RSS FeedMar 24 2009
Review of Jay Shafer’s Small House Book
Much to my delight, my copy of Jay Shafer’s new release, The Small House Book, showed up in my mailbox two days after I ordered my copy from TinyHouseBlog.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised considering the aethetics of the author, but The Small House Book is diminutive in size and stunning visually. It is packed full of glossy, full-color pictures of Shafer’s designs and examples of small architecture.
For anyone who’s familiar with Shafer’s earlier three-volume release of The Small House book, some of the original material is included in the new release but there is also a bunch of new information, much of which is the same information Shafer covers in his two weekend workshops. This is especially true of his design workshop. If you are thinking of building your own tiny house and you’re not going to be able to attend one of his workshops, I’d highly recommend picking up a copy of the book and also the construction DVD I hear Tumbleweed is currently developing.
What I appreciate the most in Shafer’s new edition is the expanded section on his thinking about where we are currently as a society in terms of housing and neighborhood design, and what more modest architecture might be able to offer as solutions. I also appreciate now having a collection of Shafer’s work in one, concise volume (rather than the three prior volumes, a separate portfolio of his homes, handouts from his workshops, and a bunch of print-outs from his website).
While I didn’t mind paying the $37 price tag for a 196 page book, I could see this being an issue for some purchasers. Especially considering the book is only 7 x 7 inches and 197 pages. No doubt, the many color pictures in the book drove production costs up quite a bit. One thing I think the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company might want to consider is offering a second, lower-cost black-and-white edition of the book which any pictures that aren’t needed to support the text. (Or possibly even a PDF or E-book version that could be downloaded from their website.) Considering many of the readers may already be familiar with Shafer’s work, I suspect many would be willing to forgo the photographs for a lower cover price. However, with Shafer’s unrelenting standards toward beauty, I have no idea if he’d be willing to consider such a thing.
I also found myself wishing there had been several more chapters on Shafer’s thoughts and experiences with tiny architecture. I can pretty much guarantee that should he ever publish a longer book on tiny homes, I’ll be the first one in line when it’s released.
All in all, though, The Small House book is a lovely volume and a great addition to the small home literature.
Much to my delight, my copy of Jay Shafer’s new release, The Small House Book, showed up in my mailbox two days after I ordered my copy from TinyHouseBlog.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised considering the aethetics of the author, but The Small House Book is diminutive in size and stunning visually. It is packed full of glossy, full-color pictures of Shafer’s designs and examples of small architecture.
For anyone who’s familiar with Shafer’s earlier three-volume release of The Small House book, some of the original material is included in the new release but there is also a bunch of new information, much of which is the same information Shafer covers in his two weekend workshops. This is especially true of his design workshop. If you are thinking of building your own tiny house and you’re not going to be able to attend one of his workshops, I’d highly recommend picking up a copy of the book and also the construction DVD I hear Tumbleweed is currently developing.
What I appreciate the most in Shafer’s new edition is the expanded section on his thinking about where we are currently as a society in terms of housing and neighborhood design, and what more modest architecture might be able to offer as solutions. I also appreciate now having a collection of Shafer’s work in one, concise volume (rather than the three prior volumes, a separate portfolio of his homes, handouts from his workshops, and a bunch of print-outs from his website).
While I didn’t mind paying the $37 price tag for a 196 page book, I could see this being an issue for some purchasers. Especially considering the book is only 7 x 7 inches and 197 pages. No doubt, the many color pictures in the book drove production costs up quite a bit. One thing I think the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company might want to consider is offering a second, lower-cost black-and-white edition of the book which any pictures that aren’t needed to support the text. (Or possibly even a PDF or E-book version that could be downloaded from their website.) Considering many of the readers may already be familiar with Shafer’s work, I suspect many would be willing to forgo the photographs for a lower cover price. However, with Shafer’s unrelenting standards toward beauty, I have no idea if he’d be willing to consider such a thing.
