this book to develop an eating plan for my pregnant wife, including cod liver oil every day and a lot of fish and raw milk cheeses (the closest we could come, even in Manhattan, to any raw milk products). With all of that, our son decided to wait two weeks beyond his due date to make his appearance--21 1/2'' long and weighing over nine pounds--with the obstetrician remarking that my wife's placenta was twice the normal weight,in fact wasthe largest she'd seen in all her years of delivering children.I don't know whether either fact can be attributed to the diet my wife had followed,but the important thing is that our son turned out to be very bright, healthy, and the owner of a sweet temperament(our first clue of that being that he was effectively sleeping through the night when he was two weeks old)--qualities that this book suggest are not at all unusual when pregnant women follow traditional diets.

So, for me this book has some sort of talismanic power, the kind I associate with other profound life-transforming (or -generating) reading experiences. In that sense, I'm not particularly interested in challenging ANY part of it, as some others here have done,because I feel its general, encompassing theme is so strong and effectively expressed by the writer, and because, as far as I know, Schmidwas a trailblazer in introducing (and explicatingso clearly) Weston Price's work to the general reading public. I will add, though, that anyone interested in this book, should and even must buy a copy of Sally Fallon and Mary Enig's Nourishing Traditions, whichextends Schmid's (and Price's) generalities into the American kitchen. It's as much a treasure as Schmid's book, as the two together, like Jack Sprat and his wife, cover everything (including how to think about fat), from principles to practicalities, that you might need to build new lives out of ancient practices.

Encyclopedia Type Version of Traditional Foods
This book can be a companion book to other books recommended by the Weston Price Organization. It is more or less an "encyclopaedic" type style to traditonal foods information using the Weston Price book as a guideline, but going into a more of an updated, and practical style.

There is a lot information that I found useful, such as the grading of salmon (which I never knew about), or getting calcium from eggshells to name just a few. However, he does not tell you how much calcium you are getting by eating eggshells.Also, I could never grind it to a powder in a blender as he said.I had better results with just a mortar and pestle.

On saturated fats, try as I might, I cannot find anything he has to say against the use of saturated fats as criticized by Fallon or Brynes. (Perhaps they have become somewhat fanatical about Price's diet). He is, however, against the modern way of raising animals which he believes is not the same as our ancestors. He points out that a lot of animal's mouths are being used as convenient garbage dumps, and proceeds to name all the types of garbage being eaten, that's right, garbage!This may alter the fat content, metabolism, ratios, etc., to a state that may not be healthy for you or the animals fed on such a diet.I agree on this point wholeheartedly!But, in no way do I see him telling us in the meantime to eat vegetables only and avoid all animal products!Properly raised animals that is.

There is also an explanation of the death rate of earliers years of how long Americans live are skewed. I never quite understood this, as I read about it in other books but there is no explanation how they concluded this, but he gives it here and it's so simple to understand! This should tip you off that this book is fairly lucid and logically written and I highly recommend it for a better overall view and guide to the Weston Price diet.

A Mixed Bag
This book is well-written and provides an excellent synopsis of Dr. Weston Price's research into traditional diets from many peoples around the world. Dr. Schmid writes lucidly and shows the benefits and limitations of traditional diets in treating various diseases.

The book goes wrong, like so many others, in its demonization of saturated fat. Schmid is simply wrong about saturated fats causing heart disease, cancer, and ill health in general. He is also wrong in asserting that our ancestors did not eat a lot of saturated fat. This is strange coming from someone who is so obviously familiar with Price's research which showed every population group to be eating diets rich in saturated fats and these people, as Schmid knows, were supremely healthy.

I think a better book to get would be Lutz and Allan's LIFE WITHOUT BREAD or Fallon and Enig's NOURISHING TRADITIONS. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (14)

Traditional Oil Painting: A Wonderful Book
The book is quite well written with several excellent tips for advanced oil painters and superb illustrations.The author is modest and knowledgeable, sharing insights about the mysteries of painting as well as several practical solutions to composition questions and palette references.

A Very Profound,,Teaching book on Oil painting
I, have been wanting to purchase Virgil Elliott's Traditional Oil Painting for some time... and I must say,,,it is one of the finest teaching books that I have ever read..Starting to paint later on in my life,,,words cannot express how glad I am that I bought it...It is helping me sooo very much,,,What a Master teacher he is...I highly recomend it to anyone even to those who have been painting for many many years...
Betty Jane Covington

An Excellent Overview But Something's Missing
Virgil Elliot is an extremely knowledgeable artist who understands painting in the way only an experienced practitioner can.That said, I still found myself wanting more from this book.While it contains an accurate, concise summation of traditional techniques and concepts in oil painting, it does not elaborate on these practices with adequate illustrations.

In his introduction, Virgil Elliot makes clear that he was pressured by the publisher to include demonstrations and samples of his own work against his own inclination to keep the book pure as a reference manual - not a "how-to" book.This is quite evident, as the processes are not very well documented with sufficient photography.Although, I think the publisher was RIGHT to suggest documenting the various historical processes visually through Elliot's hand!I wish he recognized the value of this more.Serious artists ARE plagued by the myriads of amateur how-to books on the market, however, I think Elliot's work is clearly above this mess.

I applaud Elliot's mention of the differences between modern store-bought paint and hand-made paint used by past masters AS WELL AS his discussion on the transparency of pigments.His discussion of the opacity and permanence of pigments is precisely the kind of information I would expect in a book discussing advanced techniques.Back to criticism - in my opinion, the omission of visually well-documented demonstrations of the discussed concepts and techniques are a major flaw in this work. Virgil Elliot is incredibly knowledgeable on the subject of traditional oil painting - I just wish the book contained better visuals.

