Guest Author - Donna Coogan

If you are like me, you like to read other people’s opinions and reviews before buying a product – especially books. I love books and could happily take a vacation in a Barnes and Noble. Throw in a cappuccino and I’m in 7th heaven.

When I shop Online, I almost always read reviews before buying. Unless the title has already been recommended to me by a trusted source or I have already physically seen it elsewhere, I want to know what others think. I love places like Amazon where I can also often “search inside this book” and read a few pages before deciding whether to make a purchase. That’s always helpful and a bit of fun.

If you’ve been reading my articles, you know that I write book reviews pretty regularly. Since I’m constantly reading myself, I like to share my “voice” about a particular title. I also want you to be comfortable that I’m a trusted source to give you an honest opinion.

Most of my reviews are about books I have purchased on my own and have enjoyed. In those cases, I can’t help but share them with you. I want to spread the word about something I think you might appreciate, too. Some titles have come to me directly from publishers. In each review, regardless of the source, I try to give you my very best insight – the good, the bad, and if necessary (so far it hasn’t been) the ugly.

Because I write about home improvement from my perspective, I also tend to choose books to review that support my home improvement interests. I read a lot on decorating, women do-it-yourselfers and topics that relate to ongoing projects in my own home. Most of my reviews are based on books I actually refer to from time to time. But, I also review books based on topics that my readers indicate they are interested in. That way, I’m hoping to not only expose you to home improvement from my perspective, but also meet your interests at the same time.

Having said all this, I think there are a few books everyone should have in their home improvement library. First, off - a good reference manual that covers most DIY projects. It should cover all the common hand and power tools you will need for most projects and one that has plenty of clear photos and simple, yet thorough step-by-step instructions. Home improvement isn’t as hands off and as intimidating as it might seem when you are armed with a good reference manual. Do-It-Yourself Home Improvement by Dorling Kindersley is one of my favorites.

Regarding topic-specific home improvement books, do your homework first. Decide what you want to learn about or what kind of project you want to start working on. Then read up on some reviews to get a better feel for the book. If you can, try to find it in a store to surf through a few pages, too. That will help you decide if you can relate to the writing style and if the how-to explanations make sense or just further confuse you.

Also, grab a few books that cover decorating. These are fun and inspirational. I have so many favorites, that it’s difficult to recommend just one to you. I also think that reading about other women who are skilled in do-it-yourself projects and repairs is inspirational and I try to bring you books of that nature, too.

Basically, I want to encourage you to build up your home improvement library. Naturally, you don’t have to buy books you only plan to use once. Borrow from your local library or from a friend. Then, when you find one you love, go ahead and get a copy to add to your collection.

The advantage to reading home improvement books is it will help you understand the workings of your home better. It will give you more confidence to try things on your own. Even if you hire out work, you will be more aware of what you want. And, it’s always a good feeling to have some basic background understanding of the scope of a project when talking with professionals.

At the very least, you might want to know the difference between Sheetrock and drywall. Psst – they are one and the same – Sheetrock just happens to be a brand name. But, the terms are considered interchangeable in the industry. Kind of like Kleenex. Of course it doesn't end with just drywall...you still have the fun of learning about different varieties: flexible, waterproof, fireproof, soundproof, etc. But, I digress.