It's the same with those "home improvement" books.

Notice how all the work involves these nice modern suburban (or country) houses.

You're not dealing with decrepit apartment buildings in the city where a simple job like changing a sink faucet will take two hours and two trips to the hardware store because you're dealing with 70-year old pipes and fittings that are so corroded that they'll snap by just looking at them, not to mention twisting with a wrench.

How about a "real world" book or TV show?

Home Improvement in Da Hood! [Linked Image]