Should this review be about this book or about the concept of tiny homes? The book, I guess, because this is an Amazon review, but it is hard to disengage the two. I live a lot of my time in hotels and short-term apartments and I know that I can be comfortable in a small space, but I would not like to call one of these Tiny Homes, my home. Why? Because I like physical books, I cook with pots and pans, and I need to go to the toilet in the middle of the night. This last is the deal breaker. No way can I, with a bursting bladder, crawl down a ladder from a sleeping loft to stagger outside to the outhouse. Nor are lofts safe for people who enjoy alcohol or other drugs, or suffer from balance disorders. Not all tiny houses use lofts or outhouses, of course, but the problem remains that living in a tiny space and pursuing a serious hobby are mutually exclusive. Storing all your gear in a shed is cheating.

So while I can appreciate the aesthetics and cleverness of many of these house (some of which are spectacular), I would gladly take some of them as holiday rentals, I just don't think that tiny houses meet the needs of an aging population and I think that the enthusiasm for them will eventually peter out. Trying to make a bed that is crammed against a wall gets old really fast.

So back to the book review. I agree with several other reviewers that much of the material here is not original. I would not buy this book for myself or a friend because the same info and photos are available free on the web.

I received a review copy of "Tiny Homes: Simple Shelter" by Lloyd Kahn (Shelter Publications) through NetGalley.com. ( )

1,300 photos! Need I say more? Tiny Homes Simple Shelter is certain to fuel the fire of any tiny home dreamer. While there wasn't much to read by way of owner-builder stories, what little was included felt genuine and informative. The passion for simple living and tiny homes is on every page of this book. Highly recommended.

4 stars ( )

A wonderful book which felt like it was a labour of love for the author. It had a scrap-book feel and Kahn has been doing this for a long time but his passion for alternative self determined living spaces shone through the book. My favourites were the ones which featured lots of natural wood. ( )

Truly not much to read besides letters and the stories of the homeowners of these fabulously creative homes. I am glad I had the chance to read this and be inspired to follow my dreams like these folks did. Awesome! ( )

I'm not sure why I'm so fascinated by little houses but I am. This book about them is a beauty.

This is not a how-to manual. You'll have to look elsewhere for blueprints. this is more of a dream book. It shows lot of tiny houses, all under 500 sq ft. It has detailed photographs of interiors and the descriptions of many of these houses are written by the builders themselves. They tell how they were inspired to build, what techniques they used, how it's working for them, etc. It is full of inspiration. These range from houses built out of scrap material to high-end homes but they are all under 500 sq ft. Buildings from all around the world are found here and a number of them aren't full time houses. Some of them are weekend cottages or workspaces or buildings just used as a bedroom. They even show the Capsule Hotel in Tokyo. A number of the companies that manufacture these homes are features also. It's fun to read.

If I have any complaints about the book it's that at times the tone from some of the builders gets a little self-righteous. Sorry, you're not going to guilt me into leaving my big ol'1905 Victorian but I sure do love to look at the pretty little houses.

Book received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )