Clear drawings and "Step-by-step" instructions, 29 Dec 2004
This book is available in several versions. The 541 page version (inc index) is a triumph of clear explanations and drawings that really do "show you how to do it", no matter what the job is.
The range of projects covered from replacing a fuse to advice on unfair dismissal are invaluable advice for modern urban living.
The excellent tips on "What not to do" and warnings of potential hazards are the key to success in all the tasks outlined.
Every home should have a copy!.
A good history lesson (for North Americans), 24 Oct 2002
Want to know what computer you should have bought in the eighties? Then buy this book.
Apparently, if you need to do complex calculations with numbers you should be looking at a computer with 64K! (Although 24K is adequate for games!).
Other such gems go on about the recent replacement to disc-film cameras and the talk of camcorders with revolutionary mini TV screens in the viewfinder.
The sections of the book that can not be dated, like how to force a cat to take a worming pill might be useful to some people, but you would always be wondering "maybe someone thought of a better way of doing that by now" or "isn't doing that to a cat illegal these days?"
This book is very American, and many sections just aren't relevant to an English audience. If I ever find myself in a situation where I am about to buy a condo I'll need this book! And exactly how many peanuts do I need to make peanut butter? The book says two cups - is that a tea cup or an egg cup? Unfortunately I haven't found the section on converting American weights and measures to metric!
Some sections appear to have been written by people who obviously knew little about their subject matter. Poking two wires with a bulb on the end into a potentially live electricity socket may have been an acceptable method of checking you took the right fuse out in eighties USA but I somehow doubt it. What's the point in switching off the mains so that you can work safely if you are going to shove a roughly crafted mains tester in just to double check? You might as well test it with your tongue.
If the book wasn't so amusing to read I would have sent it straight back. Somehow though, I don't think comedy was on the minds of the numerous "authors" that wrote this stocking filler. Nor, obviously, was any intention of updating it.
Bottom line - if you need something to fill the magazine rack in the toilet buy this book. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother!
An Excellent Book For Anyone At Time, 13 Mar 2001
I found this book a great gift for my Dad who has almost everything that any Dad would want, in saying that I don't believe that it is just a mans book there is alot of interesting information in it. I would advise anybody to purchase this book as there is bound to be something that you don't alreay know within its covers! Buy Buy Buy
A disappointment. (The book. Not my review.), 23 Jan 2004
Sadly this book doesn't live up to the claim of helping you clean like a pro.
In fact, when advising on how to get stains out of leather, it tells you to call in the pros. Not a fair swap of information by my reckoning.
The print is small, cramped and not altogether inviting to read, and whilst the details are in alphabetical order, it's deciding which bit to look under first that can cause frustration.
For example, I have an ink stain on my suede boots (I don't, I personally wouldn't be so sloppy as to try and write with my toes encased in shoes), but what do I look under for help? Stains? Suede? Ink? A petty point, but not dividing things up for easier referencing makes for teeth-grinding time whilst the ink is drying nicely on the suede.
The major problem this book has, is that it cannot hold a candle to another book I actually own, and which has become a bit of a bone of contention with a Cleaner friend of mine. (Cleaner in terms of occupation as opposed to personal hygiene. But that's not saying she isn't clean or anything...). You see, my other book is sooo good - even though you can, on occasion be led to believe that you're reading Viz readers' top tips - that we fight over ownership. I wrested it back off of her, but I've a feeling that I'll have to frisk her everytime she leaves my house.
I'd bought her this as a replacement for it, but I think she hates me even more now. It pales by comparison.
(The book of Godlike cleaning stature is Ginette Chevallier's 4,000 things you really ought to know - The household encyclopaedia. Get it if you can. If you can get hold of two, could you send one to my mate Sharon, please? Ta.)
