This book offers an informative, but ultimately frustrating, look at the house-building process. Locke certainly seems to know what he's talking about, and in a perfect world, you'd be able to follow his advice and still come in under budget. In reality, you're likely to encounter contractor resistance (they're not all Lockian craftsmen) and a final cost that is a great deal higher than expected. If you're building a half-million-dollar house, or if you're willing to settle for a well-built 2BR cottage instead of the typically built 4BR Colonial you'd envisioned, you'll probably find this book invaluable. Otherwise, it might leave you vaguely dissatisfied, as you'll end up with a pretty good idea of how well-built your house is not.