Each time I embark on an extended vacation, a time when I am blessed with an abundance of hours to immerse myself in reading, it always seems that among the three or four books I devour, there is one that truly stands out.

This book has the potential to transform my life, or at the very least, reshape my perception of what I desire life to be.

Unquestionably, the book I am currently reading during my hiatus from real life is that one outstanding gem. I find it difficult to even begin to explain why. One might think that a book about constructing a place to work would be rather dull. However, Pollan had me completely hooked from the very first page.

At times, I literally could not tear myself away from it.

In the book, he discusses being someone who adores writing, not merely for the transfer of information, but because a great read enwraps him like warm, soothing bathwater.

Pollan truly is the purveyor of such bathwater, in the best and most comforting sense of the term.

But do not misunderstand me. This is not a book to be consumed and then discarded like used bathwater. It is a work that I will return to time and time again.

It is honest, inspiring, and in so many ways, a genuine call to leave the fast-paced, multimedia-driven world and return to a place where we can contribute something substantial to the world around us.

A place of our own begins as an idea, and he has truly ignited this idea within me with just the first reading of this remarkable work.

Now, I truly yearn for a place that belongs solely to me. Ideally, it would be tiny, crafted entirely by my own two hands, and caught right in the middle of the crossfire between a grizzled carpenter and an obsessive architect friend, playing out the archetypal feud!

But in reality, it's a joyous journey of constructing my own writing cabin, an attempt to transition from the "there" to the "here". However, I find myself getting all tangled up in such a thorny duality and all the "there'ness" during a (very accessible) jaunt through architectural history and theory.

Also, I'm somewhat of a self-conscious piece or person, and I'm glad that I can recognize this and have a sense of humor about it. It's always fun to observe some datedness in things like the diatribe against the digitati.

This longing for my own space is not just a physical desire but also a mental and emotional one. I envision a place where I can retreat, write, and let my creativity flow freely. The process of building this cabin becomes a metaphor for my own personal growth and development.

As I navigate through the world of architecture and theory, I'm constantly challenged to think about the meaning and purpose of space. How can I create a place that is both functional and beautiful, that reflects my personality and values? These are the questions that drive me forward on this exciting journey.

I listened to this book in my car. It was truly a remarkable experience. The story was so engaging that it felt like I was being transported into another world.

However, it was also quite a challenge to stay awake while driving. The combination of the monotonous road and the captivating audio could have easily lulled me into a slumber.

Thankfully, I managed to keep my eyes on the road and my mind focused. It was a miracle that I didn't fall asleep and run into the ditch.

This book has definitely left a lasting impression on me, and I can't wait to listen to it again.

I am a little embarrassed to admit that I read this book.

To be honest, it actually took me a couple of years to finish it. But still, I kept hoping that it would improve or that there would be a profound take-home message waiting for me at the end. However, the answer was a resounding no and no.

Every time I put this book down, I felt a sense of sliminess. Each paragraph seems to ooze pretentiousness from this self-absorbed individual. I can't help but imagine the conversation he might have had with himself. "I have run out of meaningful things to say, but I have bills to pay, so what can I do? Well, I'm thinking about building a shed. So, why don't I write about that? I can include all sorts of esoteric details about muntins and plate glass, and how cool I am for doing this, and the little people who will assist me. Perfect! My devoted followers will surely lap this up!"

As for me, this book is going straight into the trashcan, and I have no intention of reading another one of his works.

"This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force." -- Dorothy Parker

A story unfolds here that is truly exasperating. It details how a husband and father callously abandoned his wife, leaving her to be submerged in the overwhelming responsibilities of caring for their baby. Meanwhile, he was off chasing an expensive, pretentious, and wildly-inflated hobby project. Oh, how wonderful! Just what the world needs more of - yet another example of pompous male entitlement. It still astonishes me that he had the audacity to appropriate Woolf's title for this text. It seems almost like an insult to the great writer and her work. How could he think that his self-centered actions and this rather unremarkable story could in any way be worthy of such a prestigious title? It's a blatant display of disrespect and a clear indication of his overinflated sense of self-importance.

“Unlike any other form of thought, daydreaming is its own reward.”

― Michael Pollan, A Place of My Own: The Education of an Amateur Builder


It took me a while to return and review this. I have a deep admiration for Michael Pollan. At times, he may seem a bit too much of a foodie-East Coast-hipster, yet his writing and perspectives continuously draw me in. All of his writing appears to contain the same essence or fundamental theme. Whether he is penning about food, gardening, cooking, or constructing a house/writing room, Pollan is inclined towards simplicity and sustainability. It's as if having a quirky, Jewish Zen-master guiding you on how to build a house or prepare a meal.


'A Place of My Own' is an early work by Pollan where he shares his experiences of building a writing shed, a small 104-square-foot outbuilding in the backyard. It's a space where he can dream, escape, imagine, and write. It combines elements of A Room of One's Own, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Walden, and Shop Class as Soulcraft. Pollan is exploring the value of solitude, space, work, nature, and more in a modern technological era.


