My first impression as I began
reading Plumbing, by L.V. Ripka,
was that it was suitable only as a
textbook for apprentices in the
trade. But I soon
saw its wider
appeal, since there
are many times on
small jobs when a
carpenter is faced
with making
minor plumbing
changes that don't
justify calling in a
sub. Ripka tells
you not only how
to do the job
right, but why one
way is better than
another. There
may be more
information here
than you'll need,
but this book is to
plumbing what Fundamentals of
Carpentry or Modern Carpentry is
to building with wood — a
comprehensive guide to the
trade.
The book opens with a thumbnail
history of plumbing through
the ages (the term "plumber"
comes from the Latin plumbarius,
or "worker of