Rating: 
Summary: Poorly written with very little real information
Review: After reading everyone else's glowing reviews, I was certain this book would be a valuable part of the research I'm doing in anticipation of building a new house. I've read many how-to books on the subject and was hoping this would delve into the human side of the topic from the homeowners' point of view. However, I found it to be a bland, whiney account of unpleasant people treating craftsmen badly. It should have been titled "How to Alienate Your Contractor". Or perhaps, "How NOT to Build a House". The descriptions of the house itself were worse than inadequate. If you're looking for mood or rich description or an exploration of the creative process, look elsewhere. Scores of pages were devoted to the depressing, ego-crippled meetings between the clients and their contractors, yet after forcing myself to finish the book I still didn't have a clear idea of how the floorplan worked. About the only thing I learned is that I'd never want to be a general contractor.
Rating: 
Summary: Patternbook for Mr. Blandings: Dream or House?
Review: Another book which could have been great On the surface this book represents an entry into the world of 1980s: refurbishment, a false sense and attractive distortion of classicism, and ultimately, the loss of craftsmenship, interest and development of skill as less a way of life than a notion: In short, it is the story of the transition between Home to House, nonobligated domesticity -the "Yinks" as others haved dubbed- (young individuals, no kids), as stylized and represented through a series of "events" (or nonevents)which make up their highly exaggerated sense of entertainment value and talent while they ruefully mock anyone helping build their House (remember, homes are seldom made of paper); "Dream" here is conspiciously lower case; "House" all caps On yet another level Kidder presents something quite unique: A candid picture of the literal construction of a house and some of the details (including the awls and moldings) which go into a larger contextual, certainly enjoyable process. This could be instructive, healthy and mature. One craves the precision and interest remonstrated in "Soul of a New Machine" for good intentions and great efforts and the virtues of enterprise (not entirely Emersonian in its vigilance). In this sense there is something to be said for simplicity absent a "Design for Living," (whatever that may actualy mean) approach to defining practical existence and activity. Things are meant to be used not just appreciated for their own sake While I find it very close to impossible to believe the author had not "Mr Blandings Builds his Dream House" (circa 1948) in mind when developing this theme, the process and outcome is quite different; whereas Blandings generously understood the value of such refurbishment for his family, Kidder's characters live for self-gratification alone. I do not believe the author developed here as much as he would like to entertain he had (there are far mome of us who know what a mullion is without a thumbnail drawing thankyou, and, no, I do not believe there is any relation between Eliade and Martha Stewart), and when not condescending leaves the reader with the view they are somehow less intelligble (or at his level) in these expositions: In short, Mr. Kidder learned his craft from college and not real life experiences where people do honor and appreciate and accomplish things which are nonderivative and really do count. Kidder's book is worth the read for its structure and design; muc of the rest becomes lost within the artful distortion of the pattern itself
Rating: 
Summary: Like its subject, Kidder's story evolves, but w/ problems.
Review: As an architecture student, I found Kidder's story to be both informative and depressing. It should be required reading for anybody interested in pursuing a career in designing or building (or, for that matter, having a new house built). However, as a student, it was a real eye opener to see what it takes to actually have a house built. Kidder spends a major portion of the book explaining the project's design, materials, time involved, and above all, costs. That's the informative part! All the personalities and egos constitute the depressing part! Is this really the American Dream?
Rating: 
Summary: An inspiring and absorbing account of the ultimate dream
Review: i am building an american house in the south of england. i was given the book by one of the professionals involved in my build three years ago. i sat on it and only read it recently. if only i had known the journey on which it would take me. i was absorbed into the lives of the seven people around whom this ultimately human drama revolves. rarely is a book genuinely unputdownable - unpickupable more like - but this is such a book. even if you are only vaguely interested in concept of the human nesting experience this is still a book for you. the house in question is both subject and setting, a theatrical backdrop upon which the characters reveal themselves. fascinating and quite brilliant.
Rating:
Summary: Building or Remodeling? This book is REQUIRED reading!
Review: I have been a General Contractor for over 20 years. Kidder's book, in an entertaining format, puts into words the true account of a building project from the perspectives of the architect, owner, and builder. If I could, I would make it required reading for ANYONE involved in the residential construction industry, and any potential client.
Rating:
Summary: It's not just a nice story about building a house
Review: I read this book when it came out thirteen years ago and I enjoyed every minute. In this book, Tracy Kidder describes the process and personalities involved with building a new home, but it's more than that. Like his "Soul of a New Machine", it chronicles what it's really like to be caught in the middle of a major project. Even someone who hasn't built a home from scratch or developed a new computer system will gain an basic knowledge of the topic and an appreciation for what it takes to do something really big.
Rating:
Summary: Deftly written, engaging and even educational
Review: If anyone deserves to be compared to John McPhee, Tracey Kidder does. His non-fiction prose comes closest to McPhee's in engaging the reader and making the most minute detail seem fascinating. Aside from the pure pleasure of reading, "House" is also a manual for how and how not to build a house. Every time I have a problem in the construction of my house, I think back to the shabby, confrontational way the builders were treated in "House" and approach my builder with that in mind.
Rating:
Summary: This story pulls no punches
Review: If you are thinking about becoming a builder, or are thinking about having a house built for you, this is a must-read. Be prepared for Kidder's no holds barred account of how devious a home buyer can be just to save relatively little money, how unprepared a builder can be to deal with such situations, and what crucial role good communication between the home buyer, architect, and builder plays getting the project completed on time and on budjet. Kidder emphasizes the fact that building a house is not just about people doing buisiness in an impersonal manner, but that personalities play a crucial role in any business relationship. Kidder also makes clear that the involved parties' abilities to see the other sides point of view in a dispute are paramount to achieving the ultimate goal in business: the customer gets a quality product on time and no one feels they're cheated at the end of the transaction. This is not an instruction manual; Kidder offers little advice on what is proper or what the characters could do better. Kidder simply relates an accurate account of the process of building a home, mostly with an eye toward human relations; a wise reader will learn from the successes and mistakes of the characters herein.
Rating:
Summary: This story pulls no punches
Review: If you are thinking about becoming a builder, or are thinking about having a house built for you, this is a must-read. Be prepared for Kidder's no holds barred account of how devious a home buyer can be just to save relatively little money, how unprepared a builder can be to deal with such situations, and what crucial role good communication between the home buyer, architect, and builder plays getting the project completed on time and on budjet. Kidder emphasizes the fact that building a house is not just about people doing buisiness in an impersonal manner, but that personalities play a crucial role in any business relationship. Kidder also makes clear that the involved parties' abilities to see the other sides point of view in a dispute are paramount to achieving the ultimate goal in business: the customer gets a quality product on time and no one feels they're cheated at the end of the transaction. This is not an instruction manual; Kidder offers little advice on what is proper or what the characters could do better. Kidder simply relates an accurate account of the process of building a home, mostly with an eye toward human relations; a wise reader will learn from the successes and mistakes of the characters herein.
Rating:
Summary: Best way to see all sides of the Construction Process
Review: In teaching a class on Construction, this book was the best way to let my students feel like they were there... to observe the give and take and interplay of the owner, contractor and architect. It is reads like fiction but tells a real story about the construction process and roles and problems much better than lectures on change orders and the value of good drawings.
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