Get your copy of Conor’s book today

If you've ever wondered how housing got so messed up in California, or why it's so hard to get a permit, Conor wrote a whole book about it.

This Oakland-based New York Times economics reporter is coming to How To ADU to talk about the housing crisis and your ADU project.

Every home we build for somebody to live in helps alleviate the housing shortage. Whether you rent it out or move a family member in, you're creating housing. And in that sense ADUs allow homeowners to build wealth and build community at the same time.

That's why the state is removing so many barriers for homeowners who want to build a secondary home on their property.

We usually have very pragmatic webinars - the site is called "How To" ADU after all. But I read Golden Gates and I loved it. It gave me the perspective to understand why everything seems so crazy in Californian housing.

Now, I have the context to defend my ADU projects because I know that they serve an important role in the story of Californian housing. And you're part of that too now!

And somehow, Conor's made the very dry topic of housing policy and zoning regulation very funny. It's like Parks and Recreation, but it's real. And now that you're building an ADU, you're in this world too!

So come by, and enjoy the lively discussion. I never thought a book about housing policy could be so fun.

I wanted to put a few book reviews in here but what struck me is that nobody really captured how entertaining and absurdly funny this book is. I laughed out loud, and I choked up a bit, at various intervals. This isn’t just about housing - it’s about the people that live in those houses and the things we do to each other while we try to make it in this world.

Here are some dry book reviews:

“A compelling and accessible overview of California’s housing crisis” —Wall Street Journal

“Why the fight for affodable housing is so hard” —Curbed SF

“Time and again, in this sweeping account of San Francisco’s housing crisis, warring constituencies—tenants, techies, homeowners, builders, and activists—talk past one another often with loudspeakers.” —The New Yorker

You can order a copy of the book here.

Lastly everybody who RSVPs will get a link to a free chapter from the book.

The cover of Golden Gates by Conor Dougherty courtesy of Penguin Random House