The call of DIY

No one can avoid DIY for ever. One day you'll look at the stained plaster, the wonky garden fence or the hole in the door where the cat-flap should be and think, 'Why should I pay someone else when I can do it myself?' It is at that moment that you have heard the Call of DIY.

DIY is an inevitable fact of modern life. But it is not just about improving your home; it's also about improving your life.

From wiring a plug to laying a patio, successful DIY is a state of mind.

It's as much about fixing the leak as knowing how to stay sane and, above all, amused.

This first-ever collection of Benjamin Mee's deliciously offbeat writing for the Guardian 'Weekend' magazine combines practicality, humour and Zen-like wisdom to equip all those who do it themselves - from the reluctant beginner to the accident-prone enthusiast - with the right attitude, and all the techniques they'll ever need.