Many collections of house plans, some dating to the 1920s, line my bookshelves, but James Weisman's "Martha's Vineyard Plan Book" stands out from all the rest. It is a cut above, not only in the stunning yet simple elegance of the designs, but also in terms of sheer practical usefulness. Weisman's homes, additions, and out-buildings are to be lived in, admired, loved. I originally bought this book with the intention of building a garage for our row house in a Midwestern city. The garage never got built, and my husband and I eventually relocated to a suburb where garages are plentiful (though there are none as lovely as the ones in the "Plan Book"). Now, as we approach retirement, we are thinking of returning to our roots in the Northeast. One option is to build a new home. I have been scouring my plan books, some of which offer hundreds of designs, but something tells me that "Martha's Vineyard Plan Book" is the only collection I am going to really need and use. It is inspirational, buy it!