Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I have both this book, and the "Kitchen Cabinets Made Simple" book. Studied them both. My take is, if you are patient, and really want to learn about building and installing cabinets, this is the book for you. If you are not patient, and think, "just tell me how to build a damn cabinet" maybe the "made simple" book might be more your speed. This book is about twice the content by page count alone, and the "information density" how much is conveyed with fewer pages/words increases this even more. the "made simple" book is a quicker, easier read, and you can be out building some (likely suitable) cabinets quickly. However, this book teaches you the ins/outs of all the choices you might make (perhaps frustrating the impatient reader) which I liked. I also note some differences in approach. Mr Lang makes some design choices that may make for a better result down the road. His method for constructing the back of the cabinet and "nailer" can more readily accomodate imperfections in the wall during installation time (installation isn't really covered in the "simple" book). Also, the "simple" book technique leverages the factory edges of the plywood, assuming that these are straight and square. Lang explains that you can't rely on factory edges being square, and shows you how to: a) determine if they are out of square, and if so, b) how to mitigate this. Lang goes into great detail about making a storyboard, making lists, using spreadsheets, cut-lists, installation, really giving you insight into the thinking of a pro cabinet maker. I've read the entire book, and now reading again, and now the first chapters make more sense, having the perspective of all the info in the later chapters in my head now. You might at first get frustrated that Lang is a bit like a newscaster, reporting all the options, and giving you the ins/outs of each option, but never really saying "I like this one best" (but the pro/con lists he does gives you a good clue), but as you get through it, you will discover they way he "often does it" or "likes to do it" for certain things. If you understand, follow, and execute the advice in this book, you should be able to build a fine set of cabinets, and understand and explain your choices to others and yourself. I did get good info from the "simple" book, but as a more patient guy who wants more info on "why" I'm doing something, and don't mind reading twice as much info to get there...I like Lang's book better. If I wanted a more simple, step A, B, C approach to building cabinets, I might prefer the Paolini book ( I just ain't that guy).