Alas, this book did not grab my attention and I abandoned it like an old skateboard. I wish the author and publisher good luck. They probably won't need it since the pub date is long past. I don't think this review will help much but that's the way it goes. Thanks for providing the book to read anyway. All the best.....

This was a wonderful book. I really enjoyed the author’s “voice” and the way he described his work, his interactions, experience and journey. It made me want to look at his work and take a woodworking class right away. I feel like I could read more and more of his stories. I found myself thinking about having him as a guest lecturer and how wonderful it would be to learn more about his craft, opinions and answer questions.

This is a really interesting read for anyone interested in architecture. Ellison is confident and opinionated, but retains a bit of a "chat with grandpa" vibe that has its own appeal. I wouldn't call this self-help by any stretch of the imagination but Ellison can't resist imparting more general life advice, veering between discourses on building and craftsmanship to memoir to life lessons. A more pedantic reviewer might accuse it of being muddled, but I found it charming.

First, Thank you Net Galley and Random House for giving me access to this book!

For me, there are a few points that set this book apart from other biographies. The biggest difference and one that I love is the narrative and the structure. As a biography, everyone expects stories of the author's life and this book has plenty. However, they are woven into chapters that provide life lessons. The chapters do not jump from one era to another or one experience to another, they have disguised lessons from a person who is humble and accomplished. It contains many hidden sagely, grandfatherly pieces of advice, I have bookmarked them all.

Another thing I like about this book and I believe is an extremely smart move by the publishers, is the cover. Unlike the trend in biographies to put authors on the cover, this one allowed me to choose this book without the pressure of knowing the author beforehand. Being in a field unrelated to the author's profession, I had never heard about him. But the word Carpenter in the subtitle and the cover attracted my curious nature.

This book is written for all audiences. Anyone like me who did not know the author beforehand or knows nothing about buildings, architecture or interiors can read this book and enjoy it.

Overall, it was a calming read brimming with knowledge on leading a fulfilled life accumulated through experience.

When I first saw this book on NetGalley, my interest was piqued. Specifically, the subtitle is what drew me in. I've read numerous titles on finding meaning and living a good life, but none from a carpenter. I was not disappointed. Ellison interweaves tales from the job site, his own experiences, and valuable life lessons in a way that keeps the reader interested. By the end of the book, I felt like I had sat down with a friend to talk about life over dinner which is hard to accomplish sometimes. My only criticism is that, as a reader with no experience whatsoever in carpentry, a few more diagrams depicting the processes, tools, or builds would have been beneficial. Where it involves the work done in private homes, I understand this would not always be possible. I only make that point to stress how involved I was in Ellison's narrative. I wanted to fully 'see' the work he had done. Overall, an excellent book with lessons for all, whether they are a trades person or not.

This book is unique in the way it weaves biographical observations from the author into philosophical asides on the nature of "work" and the many aspects of living a fulfilling, meaningful life.

I happen to know a fair number of talented electricians, plumbers, and carpenters, many of whom are extremely interesting and multitalented individuals. Mark Ellison is obviously one of these. Each chapter of "Building" goes some way towards destroying stereotypes about the difference between so-called white collar and blue collar jobs, and between so-called manual and intellectual labor. Building things that don't fall down; building things that are not only functional but also beautiful, and working with powerful elements like water and electricity without hurting oneself or others, takes more skill, concentration, enthusiasm and intelligence than most of us can sustain day after day. Throughout this book Mr. Ellison doesn't gloat over his obvious superiority in sustaining these qualities; instead he explains how he does it by explaining his attitude towards materials, environment, and architectural goals.

Ellison is both practical and witty in summing up his work history. He reminds us that the most beautiful work is never achieved without problems, detours, and hissy fits that are all forgotten once the final project is achieved. He also reminds us that when properly constructed the homes of the rich are built and function the same way and with the same concerns as the homes of the working class---the only real difference is a surface illusion of opulence. To quote Ellison: " The precious wood in fancy millwork these days is rarely more than a sixteenth of an inch thick. Behind that, its either chewed up scraps from the miill, or the same pedestrian poplar that lines so many small-town streets."

Ellison is an excellent guide to what lies behind the surface of high-end (and low end) construction, and his readers will appreciate this compassionate portrait of what goes on behind the curtain.

--by Carol Cooper