100 Best Woodworking Books of All Time (Updated for 2026)

1

The Lord of the Rings (The Lord of the Rings, #1-3)

J.R.R. Tolkien

5.0

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. A

Recommended by Elon Musk, Reid Hoffman, Alan Lee, and 10 others.

Elon Musk

Founder/SpaceX

As a boy in Pretoria, Musk was un dersized and picked upon, a smart-aleck known as Muskrat. In his loneliness, he read a lot of fantasy and science fiction. “The heroes of the books I read, ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and the ‘Foundation’ series, always felt a duty to save the world,” he told me. [source]

Reid Hoffman

CEO/LinkedIn

The book that I’ve most often read. [source]

Alan Lee

His alternative world and mythological system is totally coherent–it’s a fantastic gift that he has given us. [source]

2

The Complete Manual of Woodworking

Albert Jackson and David Day

4.8

With more than 1,800 drawings, diagrams and photos, this authoritative guide encompasses the whole art and craft of woodworking. Designed to instruct and inspire every woodworker from the beginner to the most exacting expert, it has become a classic. It includes a discussion of all the principal hardwoods and softwoods, how to choose and use hand tools, detailed information on every woodworking te

Cover unavailable

3

Understanding Wood Finishing: How to Select and Apply the Right Finish

Bob Flexner

4.8

For more than 18 years, Bob Flexner has been inspiring woodworkers with his writings and teachings on wood finishing. Now, from this best-selling author comes the long-awaited and completely updated second edition of UNDERSTANDING WOOD FINISHING the most practical, comprehensive book on finishing ever published.

The first edition of UNDERSTANDING WOOD FINISHING has sold hundreds of thousands of cop

4

Good Clean Fun: Misadventures in Sawdust at Offerman Woodshop

Nick Offerman

4.7

After two New York Times bestsellers, Nick Offerman returns with the subject for which he's known best—his incredible real-life woodshop.

Nestled among the glitz and glitter of Tinseltown is a testament to American elbow grease and an honest-to-god hard day’s work: Offerman Woodshop. Captained by hirsute woodworker, actor, comedian, and writer Nick Offerman, the shop produces not only fine handcraf

5

The Complete Book of Woodworking: Step-By-Step Guide to Essential Woodworking Skills, Techniques and Tips

Tom Carpenter

4.6

The Complete Book of Woodworking is a comprehensive guide to help you become a master woodworker and have a house full of hand-made furnishings to show for the effort! Set up shop, understand the tools, learn the principles of basic design, and practice essential woodworking techniques as you complete 40 detailed plans for home accessories, furnishings, outdoor projects, workshop projects, and mor

6

The Soul of a Tree: A Master Woodworker's Reflections

George Nakashima

4.5

On a farmlike compound near New Hope, Pennsylvania, George Nakashima, his family, and fellow wood-workers create exquisite furniture from richly grained, rare timber. Tables, desks, chairs, and cabinets from this simple workshop grace the homes and mansions and executive boardrooms of people who prize such excellence. In this lavishly illustrated volume, George Nakashima allows us in intimate look

7

The Why & How of Woodworking: A Simple Approach to Making Meaningful Work

Michael Pekovich

4.5

The Why and How of Woodworking reflects the growing appreciation for the handmade, a movement toward simplifying and uncluttering. There is a growing understanding of the need to fill our lives with meaningful and useful objects. How can woodworkers answer that call? Instagram sensation Mike Pekovich explains how to make work that is worth the time and effort it takes to make it, work that makes a

8

The Anarchist's Tool Chest

Christopher Schwarz

4.5

9

Understanding Wood

R. Bruce Hoadley

4.5

In this essential reference for woodworkers, R. Bruce Hoadley explains everything from how trees grow to how best to cut, season, machine, join, bend, and finish wood. Why do miters open and glue joints loosen? How do you get a really sharp edge? Examples of problems and solutions help woodworkers puzzle through their own projects, while full-color photos and helpful tables illustrate key points.

10

Working Wood 1 & 2: The Artisan Course with Paul Sellers (Working Wood, #1-2)

Paul Sellers

4.5

This series represents the distilled experience and knowledge, developed over 47 years, of Woodworker and Master Craftsman, Paul Sellers. His remarkable journey saw him learn his trade as a traditional apprentice in England during in the 1960s, and then progress, many years later, to design and make furniture for American Presidents.

