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Captivating

Short but clear.

A good introduction to all the basic processes of metalwork, but it hasn't aged too well. Particularly the final chapters about CNC are out of date. A lot of the practical guidance on how to use universal machines is repeated (they all use the same longitudinal beds). The illustrations and diagrams are helpful throughout, and each chapter is self-contained so you can dip in for reference as you need.

Terse and informative, although now quite out of date with hydrological discoveries in the last 40 years. Still a solid introduction to the underlying geology and hydrology of the west Yorkshire Dales.

A quick and somewhat interesting overview of various heritage bits of civil engineering the north of England. Many of the entries are simply a list of span dimensions and names of architects and engineers, which is not very interesting or useful. The more interesting entries are the longer ones which have some motivation for why a particular structure is important, and some information about its development and history.

What a chaotic book.

I felt like I lived a lifetime while reading this book. Partially because it’s quite a long book, and partially because it seems to forego plot at some points, instead just following the (extended) lives of various characters as they while away their days enjoying flying, climbing, or cruising around their world.

Some interesting ideas, and some interesting politics, but at points felt like those things were only a loosely strung together collection of things the author wanted to include.

Enjoyable and relaxing to read, and full of advice useful in life as well as for the wood shed. Lovely pictures.

Pictures are good. A lot of the text would be better as a map. Complains about tourists ruining Scotland, but his book is only going to increase that.

Hasn’t aged well.

Good route suggestions, clear and consider writing, and nice photographs. A nice way to guide people towards not just walking the Yorkshire Three Peaks.

Informative, but quite opinionated and a little condescending. It includes a lot of uncommon knowledge about canals (at least from my point of view), but occasionally dilutes it with irrelevant coverage of other things (like the wildlife you’ll find in a hedgerow). Overall, an interesting and quick read on canals, with the bonus that it’s also an interesting insight into people’s opinions on canals in the 80s.

Informative, but slightly longer than it needed to be to convey the relevant information. It contained a lot of lists which would grow outdated over time (for example, comparisons and evaluations of worm composters which were available at the time of publishing). References were provided at the end, but not linked to from the text, which made some of the claimed benefits of vermiculture a little less credible. The book was slightly too evangelical at times to be credible either.