Cover Image: How to Do Things: A Timeless Guide to a Simpler Life (Gardening Books, How-To Books, Homesteading Books)

How to Do Things: A Timeless Guide to a Simpler Life (Gardening Books, How-To Books, Homesteading Books)

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

It was once very popular to read a book like this filled with general knowledge topics. Despite the passage of time, the information is still relevant today. Seeing that the old ways are still the best ways was a lot of fun.

With the help of this book, I felt as if I travelled back in time. It transported me back to the early 1900s when I was reading it. Throughout the book, the author provides numerous how-tos and problem-solving techniques that can be applied both on the farm and in the home. Readers can find advice on everything from how to get the most out of your dishwasher to how to deal with swine lice to how to plan a great party on a budget. This book, in the early 1900s, would have served as the equivalent of a search engine like "google". The knowledge I could glean from this book if I was sent back in time would be invaluable.

Was this review helpful?

This book is a reprint of a book published in 1919 by the Farm Journal. Included are instructions for doing many things around the farm your self. This is a fun book to read but not all the advice is practical. Enjoy this nostalgic look at farm life.

Was this review helpful?

A great book of general knowledge topics that was popular many years ago. The information is still applicable today. It was very entertaining to see that the old ways can still be the best ways.

Was this review helpful?

This is a great book which covers such a wide variety of topics about self reliance and everyday living. It's amazing how many skills we have lost in everyday life over the years. This timeless guide brings back the steps and practices that you need to do to keep a homestead and not rely fully on modern machines and gadgets. It was a wonderful read weather you are currently living and working a homestead, or if you are still in the dreaming stages. I highly recommend this book as a go-to guide for yourself, or a gift for someone.

Was this review helpful?

This fantastic book gives advice and how-to's on all kinds of daily tasks and problems.

I love the simplicity of this book, and its straight forward nature. It sets out a problem, and gives you an answer.
Many of the sections are antiquated and not totally useful for application today, but I think we can still learn from the way things were once done.
Other bits, however, are still entirely applicable. I can see young industrious people around the world relying on the invaluable tidbits offered in How to Do Things, and I know that I myself will turn to this book when I am faced with household problems and tasks.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley and Chronicle Books for providing me with a copy of this in exchange for my honest review.

There seems to be a resurgence in a desire to acquire basic living knowledge and techniques. Somewhere along the industrial revolution in the twentieth century and with people leaving farm life for larger cities in droves we have lost necessary and vital knowledge that is usually passed down from one generation to the next. That is why books like this are essential and becoming ever more popular.

This book is a reissue of a 100-year-old classic. Perfect for homesteaders or anyone with that little bit self-reliance desire hidden inside them. Is it everything you need to be a homesteader? No. Is it still fun and useful? Yes. One caveat, this book may be along the lines of more nostalgic on some things. There have been quite a few advances in homesteading since it's initial release. However, it is still pertinent and will give you a great base to start building your homesteading knowledge. I recommend.

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars, truly.

This is a quaint and memorable guide re-issued to us that, while from basically a century ago, holds a considerable level of application for today's readers (I found the sections on bees, tree pruning, and the recipes particularly interesting).

The book's impressive in its spectrum of subject matter: House/party etiquette, the afore-mentioned recipes, instructions on how to build or expand structures, getting rid of critters, inspecting dead chickens to see *what* killed it, games to play on a budget, advice regarding certain crops, etc.

Ever wanted to build an icehouse? Make cheese? There's a way here to do so if you're seeking that self-reliant lifestyle. Like anything else within these pages, you might want to see if anyone's thought of a better way to do any of these things, especially considering advancements in technology regarding construction. I would also caution against applying any chemicals listed here on your garden---there's definitely better (i.e. less toxic) alternatives. That being said, since this is a list of quick-and-easy things to do from generations ago, you should come at this book from an angle of appreciation, reverence, and interest.

It's an exhibit in how creative and free-thinking people had to be long ago. They were forced to make their own fun, defend against things few of us will have to defend against, and build things we might only ever see in pictures (just in this book, maybe even).

For the record, teaching an "impatient" kid how to build a paper megaphone on-the-fly is a terrible, terrible idea.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle books for the advance review.

Was this review helpful?

This seems to be a really neat book, but the watermark made it nearly impossible to read. I will be buying a copy when it comes out, as I love the practical old-fashioned advice within, and enjoyed the nostalgic whimsy.

Was this review helpful?

"How to Do Things" was published in 1919 as a collection of the best articles from The Farm Journal. It's an interesting look at farming at a time when technology was changing things. They talked about a wide variety of topics, like how to best do various farming activities (relating to cattle, pigs, chickens, and horses) and pest control, or the most efficient way to wash dishes or clothing, or how to build an ice house or cellar, or the best layout for a barn or porch, or food recipes and information on canning, carving and preserving meat, or a long list of indoor and outdoor games (which usually only used common objects). It's an interesting read for those curious about how things used to be and, in some cases, useful advice on how to do things even now.

Was this review helpful?

It was time to roll up the sleeves and get down to work, well not all work . When it came to farm life of yore, this century-old edition encapsulated it all. Timeless illustrations accompanied with suggestions for making everyday life a walk in the park was there for the making. This book was entertaining and comes recommended to anyone looking to take a nostalgic trip back in time.

I offer my thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

A nostalgic guide to How to do many things.Great advice step by step advice to fix things around the farm in the house.I loved the section that gave ideas on games to play with the family games I never heard of to the popular still today Charades.This would make a lovely gift .#netgalley # chroniclebooks.

Was this review helpful?

A book full of interesting and useful hints and tips that can still be used now.
I'm fascinated by old almananacs and really appreciated this book.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

Was this review helpful?

This was a great read. Practical (and fun) how-to's written for the layman.
With the rise of urban agriculture and back-to-the-roots miniature homesteads, I can see this book becoming a go-to recommendation for the self-reliant beginner. I actually want to get a print copy for myself to reference while outdoors.

Was this review helpful?