Review of The Truth About Plumbing
Posted: 19 Mar 2025, 13:31
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Truth About Plumbing" by Avram Friedman.]
"The Truth about Plumbing" by Avram Friedman is an entertaining diatribe on the history and current state of plumbing, including its pros and cons. Many historical details and personal stories enhance the reading and knowledge provided by this book. There are many technical aspects of plumbing discussed (i.e. fixtures, connections, metallurgic and plastic chemical information, and basic engineering requirements); however, all of this information is clearly, concisely, and humorously explained. The author is blunt in explaining why plumbing issues occur and relates that the "plumber" is frequently blamed for plumbing leaks and piping failures when in reality, the age and the materials used are most likely the cause of the plumbing issues.
I recommend this book to all homeowners (and potential homeowners), especially those with older homes or plumbing issues. Building contractors, plumbers, and plumbing apprentices may also benefit from this book by furthering their knowledge of plumbing history and an alternative perspective of plumbing practices from a veteran plumber. Those who appreciate sarcastic humor may also enjoy this book.
The author, Avram Friedman, is a certified C-1 plumber with a degree in Solar Technology. An avid environmentalist and political activist. Avram Friedman has also run for political office (governor of North Carolina).
I rate this book a 5 out of 5. "The Truth about Plumbing" is an excellent general source of information on plumbing and the history of plumbing. Although there are a few grammatical errors, this short book appears professionally edited. The only thing I disliked about this book was that some photos were so finely detailed that it was hard to enlarge the writing to a readable format (at least on my reading device). There is a minor amount of foul language. Due to my background in pipefitting, I found this book very interesting, especially the historical aspects and the use of "Wonder Bread" as a plumbing solution.
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The Truth About Plumbing
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
"The Truth about Plumbing" by Avram Friedman is an entertaining diatribe on the history and current state of plumbing, including its pros and cons. Many historical details and personal stories enhance the reading and knowledge provided by this book. There are many technical aspects of plumbing discussed (i.e. fixtures, connections, metallurgic and plastic chemical information, and basic engineering requirements); however, all of this information is clearly, concisely, and humorously explained. The author is blunt in explaining why plumbing issues occur and relates that the "plumber" is frequently blamed for plumbing leaks and piping failures when in reality, the age and the materials used are most likely the cause of the plumbing issues.
I recommend this book to all homeowners (and potential homeowners), especially those with older homes or plumbing issues. Building contractors, plumbers, and plumbing apprentices may also benefit from this book by furthering their knowledge of plumbing history and an alternative perspective of plumbing practices from a veteran plumber. Those who appreciate sarcastic humor may also enjoy this book.
The author, Avram Friedman, is a certified C-1 plumber with a degree in Solar Technology. An avid environmentalist and political activist. Avram Friedman has also run for political office (governor of North Carolina).
I rate this book a 5 out of 5. "The Truth about Plumbing" is an excellent general source of information on plumbing and the history of plumbing. Although there are a few grammatical errors, this short book appears professionally edited. The only thing I disliked about this book was that some photos were so finely detailed that it was hard to enlarge the writing to a readable format (at least on my reading device). There is a minor amount of foul language. Due to my background in pipefitting, I found this book very interesting, especially the historical aspects and the use of "Wonder Bread" as a plumbing solution.
******
The Truth About Plumbing
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon