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The Cheap Handyman: True (and Disastrous) Tales from a [Home Improvement Expert] Guy Who Should Know Better
This Old House meets #HomeImprovementFails in this collection of laugh-out-loud essays, perfect for fans of Nick Offerman, CarTalk, or The Red Green Show.
Meet Brian Harris, a (mostly) retired, self-proclaimed jack of all trades with a penchant for DIY and inventive money-saving schemes. Armed with a soldering gun, his trusty nine-foot ladder, and of course the handyman’s secret weapon—duct tape—Brian’s projects start out as simple chores: trim a tree branch, stain the cedar siding on his home...but all too often they end in costly disaster.
Sometimes he’s trying to do the right thing, like the time he wrecked his pool while saving some baby ducks. Often, he channels his inner MacGyver: he once taped his hockey skate back together so he could finish his rec-league game, only to get suspended for falling on the referee when it broke (again). But usually he’s just being, well, cheap! Like the time he inadvertently destroyed a $295 car key fob because he wouldn’t pay the (outrageous) $10 fee to have the battery professionally replaced.
In The Cheap Handyman, Brian anthologizes his hard-won wisdom, teaching us how (not) to cut down a tree, what to do if a stray cat has kittens in your HVAC system, three very incorrect uses for duct tape, the manifold hazards of pool maintenance, and more.
Filled with unforgettable true stories from the everyday life of an average guy just trying to save a few bucks, The Cheap Handyman is a delightful tribute to anyone who has ever thought, “Sure! I can do that!”
Meet Brian Harris, a (mostly) retired, self-proclaimed jack of all trades with a penchant for DIY and inventive money-saving schemes. Armed with a soldering gun, his trusty nine-foot ladder, and of course the handyman’s secret weapon—duct tape—Brian’s projects start out as simple chores: trim a tree branch, stain the cedar siding on his home...but all too often they end in costly disaster.
Sometimes he’s trying to do the right thing, like the time he wrecked his pool while saving some baby ducks. Often, he channels his inner MacGyver: he once taped his hockey skate back together so he could finish his rec-league game, only to get suspended for falling on the referee when it broke (again). But usually he’s just being, well, cheap! Like the time he inadvertently destroyed a $295 car key fob because he wouldn’t pay the (outrageous) $10 fee to have the battery professionally replaced.
In The Cheap Handyman, Brian anthologizes his hard-won wisdom, teaching us how (not) to cut down a tree, what to do if a stray cat has kittens in your HVAC system, three very incorrect uses for duct tape, the manifold hazards of pool maintenance, and more.
Filled with unforgettable true stories from the everyday life of an average guy just trying to save a few bucks, The Cheap Handyman is a delightful tribute to anyone who has ever thought, “Sure! I can do that!”
- GenresNonfiction
224 pages, Paperback
First published May 4, 2021
3 people are currently reading
1688 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 19, 2022
Some of the stories were amusing, but I’m honestly wondering how this man is still alive. I was too busy worrying about him and anyone who may be influenced by him to enjoy any of it. Unfortunately, I recommend readers give this one a pass.
This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
December 18, 2021
I call bullshit on the four- and five-star ratings. The only multi-star effort here is how this clown survived his own incompetence without maiming himself, destroying his house, or getting divorced. Sometimes he is so utterly inept it's hard to believe this isn't fiction. He apparently has plenty of cash, because he spends plenty of it repairing his easily avoidable fuck-ups. This is supposed to be humor, but it's just... dumb. I guess if you like laughing at people who fall down this might be entertaining for you, but otherwise it's just one pathetic example after another of "read the directions." Is it a Canadian thing? Is this an expert troll? No idea. I'm just glad the library bought this and I didn't, but there's still the sting of wasted tax dollars.
Avoid.
Avoid.
