This is an extremely handy book and by no means "pocket sized." It has some very helpful illustrations and tips. I could have used this book years ago because I have an 82-year-old house. It always seems that you start one project, then, once you open a wall, it turns into another. There's a lot of things that look like fun. For example, there ar basic plans for building a planter bench and making an Adirondack chair.