Skousen, Joel. _The Secure Home--Architectural Design, Construction, and Remodeling of Self-Sufficient Residences and Retreats_, 3d Ed. Swift Publishing, 1999. 700p., 8 1/2 X 11", $45 plus $9 S&H. Credit card orders to the publisher at 800-292-2831, or by mail direct from the author at 290 West 580 South, Orem, Utah 84058. http://www.xsw.com/securehome/report.htm

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The usual way reviewers obtain the books they write about is to request review copies from publishers, or to be assigned the task by the editor of the publication for which they're writing. In this case I purchased the book in question, because I am familiar with the author's work, own several of his other titles and have been looking forward to getting this one since its publication was announced a couple of months ago. I can say at the outset that I am not disappointed. My copy, which arrived last week, is already dogeared, underlined and annotated.

Joel Skousen's _The Secure Home_ is encyclopedic both in scope and content. It could well be subtitled "Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Building A Safe And Sustainable Home Or Retreat But Were Afraid (Or Didn't Know Who) To Ask." The author has been designing such structures on a custom basis for a number of years, and his experience is amply represented in the pages of his text.

This retitled edition is an update of Mr. Skousen's original work called The Survival Home Manual, last printed in 1982. Reading this book may well force you to challenge conventional ways of thinking about your lifestyle and what you expect your home to provide for you. If you have been thinking along those lines already, you will find a treasure trove of ideas to help you make your abode everything you need and want it to be.

Rather than attempt a lengthy discussion regarding the book's broad scope, I will let the table of contents speak for itself:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction:

Section 1: GENERAL PHILOSOPHY AND STRATEGY OF SECURITY AND SELF-SUFFCIENCY

General Assessment of the World Situation--analysis of what threats we have to prepare against

Philosophy of Self-Sufficiency

Contingency Planning and Mitigation of threats

Lifestyle Changes necessary under self-sufficiency

Security proceedures for quick reaction in a crisis

Analyzing you present situation and location--flow chart for relocation decisionmaking

Section 2: PLANNING: DESIGNING FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND REMODELING

General and specific site selection

Residential design criteria

Retreat criteria

Preliminary Layout and Planning

Remodeling criteria and suggestions

Environmental control and climate matching

Section 3: INTEGRATION OF SECURITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY SYSTEMS

General Systems overview

Household appliances (all the latest new developments in energy efficiency)

Normal Electrical systems (Meter base, grounding, subpanels, 110 volt and 220 volt circuits)

Alternate Electrical systems (Generators, Inverters, Solar PV panels, batteries, controls, wiring)

Normal and Alternative Water supply systems (public supplies, wells, springs, cisterns, water pumping alternatives)

Multi-fuel/source Hot Water Systems (wood heated, gas heated, solar heated and electric)

Multi-fuel Space heating systems (wood, gas, oil combination furnaces, solar hydronic heat)

Mechanical cooling systems (solar, cool tubes, 12 volt and normal evaporative or a/c system)

Plumbing and Sanitation systems (black water, gray water, cisterns, storage tanks, pumps, solar)

Transportation systems (the latest in high-tech, long range vehicles, electric cars and bikes etc)

Security systems (Strategy, tactics, fencing, interior trap zoning, cameras, intercoms, alarm output systems etc)

Other Survival Equipment (special winter clothes etc)

Systems Integrations: How to integrate all the different systems together

Section 4: CONSTRUCTION AND IMPLEMENTATION

Site work, excavation, grading, landscaping

Residential construction techniques (Wood frame, Insulated Masonry, Post and Beam, Log Homes)

Underground Homes

High Security Shelters Implementation (reinforcing, waterproofing, vents, sanitation, power, escape exits, concealment)

Contracting and subcontracting, Getting a fair bid on work.

Privacy issues in dealing with building codes, inspectors and contractors

Section 5: RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIERS (Listings and descriptive comments)

There is sufficient detail in the text and the included design and architectural drawings to allow a reasonably handy person to accomplish many of the projects on a do-it-yourself basis. This will allow the homeowner to save money and insure privacy in the process. Continued emphasis is placed on design features or modifications that enhance security and self sufficiency, while not standing out and drawing unwelcome attention.

Section 5 includes a useful and extensive list of suppliers, which will be updated as required on the author's web page. There is also a fairly lengthy bibliography, offering a list of other useful sources which expand on specific areas of the text if needed.

Many of us began self-education and self-preparedness activities due to concerns over potential y2k problems. Even though many problems failed to materialize, there are still significant areas of concern that make safety and self sufficiency reasonable considerations for any individual. This book will provide a major resource to people who are still concerned about the uncertainty of the modern world.

Obviously this book will not appeal to everyone. It may seem overly expensive to some readers, but a great deal of work has gone into its preparation and it is much cheaper than an equivalent amount of direct consulting time with the author. Its chief value in my opinion lies in the amount of useful information included, the plethora of good ideas discussed, the sheer number of things the reader might not think about if working alone trying to solve some of the problems designing, building or remodeling residences for security and sustainability.

Lee P. Lapin Saturday, January 29, 2000

-- Lee (lplapinXOUT@hotmail.com), January 29, 2000

Answers

Lee,

This sounds like an interesting read. Thank you for posting your review. Perhaps, some of us may get our own copies and discuss general thoughts and questions here on this forum.

Sincerely, Stan Faryna

-- Stan Faryna (faryna@groupmail.com), January 30, 2000.

Is there much difference between this version and his original version of about 20 + years ago? I own the original and as you say, it is quite dog-eared and annotated as well. His brother Mark, wrote an excellent read on Financial Security at that time as well. I also recently purchased his book on "Safety Locations"...as my two year old is running amok at the moment, I can't run upstairs and get the exact title....That one was a major disappointment. I couldn't find a thing in it about my own area or any lying nearby....Still, Skousen (though pretty far right) is an excellent and cogent read....just know his "agenda" before you read it. Lots of good advice in there that I plan to incorporate.

-- Ynott (Ynott@incorruptible.com), February 01, 2000.