I have a new favorite tiny house book and I have been anxious to share it with you. It is Lloyd Kahn’s Tiny Homes Simple Shelter Scaling Back in the 21st Century. Lloyd contacted me about two years ago and said that he wanted to do a book on tiny houses. He asked for contacts to a lot of people I had written about on the Tiny House Blog.
In a way this book is like a printed version of the Tiny House Blog but with Lloyds great writing ability and layout. Plus he has added many tiny houses that I have never seen. He has pulled together a book I think every tiny house enthusiast will want to own.
I recently visited Lloyd and his team at Shelter Publications and saw where these wonderful books are put together and distributed.
In this book there are some 150 builders who have taken things into their own hands, creating tiny homes (under 500 sq. ft.). Homes on land, homes on wheels, homes on the road, homes on water, even homes in the trees. There are also studios, saunas, garden sheds, and greenhouses.
There are 1,300 photos, showing a rich variety of small homemade shelters, and there are stories (and thoughts and inspirations) of the owner-builders who are on the forefront of this new trend in downsizing and self-sufficiency.
Lloyd just released a new video where he takes you through a two minute walk through of the book and Shelter Publications.
You can purchase the book through Shelter Publications or at Amazon.
Thank you Lloyd for sharing your talent with this wonderful new book.
I was excited about purchasing the book…until I saw the shipping charge! 13 dollars, wow! I know I’m on the other side of the country, but the most I’ve ever paid on amazon is 6 dollars. Thanks, but I’ll pass.
Hi Eric, the book is available through Amazon as well so you should be able to get the cheaper shipping by using them.
That’s great news. I’ll be picking up my copy this afternoon.
Ha! Shipping to Spain was $47! Luckily I found it on the UK Amazon.
This book is on amazon right now for less than $15 and qualifies for free shipping with $25 purchase. I was only disappointed that they do not offer a kindle version.
Hi Misty, Shelter Publications is looking at the Kindle and other forms of electronic publishing. I know it will come in time but for now it is only available in book form.
I think announcing the book for sale before having an ebook version ready denotes a serious lack of understanding about tiny living. The kindle makes tiny living possible for so many of us who have a love for literature.
Tiny living requires careful planning of every square inch. To save space for a hard bound book it would be have to pretty darn special.
I love this book! I saw it at the bookstore the other day and was blown away. I mean, I expected it to be wonderful, but it is SO AWESOME. My favorite part is the 2 page spread of crazy home-built buses, campers, and vans. Amazing!
cometcamper.wordpress.com
Lloyd’s books are worth every penny and deserve a space in any micro housers book shelf.This is an investment in the future of micro/tiny living inspiration.
Sure you are limited on space and this is A choice.These are foundational thinking and visualization tools.
I’ll be looking for this at the local book store tomorrow! Thanks for the reminder Kent.
Just ordered mine – can’t wait. $14.50 and free shipping from Amazon (Prime member).
Thanks for sharing the video. I hadn’t seen it yet, and it has two pictures of my float cabin. I am honoured. I was so surprised when Lloyd contacted me about being included. There is a wonderful two page spread in the homes on water section. – Margy
I ordered Lloyd and Deek’s book together from Amazon and love them both
Thanks so much Ryan!
As for the comments on Lloyd only having a hard copy of the book available, I gotta say, its WELL(!) worth the space. If you’re thinking of building your own tiny home, inspirationally, this book will pay for itself a hundred times over. ALOT of work must have gone into this book.
I’m not really a kindle fan (and I DO understand their benefit in space saving ways, and why they’re perfect for some people), its just because I prefer an actual book where I don’t have to worry about spilling water on it, bringing it to the beach, the bathroom (lol), it massive content of lead soldering (for when it eventually ends up in the dump when the new version comes out), and so on. I know, I know, I’m a dinosaur! lol. I also love finding obscure, out of print, titles at used book stores (“The Art And Science Of Crafting Aerodynamic Spitballs”,and so on) which kindle doesn’t have. I additionally love the SMELL of books- musty, second hand one- which I know is bizarre. Red wine and used paperbacks- two of my favorite scents.
