Home Comforts : The Art and Science of Keeping House

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Summary: Wonderful resouce
Review: My son, age 20, gave me this book for Christmas, having heard the author on NPR. He was somewhat afraid that I would be offended by a book on housekeeping. Well, I simply cannot believe that I am mesmereized by a housekeeping book! This book is perhaps a housekeepeing encyclopedia, with answers on practically every subject. But what I appreciate the most is the author's tone. Down to earth, human, yet incredibly knowledgable. This was my favorite Christmas present this year!

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Summary: What your mother may have never taught you...
Review: This is the everything you ever wanted to know about keeping house book. Mendelson takes you through every room of the house and focusses on those things that make a house a home. I live with an allergy sufferer and her hints (like damp dusting and how to air a bed) were very, very helpful. She also has a terrific section on properly cleaning wood floors and the laundry and fabric sections are worth the price of the book themselves. Mendelson is not a zealot. This is not a "how it must be done" book. It is a "how it can be done" book and you can choose which ideas you want to incorporate. This is an ideal book for those setting up their first (or second or third) home. I am planning to buy it as a standard wedding present. Everyone can learn something from it.

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Summary: I Bought This With My Christmas Money
Review: I could hardly wait to shop on Boxing Day...for one reason..this book. I fell in love with it after seeing a 'spotlight' section about it on Amazon. Now it is the talk of North America. It is indeed the stuff your Mom should have taught you. Mine did, I just didn't pay attention. There is everything in here from food storage, to folding clothes (I desperately needed that page), to ironing and care of cds and videos. This is a must read for everyone who wants to 'make a home'

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Summary: Everything you wanted to know about keeping house ...
Review: Any mother would be proud... this is the Tiffany of books on housekeeping and then some... a treasure to behold. Everything from soup to nuts in one book. I loved it. It might sound crazy but I was intrigued the minute I started reading it. Thanks!

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Summary: i love this book! one of the years best!
Review: if you want to learn everything about home keeping this is the book. its totally on the mark. its easy to read and very informative. i highly recommend this book. i think it is one of the years best!

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Summary: Things your mother never taught you
Review: I suspect I am typical of many women who grew up in the 1960's to have a career outside of the home. Through professional success, my mother hoped I would never have to deal with the drudgery of housework. The unfortunate result of this outlook was that important information which was transmitted from one generation to another, skills which BOTH men and women need to run a household, was lost and forgotton -- that is, until Cheryl Mendelsohn came along. Home Comforts has a great concept -- a comprehensive Joy of Cooking approach to running a home. I appreciate that it's well written. I'm glad the author is someone whose competence in the professional world is beyond reproach. I'm tempted to buy copies of this book for friends and family members who, like me, have advanced degrees but are failing Housework 101.

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Summary: An Art
Review: The book is inspirational as well as practical. It has made me realize that housekeeping is not necessary drudgery but rather an art which nurtures the family and creates the distinctive character of the home.

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Summary: This book's a life saver!
Review: I had no idea how to keep house and have played at it for 10 1/2 years. I've bought a few books about this topic, however none are as detailed and informative as Home Comforts. This book explains all different aspects of housekeeping including maintenance, cleaning, stocking supplies, etc. There's even a great section on safety issues. Thanks Ms. Mendelson!

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Summary: Reviving a lost art
Review: This book is less of a how-to manual than it is a guide to establishing and maintaining general principles of housekeeping. I don't know about you other readers, but the housekeeping techniques that were handed down to me by my mother (when I bothered to pay attention) were spotty and based more on worn out traditions than science. This book injects the science into the art of keeping house. Sure, sometimes the author can go overboard. I, for one, don't plan to be on my hands and knees each time I clean my kitchen floor. But the reasons that she recommends this technique were sound and they did make me consider cleaning the floor at eye-level more frequently. I just bought 8 copies of this book - one for each of my home-making brothers and sisters for Kwanzaa. What could be a better gift for the new millennium than the comforts of home?

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Summary: Traditional
Review: I was hooked immediately. I discovered that there are specific reasons for keeping house other than because it is the "job" of every wife. I discovered that there is pride that goes along with housekeeping. It gives you peace of mind knowing that your house is clean and healthy. I also loved the discussion of traditions and family, a time that gets lost in the fast-paced lives we now lead. This book finally describes why the work must be done, not simply telling us to do it. A must read!