The Healthy House: How to buy one, how to build one, how to cure a sick one, 3rd edition and The Healthy House Answer Book: Answers to the 133 most commonly asked questions

3rd edition, by John Bower. 1997, The Healthy House Institute, 430 N. Sewall Rd., Bloomington, IN 47408. Paperback, 650 pages, $23.95.

by John and Lynn Marie Bower. 1997, The Healthy House Institute. Paperback, 190 pages, $8.95.

John Bower has long been a leading authority on indoor air quality in houses, and

The Healthy House is his encyclopedic reference on the subject. The quality and quantity of information have evolved considerably since the first edition in 1989, reflecting new information and shifts in the emphasis of Bower’s work. His basic principles for dealing with indoor pollutants—eliminate, separate, ventilate—haven’t changed, however.

The writing in

The Healthy House is straightforward and clear, and geared towards a nonprofessional audience. Designers and builders with some experience in the field may find themselves wishing for more detail on some topics—even at 650 pages the book contains only a small fraction of Bower’s accumulated knowledge. Those seeking more detail will be well served by the careful citations. Every fact and claim is documented in the nearly 1,200 notes at the back of the book. Also useful is a listing of addresses and phone numbers for about 450 companies and organizations printed in boldface type throughout the text.

The Healthy House Answer Book contains short-but-not-simple answers to

many common questions, and a good index. Both books are incredibly inexpensive for what they offer, and excellent references for anyone concerned with houses and health. Add $3 for the first book and $2 each for additional copies to cover shipping when ordering direct from HHI.