PsychoDrama of building Unlike most others I disliked this book. I tried to get through it twice separated by a few years but I give up.I'd hoped that this would offer fresh insights to building but it was simply a painful replay of the psychodrama involved who's going to take the risks who's going to win in what is presented as a zerosum game.No wonder so many people end up hating their builders and no wonder builders approach customers with distrust!I'm a serial renovator and will soon be building from the ground up. I'd suggest that there IS another approach it's called teamwork. Do the research and make the effort upfront and find a builder you can work with and trust.
i'd rather have a root canal This is obviously well written but oh what a bore! I HATE having to deal with contractors in real life. I don't want to read about the trials and tribulations of building a house. I appreciate the character development but if this had been framed under a different topic I would have finished it.
Hints and whispers I fail to understand the criticisms of Judith and Jonathan Souweine in so many reviews.99% of professional people know zilch about the actual process of construction. Building is such a different process from buying from stock. If you don't know the building process how do you protect yourself from an unscrupulous builder?Jonathan and Judith decided that they needed a fixed price contract. Where they went wrong I think was in not engaging a true specialist in the process of cutting that contract someone who would not only help them avoid many of the mistakes they and the builders made but would also set up a realistic arbitration procedure to settle the differences.Every one of us who has ever built a house faces the same dilemma how do I protect myself from a bad builder and from runaway change orders?All of the builders liked Judith more than Jonathan so where is this invective about Judith coming from? What spiteful behind the scenes dealings are not revealed in Kidder's book?What happened to Judith and Jonathan? she isn't mentioned in his obit from a couple of months ago.
Great read This is a book that's been around a while 1985 but it definitely qualifies for multiple readings. The book flows like a novel as it traces the complex and often messy story of dreaming about designing and building a house in Massachusetts. This isn't a howto book however. Kidder is a journalist and his real interest is in exposing the complex relationships between owner contractor and architect and the book spares no detail in describing the sometimes painful birth of a project. Very helpful for understanding the various perspectives of the parties and the entire process. I have sometimes assigned this book to my students of construction management and it gives a very helpful perspective on the interests perspectives and concerns of the different parties. Highly recommended.
New Homeowners Get Lucky As a builder myself I find that Kidder presents a fascinating picture about the process of building a house. I like the builders in the book always try to create something beautiful and lasting. All I can say is that the homeowners got lucky in finding builders that care so much despite the owners' pettiness. All too often I am called in to repair a job in which the builder did not care or the owner was trying to cheap out or both. Most of the time you get what you pay for. In this case the owners got lucky to find true gentlemen who loved their craft. This is a book espousing that truly talented craftsmen are worth so much more than their weight in gold. A side note Bill Rawns's architecture firm is now huge and well decorated and Jim Locke one of the builders has written his own book called A WellBuilt House.
one of best ever I first read House many years ago but have since read it three more times and listened to the unabridged audio of it once. The problem is that when you tell people what it is about they often lose interest in reading about the design and construction of a house. Maybe I don't describe it well enough so please beleive that it is a great book that draws you in and tells an amazing story. It turns out to be a thrilling subject and the only thing missing is photos of the house these were in the magazine Metropolitan Home once upon a time. After reading this the first time I went to The Soul of a New Machine and realized how consistently great Tracy Kidder was. Do yourself a favor read House.
Please build me a house I fell in love with these builders. I was so happy to see that Jim Locke did his own book and is apparently successful in his business. I just hope the others are too. There is so much slipshod work done these days build it big lots of fancy extras lots of problems later.
I Wanted To Like This Book Much More Than I Did I am married to a builder so the idea of actually seeing how builders think about their jobs was very appealing to me. I've also picked up a hammer and done volunteer work on several sites and love the satisfaction derived from working with my hands.Kidder takes us thru the process of building a house from contract negotiations to architectural renderings to negotiating and renegotiating change orders the process of framing and working with tradespeople to finish carpentry moving in and final payment negotiations.But he is very repetitive. How many times do we have to hear about how seriously Apple Corps builders take their work or how Jonathan is a great lawyer and will complement people to chisel them out of money they feel they deserve or that the architect will hold up the process by submitting drawings late or inconclusively.Kidder does a very accurate job of conveying the ongoing struggles among clients builders and architects. Indeed my husband and I have struggled thru many similar scenarios.I would have loved it if Kidder included pictures of the final product. It was very frustrating to read all about the construction of a home and never see what was being spoken about.
Tracy Kidder is a great writer Anyone who is thinking of building a house on their own should read this book.
Dream home and a few nightmares A friend who is planning to build a house was asking me some questions. My husband is a contractor and has built many custom homes he now works as an author and as a home inspector.I advised my friend to buy a copy of House by Tracy Kidder and then to call me if he had any other questions. It had been years since I had read the book myself so I bought a copy and thought that I would make myself read it for the benefit of my friend since I usually don't like rereading a book.Once I started it I couldn't put it down. This has happened to me with other books by this author and it always amazes me. He is able to take topics that at first glance don't seem ideal material for a compelling read the development of a computer life in a small town and turn them into something the reader is a part of. And yes even upon the rereading I couldn't put the book down.Kidder's ability to present both points of view the builder's and the buyer's is uncanny. As the wife of a contractor and as someone who built a custom home before I ever knew my husband I found that both sides were presented accurately.
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