(Ideas for Building & Living Well in Less Than 400 Square Feet)
Ryan Mitchell
Betterway Home Books
Tiny houses aren't new to me, but they still have a novel quality in my eyes. I've lived in studio apartments, tiny mother-in-law cottages and other spaces where I practiced the adage less is more. I'm also familiar with volunteer simplicity and the do-it-yourself lifestyles, mainly of younger generations. So while Ryan Mitchell's Tiny House Living doesn't bring up a completely new concept, he does provide the nuts and bolts of building a tiny home from scratch, dealing with zoning regulations, and other obstacles home owners face in choosing the tiny house route.
The book provides practical advice mainly coming from the dwellers of tiny homes which Mitchell interviews throughout his book. While I find the information useful, I could have done without the manifesto sentiments which just come off as smug and self-righteous at times, overbearing at other times. We're all aware that we live in cultures addicted to materialism, but I think it's better to extoll the virtues of the alternative rather than criticize people for living the traditional life of the 9 to 5 job, living in larger homes, etc. I know that it's a challenge not to judge others from living lifestyles diametrically opposed to our own.
Mitchell provides his readers with stunning photographs that promote tiny house living to the curious, including me. He chooses the right array of home owners to interview and readers are provided with a variety of scenarios of why people choose to build their own homes and live minimalist lifestyles. I do think the danger with any alternative lifestyle whether that's living in a tiny house on wheels or eating a raw food vegan diet, is that we preach to the masses and this can come off as dualistic or even shaming in some instances.
However, having said all that, I admire people who choose alternatives and through their passions inspire others to think outside of the box too. I find it admirable for people to take back their power and choose lives they can live purposefully. People who do this inspire me. And if the book only whets the appetite, Mitchell provided a long list of websites, books, and resources at the conclusion of his book.
If you are looking into building a tiny house, then I highly recommend this book as a primer. It will give you hope and inspiration when you run into roadblocks and the usual challenges that crop up when pursuing a dream that's outside the normal realm.--Review by Patricia Herlevi