April 20, 2021
Book was received for free from a contest here on Goodreads, if not for that the rating would probably be even lower. For the first third of the book I was mildly entertained, the stories were occasionally amusing in a cheesy 80's or 90's sitcom kind of way. The more I read though, the less interested I was as each story boiled down to the same basic formula of "husband attempts handyman job, either doesn't read instructions or doesn't pay attention properly, disaster ensures as expensive things are damaged". Which is fine, except for the over the top nature of each story makes it hard to believe most of these ever occurred, with some being so blatantly exaggerated and fake you lose interest in the handful of others that might have actually been true.
It's not exactly written in the most captivating style either and the main character comes off as someone you wouldn't want to spend five minutes around. Also, some of the stories tend to focus more on how the author spent large amounts of money on something and is just bragging about it. His expensive heated pool, multiple pricey cars, a dozen bicycles, motorcycles, the list seems endless, and just like the handyman stories themselves, seems exaggerated and fake. Not worth the relatively short time it took to finish and the only true disaster that occurred is the book itself.
It's not exactly written in the most captivating style either and the main character comes off as someone you wouldn't want to spend five minutes around. Also, some of the stories tend to focus more on how the author spent large amounts of money on something and is just bragging about it. His expensive heated pool, multiple pricey cars, a dozen bicycles, motorcycles, the list seems endless, and just like the handyman stories themselves, seems exaggerated and fake. Not worth the relatively short time it took to finish and the only true disaster that occurred is the book itself.
June 26, 2023
Listened to this on CD. By disk 3 of 4 you're trying to guess how did he mess up this time and why hasn't he learned to just call a professional.
October 23, 2021
as a non-handy person I occasionally enjoy reading with envy about the exploits of DIY heroes (the AskTheBuilder guy who writes a regular column in Wx Post real estate section is awesome for instance). From the jacket of this book I thought it might be in a similar vein, with the twist of some funny/relatable/humbling misadventures along the way.
Instead.......i see from perusing other reviews that it evokes a bimodal response, mainly driven by whether you find him funny. Alas, I did not. I tried interspersing it with reading other books, on the premise that maybe it would be funny if I only read a couple of these anecdotes at a time rather than plowing through all of them in a row. But no, I am apparently permanently sated by approx. 5 or 6 (at any rate, way fewer than the 49 he provides in this collection) lighthearted recaps of the author's unwisely taking on some big project he doesn't know how to do, failing spectacularly, and ending up spending way more money than he would have if he'd just hired someone professional in the first place.
Since anything more complicated than taking out the trash or mowing the lawn (back when we had a free-standing house that came with one) sends me looking for someone to hire, I may not be the best judge, but if all these stories are true he sure was slow to learn his lesson.
PSA: some of these shenanigans with laying down wood floors or what not are no big deal -- just wasted his and his (apparently ever ready to waste time helping someone who doesn't know what he's doing) friends' weekends and a bunch of his cash. But some of this stuff is dangerous. Attention suburban people: DO NOT do your own tree work unless you happen to be a pro.
Instead.......i see from perusing other reviews that it evokes a bimodal response, mainly driven by whether you find him funny. Alas, I did not. I tried interspersing it with reading other books, on the premise that maybe it would be funny if I only read a couple of these anecdotes at a time rather than plowing through all of them in a row. But no, I am apparently permanently sated by approx. 5 or 6 (at any rate, way fewer than the 49 he provides in this collection) lighthearted recaps of the author's unwisely taking on some big project he doesn't know how to do, failing spectacularly, and ending up spending way more money than he would have if he'd just hired someone professional in the first place.
Since anything more complicated than taking out the trash or mowing the lawn (back when we had a free-standing house that came with one) sends me looking for someone to hire, I may not be the best judge, but if all these stories are true he sure was slow to learn his lesson.
PSA: some of these shenanigans with laying down wood floors or what not are no big deal -- just wasted his and his (apparently ever ready to waste time helping someone who doesn't know what he's doing) friends' weekends and a bunch of his cash. But some of this stuff is dangerous. Attention suburban people: DO NOT do your own tree work unless you happen to be a pro.
