I'm new to hand tool woodworking and looking for some book recommendations to take along on a long flight. I want to find something engaging and useful—any suggestions?
5 Answers
If you're really new, 'The Essential Woodworker' is a solid choice. It’s detailed and I found it very thorough, even if it's a bit basic for me now that I've been at it for a couple years.
You can’t go wrong with books from Lost Art Press. Right now, I'm reading 'Japanese Joinery' by Dorian Bracht—such a solid book!
Anything by Roy Underhill is fantastic! Also, 'By Hand and Eye' and 'Sloane's Reverence for Wood' are must-reads for any woodworker.
Check out Holtzappfel's 'Turning and Mechanical Manipulation'. Volumes 1 and 2 are really worth it. Once you get more into it, old texts from before 1910 are even better than modern stuff.
I'd suggest checking out 'The Anarchist' series by Chris Schwartz. They have a lot of useful information, and you can even download them for free!
Also, while you're at it, grab 'Virtuoso: The Tool Cabinet and Workbench of Henry O. Studley'. I found it fascinating!
Totally agree! 'The Anarchist's Tool Chest' is a great read for newcomers to hand tools.