Comprehensive +
This book is written more for the neophyte professional than the DIYer. Hundreds of illustrations show every aspect of framing and almost every joint. Written in clear, concise English with an English-Spanish dictionary in the back and a glossary of all technical terms it is just what a member of a framing crew needs to know. I was surprised that there is no reference to screws anywhere in the book. Then a friend of mine explained that screws, despite their strength, would take too long to work with when you have a crew paid by the hour. For professionals, speed is the primary factor and the book is written from a professional point of view. Still an excellent reference for anyone attempting a large project. It also allows you to check that any professional help you hire is not cutting corners on code requirements.