March 14, 2021
This is a hilarious book about the author's mishaps when doing home repairs. Anyone who has ever had an epic fail when doing a little home improvement or repair will appreciate and enjoy this book.
I read it in a couple of days and had a good laugh (and a groan) with each story. Each chapter is a complete story of a home repair gone wrong. He ends each one with his original estimated cost (zero or very low) and how much he ends up paying (much, much more in cash and mortification). This poor guy could start out to clean his shed and end up with the roof collapsed on the floor. After reading this book, I really appreciate professionals who fix and install things.
I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley, and am voluntarily and happily leaving this review.
I read it in a couple of days and had a good laugh (and a groan) with each story. Each chapter is a complete story of a home repair gone wrong. He ends each one with his original estimated cost (zero or very low) and how much he ends up paying (much, much more in cash and mortification). This poor guy could start out to clean his shed and end up with the roof collapsed on the floor. After reading this book, I really appreciate professionals who fix and install things.
I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley, and am voluntarily and happily leaving this review.
March 11, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
It's perfect timing for me to come across this book as we begin a bunch of home improvement projects on our house. And by "we", I mean we are definitely hiring contractors to do the job.
This book is quite funny and there were definitely some eye rolling points. I kind of have a hard time believing all of these happened to one man but if they truly did, boy does he not learn his lesson to not be a cheapskate when it comes to someone these projects!
If you need a fun, light read that you can pick up and put down frequently, is say this is worth it.
It's perfect timing for me to come across this book as we begin a bunch of home improvement projects on our house. And by "we", I mean we are definitely hiring contractors to do the job.
This book is quite funny and there were definitely some eye rolling points. I kind of have a hard time believing all of these happened to one man but if they truly did, boy does he not learn his lesson to not be a cheapskate when it comes to someone these projects!
If you need a fun, light read that you can pick up and put down frequently, is say this is worth it.
March 14, 2021
Not good enough to finish
The book started out OK. There were a couple of laugh-out-loud moments but after a while, I started to cringe at the discussion of new adventures. I also got tired of reading about the author’s emotions in all the situations he put himself into. By halfway through the book, the protagonist had developed into a totally unsympathetic character and I lost a reason to keep reading. Thank you to Netgalley and Tiller Press for the advance reader copy.
The book started out OK. There were a couple of laugh-out-loud moments but after a while, I started to cringe at the discussion of new adventures. I also got tired of reading about the author’s emotions in all the situations he put himself into. By halfway through the book, the protagonist had developed into a totally unsympathetic character and I lost a reason to keep reading. Thank you to Netgalley and Tiller Press for the advance reader copy.
March 16, 2021
The Cheap Handyman by B.S Harris
“Don’t worry, honey!”, “I can so do this.”, “ It should be fine...” All things many spouses have heard. 50 stories of what not to do for home repairs. This book has
-several bad uses for duct tape
-many broken appliances
-and so much more
This is a great story of why not to be a cheapskate and fix it all yourself!
I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley, and am voluntarily and happily leaving this review.
“Don’t worry, honey!”, “I can so do this.”, “ It should be fine...” All things many spouses have heard. 50 stories of what not to do for home repairs. This book has
-several bad uses for duct tape
-many broken appliances
-and so much more
This is a great story of why not to be a cheapskate and fix it all yourself!
I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley, and am voluntarily and happily leaving this review.
Read
April 27, 2021DNF. I started off enjoying the book as it reminded a bit of my father. But the further I got, the more sad and exasperated I got. I felt the author wasn't able to learn from previous mistakes and got stuck in a cycle. Thank you for the ARC via goodreads.
May 19, 2021
While reading the The Cheap Handyman I felt very seen. I myself have been known to try to dome some DYI fixing around the house because paid handyman work can get pretty pricey. Similar to B.S Harris, I find out that there is a reason these handymen are paid these prices. I laughed throughout the book and can related to almost every story written. Harris's writing is very fluid and makes it an super easy read. B.S. Harris has lived quite a Handyman life from trying to fix up cars and bikes to trying to be a good employee and fix a broken toilet. Every decision made with the best intentions at heart, somehow don't always end up working out. This is a great read if you're just looking for a laugh or to make yourself feel like you are not alone when it comes to DYI handyman mishaps of your own.
