What’s being said about Contemporary Relationships between Wood & Finish:

"Many dealers find the mass merchandised home improvement titles too simplistic.... Actually, it's rare to find a well-written book in this genre. Michael Fallarino's new 180 page book Contemporary Relationships between Wood & Finish is a fresh offering that explains paints, stains, prep, and finishes for wood concisely, and with a wealth of good humor....This book is not simply informative, it's actually good reading—without getting "zen" about it....Readers will find technical concepts presented in friendly, easy to digest terminology, punctuated by amusing stories from the author's own painting career....Overall the book would make a useful guide for the contractor who knows paints a lot better than he knows stains. ...It would also be worth recommending to DIYers who are interested in taking up wood finishing as a hobby. See the full review.

The Paint Dealer Magazine, August 2001

"...should be in the hands of every homeowner. A talented writer, Fallarino has an easy reading style and not only details a problem and solution but describes the reasons for the problem....It’s interspersed with some philosophy, some poetry, some personal history; and it’s loaded with good advice. Descriptive photographs paint a clear picture of what the author’s talking about.

Miscellaneous tips offers practical common sense comments that experienced finishers already know, but once-a-year or every-few-year finishers wouldn’t know."

Bea Peterson
The Paper

"...it looks like you have all the bases covered on the topic."

Leslie Harrington, Director of Color & Design
Benjamin Moore & Co.

"Opinionated, sometimes funny, full of anecdotes...it’s great to see an author who’s not afraid to point out marketing hype give flat-out ‘how-to’ deal with paint failures and choices of products. We have no problem recommending this book to both do-it-yourselfer and professional alike."

George Kiskaddon, owner
The Builders Booksource
Berkeley & San Francisco

"...incredibly flawless...covers a lot of territory in great depth yet remains comprehensible to a non specialist such as myself."

Jack Fitterer
bookbinder & restorer

"It came out well and I am impressed with the general layout, the overall content, and the illustrations. I’m sure the book will fill a very valuable place in the wood finishing literature. Congratulations on work well done!’

William C. Feist, Ph.D.
Information specialist: Exterior Wood Finishing and Weathering
Research chemist and project leader
USDA Forest Products Lab, retired

"It’s great! I appreciate all the personal insights and experience you reveal. I’ve recommended the book to many people."

Dave Deppen, Senior architect
Van Der Ryn Architects; Sausalito, CA
Eco-logic in architecture and planning

American Painting Contractor featured Finishes for Decks, Floors and Stairs by Michael Fallarino in April 2001.