Why a Good Library is Key to Becoming a Master Builder

[@stevemiller7949]

Great choices for starter kit. "A Pattern Language" and "How Buildings Learn" are a couple of my favorites.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks. Those are good.

[@9bnmadden]

Just picked up "A Field Guide to American Homes". Thank you for the recommendation.

[@BrentHull]

Glad to hear it. Thx.

[@sdsconstruction]

Thank you for the video! I can’t tell you helpful it is for you to have vetted a list for a starter library for master building. For someone to dive in, the number of books and directions in this field are so limitless, it can be overwhelming to the point of avoiding taking the plunge to buy books in fear of making bad purchases and wasting time and resources. I will be watching again with paper and pen and Amazon/eBay up on iPad! As to the 4 volume Audel set of builders books, I was reading a 1930’s era science fiction pulp (Astounding or Amazing stories) and the back cover had an advertisement for that very set. On a whim, I wondered if it was out there somewhere. Low and behold, I found a 1930’s era set on eBay for small money and purchased when I found it. Originally, I was intrigued to have the set because I had the original advertisement but the more I looked over them, the more I saw of their intrinsic value in information. Later, I found d a 10 volume set dedicated to electrical.

[@BrentHull]

Great, I'm glad it was helpful. There are great multivolume sets available before the 1930's. Another good one is Radford's Cyclopedia of construction. It is a 12-volume (I think) set of all aspects of construction. Have fun.

[@richardguimond1087]

Wow.... I have been along the old timers for the past 20+ years and a lot of choice words from them. However you are giving information to the point with enthusiasm. Thank you. For myself, if it doesn't look right I redo it irregardless what the homeowner likes. It must match the house

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for your comments. Much appreciated.

[@Yes..........]

Oh I'm so looking forward to reading some of these. Thanks so much Brent, your videos are so inspiring!

[@BrentHull]

You're so welcome! Let me know your favorite.

[@carmencolon3520]

I do own several books on carpentry do I understand everything no ; but its a powerful feeling to know I have knowledge right on your fingertips 24/7. Lates collection a hand tools book. Never I have held some of those tools. Field trip to the Woodcraft stores.

[@BrentHull]

Yes, it is wonderful.

[@leannwhite950]

He has championed this for years. Don’t miss or discount any of his comments. He doesn’t weigh in on every little thing. Only ones that are impactful.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks!

[@torenrocks]

Thank you!

[@BrentHull]

You're welcome!

[@user-yv9om5nq1d]

Thank you

[@BrentHull]

You're welcome

[@relaxedlegsyndrome4883]

Thanks for this video! I am a finish carpenter and design-builder in Kentucky, and also a retired soldier. I work for myself, but have a team of people who specialize in different aspects of building, and one of the things I always catch a lot of flack for doing is reading books about carpentry, not to mention calling things by their correct names. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made suggestions and the framers telling me something like, “What the fuck is a California corner!? You read too many books, man! You just have to build the corner!” My usual reply is, if this is your job, and you are an expert, wouldn’t you like to actually be an expert AND a professional? Anyway…rant over, time to get to work!

[@BrentHull]

A kindred spirit. I love it. Thanks for watching. I find about 10% of builder/craftsmen are readers. I think it is so important. Thanks for your comment.

[@ryananthony4840]

Before I became an electrical contractor I remember the first contractor I worked for the guys I worked with called me "captain codebook" because I would study the code and read books on electrical on my own time...... Some of them ended up working for me a few years later 😉

[@WormAteWords]

Thank you so much for this channel! This type of thing is becoming lost knowledge. I really like what you're doing.

[@BrentHull]

Glad to hear it! I appreciate your feedback.

[@crossroadschronicles4647]

Very helpful

[@BrentHull]

Glad to hear that! Thx

[@AlexS-zr2nb]

Thanks for video. Do you have any book recommendations on craftsman/arts and crafts style home architecture?

[@BrentHull]

I would look for the early books by Gustav Stickley called Craftsman Homes. There are reprints available through Dover Publications. Then read as much as you can on the era. The Greene brothers in CA. FLW and the Prairie school. Even William Morris as he influenced the Arts and Crafts in America. One of my favorite periods. Good luck.

[@homesteadorbust]

3k books lol I better get started. How hard is it to find some of these older books?

[@BrentHull]

Haha, just takes perseverance. They are out there.

[@kathrynryches6660]

Don't forget that books where the copyright has expired are on the Open Library website for FREE. BTW I downloaded 'The Country Builder's Assistant' for free just now.

[@crowznest438]

While I'll never be a master builder, I'm all in favor of a bigger library. : )

[@BrentHull]

AMEN!! Thanks.

[@t.e.1189]

Hey Brent, I recently purchased reprints of the White Pine Series in an 8 vol. complete set of 'Architecture Treasures of Early America' published by Early American Society (1977). Shortly afterwards I saw on Ebay there is series by the same title produced by the Historical Society (1987?) with 16 volumes. I was able to compare only 2 vol. that my local library has with the set I bought and it seems that the articles are the basically the same except for layout & size of illustrations. However the contents/articles are different in each volume. I have 2 questions. 1st, does the 16 vol. set have all of the articles that my 8 vol. set has though perhaps in a different order or are there some things in the 8 vol. set that the 16 vol. won't have?

[@BrentHull]

The white pine series has been reprinted numerous times. The best info is on Wikipedia which lists the years and volume numbers very clearly. I would start there.

[@mariothoughts]

Any books for Victorian houses?

[@BrentHull]

There are quite a few. Look for Bicknell and Comstock books. They are filled with tons of great details. Good luck.

[@mariothoughts]

@@BrentHull thanks 👍

[@Hello-zf5lq]

Problem is I don’t understand how to build something from pictures and diagrams - takes too long to read and impossible to understand for me at least.

[@BrentHull]

It doesn't have to be for "how-to", sometimes it is inspiration we need. Especially when it is hard to travel. Pictures alone can tell great stories and inspire us to build better.