May 3, 2022
This book had me laughing- I mean belly laughing. As a matter of fact, if I could give it six stars, I would. It's the story of a handyman who says he us "cheap." Well, I don't know if he is a) overconfident of his abilities b) willing to experiment and make mistakes or c) unusually willing to admit error in a book. What I can tell you is that his stories sound true and are hilariously funny. I took this book out of the library and might buy it.
My one problem with this book is that his mistakes cause a lot of physical injury and some of his stories, while humorous are also dangerous. He brings at least two people to the hospital and risks death for himself and others. The enjoyment that I got from it made me keep the five star rating, but I would caution everyone not to let this book lead you into his overly confident ways when you are using powertools and electicity.
My one problem with this book is that his mistakes cause a lot of physical injury and some of his stories, while humorous are also dangerous. He brings at least two people to the hospital and risks death for himself and others. The enjoyment that I got from it made me keep the five star rating, but I would caution everyone not to let this book lead you into his overly confident ways when you are using powertools and electicity.
June 26, 2023
This started out as a rollicking good time with the author recounting his home repair misadventures. Pretty funny stuff . . . for a while. By Episode 40, you're ready to hit the guy over the head with a two-by-four. Since nearly EVERY "episode" ends with this hapless handyman having to call in a professional, at far MORE EXPENSE than it would have cost if he had just called a pro at the beginning of the project, you start to wonder why Harris never, EVER learned from his multitude of mistakes.
Hence, the two-by-four upside the head sentiment.
I listened to the audio, which was read rather lifelessly by Edward Bauer. If there was ever a book that begs to be narrated by Nick Offerman, it's this one.
Hence, the two-by-four upside the head sentiment.
I listened to the audio, which was read rather lifelessly by Edward Bauer. If there was ever a book that begs to be narrated by Nick Offerman, it's this one.
May 7, 2021
A fun read of short stories about the author's experiences in home maintenance. He's no Bob Vila, more akin to a bumbling Chevy Chase in some of his old skits. Some of these stories made me laugh out loud, some (unfortunately) reminded me of some of my own boondoggles in home repair. Each story is short and can stand alone. This would be a perfect book for having next to your night stand when you just want to read something quick before bed.
September 15, 2021
The first few stories were funny and made me smile. But then it was just the same story over and over again and it got quite boring. I did enjoy the stories involving animals though. What did I learn? 1. Always hire a professional. 2. Even though duct tape is an awesome invention, don't use it to fix, renovate or secure everything you can think of.
June 16, 2021
This is an incredibly funny book that inspires the average person to try DIY home improvements. Brian is a natural story teller with the gift of making others laugh. A must read for everyone.
M. Duffy
M. Duffy
December 2, 2022
The stories were funny and interesting. About halfway through, however, they started to become tedious and almost unbelievable. Maybe BS Harris is a composite of a few people. Regardless, I'll really make sure to take my time with household projects now.
April 14, 2021
This was exactly what I needed after this crazy year. Relatable, honest and funny. I laughed the whole way through!
June 16, 2021
What a funny book! If you’re looking for a light, fun, funny laugh out loud reading, this is it. Reminds me of my dad aka mr. fix it, thanks for the laughs!
January 8, 2022
Paperback read, a collection of stories from the author about home/yard/car improvement and all the times he should of paid an expert. Made me feel better for my numerous fails as a homeowner.
December 1, 2022
2.5 stars
June 19, 2025
This book had me laughing out loud!
September 7, 2022
I really enjoyed some of his tales about the perils of do it yourself. While its hard to believe all of these misfortunes could happen to one person, it did make me feel better about some of my own blunders.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews