Book Review: The Quick and Easy Home DIY Manual

Recently, I purchased the Quick and Easy Home DIY Manual by Matt Weber and the the Editors of Extreme How-to. I saw their book on Twitter, and decided to purchase it. Here are some quick and easy thoughts (did you see what I did there?) on the manual. You can go follow them on Twitter here: Extreme How-To.

The Book Itself

Now, you’re never supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I’m about to break that rule. The cover is terrific! Why? It has metal guards on the corners so if you have a cat or dog who likes to chew things, your book won’t be ruined on Day One. And also, if you’re tough on books, the cover will stay intact while you write all over the inside like some of us like to do.

The Layout

The layout is fun to read, so if you like to skim, you can do that. There’s never a huge wall of text, rather, there are snippets in easy-to-read pieces so you’re never overwhelmed. There are tons of illustrations so you won’t be bored, too. Of course, you can go through it cover to cover, but it’s set up for easy browsing and/or reference.

The Organization

Another thing I really love about this book is that it’s organized by skill level. So if you’re a beginner like me, you could start with the Tools and Skills section, and do something like build a basic toolbox. Alternately, the Quick Fixes section lets you do a few basic chores, without getting stuck way over your head. If you’re more advanced, there are tougher and longer projects. And there are some in-between projects, for those who are somewhat skilled but not contractors.

The Writing Style

This book is well written, and seems to have been professionally edited, too! Those of us who write for a living really appreciate a well-written book. There are also loads of puns “get stuck on glues,” “stick to it” for a header about tape, and — a personal favorite–“get a royal flush” for a section about toilets. We’re willing to bet the guys at Extreme How-To are big fans of the Dad Joke.

You’ll like it!

Whether you’re a beginner at doing things yourself, or a little more advanced, there are things to be learned here. We can’t wait to fill some holes where someone had trouble deciding where to hang a picture and put up multiple nail holes. If we knew who they were, we’d give them a copy of this book because who does that? Anyway, check out the book and then buy it or borrow a copy (not mine, though!). Highly recommended.

On Another Subject…

Did you read our last post Window Film, You Need to Know What It’s Used For? If you didn’t, we’d love if you did! Thanks for reading and see you next time.