apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

not to be a total b but could you just use the internet for all of these things without an extra book to clutter the shelves?

For us book lovers that's not a problem. What would be a problem is having my laptop close by while I saw through something, or better still getting instructions regarding pipe repairs and one breaks open near my laptop.

I do know you could print out instructions but that just wouldn't be green now would it especially when thousands of books are already in print.

animalhouze - I think having a book in front of you is sometimes a plus. it can be difficult wading through search results and finding online resources with precise and complete directions. Often a published book is much more polished and filled with tried and true techniques than internet sources. Also you can have the book right there with you when working on your project, a computer and internet connection are not always that portable. Also with a comprehensive guide like this you can probably cross reference different sections easily if a more complex project requires a more simple process that you are not familiar with.

printing is also an option but often more troublesome and less lasting than a nicely put together book you can use again and again

I guess I see it like cookbooks, there are more recipes online than I could ever possibly try but I still buy cookbooks because they are a complete collection all together and often contain great recipes and tips i would have never found or browsed for online. I actually think that is the best part of books like these, you find things you never considered or would have looked for on your own when flipping through.

adamwa--good point about portability. although I enjoy looking up recipes on the internet instead of buying cookbooks. :) different strokes for different folks I suppose!!

As someone who generally prefers to look up everything on the internet, I have to say that I own this book and LOVE it. Everything is incredibly clear and concise. We received it as a gift when we bought our first house and have found in indispensable.

Sometimes a good old fashioned book like this is better than the internet...

My mom had the Fix-It-Yourself and Do-It-Yourself manuals back in the '80s, they were inspirational!

The best part is being able to read them cover to cover, seeing all the things that never even occurred to you to attempt.

Wow! I also got this book when I got my house - what a great help its been (especially with plumbing). Another great book from Reader's Digest has to do with housekeeping - good for young people moving into their first place or college. You would be surprised how many people aren't sure how to do laundry or properly clean a bathroom...

I have this book in an early 1980's edition and it is priceless. It is comprehensive, there are pictures and it houses absolutely classic and SIMPLE advice. It has saved me SO many hours of looking up resources online. LOVE it!

Like Neutopian said, just reading it cover to cover is a huge education in how your house "works." The systems of a house are completely alien (to me at least) and this book especially is helpful for some demystifying.