For 50 years, The Family Handyman magazine has been helping DIYers get things done. And for the past 15 years, DIYers have been sending us their “Great Goofs”—stories that combine home-improvement lessons with a good laugh. Now we’ve packed dozens of our favorite stories into Great DIY Goofs. You’ll learn, you’ll laugh—and hopefully—avoid making your own Great Goofs.

Here are some of the lessons you’ll learn:

-Outrage your whole neighborhood with a shovel
-The shocking truth about light fixtures
-How bugs can ruin a paint job
-Great ways to burn down your house
-Why cats and drywall are a dangerous combination
-Four ways to fall off a ladder
-Plus: The most common DIY disasters, toilet tragedies and more!