It is tempting, especially for those familiar with wood and tools, to try to build a functional piece of furniture. In one word, don't--until you use a beginning how-to book and then turn to Proulx's latest guide.

This woodworking expert is no stranger to the art of crafts writing; after such titles as How to Build Classic Garden Furniture and Smart Shelving and Storage Solutions, he's now put together a home office workshop in print (with some help from Jim Stack, editor of Popular Woodworking) featuring 14 "must have" projects. Detailed directions include two types of cutting lists, hardware and supplies, 3-D illustrations of each component and how they fit together, tips (for instance, make sure drawers are one inch smaller in width than the cabinet's inside dimensions), construction notes (information about possible variations and additions), and photographic step-by-step instructions. What's more, he starts by building modules--laminate tabletop, file and storage drawers, desktop organizers--and graduates to such projects as an office bookcase and a writing desk. Suppliers and sources appended. Barbara Jacobs
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