Reviews

We were very pleased to receive some 'stove' publications from the training section of the Peace Corps in Benin. They were written by Stephen Connors. Although basically written for local use, it is very interesting to see other stove workers' approach to the writing and presentation of stove literature. We hope that readers will send us more - which we will review, summarize, or even print in full, to give ideas to those about to embark on a similar publication.

The STOVE DESIGN HANDBOOK by Stephen Connors is a 12 page leaflet on the basic design principles of wood conserving stoves, well set out, with attractive drawings. For example .....

The leaflet gives a straightforward explanation of 'how a fire works', followed by the general mehods used to maximise combustion, radiation, convection and conduction. It does not go into detailed stove construction, but gives a good coverage of the basic elements. m e leaflet ends with sections covering the vital cultural, economic, and safety factors that must be considered as part of stove design.

The handbook did not indicate the audience for whom it was intended, but we think that it would make useful introductory reading or discussion material in the training of stove programme extension workers.

We also received SOTA STOVE CONSTRUCTION, an instruction manual written by Mr Connors for the construction of the Sota stove, a one pot, chimneyless mud stove (made of 'banco' in Benin), which is a 'refined version of the Louga variety of stoves first developed in Senegal'.

As a construction guide we feel that more drawings, with labelling, and a better layout of the step-by-step instructions are required. However, as a back-up document to a stove building demonstration it would be very useful.