The clarity of Paul's teaching is quite exceptional. Founded on

11

A Cabinetmaker's Notebook

James Krenov, Craig McArt

4.5

Cabinetmaking at the highest level is an art, a discipline, a philosophy—even a way of life—in addition to being a useful craft. In this book one of the greatest living cabinetmakers reflects on the deeper meanings of his craft and explains for less accomplished workers how the right attitudes toward materials, tools, and time can increase the joys of this complex activity. Craftspeople in every m

12

Hand Tools: Their Ways and Workings

Aldren A. Watson

4.4

For those who would like to have the benefit of a woodworker's extensive experience with hand tools, this is the book to own. Crammed with practical information, it is the next best thing to looking over a craftsman's shoulder as he works with his tools, asking questions and getting straight answers in plain language, seeing how each tool is held and manipulated to get the best work out of it. Fro

13

By Hand & Eye

George and Jim Tolpin Walker

4.4

“By Hand & Eye” is a deep dive into the world of history, architecture and design. And the authors have emerged with armloads of pearls for readers.

Instead of serving up a list of formulas with magical names (i.e. the Golden Section, the Rule of Thirds) that will transform the mundane into perfection, George R. Walker and Jim Tolpin show how much of the world is governed by simple proportions, not

14

The Joint Book: The Complete Guide to Wood Joinery

Terrie Noll

4.4

The Joint Book features illustrated instructions for over 70 joints—providing easy-to-follow step-by-step directions for creating edge and scarf joints, lapped and housed joints, mortise and tenon joints, miters and bevels, dovetails, dowels and biscuits, and detailed descriptions of fasteners, hardware, and knockdown joints. This book is the perfect companion for any woodworker interested in impr

15

Illustrated Cabinetmaking: How to Design and Construct Furniture That Works

Bill Hylton

4.4

Featuring each piece in highly-detailed, exploded drawings and applying time-honored dimension and ergonomic standards, this comprehensive visual sourcebook takes the guesswork out of furniture joinery, assembly, dimension, and style. Woodworkers of any skill level will benefit from more than 1,300 crisp and detailed drawings that explain classic solutions to age-old problems, such as hanging a dr

16

The Perfect Edge: The Ultimate Guide to Sharpening for Woodworkers

Ron Hock

4.4

Sharp Tools Work Better!

If you've never experienced the pleasure of using a really sharp tool, you're missing one of the real pleasures of woodworking. In The Perfect Edge, the mystery of the elusive sharp edge is solved by long-time sharpening expert and tool maker Ron Hock. You'll soon find how easy and safe hand tools are to use.

This book covers all the different sharpening methods so you can

17

The Joiner and Cabinet Maker: His Work and Its Principles

Christopher Schwartz, Joel Moskowitz

4.4

"The Joiner and Cabinet Maker" is a huge book – with more than 370 pages of detailed handtool instruction, including many processes that have not been covered before in the early woodworking literature. Though this sounds impossible, please read on.

Let's begin in 1839. In that year, an English publisher issued a small book on woodworking that has – until now – escaped detection by scholars, histor

Cover unavailable

18

The Anarchist's Design Book

Christopher Schwarz

4.4

19

Campaign Furniture

Nicholas A. Brawer

4.4

For almost 200 years, simple and sturdy pieces of campaign furniture were used by people all over the globe, and yet this remarkable furniture style is now almost unknown to most woodworkers and furniture designers.

“Campaign Furniture” seeks to restore this style to its proper place by introducing woodworkers to the simple lines, robust joinery and ingenious hardware that characterize campaign pie

20

Woodworking Basics

Peter Korn

4.4

Based on a two-week course in woodworking fundamentals offered at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Camden, Maine, this book takes a traditional approach to teaching, with the idea that learning basic skills is essential to craftsmanship. In the process, the book covers all the bases--from working with hand tools to cutting dovetails. Includes two complete projects: a bench and a small cab

21

The Essential Woodworker: Skills, Tools and Methods

Robert Wearing

4.4

With all the answers to your fundamental woodworking questions, this is an indispensable guide to basic skills and techniques, and how to apply them.

