Book Review: Eccentric Cubicle by Kaden Harris
Published February 19, 2008
Yes, that's right. One of the projects is a "BallistaMail." Other projects in the book include a desktop guillotine, a desktop fretless bass, and a USB-powered bubble machine. Harris notes, "I'd like to point out that we need another DIY Ambient Orb project like we need a new hole drilled in our skulls (which is not to say that there isn't a time and a place for recreational trepanning, but that, of course, is another book altogether)." (ibid., p. viii) These are usable items, not just some pretty fluff that serves no purpose, although I'm not sure if I have ever found myself needing a fretless bass while tweaking spreadsheets and reading my email.
My one complaint about the book design is that some of the photographs look like they were taken in a dimly lit room with a basic digital camera. The area around the focus of the flash is often washed out in white, while the outer areas of the photo are too dark to make out the details. Perhaps this was done to give the book a more DIY feel, but personally I would have preferred better detail in the photos, particularly those with tools and equipment I've never seen nor used before.
If you're already comfortable with soldering metal, turning wood, and playing with electrical wiring, then this book will point you in the direction of some fun gadgets and gizmos to make. If you're a neophyte like me, this book may inspire you to explore your tool drawer and look at scraps in an entirely different way.
- Book Review: Eccentric Cubicle by Kaden Harris
- Published: February 19, 2008
- Type: Review
- Section: Books
- Filed Under: Books: Reference, Books: Nonfiction
- Writer: Anna Creech
- Anna Creech's BC Writer page
- Anna Creech's personal site
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