Great book Virgil!
Virgil Elliott's book is a well written and packed with information if you care to take the time to digest it.Although filled with great looking art, this is not just a pretty coffee table art book.The author explains complex concepts in art in concise and well crafted paragraphs.It's obvious that he speaks from a wealth of experience, but to translate it in such an articulate manner is a rare quality. If you are the type of reader that scans the surface, you probably won't like this book.However, if you are looking for a book that is packed with pertinent information about paintingand you are willing to slow down and digest it, you will not be disappointed.

Great book!
If you're beyond the basic beginners books, serious about your work and have an interest in the classics, then this book is for you. The reproductions are good and are used to great effect illustrating points made in the text.

The chapters include: Aesthetic Considerations, The Eye of the Artist, The Importance of Drawing, Principles of Visual Reality, Colour, Techniques of Painting in Oils, Oil Painting Materials, Portraiture, Landscape Painting and Still Life Painting.
... Read more

Book Description

• Traditional style combines classic elegance with contemporary comfort. In this book, packed with inspiration and beautiful photography, readers can tour 20 homes that showcase the best of traditional style applied to every room.
• Learn how to get the traditional look with antique and reproduction furniture and accessories, color, patterns, and architecture.

Customer Reviews (1)

A gorgeous book!
Beautiful book.Absolutely gorgeous pictures.I poured through it to get ideas for window treatments in our new traditional-style home. Very inspirational. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (17)

Basic Bow Making
A great intro to making wooden bows.Covers all the basics, wood, design, cutting, tillering.I found the section on bow design particularly interesting.Intuition is totally wrong about what gives the most arrow speed.A great book.

That's all what i need.
This volume is very explicative and not lost any details of his points. All the volumes makes a great help, and even a single powerfull source of information, to anyone who want to make the finest traditional bows, i recomend !

Consise and informative
The Traditional Bowyer's Bible Vol. 1
by Numerous contributors
A collection of craftsmen come together to demonstrate the building and dynamics of different woods into different types of bows. There are three books in the series Vols.: l, ll and lll they cover all aspects of wooden archery equipment from yew bows to flint arrow tips. Flat bows, decorations, strings and quivers etc. Fine archery to primitive.

The Boyers Bibles series
If you are interested in crafting bows, these are the best books you can buy.

As it says on the cover
this book is vital to anyone wanting to make a traditional bow!
as it says on the cover"bowyers bible" started 2nd book already and cut myself some bowstaves too.
Only quible is that as an englishman who was born in portsmouth, one of the writers thought the mary rose sank near plymouth!?!?!
(it was portsmouth)but that has nothing to do with the bow making which is clear and concise. a must have book to go with my Hodgkins "archers craft" ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (7)

Not just bows...
This book isn't just about making bows.It has a great section on making bow strings from primative materials or modern ones.Includes design of stings, types, features.Great to learn to make a string for that bow you just made.

excellent detail but incomplete
This book is written by several experts and is essentially a compilation of individual articles, each of which is outstanding in the detail of the direction given.However, for a person seeking to make a particular bow, all 3 books of the series are needed and there is not an orderly progression.Just count on buying all three, reading them all, making decisions based on what you've learned, and then picking chapters to help you as you go along.

The Traditional Bowyer's Bible, Volume 2
Great book this has all of the details of making a good bow and more. I am very pleased with its content and recomend all three volumes.

The best for archers
If someone need to know all regarding archery and bow-making has to buy all these 3 volumes. Here you can find a huge quantity of informations and suggestions regarding it.
The books are also improved with a lot of imagines.
Andreas from Italy

Finest.
This volume is very explicative and not lost any details of his points. All the volumes makes a great help, and even a single powerfull source of information, to anyone who want to make the finest traditional bows, i recomend ! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The law of 5 elements
This is not a bad book for someone wrote it quarter of a century ago. While it does cover laws of 5 elements for a medical profession the most annoying feature is the appearance of large fonts and outdated Chinese Pinyin. The large fonts are cluttered together making it very hard on the eyes. I checked 5 other similiar books and this is the only with such printing style. The Wade-Giles Chinese is also outdated as new students do not get it. Perhaps one should contemplate releasing a new edition with both PinYin and Wade-Giles terms and making the pictures in the back more readable (too small). Also it should include some sources of online sources as 25% of readings in any medical science should contain more recent information. Paid $16 from the publisher and it is a good book for the money.
Sam Shueh, medical librarian 10/04.

A Valuable Resource for Five Element Acupuncture
This book should be required reading for any acupuncture student.Ms. Connelly's thesis provides important and difficult-to-find information on Five Element Acupuncture.Her book is well-written and easy to understand. The case study and vignettes offer a unique glimpse into this type oftreatment.As a student of acupuncture and chinese medicine, I found it tobe a highly valuable resource.

A Valuable Resource for Five Element Acupuncture
This book should be required reading for any acupuncture student.Ms. Connelly's thesis provides important and difficult-to-find information on Five Element Acupuncture.Her book is well-written and easy to understand. The case study and vignettes offer a unique glimpse into this type oftreatment.As a student of acupuncture and chinese medicine, I found it tobe a highly valuable resource.

This is a beautiful book
I gave Dianne Connelly's book on the Five Elements to my mother, an artist, because it clearly describes the art of Chinese medicine. It lifts the veil from the mysteries of a healing traditionthat expresses a deeprespect for nature and wellness. The British school of acupuncture oftenlooks deeper than quick-fix Chinese medicine by reaching for the source ofimbalance.. It is well worth looking in to. I recommend it to readers ofASIAN HEALTH SECRETS and anyone interested in PERSONAL RENEWAL.

Good, basic info. on five element acupuncture practice
There's surprisingly little info. "out there" about five element acupuncture, first taught by J.R. Worsley, originally of the U.K.This book provides some of the only written info. you'll find, and because ofthat, is fairly helpful.If more were written, this book might seem kindof basic/generic, but there's an absolute paucity of available info., soit's actually very helpful, by default.The author studied with J.R.Worsley in England, and breaks down what the five elements are like re:health and treatment through this unusual, rare form of acupuncture. ... Read more

Book Description
Many archers and bowhunters will be surprised to learn that a wooden bow, whose ancestry dates back thousands of years, will shoot an arrow as fast and as effectively as the most modern fiberglass-laminated bows. Never before have such detailed instructions been available for the home craftsman, with information on how to make fine bows and arrows from natural materials. The authors thoroughly explain every facet of the process, from choosing wood to applying finishes, making construction easy even for the first-time bowyer.

