Home-management Books

I absolutely love this book! It is full of just about everything you need to know about anything you need to know about being self sufficient.

This is an excellent reference book for a person just starting out in the back to the land movement. It lets you know how much you can do with your land, reviews the pros and cons of different livestock, gives recipes for soap and the like, explains how to slaughter your own animals (if you so choose), and the like. We've made great use of this book while starting out, even on a lot as small as an acre. Nice candid tone through out. A wealth of knowledge worth more than the price.

For someone who knew nothing of outdoor, independant living, I walked away from this book a wealthy, knowledgeable person after having read it. In a nutshell, please buy this book FIRST! You will find that after buying this book that you will need very few other books out in the market. This author addresses everything you need to know about various topics of outdoor, independant living, and if she doesn't have all the answers, she forwards you to other sources that will get you the specific info you need. This book is worth the money. I bought it to learn more about gardening, and came away learning so much more. This is a book that one MUST purchase as a staple in their book collection.

The Encyclopedia of Country Living

We have purchased twenty plus copies of this book each year for several years. It makes a wonderful gift for missionaries that are going to mission fields all over the world. It includes everything from how to milk a goat to almost anything you need to know, including numerous recipes. Feedback from missionaries has always been favorable. In addition, my wife finds it useful here at home. It's very handy for a homemaker.

Covers a lot of subjects, easy to follow. Pays attention to safety (like canning issues). Many subjects addressed.

I decided to purchase book because I had seen it on military.com's military spouse career center. It does have quite helpful information for beginning a virtual assistance business.

not finished yet ..... need more time for something like this ...
have only briefly leafed ... that's how i gave it the three stars..

Christine Durst and Michael Haaren did an excellent job of presenting the major points of what it takes to become a Virtual Assistant. Their approach was very practical and hands on; and yet, potential pitfalls were also listed and discussed. Overall, their advice was sound and realistic regarding what it takes to be successful in this field.

If anyone is seriously thinking about becoming a VA, then this book is a "must read"!

This is a wonderful book for the aspiring Virtual Assistant. The authors go into great detail on all aspects of running your own VA business, and their insight is timely and comprehensive. In particular, you'll enjoy the extensive chapter on marketing, which details various ways that a VA can capture the greatest share of the marketplace. I highly recommend this book as a must-read and a resource to reference throughout the start-up phase of your business.

90% of what this book covers appears in countless other books for small and home based businesses. And, I'm not so sure that the other 10% is really so revolutionary because the concept of working remotely has been around for several decades now. The authors outstanding accomplishment seems to be giving what they believe to be a revolutionary new job category a catchy name. Still, if you've been living on a distant planet, you may find their mention of the basic components, requirements and legalese of starting a business helpful.

Very helpful book on mortgages. Very well put together and an easy read. Great job Carolyn and thanks for the tips!

I am doing my research before buying a my first home, and found this to be one of the highest rated home buying books on Amazon, so decided to give it a shot. All I can say is wow!

Carolyn goes through every step of the mortgage process, describing what documents to request, how to tell if they are complete, and questions to ask. She tells you how to protect yourself by requesting written guarantees about closing costs, how to spot junk fees, and a slew of other great information.

Her advice about loan types is particularly timely given the financial mess in the world. She describes sub-prime loans, and the risks that are associated with them. The greed of the lenders, and the delusions of the borrowers is quite illuminating.

Carolyn also offers services to review your documents, and will answer questions through her website. I haven't taken advantage of either yet, but when the time comes I will.

I plan to re-read this book when I get closer to making a purchase, unless I luck into an honest mortgage professional immediately it will save me money, no doubts.

I highly recommend this book. Even if reading it only allows you to cross off one junk fee, it will have paid for itself many times over.

Can somebody please clone Ms. Warren? We can all benefit from her in-dept knowledge and experience of mortgage issues, not to mention making a perfect life-coach. Being that I'm a novice in the mortgage world, she has illuminated all the tips and tricks of securing the best mortgage for the money. This is fair-warning for people who don't buy this book before they take their first mortgage or even re-finance. You *WILL* be sorry!

