Much shorter on technical info and much longer on proselytizing than I expected. ( )

I really love this book. It lays out the case for thinking small with respect to your living quarters and shows examples of other people who've done the same. I really hope to use some of the ideas I've gained from this book, and at the very least it provides ample inspiration for modest living and thoughtful design. ( )

An excellent idea book to encourage thinking outside of the box when it comes to housing--both literally and metaphorically. While most of the text is devoted to examples of people who are happy with less, Salomon does acknowledge that some people are naturally hoarders (such as myself), and reminds us to think of non-heated/conditioned space for housing our stuff. Also we are reminded to pass this book on to someone else who can use it, rather than letting it sit unused.
Little House is about more than building size, it addresses current nuclear family social structure with examples of grandparents sharing a house, how to give teens the privacy and independence they need, co-housing where common gathering spaces are shared, or units built with shared walls to conserve heat and leave open more space for yard/play/garden. This leads to another important topic: that kids need outdoor space more than toys.
Not all the buildings in this book are aesthetically pleasing to me, and not much information is given on materials or techniques, but there are numerous floor plans showing how people made a 500-1000 sq ft house liveable. One idea is to make the toilet room separate from tub/shower so the toilet isn't tied up if someone wants a long soak. Or tiling the whole room so it is essentially all a shower and avoids wasting space with doors. ( )