With combined experience totaling over a century, the authors have constructed over thousands of bows. Now they reveal their secrets and techniques in The Traditional Bowyer's Bible series, three essential volumes filled with history, humor, and practical advice - invaluable information for anyone interested in the age-old lure of archery.

Volume Three covers tools, Korean and African archery, bows of the Plains Indians, custom shafts, stone points, and much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great Book.
This volume is very explicative and not lost any details of his points. All the volumes makes a great help, and even a single powerfull source of information, to anyone who want to make the finest traditional bows, i recomend !

A highly recommended finish for a great series of books
This final volume ( # 3 ) of this series has very useful instructional information concerning bow making tools, take down ( two piece ) bows, stone age bows, stone points ( knapping ), and making arrows. Bow designs from many cultures around the world are examined and explained in detail.
The tools mentioned range from simple hand tools, such as the wood rasp, to power tools, like the band saw. Power tools are not needed to make these bows, but can save time.
Properly made arrows are a very important part of archery gear, and this voulme shows how they are made correctly and safely using a variety of woods and fletchings.
Other chapters explain bow designs such as the asymetrical yumi bow from Japan, the materials for composite bows of Korea, and the hole nocks from some African bows.

Excellent book
This was a very excellent book and I ordered the other 2 vol.
These also were very very good.I have enjoyed them very much.
They would be a very good addition to any boyers library.
Very good prices also.

Very in depth and detailed
This book was excellent for outlining the process of making bows.Each section of the book is dedicated to a different area of bow making, and therefore was able to cover a substantial amount of ground.This book does require an advanced knowledge of bows and archery.

Very in depth and detailed
This book was excellent for outlining the process of making bows.Each section of the book is dedicated to a different area of bow making, and therefore was able to cover a substantial amount of ground.This book does require an advanced knowledge of bows and archery. ... Read more

Book Description
Never has such a complete and accurate guide to running a traditional Jewish household been so accessible and sympathetic to the uninitiated. Blu Greenberg at once guides nontraditional Jews who are looking to become more observant and allows traditional Jews to fine-tune the details of their own observant home lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Okay, but read with caution
Blu Greenberg's book is a good resource for those considering a more observant lifestyle.Good, but not great.
First of all, Rebbetzin Greenberg, who founded the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (great organization, by the way, which has done a lot for agunot), trots out her feminist views in areas where it is unnecessary.For instance, in her chapter on prayer, rather than alluding to a woman's unique role in prayer (influencing her children, the reasons women don't count in minyan), she instead talks about the strides women have made in taking a more active role in the synagogue.The tone throughout her book is one of "I am woman, hear me whine."
Also, the book is over twenty years old.I think an updated version would be important to address issues such as appropriate use of the Internet to Orthodox Judaism's shift to the right.Nowadays, Modern Orthodoxy is less "Modern" and more "Orthodox".
In short, use it as a reference when you set up a sukkah or clean for Pesach, but double check the information against the Shulchan Aruch or your own community standards

Impressions of a Xian
I'm a Presbyterian minister of quarter-Jewish descent with, obviously, a strong interest inJudaism.

I'm far from a specialist, so I don't have much to add to the conversation here other than my personal impressions.On the positive side, this book is a good read, highly accessible.It gives a very clear and beautiful window into the Greenbergs' household practices of Judaism.You can almost taste the food, see the candles, etc.

But, as some others have noted, having read similar Orthodox sources, I get the strong sense that Greenberg is not representaive of most in that wing of Judaism.She is clearly not only Modern Orthodox, but represents the left-wing of that progressive half of Orthodoxy.She is a strong feminist, for example.And she is also probably not as knowledgable as some rabbinic authors.Also, this is a little dated now, having been written in the 1980s.

For a more traditional guide to Orthodox practices and belief try some of the ArtScroll titles, like Rabbi Mord. Katz, Understanding Judaism.

Thorough resource
Mrs. Greenberg is really an incredible woman; she finds time to write, lecture, run a traditional household, and to be the co-founder and first president of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, as well as serving on the boards of many other noble organisations and magazines.In this classic tome she gives detailed and thoughtful insights and instructions into how to live a traditional life and how to run a traditional household.There are chapters on taharat hamishpacha, weddings, birth, holidays, how to keep a Glatt kosher kitchen, recipes, prayer, Shabbos, and many other things.Many people think of Orthodoxy as rigid, unbending, and unchanging, but Mrs. Greenberg demonstrates that that's not so.She and her family are Modern Orthodox, a movement which reconciles modernity with tradition.Someone who is MO will of course put more weight on halacha and tradition, but will look for ways to be more part of the modern world, realising that the world of today isn't the same as it was in the Talmudic era, and that there are interpretations of certain things that allow for more flexibility, as opposed to how someone who is RWO or Hareidi will oftentimes seem to live as though it's still the 17th century and there is no room for change or an ongoing dialogue with the past that doesn't attempt to water down tradition while reinterpreting it for the modern era.Interspersed with her instructions on how to keep a traditional household are stories about her own family life.These anecdotes really illustrate the points she's talking about, making something like taharat hamishpacha or prayer relevant and meaningful to the reader.

