Beginner's Guide to Backyard Building is a beginner-accessible technique and pictorial guide to planning and building small structures by Lee Mothes. Due out 5th May 2026 from Hachette on their Storey imprint, it's 176 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.
There are so many good reasons to increase our self-sufficiency and gain techniques for improving our abilities to build and maintain the structures that protect and enhance our daily lives. Actually planning and building small structures seems like an unattainable goal for many (most?) but the author here does a good job of breaking down the process into step-by-step digestible chunks which are actually do-able.
The book has a no-nonsense, no-frills layout. It's illustrated throughout in the "architect plan" style (see cover art) in color. The drawings are simple but detailed enough to give a good overview. The author's writing style throughout is friendly, positive, and supportive (definite "you can do it" vibes). There are a handful of photos, but they're more background/inspiration (including a sweetly nostalgic one of the author proudly sitting on a chair he made).
Worth noting: this book does NOT include actual plans. It covers planning and scope very well, but readers will need to grab some plans *before* grabbing a hammer and heading to the local big box store for materials.
The author has included a couple of useful appendices including a glossary and measurement conversion lists, as well as an index.
This is a very useful and practical handbook. It would be a good choice
for handy builders, self sufficiency readers, DIY folks, dreamers, and
similar. It would also be a great choice for collectives, public library, activity/volunteer/housing groups.
Five stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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