Online Resources
Recommended Reading
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By Kathryn McCamant and Charles Durrett
Written by the award-winning team that wrote the original "cohousing bible" in the 1980's and first brought cohousing to North America, this fully-illustrated manual combines nuts-and-bolts practical considerations and design ideas with extensive case studies of dozens of diverse communities in Europe and North America. |
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By Charles Durrett
In this highly-illustrated, 2nd edition Charles Durrett outlines a new approach to housing for active and thoughtful seniors with a focus on the communities built in North America. This book is for professionals and future residents interested in knowing why and how to create a senior cohousing community. |
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By David Wann
Many of the experiments in cohousing are extremely valuable to a society so distracted by materialism and so shell-shocked by the frantic American lifestyle. Consensus decision-making; participatory design; alternative sources of energy; alternative sources of information; shared resources and designs that reduce each person's ecological footprint; aging gracefully and vigorously; neighborhood activism in surrounding towns and communities; and collaborative management of neighborhood resources. An insightful and honest account of the exciting journey that lies ahead for us. |
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By Shari Leach
A hands-on activity book for cohousing groups. Aims to empower groups to move effectively through the various stages of development, covering ground rules, defining your community values and vision, consensus 101, conflict and blocks, meetings, creating basic standing teams, positions of power, creating participation systems, naming your community, common house planning, pet agreements, rental agreement, and more. |
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By Ciji Ware
A handbook about the process of planning a new environment, jettisoning a lifetime's worth of surplus household items, and moving painlessly into a more suitable space. The first comprehensive guide to the emotional passage that this winnowing process entails, providing a prescription for the internal hurdles that can easily sabotage sensible decision making. |
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By Margareta Magnusson
In Sweden there is a kind of decluttering called döstädning, dö meaning “death” and städning meaning “cleaning.” This surprising and invigorating process of clearing out unnecessary belongings can be undertaken at any age or life stage but should be done sooner than later, before others have to do it for you. In The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, artist Margareta Magnusson, with Scandinavian humor and wisdom, instructs readers to embrace minimalism. Her radical and joyous method for putting things in order helps families broach sensitive conversations, and makes the process uplifting rather than overwhelming. |