Staff Nonfiction Favorites

This exciting book provokes oohs and aahs galore! Nelson reveals architectural wonders not only in the United States where treehouses are proliferating rapidly, but also in the forests of Brazil, Bali, Costa Rica, and Japan, among others. Be inspired by the Free Spirit Spheres in Canada (pg 26), or learn about the Secret Garden Treehouse in Seattle.

This compact book is filled cover-to-cover with photographs of houses that make a myriad of choice design solutions that may inspire you to create or enhance your daily environment. It happily includes layouts, architectural details, and the factors that impact the homes such as location, climate and space. My favorites are the waterside homes beginning on page 78.

The abundance of options we face in all aspects of life may have significant negative consequences, including decreased satisfaction with the choices we do eventually make. Our culture may equate more choice with greater freedom, but do we really benefit from having to constantly navigate an endless sea of possibilities, just to do something as simple as buy toothpaste?