Michelle Singletary recommended this book in the Washington Post. It's clearly written, full of very useful information, and fun to read. I only wish I'd had it before I signed the loan contract. But, no worries, an email to the author, a quick reply, and I received more valuable advice. Don't get a home loan without reading this book first.

This is a great book for anyone thinking of taking out a loan for a home or home equity. This book can literally save you thousands of dollars and give you a good working knowledge of the mortgage industry and all the scams they run to drive up their profit at your expense.

This book is full of practical recipes for almost anything you need, and safe for the environment as well. I use it like a recipe book, whenever I need to mix a cleaner or make a product, I look up the thing that I need, and the variations of it, and make it with the basic supplies that I bought. I am really enjoying it, and feel like I'm making a small difference for the environment, and a big difference for detoxifying my home.

This is an absolutely great book for anyone interested in "greening" their home. Their recommendations are great for the enviornment, for your health, home and save you money!

It's amazing all the products you can clean with that are already in your kitchen and, more importantly, not toxic.

This is a great book. I got it not really thinking I would use it as much as I have. I use it for body creams, cleansers and moisturizers AND I use if for household cleaning, furniture polish, sachets, and more. And her explanations of how different ingredients work is also very helpful. I now buy very few commercial cleaners (Bon Ami, Ecover laundry detergent) mostly because I can't find washing soda anywhere locally.

This book is filled with natural and non-toxic cleaning products, personal care products and more. I have made a number of cleaning potions from Better Basics and am loving the way my house smells when I clean it! Meaning...instead of the old days using harsh chemicals, my home smells like almost nothing--just clean!

I was going to post a review for Annie Bond's Home Enlightenment: Practical, Earth-Friendly Advice for Creating a Nurturing, Healthy, and Toxin-Free Home and Lifestyle, but noticed it is no longer in print. Too bad, because it was good. However, if you want similar information, check out Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your PlanetBoth of these books deal with the next steps to take once your home is non-toxic, including ways to make your home your sanctuary.

Live From Jordan gives its readers a fresh perspective on the "Arab East" untainted by political subtexts. Benjamin Orbach's honest, open, and often humorous description of the people and places he encountered during his travels and studies is both engaging and thought provoking.

Exceptionally well written book. It would make a great travel companion for anyone embarking on a trip around the region, but could also serve to provide some great insight and information about the "Arab East".

Highly recommended.

Benjamin Orbach takes a total immersion approach to living in and understanding Jordan. He learns the language, befriends neighbors, and in a quest to understand, becomes a relentless listener/communicator to those he encounters along the way.
This excellent book deconstructs myths and sterotypes about the Arab East in a way that is both analytical and personal. The author's insights evolve from real life experiences far removed from academia and the often sterile think tanks upon which many Westerners depend for information about the Arab world.

I highly recommend Live from Jordan. This book has really opened my eyes and has helped me realized how important it is to look at issues from all perspectives. Reading this book has also been a good way to learn about the Arab East. I realize now how complicated and long term the problems in the middle east are. Thank you for writing such a thoughtful and intelligent book.

Benjamin Orbach did something just a few months after the events of 9-11 that few Americans dared to do. Just when most Americans were purposely avoiding travel to the Middle East (or had left the area for good), Orbach decided to move to Jordan on his own so that he could study Arabic as it is spoken on the street. He wanted to learn everyday Arabic slang and ways of expressing himself in the language that would allow him to communicate with Arabic speakers at the deepest level. Immersing himself into the culture of Amman, and living there without the usual security surrounding most Americans in that part of the world, he learned much more about himself and the people he met than he could have reasonably expected to come away with going into the experience.

Orbach's language skills and obvious respect for the culture and people he lived among made it possible for him to fit into his Amman neighborhood so well that he formed lasting friendships with the people he saw there everyday, his barber, his grocer, students at his university, his language teachers, restaurant owners and his landlady, among them. Unlike most Americans, and probably most Westerners, he came to see them as individuals with the same hopes and desires that we all have, rather than as interchangeable parts in a single Arab culture dominated by a religion bent on destroying the West and claiming the world for Islam. Anyone who reads Live from Jordan will be able to rid themselves of that stereotypical viewpoint forever and that makes it an important book.