However, I agree that there could stand to be an updated edition of this book.A lot has changed since 1981, not only socially but also in the Jewish world.Today, thanks to people like Mrs. Greenberg, there is more of a dialogue (at least within the MO world) about resolving difficult issues about womens' roles without drastically altering what Orthodoxy stands for.Things that are becoming more and more common today, such as women-led prayer services and female halachic authorities, were barely on the radar back in 1981.Another example of something dating this book is the section on pregnancy; she's advising her women readers about how to choose the right doctor, and mentions that a number of doctors don't really approve of their patients having natural deliveries, so one should choose a doctor who respects one's birth plan.Today twilight sleep is a thing of the past.And today you also see more and more people in Orthodoxy who are both connected with the real world and tradition; it's no longer as uncommon as it once was to see an Orthodox woman, say, wearing pants, or for a couple who will observe taharat hamishpacha but not to the strict level that a RWO or Hareidi couple will (e.g., they will handle an object at the same time or engage in non-sexual touching as opposed to having zero physical contact).

For anyone who's interested in learning more about tradition or wants some help in encorporating more tradition into one's life and household, this is a very good guidebook to get started with.

Enjoyable and Insightful, but not Authorative
After reading this book in its entirety once, I find myself going back to it over and over again.Rebbetzin Greenberg does a terrific job of logging her life and opinions on living as an Orthodox Jew in 1980s America (yes, it is a tad dated).She gives thorough coverage to her experiences with her family through Shabbat, in traveling, in home logistics (like education, family activities) as well as all the holidays.Throughout she seems to have a great deal of candor.

But be a little careful with actually applying some of her approaches to doing things.The Greenbergs themselves are Modern Orthodox but some of the notions presented have not been officially "ok'ed" by even MO Rabbis.For example, when discussing clothes that observant Jewish women wear, she stated that "They wear miniskirts;just not the shortest miniskirts."This goes against the laws of tznius (modesty) in all (even Modern) Orthodox communities.

I see this book as a well written personal account of an Orthodox Jewish woman who is sharing her knowledge and insight with those who may not be familiar with the life of Orthodox Jews.Just don't assume that this book should stand as a halachaic guide on living as an Orthodox Jew.

Best of its kind
I found this book before I met my Jewish husband, before I was even interested in Judaism, and I read the whole thing in the bookstore. It is full of information and detail, everything you could possibly wonder about the world of Orthodox Judaism, but Blu Greenberg is also a fantastic writer! The book is interesting enough just to read for no reason at all. I find myself picking it up and paging through to get a little inspiration, a little information, and a little humor. I feel like I know her from her wonderful stories about her family. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially women, who wanted to know more about traditional Judaism and home life. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Informative but not inspirational
A slip accompanying this book suggests that the four "portable altars" will pop up to "Enhance Your Meditation Experience." Although the text gave me quite a bit of information about the four Buddhist Goddesses that popped up with the altars, there was little in the presentation that would "enhance" meditation.Bruce Foster's paper engineering is well done, as is the artwork from Robert Beer, and the textual material by Tad Wise is both interesting and informative.

Beautiful artwork, and includes unusual depiction
We were delighted to find this, and are impressed by the artwork and the inclusion of Golden Tara.

Setting the Mood for Yoga
This book is exactly as described.It is a lovely pop-up book for adults. There are beautiful 3-D cut-outs of Buddist Godesses, suggested mantras, and meanings.Although I probably would not travel with it because I have too much else to take, it is great for creating a nice and colorful yoga and meditation corner.

Buddhist Goddess Altar
I gave this as a gift to my son's girlfriend. Since she keeps an altar to the Goddess, I knew she would really appreciate it. I'm thinking of getting one for myself as well. ... Read more

Book Description
People all over the world have always used symbols to express and communicate the things that mean most to them. From a country's flag, which can signify more than patriotism, to a charm bracelet, with its "portable memories," symbolism takes various forms. Familiarity with symbolism opens up levels of understanding most of us have probably never been aware of. Why, for instance, do we share a secret with the words "a little bird told me?" What is it about a horseshoe that, in the right circumstances, brings luck? Why a horse's shoe? How old is the swastika, and where has it been used as a symbol (and what was Jung getting at when he said the Nazis used it "backwards")?

In nearly 1500 entries, many of them strikingly and often surprisingly illustrated, J.C. Cooper has documented the history and evolution of symbols from pre-history to our own day. Lively, informative and often ironic, she discusses and explains an enormous variety of symbols extending from the Arctic to Dahomey, from the Iroquois to Oceania, and coming from systems as diverse as Tao, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Tantra, the ancient cult of Cybele and the Great Goddess, the Pre-Columbian religions of the Western Hemisphere and the Voodoo cults of Brazil and West Africa. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

more encyclopedia then illustrations
Being since it is a book of symbols I was hoping for there to be pictures of the symbols, but there is only a few on the pages. Lots of information in the book, just not what I expected.

A Great Resource
I found this book to be an indispensable companion while reading the works of Campbell and Jung.Extremely interesting and very thorough.

Donna
While I have just begun to enjoy this tremendous work that came highly recommended to me, I am already somewhat disappointed in the limited, male-oriented, patriarchal interpretation of some indisputably feminine symbols like the Minoan Great Mother Goddess referenced and pictured under the entry, AXE on page 16.Described as a 'phallic' representation of her 'parthenogenetic fertility,' and as a, 'Solar emblem of the 'sky gods,' and later as an, 'emblem of Saint John the Babtist,' this is clearly a female iconic Goddess figure holding a double-sided LABRYS (axe) in each upraised arm.The Labrys is a feminine symbol associated with the female Amazons that were Priestesses of Artemis, the Moon Goddess.During their time, lunar energies were associated with the Goddess, and feminine power, NOT masculine, phallic, sky-Gods.

An excellent resource
An excellent resource on symbolism. Very comprehensive in presenting information from many traditions and cultures. Includes wonderful illustrations and photos that serve to enrich the information provided. As well as being informative, it provides the reader with much to think about and deepen his/her understanding of symbols. Indispensible in my library.

an excellent research source
I recently used this book for a research report on number symbolism.While becoming familiar with the text, I realized that the book contained extensive information on all symbols.After the report, I decided topurchase the book for future reference.Mr. Cooper did an outstanding andcomprehensive job researching all types of symbols.Furthermore, bydividing his analysis of each symbol into different cultures, comparing andcontrasting meaning was simple.I am indebted to this excellent referencesource. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (3)

great book!
This is a helpful book with some of the basic India designs.I've already enlarged one of the pages in preparation for using it on a wood chest; after the design is transferred, I'm going to paint it with brass paint, and hope to have a very authentic-looking and unique piece of furniture.

Shame on Dover
Incorrect information everywhere. Distorted visuals kills all the grace and the "Rasa" - the most essential element of Indian art and design. It's like a visual equivalent of beautiful Indian names and sacred words being butchered by certain know-it-all arrogant people who don't have the humility to realize the value in being exposed to the real thing from childhood vs having some touristy interest in another culture one day. The first line in the intro shows she doesn't even have the basic idea of what is classical and what is considered folk in Indian art. According to this expert -- Alpana of Bengal is called 'Kolam', Madhubani faces look like Hoichal yarn paintings - the list goes on. Just shows the depth and knwoledge it takes for a maninstream "expert" to convince a publisher to have them present their take on "other" cultures as authentic material. Afterall to them it's all the same. And to the publisher - it's a matter of who cares? Because there's always going to be some overworked and too-busy-to-check-out-the-facts parents who would buy it for their kids and feel "cultured". Shame on Dover and shame on the large body of Indian professionals living in the US today to let such things go on in this day and age.
- reviewed by an Indian visual artist and a parent who doesn't want their child to think this is what traditional designs from India look like.

Wonderful coloring book
My 7-yr-old daughter was born in India and has a fascination with all things Indian, especially mehndi designs. This is a really beautiful and intricate coloring book that will give her many fun new ideas. Very nice. ... Read more

Product Description
In 2004, the EPA warned physicians to be on the lookout for both respiratory and neurological symptoms from mold contaminated schools and homes. The latest medical science shows 1 in 4 children are sensitive to low levels of mold toxins.Is your child one of these? Now a "top gun" physician & medical innovator teams up with an accomplished scientist & master builder to clearly explain how even small amounts of hidden indoor mold-produced biotoxins can subtly impact youth behavior, emotions, health and learning. In their easy-to-read prophetic book, they offer solutions based on the latest medical and scientific research that work for both bodies and buildings...restoring quality of life to children and parents.Similar to an oil change for your car, our mold toxin Detox program cleans away contaminants in internal fluids in a way that quickly restores children, adolescents, and even adults to health and contentment.Gary Rosen, Ph.D., C.I.E. -- A biochemist, trained under a Nobel Prize winner, who has authored numerous advanced text books on mold. Dr. Rosen has performed over 1000 mold inspections. James Schaller, M.D., C.M.R. -- A prolific clinical and research physician publishing in 16 areas of medicine, with three books on mold illness. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Essential Information for Restoring Health and Healthy Indoor Environments
When Traditional Medicine Fails, a new release by two professionals working on the cutting edge of mold research, treatment and remediation, is an excellent overviewof the toxic health effects of mold in schools, as well as in home and work environments.This very readable book incorporates the latest research on frequently misdiagnosed health conditions caused by mold, the typical symptoms, and the treatments effective in restoring health to affected individuals. Checklists, pictures and clear instructions help the reader to recognize and appropriately remediate indoor mold problems.This book is an excellent introduction to the ground-breaking research previously published in Mold Warriors, written by Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker and co-author of this new book, Dr. James Schaller.Dr. Gary Rosen is a leading expert on mold investigation and remediation, and author of many books on the subject, including sister publications, Mold and Mold Toxin Remediation, and Locating Hidden Toxic Mold, soon to be released. All of these books underscore the importance of recognizing indoor molds as a serious health threat and the necessity of effectively remediating "sick" buildings in order to restore and preserve the health of their occupants.Having done extensive research on this subject from a variety of sources, I believe that this book brings to light essential information for persons interested in or struggling with unexplained, chronic, or medically illusive health conditions.

when traditional medicine fails...
A very informative book, explains the problems, their consequences and solutions. Makes you more aware of the environment we live in.

When Traditional Medicine Fails
I got quick results after reading When Traditional Medicine Fails.I read the entire book in an evening.It is only about 150 pages and includes many color pictures that I found extremely useful.

My kids are now healthy after following the book's Quick Detox recommendations; and I estimate that I saved over $10,000 on mold remediation because I was able to do most of the mold remediation
work myself by following the clear advice in the book.

Enlightened me about mold illness
I clearly had a mold problem and knew (or thought I knew) that 2 of my 3 kids were most likely sick from mold.My husband had been going round and round with the insurance company who refused to pay to have the problem fixed.After reading "When Traditional Medicine Fails," we now understand the terminology involved in both mold testing and mold remediation and were able to prepare the documents needed to get the insurance company to act.The cost to repair was over $10,000 but the insurance company paid 100% less our $1,000 deductible.There is more to getting healthy from mold toxins exposure than just medical treatment.Unless you get rid of the source of the toxins, I don't think you can ever expect a return to health.After the remediation one of my children returned to health almost immediately, but the younger child needed 2-3 weeks of medical treatment and is now 100%.But both children continue to be quite sensitive to mold, which as I now understand, may continue for the rest of their lives.

An Eye-Opening Book on the largely unknown health effects from mold
Our home suffered extensive roof damage due to Hurricane Wilma, which swept through South Florida last year.Plenty of water came in through the ceiling, running down numerous walls.We tried drying the house as best as we could, but with no electricity or air conditioning for a week, there was only so much we could do.

About a month after the hurricane, our kids started showing allergy-like symptoms.I also noticed that I was having frequent headaches and generally felt run down and fatigued.My wife took our kids to their pediatrician, who prescribed allergy medications and testing for them.The medications helped only a little.Due to the significant amount of water we had in our home, I began wondering if our health problems were due to mold.So, when my kids' next doctor's appointment came, I took them.I asked the doctor if their symptoms--as well as my headaches--could be from mold.He pretty much laughed off the suggestion.He simply renewed my kids' allergy medications and recommended that I see a neurologist.

Then, I read When Traditional Medicine Fails.Wow!What an eye opener!I discovered that mold can cause not only the symptoms my kids and I were suffering from, but also plenty of other health effects.Plus, I learned that many traditional physicians are simply unknowledgeable about mold-related health issues.The book also tells you how can solve many mold problems on your own.Our problem was too extensive to fix by ourselves, but with the book's help, I was able to hire a qualified remediator who followed EPA protocols.A couple weeks after the remediation, our health problems were gone! ... Read more

Book Description
Unlock your potential and achieve breakthrough performance in project management

If you're looking for a more robust approach to project management--one that recognizes the project environment and adapts accordingly--then this is the perfect resource. It not only guides you through the traditional methods, but also covers the adaptive and extreme approaches as well. You'll gain an in-depth understanding of each one and know exactly when and how to use them.

You'll also be introduced to the Adaptive Project Framework, which arms you with a new project management methodology. And with the help of two new case studies, you'll be able to put these ideas into practice and experience some of the contemporary nuances of projects.

This definitive guide to project management shows you how to:

• Take advantage of new variations on traditional project management methods, including risk assessment and control
• Decide the best method for managing specific types of projects by analyzing all of the pros and cons
• Apply the Adaptive Project Framework to the world of fast-paced, high-change, and complex projects
• Create a war room to successfully manage multiple team projects
• Determine how project portfolio management approaches can help companies achieve a greater return on investment
• Utilize all nine Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) standards advocated by the Project Management Institute (PMI)

Customer Reviews (19)

Good book
It's a good book on project management. I wish it was more in line with the standards from PMI. Also covers some advanced topics such as portfolio management but not in much detail.

Good Book for a beginner
If you are a practicing project manager, you may not find this book very useful. If you are new to Project Management (or planning to move to Project Management), then this book can help a lot. This book in my opinion is a text book (and a very good one). Book covers critical aspects of Project Management and explains planning and scheduling in an easy-to-understand fashion. I found the examples for backward pass, forward pass, constructing network diagram etc very useful. Author has used real-world examples so reader can co-relate to similar scenarios from their professional life.

Buy this book if you want your team's project to succeed
Don't buy this book if you're memorizing answers for some PMP exam.

But if you've got a real software project you need to deliver, and you've gota team looking to you for answers ... this is your book!

It's clear, it's practical, and it's packed with excellent ideas for managing just about any project, of any size.

It's great - buy it!

it is not good
The title is very attractive. however the content is more common. maybe it is good for beginner. most of content is focus on Traditional. nothing or very little useful information on Adaptive and etreme. if you want to learn how to deal with the adaptive and extreme project. just buy another one

Good material but not enough coverage
This book covers the fundamentals of project management but lacks details. It also lacks simplicity and consistency. The Critical path example discussed on p. 132 to 134 is confounding (especially the part explaining the difference between free and total slack). Better and more lucid examples demonstrating the various topics covered in this book would have made this book a 'standard' must-have. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

You'll need this if you're building a Spanish home !
If you are building a Spanish home and we are, then this book will provide you with a wealth of ideas about what to do beyond the 'box of the casa.'Filled with brilliant photographs of terraces, swimming pools, fountains, outdoor rooms, columns, entrances, furnishings, use of paint, etc. you will refer to this book over and over again as you design and continue to decorate your dream home.

Beautiful color photos!
The photography is excellent and the ideas abound. It is a book that's fun to thumb through and colorful. I enjoyed it! It's sister publication is just as good.

Must Buy Mexican Design Book
I have bought more than a Dozen Mexican Design Books already. And none can compare to the Traditional Mexican Style Exteriors and its Companion Book Mexican Style Interiors by Donna McMenamin.

It is a wonderful book! You will not need any other book if you are planning on redecorationg your house. But, even if you will not decorate your house, this Book(s) are a worthy read. The Pictures are wonderful. Giving detail to what is really Mexican.

Beautiful and Inspirational
Every time I re-do a room or make a home decor purchase these days, I'm looking for things to make my house look more Mexican.This book, and its companion volume "Traditional Mexican Style Interiors" are wonderful reference books for anyone looking to copy that style.

If you're just a fan of Mexican style, or have been to Mexico and want to have a way to go back without leaving your easy chair, this book is fun to read and magnificent to look at.Although it emphasizes exteriors (facades, architecture, etc.) there are photos of gardens, courtyards, and plenty of other spaces that you could create on your own property, even on a very modest budget, and without knocking the house down and starting over.

Mexan Exteriors
Fantastic book for anyone who wants to explore the Spanish Revival look.The book contains great pictures that gives the viewer a true sense of the Mexican-Spanish influence on American architechture.

I used to book to design my own backyard.Explaining the style I was looking for to landscape designers would have been nearly impossible without this book.Now, that my landscaping is done, the book compliments my coffee table nicely and is often times a great conversation piece.A must for anyone who loves Spanish Revival. ... Read more

Book Description
More than 300 traditional dishes, each recipe is complemented by tips, tales, historical insights and common Irish customs, many of which have been passed down from one generation to the next through the greatest of oral traditions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

I can't review the product
I have not received the product, I have found that Items not sent directly thru amazon do not arrive. I ordered many items that are shipped from Amazon and arrive with in a couple of days, on the other hand I have ordered a total of 5 items from outside vendors that never arrived.

A must have for any Irish food lover!
When I went to Ireland I fell in love with many of the traditional dishes. I have been holding off on buying any cookbooks because they didn't even come close to what I had eaten in Ireland. As soon as I saw this book I knew I had to have it. Its wonderful! It has hundreds of traditional, easy to follow recipes. So far, each one I have cooked tastes great and is just what I remember. The best part is the recipes are mixed with history and folklore of the country. Its amazing. I am even planning on giving them as gifts!

Celtic cuisine
This book is absolutely fabulous!!I served my family a dinner with a Celtic theme for my daughter's 23rd birthday.What a success!!Who knew that the Irish are such good cooks.We had 6 courses and everything was wonderful.

In addition to the wonderful recipes, there is lots and lots of information about the history of the dishes.For instance, when baking Irish Soda bread, make sure to cut a cross in the top of the dough all the way down the sides before baking to insure that all the fairies get out!

Yummy
I received this cookbook as a Christmas Gift and have used it several times.Everything I've made so far has been wonderful.The recipes are easy to follow and delicious.There are wonderful pictures and interesting tid bits through out. A great cook book for experts and novices.A wide variety of food and dishes.

Recommended for the novice or the expert cook.
I first checked this cookbook out from the library. I was so impressed I just had to buy it. Page 8 shows Darina Allen with Lana Pringle in a traditional Irish kitchen making Barm Brack. That image took me back to the days of my childhood and the many wonderful memories of summer days spent visiting family in Ireland. Darina Allen does a wonderful job of implementing a heartfelt dose of Irish history into the book. As for the recipes, for the most part they are simple to make, yet tastefully superb! ... Read more

Book Description
First published in 1994, this book quickly established itself as the standard shop reference on building kitchen cabinets. It covers all aspects of building a complete set of cabinets, from choosing a style for doors, to laying out the cabinets, to finishing and installing convenience hardware in the interiors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Good book
Planning, organizing, layout, building, finishing and finally installing cabinets.Jim also included some shop tips and simple jigs.Doors and drawers included, though there are more extensive books on that matter.The book is enough by itself to help you build your first cabinets from scratch. I made my first build a corner set with 8 ft of counter, tops and bottoms ( wood is my lucrative hobby ).I also recommend Jim's book for the pro cabinet maker as it has some organizational advise that complements this volume.This book gives several styles of construction and face assembly, all good.I used mortise and tenon bead for my build, but I had nice FESTOOL joiner with dust system already.( Festool 574283 DOMINO DF 500 Q Set.My only FESTOOL and well worth it. )

good book

I also recommend:
"Finish Carpentry" by Taunton Press
"Understanding Wood Finishing" by Bob Flexner ( very good )
"Cabinet Doors and Drawers" by Danny Proulx

and just about everything from Rockler.com and Lie-Nielsen.com

Thats a pretty comprehensive list, I feel its complete for the task in question.Many reviewers say these books are mostly fundamentals, I agree.The authors assume you have a "complete" set of power tools and a viable work space with many hours safely logged in it.You're looking at at least $5,000 start-up cost for decent power and hand tools to get into this field of hobby, and at least that much again to pretend you're seriously in business NOT including quality materials on hand for manufacture.Yep on hand before you sell anything.Its the unsung costs of dust collection, climate management, quality finishing, insurance, and maintenance that make the cost climb up on you.

Can you compete with China?

But I digress.Enjoy a great read!

Save your money and don't buy this book
This book is old school and is way outdated as far as making cabinets. This book is very hard to follow and laid out very poorly. If you want a good book to make cabinets look into "Building Kitchen Cabinets" UDO SCHMIDT

BTKC-BUY THIS BOOK
Definitely the best money I have spent on a cabinet book.Tolpin really provides a LOT of valuable information that can be used for DECADES to come.

From what I gather through my readings, Tolpin is a traditionalist / purist at heart, but, he understands the necessity to produce time and resource efficient designs.He provides instruction on both sides of the spectrum: Fast and Effective as well as traditional and effective (a little something for both). In this way, he is able to speak to the enthusiast that is interested in making a traditional set of cabinets, and the professional that is interested in producing a quality set of cabinets more quickly.

I also gather that he really enjoys teaching others his thoughts, shortcuts, time saving jigs that you can really use and appreciate (especially if you have been busting head trying to do it another way).This fact is what really wants me to buy more of his books.His service to carpentry in general is extraordinary; he is a true teacher of carpentry and advises young carpenters in almost every page of this book.

I especially enjoyed making and using most of the jigs he describes.In one chapter he outlines more than 5 jigs.Having built them (extremely easy to make), I have already put them to use in more than one woodworking session and will continue to do so in the future because they are so useful.

If you're interested in cabinet making, buy this book. If you're tight on money, buy a used copy.The point is to buy this book and read this book.If you don't like to read, buy this book because the illustrations can explain a lot too. Building one cabinet will pay for the book.

Highly rated but disappointing
The hand written drawings are poorly done and lack significant detail. The photo illustrations are of good quality but are again limited in their application to the building process. Overall descriptions of the building process are scanty at best. Woodworkers interested in learning kitchen cabinet construction would be better served by reading Jere Cary's book; Building Your Own Kitchen Cabinets by the Taunton Press.

Great book, if you have the tools
This book is for persons that will build more than a kitchen alone. You will need quite some precision tools to match the craftmanship illustrated in this book and obviously you have to be handy using these tools. For the rest the book is very detailed and gives plenty of ideas and tips and tricks. ... Read more

Book Description
Timeless and beautiful those words describe the shawls presented in this revised edition of the classic text. Shapes include triangles, squares, circles, and half-circles, with openwork, textured stitches, and lace edgings to combine as you choose. Everything you need to know to design and knit your own shawls is provided, while instructions for eight shawls include all-new photography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Good for beginners.
This is a good book for beginning shawl makers, but I would not really recommend it for experienced "shawlers."Has basic construction techniques and a section on patterns, but doesn't really provide good info on how to expand those patterns with diagonal or circular increases as the shawl grows.

Beautiful designs!
This book was highly recommended to me by several other knitters when I asked what pattern books to purchase to learn lace knitting. And I can definitely see why!

The stitch patterns in this book are not only gorgeous, but give endless possibilities for shawl design. Ms. Waterman gives many different variations on open work stitches, and information on the different traditional shapes for shawls.

