Synopses & Reviews
David Owen, author of andlt;iandgt;The Walls Around Us,andlt;/iandgt; recounts his projects -- from catching the home improvement bug while watching workmen replacing a leaky roof to his first tentative foray into DIY. As his skill grows, so does his confidence: replacing a broken light switch turns into wiring an entire room, making bookcases is followed by building an office. Soon he takes the big leap from renovation to building a new house -- a weekend cabin a mere six miles from his home -- from the ground up. The experience launches Owen's enthralling and hilarious discourse on everything from kitchen countertop materials to the complete history of concrete and a near disastrous mishap involving a tree, a roof, and a chainsaw.
About the Author
andlt;Bandgt;David Owenandlt;/Bandgt; plays in a weekly foursome, takes mulligans off the first tee, practices intermittently at best, wore a copper wristband because Steve Ballesteros said so, and struggles for consistency even though his swing is consistent -- just mediocre. He is a staff writer for andlt;Iandgt;The New Yorker,andlt;/Iandgt; a contributing editor to andlt;Iandgt;Golf Digest,andlt;/Iandgt; and a frequent contributor to andlt;Iandgt;The Atlantic Monthly.andlt;/Iandgt; His other books include andlt;Iandgt;The First National Bank of Dad, The Chosen One, The Making of the Masters,andlt;/Iandgt; and andlt;Iandgt;My Usual Game.andlt;/Iandgt; He lives in Washington, Connecticut.
Table of Contents
Contents
1 Rooms and Dreams
2 Outside, Inside
3 The Big Kitchen Project
4 The Cabin
5 Backhoes and Concrete Mixers
6 Studs, Windows, Screens, and Porches
7 Walls, Ceilings, and Floors
8 The Wet Parts
9 The Last Ten Percent
Selected Resources, etc.