Pollan is like the Jenna Jameson of hipster porn. I have a desire to build my own cabin on family land in Idaho. I wish to purchase all my food from local, Saturday neighborhood markets. I long to roam the woods in search of mushrooms and find a sustainable and healthy way to feed my family every day. However, most days, reality weighs me down, and I end up grabbing some canned junk from Walmart, perhaps getting my veggies from Sprouts and Fresh and Easy (or as my wife calls it, Cheap and Sleazy), and returning to my suburban tract home. Pollan provides me with the space to fantasize about what my brain wants to do but isn't entirely capable of achieving - escaping, simplifying, and embracing the urban, lumbersexual hipster within me. I may not be able to construct a small outdoor cabin in my backyard, but I can dream about it for a couple of hours while reading Pollan in the dark. And maybe, one day, I can pick up that hammer, consume that shroom, and begin the process of making it happen.

Love, love, love this book!

It truly inspires me and makes me have a strong desire to go and build something of my own.

However, I do have a little complaint. I really wish there had been more detailed descriptions or illustrations.

Moreover, a glossary of building terms would have been extremely helpful.

For instance, when it comes to the descriptions of parts of a window sill, it uses a lot of terminology that I wasn't familiar with at all.

As a result, I had to put the book down frequently and search through Wikipedia to try and figure out what was actually being described.

This process was a bit time-consuming and sometimes disrupted my reading flow.

Despite this small drawback, I still highly recommend this book to anyone interested in building or DIY projects.

It has so much valuable information and inspiration to offer.

I just hope that in future editions, the author can consider adding these additional elements to make it even more user-friendly.

This book, which was given to me as a birthday gift, as can be understood from its name, contains the story told by an ordinary person who managed to embody his dream architecture to the fullest. And it is very meaningful that the book was written in this house.

Although there were pages where I got lost in technical details, I thought that Michael Pollan could be a good storyteller. Maybe he is telling. The book has the power to inspire those who will build their own houses. Maybe, one day...

This book seems to be a unique piece that combines the charm of a personal story with the allure of architecture. It not only offers insights into the process of realizing a dream but also makes the reader imagine the possibilities of creating their own ideal living space. As I read through its pages, I couldn't help but be drawn into the world of the author and his architectural vision. It makes me wonder what kind of house I would build if I had the opportunity.

I loved Michael Pollan even more with this book.

He tells the intersections of human/nature/culture in a story-like way based on his architecture and his own cabin construction experience.

I really enjoyed the detailed discussion of architecture/design topics that are very close to me.

So much so that it could be considered mandatory for those at the beginning of architecture education or those who will work with architects.

But those who want to build a cabin should stay away.

I'm not sure how those who are not interested in these fields will perceive it, and I'm curious.

His other books on the topic of "food" that interest everyone also remove the pretext of interest.

Let's read, let's teach.

Charlie said, "This is a completely romantic idea,"; "but at the same time magnificent. The image of four trees surrendering themselves to us to form the four corners of a shelter, the dream of a perfect marriage between man and nature." Page 113.

2,5/5. This book might not be exactly what I was seeking. If you have an interest in architecture, specifically home building, and you enjoy detailed descriptions of the entire process, from selecting the appropriate location and understanding the reasons behind it based on various factors, along with quotes from different people here and there, especially a lot of Thoreau quotes, then perhaps you'll like this book. It's not a bad one by any means. However, for me, the extensive description of the analysis and the factual process felt overly long and rather boring. I was hoping to gain insights into the author's thoughts on why he undertakes this, the thinking that lies behind it, but from a psychological or philosophical perspective. Instead, it seemed to focus mainly on the factual and architectural aspects. In the end, it truly depends on what you're looking for in a book.

If more architecture textbooks were as thoughtful, thorough, and accessible as Michael Pollan's A Place of My Own, I would have surely continued my studies in architecture.

The premise of the book may seem simple - a writer constructing his own writing hut. However, Pollan enriches the story by linking our ordinary daily experiences of shelter to profound reflections on architecture, nature, literature, culture, and the history of building.

It is a witty and insightful read that easily transports the reader into a world of daydreams.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who has ever dreamt of having a private space of their own, anyone who has a longing to create and build with their own hands, anyone who yearns for solitude, anyone who enjoys contemplating how we inhabit the world, and anyone who engages in writing.

It offers a unique perspective that combines practical aspects of building with philosophical and cultural considerations, making it a truly engaging and thought-provoking read.

Whether you are an architecture enthusiast or simply someone with an interest in the human experience of space, A Place of My Own is sure to capture your imagination and leave you with a newfound appreciation for the built environment.

I accidentally highlighted basically every sentence in this book.

It is truly a remarkable and beautiful story. It delves into the struggles and the wonderful rewards of constructing something tangible for oneself. There are numerous thoughtful reflections on the profound meaning of building. Pollan elaborates on various aspects such as the linguistic/semiotic/postmodern turn in architecture, the humanism of Christopher Alexander, the purpose and the status of the architectural profession. He also touches upon the complex and often fraught relationship between those who build and those who draw. Additionally, he even discusses practical matters like how to make a watertight window.

Yes, it is incredibly self-indulgent. After all, it is literally a book about a writer building a writing hut for himself and the book was written in that very writing hut! However, after spending a year in the architecture ivory tower, this book was precisely what I was seeking.

Also, the anecdote about Peter Eisenman making up a rumor himself that his building had induced nausea in its visitors is truly hilarious. It added a touch of humor and entertainment to the book. Overall, this book offers a unique and engaging perspective on architecture and the act of building.