I am just starting out working with lace, so I am not comfortable yet designing my own patterns. I bought a more traditional pattern book with instructions for several lace shawls. I will work with those to learn the ins and outs of increasing and decreasing, and the different types of shaping. Then I will progress to this book and design my own lace patterns.

This is an excellent book for those advanced enough to design their own knitted lace patterns, and a great reference book for those of us who are aspiring to do so. I really enjoy books that force me out of my knitting "comfort zone'' and make me want to take my craft to the next level!!

Traditional Knitted Lace Shawls
This paperback book (119 pages) has only black and white pictures.It is mostly a book on knit stitches with a mere 8 patterns. She does touch briefly on the history and origin of knitting shawls.Overall, this is really more a book on how to design shawls, choosing different yarns and needle sizes and is not suited for someone who wants to be able to pick up a book; find a pattern; and know which yarn to use.

condensed revision of first edition
I've got the first edition which was riddled with errors. I wanted charts so I ordered the second ed. The individual lace patterns are charted but the shawls are still written out. In addition, the number of shawls has decreased from 14 to 8. The book has been edited verytightly cutting down on anything excessive which includes some of the fun and some of the photos. However, it's still tops for help on designing shawls which is why it gets 5 stars from me. This ed still has a few corrections which are available from the publiser's website.

My review of Traditional Knitted Lace Shawls
I found out about this book on one of the knit list that I belong to. It was highly recommended as a great source for shawl knitters or those that want to learn about lace shawl knitting.

I have found it to be a great source for designing my own shawls as Martha Waterman has great imformation and lace knitting charts in the book. I highly recommend it to any one interested in lace shawl knitting or designing. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (8)

lovei it
I know that people have been complaining about how some of the stencils are too small and become unclear when blown up.They have a few other issues, too.
Here's the thing:the book has over 2,000 great stencils that are perfectly legible.I'm an illustrator, woodworker, and paper crafter.I am simply delighted at the various choices of stencil.Plus, the book is very inspiring in terms of providing a jumping off point to make up my own.I simply love it.

excellent
This is a wonderful resource for design ideas! I use elements of these stencils as patterns for guitar inlays. The copyright info on the inside cover is generous allowing use of the patterns, "free and without special permission." in certain circumstances.

Historical and not useful
If you are a craftperson, do not buy this book, though pictoral, it is more historical and you need a magnifying glass to see some of the stencils.

Great Resource for Designers
This book is chock full of great Victorian design. It has cartouches (ornamental borders), patterns, single filligree elements, and the best part is that they are all royalty free. You will need to scan the elements and clean them up a bit, but this book is a fantastic resource for the "flourish" trend that is going on in graphic design right now.

Highly recommended.

Useful for engraving
I use these stencils as layouts for gun engraving. While many designs are too small and lack enough detail to be able to reproduce (about 30%) most are of good quality and detail. It's a great value for the price and I strongly recommend it as an indispensible aid for all engravers, wood carvers, and stencil makers. ... Read more

Book Description
A complete guide to the whole range of traditional handmade textiles from all corners of the globe.

The history of the world can be read in textiles: the rise of civilizations and the fall of empires are woven into their warp and weft along with the great stories of conquest, religion, and trade. The legacy of textile design, form, and pattern that has resulted from this global endowment can be seen here in all its spectacular richness.

Eight sections cover every aspect of materials and techniques, each giving a succinct summary of characteristics, production, and geographical distribution, accompanied by hundreds of color illustrations and drawings. Nonloom and loom-woven textiles, painted and printed, dyed, sewn, embroidered, and embellished techniques are all covered, as well as the materials themselves.

From simple—the clothes made of skin or hide in prehistoric times—to complex—materials elaborately embellished with tassels—world textiles are both beautiful and beguiling. This unrivaled guide is completed by a glossary, further reading, and information on collections open to the public. 778 illustrations, 551 in color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great Reference Book
I discovered this book in a wonderful little shop in Amman, Jordan that sold antique furniture and textiles. They identified a piece I was admiring as coming from a particular country and then showed me a picture of a similar piece in the book. I was intrigued by the book and wanted to purchase it, but they said it was not for sale as they use it to identify textiles they acquire.I came home and purchased one of my own on Amazon and am now able to identify many textiles or embroideried pieces from their country of origin. It's not only a great reference book, it's also a beautiful book to browse.

World 'O Textiles
This is the clearest, most comprehensive guide to the techniques used to produce textiles.The examples are photographed beautifully and make you want to get to work.I'm so glad I spent the money on this first-class book.

Gorgeous Guide!
I'm using this book as one of two texts for a college course on Ethnic Dress; this is an absolutely fabulous resource!!!As students, we use the book to look for traditional techniques we will research and present in class, including "hands on" practice.I can't recommend this book highly enough!!!Thank you, Mr. Gillow, for putting such a beautiful, historical source together!

Interesting Introduction to World Textiles
World Textiles is an encyclopedia of textile techniques.The text is very accessible (virtually no footnotes or unexplained jargon) and punctuated with beautiful color photographs, artfully arranged on nearly every page ofthe book.Typically, a picture of a textile is overlaid with someonewearing the garment, which puts the textile, and its description, incontext.World Textiles is organized like a book of lists, so techniquesare easy to find, but a bit tedious to read from cover to cover.It alsohas some nontraditional categories (multi-colored knitting is in a categoryseparate from plain knitting and textured knitting) and several categoriesthat seem arbitrary or nonparallel (for example, the only dye that gets itsown category is indigo, and indigo is listed with a range of dye techniquesas if it were itself a dyeing process).However, each category includes adescription of the technique, it uses, and often, some factual tidbits andsketch drawings to show how the textile was made.The book seems to beaimed at the amateur collector or professional textile-maker who wants toknow how a particular technique compares and contrasts with other ways tocreate or embellish cloth.I would recommend it as a good introduction tothe world's textiles. ... Read more