When I started reading Live from Jordan I wondered whether or not Benjamin Orbach's personal experiences would be similar the ones I had while working in Algeria from late 1992 until early 2002. As it turns out, they definitely were. I am not an Arabic speaker but in Algeria French is the business language of choice and most Algerians are at least somewhat fluent in the language. That allowed me to have rather detailed and intimate discussions with my Algerian co-workers and friends about our differences and, more importantly, about our similarities. Much as I suspect that Orbach will always treasure his days in Jordan and Egypt, I will be forever grateful for the friendship and trust that was offered to me by those Algerians who welcomed me into their world as an individual rather than exclude me as an "American."

I mention my years in that part of the world only to emphasize how "true" this book read to me. I did not find a false note in it anywhere and would love to see its message spread as widely as possible.

Erica Asahan wrote:

This book was one of very most informative reference book. It's a must to all that is looking to buy or even refinance their home. It's a little dated, but, it great!

Anyone thinking of buying a house should read this book. It is thousands of dollars worth of advice from an experienced broker for only $13! Randy Johnson gives you all the essential tools and knowledge to make an educated decision about your home and your investment. I'm an MBA grad and a finance professional and found this book offered much info that I had never learned about. Invaluable for anyone - finance professionals or otherwise.

Randy Johnson is the best! He's a friend to you hoping to level the playing field so one gets the best mortgage for oneself - not for the banks or mortgage companies. A truly honest and sincere business man - however that might usually sound like an oxymoron.

I found this book (the first edition) to be informative when I bought my first house.

book good as far as it went. For my purposes the amortization tablez did not go far enough, The tables stopped at $200,.000.00

I admit that (1) I don't work alone; (2) I've never worked alone; and (3) I never thought that I ever would want to work alone. I'm a born "groupie" who has always been most comfortable immersed in a "team effort, melding my work with the works of others. Unfortunately, I was given this book by a friend who thought I deserved a "better life," and unfortunately a read it. Twice. I keep saying "unfortunately," because I have now been turned around,having been harshly bitten by the workalone bug. I want to go out and see what I can do on my own. I'm going to do it, and it's all the fault of this book. I'll let you know what happens...

This is the kind of book that gets you all charged up and roaring to get going. I am not at all certain that all current and potential solo workers possess the multi-directional energy and stick-to-it-iveness that obviously inhabits Dr. Felsher's inner self, but I do suspect that most of us, given the opportunity, should give "working-alone" a try. Success at this venture seems to be the very best kind of success one could wish for.

After finally obtaining and reading through a copy of "Working Alone," (which I understand is now out-of-print), I am convinced that the author has put together a not-so-minor classic that clearly deserved a wider readership than it received, (a view shared by several previous reviewers). I am not certain if the fault rests with a complacent/inactive publisher not eager to promote and publicize a book from an "unknown author," or a complacent/inactive author,ignorant of the wily ways of the book-publishing industry. Given Mr. Felsher's positive and aggressive nature espoused in the pages of the book, I suspect more the former than the latter. Whatever the reason, I certainly hope that he can be persuaded to devote some time to delivering a follow-on book -- perhaps even as an e-book. I, and several others, it would seem, eagerly await such a development.

i was impressed -- really impressed -- with this book. very important lessons on virtually every page. "telling it like it is" is little more than a cliche nowadays, but by heavens, that's exactly what this fellow consistently does. a pleasure to read, it must have also been a pleasure to write. i look forward to more of the same from him.

I am a consultant, working by myself (president and chief bottle-washer) out of my home in suburban Baltimore. I've heard good things about this book, but was unable to locate a copy until last week. I was finally able to get a (used) copy of Working Alone, and having read it and believed it thoroughly, it has earned an honored spot atop my desk, and will remain there indefinitely. This is a sure "must-read" for anybody out on his own. A lesson on every page (well, maybe not _every_ page, but close). Count me as a big fan...