22

Complete Guide to Sharpening

Leonard Lee

4.4

Lee, a well-known tool manufacturer, covers the practical and technical information to sharpen tools quickly, efficiently and safely. Descriptive photos, clear line drawings and step-by-step instructions show exactly how to improve the performance and safety of any cutting tool. 255 photos.

23

The New Traditional Woodworker: From Tool Set to Skill Set to Mind Set

Jim Tolpin

4.4

Working Wood, Not Machining It

If you're more interested in working with wood rather than machining it, you will be relieved to learn that expensive powered machinery isn't required to build furniture. You can also forget the dust masks, face shields and hearing protection since many of the safety concerns related to woodworking--the use of power tools--are eliminated. In this book, you'll learn to

24

The Complete Japanese Joinery

Hideo Sato, Yasua Nakahara, et al.

4.3

25

Workbenches: From Design & Theory to Construction & Use

Christopher Schwarz

4.3

Two Centuries of Workbench Wisdom in One Book!

With this book, your very first workbench will do everything you need it to do--possibly for the rest of your woodworking career!

Encompassing years of historical research and real-world trials, Christopher Schwarz boils down centuries of the history and engineering of workbenches into basic ideas that all woodworkers can use.

Learn how to design your ow

26

Japanese Woodworking Tools: Their Tradition, Spirit and Use

Toshio Odate

4.3

A complete guide to the tools used by a shokunin, or master Japanese craftsman, this book is ideal for both beginning and professional woodworkers.

Cover unavailable

27

A Reverence for Wood

Eric Sloane

4.3

This refreshing and delightfully written book underscores the important role that wood has played in the development of American life and culture. Charmingly illustrated with author Eric Sloane's own sketches, the text illuminates with rare insight the enormously varied and useful qualities of wood.
Covering such topics as the aesthetics of wood, wooden implements, and carpentry, Sloane remarks exp

28

The Unplugged Woodshop: Hand-Crafted Projects for the Home & Workshop

Tom Fidgen

4.3

Woodworker Tom Fidgen is very well known in the online woodworking community, and his first book, Made by Hand, was critically acclaimed. In his second book, Fidgen presents more hand-tool woodworking projects for the home and workshop. The projects have a distinctive retro look, recycling designs from our not-so-distant past. He has reconceived the classic library card catalog (converted to use f

29

The Complete Illustrated Guide to Joinery

Gary Rogowski

4.3

There's no more thorough and readable guide to joinery than this new book from expert woodworker Gary Rogowski. The Complete Illustrated Guide to Joinery uses full-color, step-by-step photo essays to show you how to make every practical woodworking joint.

Over 1,400 color photos and drawings illustrate the methods, from simple butt joints to angled tenons and complex scarf joints. A project as si

30

The Workbench Book: A Craftsman's Guide to Workbenches for Every Type of Woodworking

Scott Landis

4.3

"If I only bought one woodwork book, this first and definitive book on the workbench would be it".--"Woodworker Magazine". 278 color photos. 185 drawings.

31

Hybrid Woodworking

Marc Spagnuolo

4.3

A faster route to handcrafted results!

In the last few years, there's been a push to return to the roots of woodworking when every step was done with hand tools--from resawing lumber and planing it flat, to cutting joins and creating profiles. Working this way can produce beautiful results, but is it the best method for woodworking in the 21st century?

In Hybrid Woodworking, author and Internet wood

32

Essential Woodworking Hand Tools

Paul Sellers

4.3

In this book Paul Sellers has put together the essential information about the tools that he considers to be essential to hand tool woodworking. He describes the tools in use, what to look for when picking them, how to sharpen them as well as tips and tricks for using them. Paul has been woodworking for over 50 years and his admiration and affection for these tools shines through in the pages of t

33

The Minimalist Woodworker: Essential Tools & Smart Shop Ideas for Building with Less

Vic Tesolin

4.3

Woodworking is thriving in the hands-on, DIY, maker world we currently live in. Yet, for it s increasing popularity, there are many crafters who don t engage in woodworking because they falsely believe you need a large workshop and a full-blown collection of tools and equipment. The Minimalist Woodworker is about eliminating this myth. To enjoy woodworking, all you need is a few essential tools, a

