Dr Robert Rich
MUDSMITH
Reviews of Bob's two 'how to' books

RRP $Au35.00 + GST $3.50

    "This is the book many people have been waiting for since they dreamed of building their own home from natural materials, in harmony with their surroundings. It answers all the questions for Australian owner-builders.
    It's a 'practical book for dreamers' and it faces the difficult subject square on. What the authors have done is to show how anyone of average intelligence and reasonable health can build their own home, and probably not end up with a 25 year mortgage at the end of it all.
    "This book is intended to provide an antidote to the stereotyped Australian suburban sprawl of red brick houses with red tiled roofs, set squarely in a rectangle of ground," said authors Bob Rich (who writes regularly for Earth Garden), and former Earth Garden publisher and editor, Keith Smith."

RRP $Au20.00

   Please note that the paper version of this book is no longer available. However, I've made it into a highly usable electronic book, which works like a large web page. So, it's more useful than ever.

   "As well as an admirable reference for idiots and seasoned chippies alike, this book contains entertaining anecdotes about Bob Rich's life and friends. It is through these stories that Bob educates the idiots of the world about the intricacies of woodworking and a host of other technical information. Some stories are fictional and some are fact, but all make the learning experience very enjoyable indeed.
    Bob covers many aspects of woodworking in the more technical section of the book from skew nailing to sharpening chainsaws. The proper use of handtools is explained clearly with the aid of good diagrams. There is good cross-referencing between the technical information and the more colourful part of the book. The illustrations are simple and get the message across very well, but sometimes lack geometric integrity.
    I was delighted to see sections on how to fell a tree, how to use a hammer, and how to make a billy cart. No matter what your level of expertise, you will find this book both enlightening and entertaining. Bob Rich has created a reference which instils confidence in the reader and makes you want to get down to work immediately, or sit up late and chuckle at his humour."