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Product Description
From the Author
How I write 'how-to" books
My writing of service and how-to journalism has always been guided by the belief that given the reasons why, folks are more likely to do the job right than if simply told how to go about some esoteric task. Knowledge converts the drudgery of work into understanding. Understanding puts you in control, which is where you should be as the owner/operator of your very own water and sewage system. So Cottage Water Systems is not just a how-to book, it's also a "why?" book.
My writing of service and how-to journalism has always been guided by the belief that given the reasons why, folks are more likely to do the job right than if simply told how to go about some esoteric task. Knowledge converts the drudgery of work into understanding. Understanding puts you in control, which is where you should be as the owner/operator of your very own water and sewage system. So Cottage Water Systems is not just a how-to book, it's also a "why?" book.
I also believe that no matter who the reader--from novice to expert--that person should enjoy the read and learn something. "How-to" books are about work; reading the book shouldn't be. So while ensuring that my writing is jam-packed with good information and tricks of the appropriate trades, I also manage to squeeze in liberal doses of humour to help make the process of acquiring new knowledge more palatable. I mean, how can anyone discuss the workings of septic tanks--especially its "scum" and "sludge"--without drawing obvious analogies to politicians, particularly if it helps you, the reader, to better understand the process?
Respect for the environment, too, is another theme that runs through my service journalism. Not the trade-car-for-bicycle-and- eat-only-lettuce-fertilized-with-natural-gnats'-poo sort of radical stuff, but most definitely there are ways any member of humanity can minimize his or her impact on earth while still maintaining a lifestyle compatible with comfort and convenience. Cottage Water Systems shows a rural resident the many ways this can be accomplished with water systems.
Speaking of rural, if I have any regrets about Cottage Water Systems, it is perhaps with the title. It's too limiting, for while this book touches on areas of seasonal dwellings never covered before in book format, it also covers nearly all aspects of rural water systems, whether permanent home or a seldom-used rustic vacation dwelling. Aside from this one caveat, I am very proud of this work, and am confident you will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Let me know, either way, via Amazon.com.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cottage Water Systems - A Bible for Cabin and Cottage Owners,
By A Customer
This review is from: Cottage Water Systems: An Out-Of-The-City Guide to Pumps, Plumbing, Water Purification, and Privies (Paperback)
If you are going to buy one, and only one book about maintaining a cottage water and sewer system, this is it. The definitive bible on how to keep everything working. Supplemented with excellent illustrations and drawings, Cottage Water Systems is indispensable. About the only criticism we have is that there could be a few more options for pump hook-ups and that some of the addresses are out of date. But all-in-all, this is a truly outstanding book worth the money.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent material on water and septic systems,
By A Customer
This review is from: Cottage Water Systems: An Out-Of-The-City Guide to Pumps, Plumbing, Water Purification, and Privies (Paperback)
This book should be a MUST addition to anyone's library who deals with a well and septic system. The reference material is well documented and the color diagrams make the book easy to understand. Although written for a Canadian cottage, the principles are the same for cabins/cottages anywhere...
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cottage Water Systems tells you what you need to know!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Cottage Water Systems: An Out-Of-The-City Guide to Pumps, Plumbing, Water Purification, and Privies (Paperback)
The importance of establishing a good water supply is unsurpassed for those living beyond the reaches of municipal amenities. This simple fact requires an effective manual dealing with all aspects of water-- its acquisition, preservation, use, and disposal-- because it's up to the homesteader to know all about it. Max Burns provides this invaluable companion text in Cottage Water Systems, an easily read and remarkably entertaining guide to being your own little water and sewer company. This he accomplishes with a folksy wisdom which transforms the potentially tedious subject matter into the common theme in a series of interesting fireside chats. For the reader with a limited attention span, the book is expertly sectioned into short how-to passages with timely sidebars and very effective illustrations.The chapter on outhouses finds the author in his best form and should not be missed. I found Cottage Water Systems to be the definitive guide I needed to confidently tackle the indispensable project of successful water management. However, the reader must consider how much he or she agrees with the author when he declares,"..part of the fun is in the fixing." If your idea of an enjoyable cottage experience does not include extensive labor (sometimes requiring a backhoe), then some of the tasks explained in the book will be passed on to others. Still, the reader/cottager enjoys the future benefit of knowing what he or she is talking about. I get the feeling that I'll be going back to Cottage Water Systems again and again for its complete how-to information and learned wisdom.
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