From an author’s point of view too (to let you know where others might be comign from), many are resistant to release kindle versions (I’m not, my publisher just hasn’t done so yet) simply because of the ease of piracy with the books. The money in publishing is already insultingly awful, and down the road, if authors can’t make anything off releases, they can’t even cover their expenses (and you’ll see fewer quality books).
Just to add another, perhaps unconsidered element to the discussion…
To sum it up…
A friend asked me a ways back “Why no e-version of the book?” (my old self-released version)
I answered, “Well, I’m somewhat worried about piracy, some other guy selling bootleg copies of something that took me so long to create”.
He said “You got a point, I just pirated three books this morning.”.
No lie. Again, I’m a dinosaur in this debate. I’m also a guy who STILL will buy a cd, or download one (instead of burning it) from a few select bands on principal, just so that they’ll at least get a small portion of the sale in turn.
That said, I definitely do see the merits of Kindle, ESPECIALLY in the tiny house scene, and have asked my publishers to get a version out there at some point. We’ll see.
-Dino Deek
Sorry ’bout all the typos- I’m ham-fisting things here on a tiny, tiny netbook keyboard….
“Dino” Deek,
Fear not, there are others like you who love the feel and smell of a real book over ebooks. And yes, that smell goes perfectly with a glass of merlot. I simply don’t want to live anywhere without my books.
Sincerely a fan-
TammyJ
We ordered a copy a few weeks ago and have really enjoyed it. Great book, beautiful pictures, and interesting people.
It looks like a beautiful book. I enjoy Lloyd’s blog too.
What a wonderful surprise! I actually have dog-eared original copies of Shelter and The Whole Earth Catalog, which lets you know I’m not a youngster. These were two of the most influential books I read in the 70s (both bought while living in Canada).
I have them close at hand even now and drift off into a world of what is possible. What inspiration I have drawn from these books! And I plan to submerge myself in Lloyd’s world again with the new Shelter!
Many years ago there was also the Lost Whole Moose Catalog put together by a bunch of Yukoners. Then a couple more followed. Unfortunately out of print, but I still have my originals and get a laugh now and then looking at them. The perfect outhouse companion. http://www.harbourpublishing.com/title/OriginalLostMooseCatalogue
I looked at it today at Barnes & Noble. Really excellent book – I debated buying it, but waited to come home. I’d have preferred a digital version, so I wanted to see if one was available. More and more I am going full digital on books and magazines because they’re always available anywhere, anytime. You don’t have to dig for them on a shelf and wonder where you put them.
I can see that there may be a downside (pirating) but there are ways around that too I suppose (Apple sells many books online, they must have figured something out?) Will buy if a digital version becomes available though, it is really quite a good book with many cool ideas!
Don’t forget your local library! I suggested ours buy it, and got an email to say a copy was ready for me to pick up the very next week – I do think it must have been on order already, they’re not usually that quick.
If someone hadn’t brought it up, I would have. Thanks. I get all my books at the library, or lending libraries where you take one and give one.
If we are trying to reduce our impact on the planet, then anytime we can save paper and thus trees is responsible.
I will add this to my library list for next week. Thanks Deek…Your Rock!
S. Allen
I love this book and I love that you’ve showcased it but, perhaps you could change your link to Shelter’s web store? (http://www.shelterpub.com/_home/shelter_book_toc.html) Amazon is a giant of a company that doesn’t need to be linked to when a small publisher, or even independent book stores, offer online purchasing options.
You are right Mya and I will get both on the post. Thank you!
I can’t see myself reading an electronic book. I prefer a printed physical version. I’m now waiting for my copy from Amazon 🙂
Anders
Sweden
I just purchased it yesterday before even reading this blog entry. I fell asleep with it on me. Such a beautiful book filled with wonderful stories, ideas and photos! Thank you guys for being such a delight and inspiration!