If your business is import or export this is a MUST HAVE. If you run a small business it also can be helpful.

This book takes a very realistic approach from someone who has lived the ins and outs of importing. The book is easy to read, offers orignal perspectives, and is a must read for anyone who is considering a distribution business!

This book should be essential reading for anyone thinking of starting an import company. That's because it doesn't just discuss the mechanics- the import brokers and customs requirements etc., - but how to make sure that the business can be successful and profitable.

The better books dealing with startup/product introduction outline the various possibilities and options--they leave you with many questions. John Spiers tells you exactly what to do and what not to do. Very rare. Very valuable.

I'm still a half-wit. I mean it provided plenty of big words and concepts that I never heard of before. I was expecting a book that you opened up and was just money. Do they have that book? I would so buy that. Well, I mean unless it cost more to buy the book than was printed inside of it.

Any way, it was kinda interesting.

Rick Rodgers is an expert! His best ever turkey and gravy recipes are hands down crowd pleasers. I let my sister borrow the book and now I have to buy a new copy because she "can't find it." Also take a look at his Christmas 101.

This was my 1st Thanksgiving and everything turned out wonderful! The receipes were very easy to follow. My mother in-law was a little worried how I was going to cook the turkey (she thought it would be dry) and it turned out to be PERFECT! What a great cookbook to have, I look foward to trying new receipes next year.

This gives good basic directions for T-Giving, plus enough for a veteran to find it enormously useful.

Have assisted Rick in many of his sold out cooking classes. He writes for the home cook. You can be confident when you do any of his tried and true recipes. Thanksgiving 101 is my go to book at the holidays. All dog-eared and Post notes thru-out. Go see him if you can!!! Fabulous

I have been using this book for Thanksgiving for 6 years and love it! I bought one for everyone I know and they all think it's great too. This year I made the Bread Rolls 101 and they were great. My turkey always comes out perfect using the writer's basic method. Everyone should own this book - I use it before and after the holidays and all thru the year!

I love this book. I bought it expecting to get information on cob houses but the big bonus is it not only provides information on how to build a home but also includes viewpoints on living life and enjoying the process. I highly recommend the book even if you don't plan on building a cob house. This book will help you build a life!

I purchased this book on recommendation and am glad I did. It covers everything from choosing the best land for building these structures to everything you need to build it. There are lots of pictures (both color and black and white). The book also covers earth ovens and fireplaces. Even if you are not interested in building an earth home, you can build a backyard fireplace with seating.

There is no better book to curl up with than this one and none more useful. Read it and, if you love it, consider taking the 10-day class in Oregon. You will learn a whole new way of living, as well as building. My only criticisms of the book are minor and things that will likely be added in a later addition, if there is one. A chapter on bale cob and similar composite materials would be helpful. I think a separate book is in the works on bale cob. The book is a masterpiece!

I bought this book several years ago, when it first came out. I love it! I have yet to build anything out of cob, but hopefully that will change in the next five years. This is one of the few books I own that I would NEVER consider selling. It is chock full of information, and when I am feeling blue, I whip out the book, page through it, and fantasize about it. If you are thinking of building anything with cob, buy this book!

I purchased this book based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews in Amazon.com.

I was looking for a practical guide on Cob building - not on living according to the new age hippie ethos of the authors.

I've read the first few chapters, and there are nuggets of practical advice, but the narration keeps getting bogged down by Ianto Evans digressions on how evil humans keep screwing up the environment.

It is my hope that I can finish the book, collect some useful information, and in the end, be satisfied with my purchase. I'm just finding it difficult to wallow through the enlightened philosophy.

I will attempt to read it through to the end and perhaps revise my review. I've looked briefly at the sections written by the other two authors (Smith and Smiley) and they both seem, on the surface, to be a little more instructional in their writing, and less interested in teaching me about their new age voodoo.