House

FDR used his expert sailing skills and instincts to guide America through the Great Depression and on to victory in World War II. He was always ready to compromise, change tack or revise his plans based on the changing political landscape...just as he did when he sailed the world's oceans. What an ingenious way to look at President Roosevelt! I thank the author for sharing his important insights with all of us. Great job!

Not only was the book extremely well written but it was full of glimpses of this president which added a new perspective to my knowledge of his presidency.

It is a wonderful experience to stumble across a biographical work about a man about whom so much has been written and yet find an entirely new and different view of the person's life.

Bravo!!!

It is written in non-technical language and includes a plethora of illustrations, some of them humorous. It provides enough information so that reader can deal effectively with professionals, should that become necessary. While it mainly focuses on the traditional septic tank, it also describes many alternatives which can be used in situations where the standard tank may not be applicable.

There is also an intriguing history of sanitation. I was fascinated to learn that the re were flush toilets in the Indus Valley (now Pakistan) in 2500 BC!

Also included is an extensive bibiolography, including web sites, and a list of suppliers of various secptic-related products.

You'll find vivid personal portraits all through the story -- the Tsars, of course, Nicholas I, Alexander II and III -- but also some figures struggling heroically against the ultimate failure: Gen. Totleben at the siege of Sevastopol in 1854; Gen. Loris-Melikov attempting to reform the doomed tsardom of Alexander II in 1880; prime ministers Witte and Stolypin in their time working against the clock to industrialize a sullen and balky nation. And the revolutionaries: the Decembrists; the young students-turned-assassin stalking Alexander II; intellectual rebels like Herzen and Chernyshevsky.

All this puts an 80-year perspective on the events leading to the 1905 revolution and the ultimate, completed downfall in 1917. His bibliographic comments on other sources -- including Robert Massie's Nicholas and Alexandra -- are well worth reading as well: sharp, wide-ranging and with the same depth of perspective. Well worth reading in light of the present-day Russia's attempts to find its way.

The author masterfully blends history, political thought, biography, (and a dry sense of humor at times!) to a monumental task in examining the changes in Russia in the last 100 or so years prior to the Soviet era. (he covers some significant events in the reign of Alexander I) We see how Russia's expansion to Central Asia; the impact of the Crimean War; the economic modernizing problems resulting from serfdom; and the war with Japan in the early 20th Century shaped and influenced the thinking in the country.

Crankshaw is able to clearly deliniate the trends, and the significant events and people which made those trends possible. All in an easy to read and interesting style.

A fascinating and highly informative read!

As always, Crankshaw's prose is lucid, elegant and highly readable.

I especially recommend it to fellow early 20th century history buffs. Sim-lovers like me might appreciate the excellent conscise plans to follow (bubble machine room not included).

It makes me wish *I* could order one of these "Honor Built Houses." There's even an order form. One fun thing to take note of is how many floor plans do *not* include a bathroom. Although they do offer outhouses ;)

It gives more complete information about the old houses and their blueprints, and also has a detailed listing of hardware, with excellent photos, which goes a long way in helping identify Sears Homes.

It's a big book - about 8 x 11, and the information is much easier to read than the half-sized "Houses by Mail."

I'm a freelance writer and I've written several articles on Sears Homes and have used these two books as reference works. There is a lot of good information that will aid you in identifying Sears Homes.

But remember - it is just a reprint of an old catalogue. There is no contemporary information about these houses in this book. However, I highly recommend "Sears, Roebuck Catalog of Houses, 1926" for anyone interested in learning more about these fascinating old houses.