I also found myself wishing there had been several more chapters on Shafer’s thoughts and experiences with tiny architecture. I can pretty much guarantee that should he ever publish a longer book on tiny homes, I’ll be the first one in line when it’s released.
All in all, though, The Small House book is a lovely volume and a great addition to the small home literature.
I am so grateful that you are looking out for the poor & penniless in your review – Jay really should consider the same. As I’ve said before, some can buy ART, and some just have to get up and watch the sun rise. (okay, I just now made that up for you or subconscious stole it from another) Along the same vein, your review has made me wonder why neither Tumbleweed nor any other company we know and love has yet to come out with the ‘liveable’ yet very much bare structure for the times we are living in. The naked Tortoise/Galapagos comes close, as does all the BIY, but there is a huge gap between the two.
That is to say: structure sound of course- walls and roof, electric and plumbing in place, insulated to the nth degree – and to let the customer have some say in the window placement (ie: as a woman alone in one of these, I do not care for the walls of glass many offer. I do not hesitate to disclose in these forums that I’ve been a victim of violent crime, have been burgled, etc: incidents that have accumulated and thus have made me shy away from design that some big fellow like Jay would enjoy or deem necessary in this small space to ‘open it up’) … give me clerestory or give me …well, just give me clerestory, sky lights and a solid door with a peephole, eh? We can work out the rest!
This empty home, the plumbing and electrics, the loft … I can add in my own desk & shelving, storage – even kitchen on down to the ladder itself: I’d probably choose the same work ladder seen on many work sites that cost around forty dollars tops. I have a hard time seeing how these dwellings would go over 10 thousand (based on the Tortoise/Galapagos naked $7500, and that wonderful 10 by 10 dude from Vermont that I have a minor crush on). I understand that sometimes people don’t want to diminish their own brand by offering such an austere DIY structure, but in these times it seems socially responsible and sort of a new level of Habitat for Humanity: this is literally my only shot at ever owning a home, and at 40+ and suffering chronic poor health, I feel like the spokesdork for those that follow me who (in their late twenties, early thirties) who are making about 13 bucks an hour and will never see medical benefits or home ownership or … you name it. In many areas of America, the eradication of the middle class was a total success. You heard it here first!
Oh me and my little terse comments. You are a gracious host and I look forward to Jay’s book as well as catching up on every nook and cranny of your site. Many thanks!
Tumbleweed Tiny Houses aren’t cheap per foot but they are definitely less costly than the traditional house replete with mortgage. My personal sentiments are than Jay Shafer is not out to make a buck off the “poor and penniless”. He just has very strong aesthetic standards about what he wants to personally design and build. He’s not out to build the cheapest tiny house possible.
I agree, though, that I think there’s an as-yet unfilled need in the tiny home movement for additional inexpensive, decent-quality options. Particularly in terms of unfinished shells.
Thanks for your detailed and thoughtful comments on the site.
Apologies, allow me to clarify: I never meant to imply that Jay was dancing on the backs of the poor – hyperbole aside, I have extreme admiration for him. My friends have all said (over these last several months) ‘Hey looks like everyone’s catching onto your beloved little houses’ -because I have personally been promoting them, it seems, since their inception. Jay’s first and foremost.
My point was simply that in these times, even the smallest Tumble is now a luxury model – and that is a reflection of my life’s changes and nothing more. But I’d not want him to turn around and start making Tumblejunk either. I do think that a livable shell market – a step above the DIY has just opened up like crazy. America’s obsession with ‘move in ready’ has always baffled me.
Happily for me, I have no qualms about living the empty shell life, and I hope to do it off-grid. But living at the mercy of the landlords- even the terminology creeps me out. As always, thanks for the ear!
Hello! Thank you for the review on this book. I’m gonna get it! I have lived in small places (and one very large, overwhelming house). I lived on a sailboat for awhile, I now live in a goshiwon in Korea (study room – about 6 feet by 6 feet) and have always dreamed of living with the outdoors as my back yard.
This seems very doable. Thank you for the heads up!
Best wishes,
p.