34

The Impractical Cabinetmaker: Krenov on Composing, Making, and Detailing

James Krenov

4.3

James Krenov's delicate, lyrical cabinets have inspired a generation of wood craftsmen, as has his impassioned insistence that one do his very best work, no matter what. In this volume, first published in 1979, Krenov invites the reader into his workshop, where he shares his techniques and uncompromising approach to craftsmanship, along with thoughts about his work and its place in the world. Phot

35

Essential Joinery: The Fundamental Techniques Every Woodworker Should Know

Marc Spagnuolo

4.3

36

The Toolbox Book: A Craftsman's Guide to Tool Chests, Cabinets, and Storage Systems (Craftsman's Guide to)

Jim Tolpin

4.3

Winner of the 1996 Stanley Award for best how-to book. "Ideas and inspiration galore".--"Wooden Boat Review". 190 color photos. 100 drawings.

37

The Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture and Cabinet Construction

Andy Rae

4.3

Introducing a new woodworking series in the tradition of Tage Frid...a series filled with essential information required by woodworkers today. For the first time ever, all the techniques and processes necessary to craft beautiful things from wood have been compiled into three comprehensive volumes: The Complete Illustrated Guides. Highly visual and written by woodworking's finest craftsmen, these

38

The Fine Art of Cabinetmaking

James Krenov

4.3

With continual themes of perfection of technique and building to the limits of one’s skill, this authoritative resource provides in-depth instruction for mastering the craft of cabinetmaking. A bevy of topics, including the proper way to sharpen and hone tools, hollow grinding methodology, and obtaining proper grinding angles, are detailed in this comprehensive cabinet-making sourcebook. Lessons d

39

The Woodwright's Shop: A Practical Guide to Traditional Woodcraft

Roy Underhill

4.3

Roy Underhill brings to woodworking the intimate relationship with wood that craftsmen enjoyed in the days before power tools. Combining historical background, folklore, alternative technololgy, and humor, he provides both a source of general information and a detailed introduction to traditional woodworking. Beginning with a guide to trees and tools, The Woodwright's Shop includes chapters on glu

40

The Great Book of Woodworking Tips: Over 650 Ingenious Workshop Tips, Techniques, and Secrets from the Experts at American Woodworker

Randy Johnson

4.2

World’s biggest collection of reader-written, shop-tested, photo-illustrated woodworking tips and techniques. One, two or three to a page. 730 total, more available in recent issues.

41

The Big Book of Weekend Woodworking: 150 Easy Projects

John Nelson and Joyce Nelson

4.2

Every woodworker will want to own this colorful, information-packed, mammoth resource for weekend crafting. It's filled with 150 classic projects, and features an introductory section that walks readers through the various planning stages. It's all covered: selecting the right wood, working with patterns, gluing, and finishing. Novices can effortlessly make simple mirrors, shelves, clocks, and jew

42

The New Yankee Workshop

Norm Abram

4.2

Presents a graduated program that takes readers through the art of cabinet making, beginning with the tools, materials, and techniques and featuring projects ranging from the simple to advanced.

43

The Furniture Bible: Everything You Need to Know to Identify, Restore Care for Furniture

Christophe Pourny, Jen Renzi, Martha Stewart

4.2

Christophe Pourny learned the art of furniture restoration in his father’s atelier in the South of France. In this, his first book, he teaches readers everything they need to know about the provenance and history of furniture, as well as how to restore, update, and care for their furniture—from antiques to midcentury pieces, family heirlooms or funky flea-market finds. The heart of the book is an

44

The Handplane Book

Garrett Hack

4.2

Handplanes evoke the romance of an earlier era, when they performed countless woodworking tasks from preparing stock to shaping moldings. In The Handplane Book, aficionado Garrett Hack reveals the rich heritage of this classic tool with a treasure trove of information and history, including detailed guidance on how to buy a plane, tune it up, and use it. Lavishly illustrated with 175 photos and 15

45

Made by Hand: Furniture Projects from the Unplugged Woodshop

Tom Fidgen

4.2

46

The Woodwright's Guide: Working Wood with Wedge and Edge

Roy Underhill

4.2

For thirty years, Roy Underhill's PBS program, The Woodwright's Shop, has brought classic hand-tool craftsmanship to viewers across America. Now, in his seventh book, Roy shows how to engage the mysteries of the splitting wedge and the cutting edge to shape wood from forest to furniture.

Beginning with the standing tree, each chapter of The Woodwright's Guide explores one of nine trades of woodcraf

47

Understanding Wood Finishing

Bob Flexner, Donald Bain

4.2

Now it's easier than ever for woodworkers to get a perfect finish on every project! This book dispels the myths about wood finishing and explains exactly how and why every finish behaves the way it does.

48

One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey

Richard Louis Proenneke

4.2

To live in a pristine land unchanged by man...to roam a wilderness through which few other humans have passed...to choose an idyllic site, cut trees and build a log cabin...to be a self-sufficient craftsman, making what is needed from materials available...to be not at odds with the world but content with one's own thoughts and company.

Thousands have had such dreams, but Richard Proenneke lived t

49

Greene & Greene: Design Elements for the Workshop

Darrell Peart

4.2

Considered among the highest achievements of the American arts and crafts movement, Greene & Greene furniture was custom-built for specific interior spaces, and many of the pieces still remain in their original locations. This manual, written by a nationally recognized furniture maker, provides intermediate and advanced woodworkers with well illustrated, step-by-step instructions for classic Green

50

The Workbench Design Book: The Art & Philosophy of Building Better Benches

Christopher Schwar

4.2

The follow-up book to Workbenches: From Design & Theory to Construction & Use Complete plans, expert instruction and rationale for building nine workbench forms Instruction on improving existing workbenches for better workholding and an improved woodworking shop The Workbench Design Book not only shows how to design a workbench-it also discusses and presents nine specific designs plus critiques of

51

Hand Tool Essentials: Refine Your Power Tool Projects with Hand Tool Techniques

Popular Woodworking Editors

4.2

Hand and Power Tools Work Best Together

In today's world of more-power-is-better, it's easy to overlook the value of hand tools. What most woodworker's don't realize is that combining both hand and power tool worlds is the best way to produce the highest quality woodworking.

In Hand Tool Essentials you'll learn how to choose and use hand tools for chopping, cutting, paring, sawing, marking, drilling

52

Collins Complete Woodworker's Manual

Albert Jackson, David Day

4.2

A completely revised, redesigned and updated edition of the definitive and bestselling woodworker's bible. Authoritative, superbly crafted and easy to use, Collins Complete Woodworker's Manual is the UK bestseller and the one book every woodworker needs. This revised edition has been extensively rewritten and contains new photographs and illustrations. It includes new products and techniques devel

53

The Workbench: A Complete Guide to Creating Your Perfect Bench

Lon Schleining

4.2

In this contemporary look at the world of workbenches, Lon Schleining takes us on a guided tour of a wide variety of classic, modern, and specialty benches and offers hundreds of options for choosing or building that perfect bench and its accessories.

This is a fresh look at the classic subject with a focus on helping readers find the right bench and accessories for their needs. The object is to

54

Handplane Essentials

Christopher Schwarz

4.2

Handplane Essentials is Now Available in Paperback There is no woodworking tool that's more satisfying, quick and precise to use as a handplane. Planes can process timber in its rough state, bring boards up to a glimmering smoothness, cut rabbets, dados, grooves and other joints, and trim wood with a precision that has yet to be matched by power tools. Yet many woodworkers both beginners and profe

55

Woodworking: The Complete Step-By-Step Guide to Skills, Techniques, and Projects

Tom Carpenter

4.2

Get the expert guidance you need to become a master woodworker! With 448 pages, more than 1,000 lavish full-color illustrations, easy-to-follow diagrams, and step-by-step instructions to walk you through each and every phase of the process, Woodworking outstrips all competitors in affordability, accessibility, and comprehensiveness. From setting up a workshop to the principles of good design, how

56

Workbenches Revised Edition: From Design & Theory to Construction & Use

Christopher Schwarz

4.2

Two centuries of workbench wisdom in one book!

With this book, your very first workbench will do everything you need it to do--possibly for the rest of your woodworking career!

Encompassing years of historical research and real-world trials, Christopher Schwarz boils down centuries of the history and engineering of workbenches into basic ideas that all woodworkers can use.

- Learn how to design your

57

Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking Set: Three Step-By-Step Guidebooks to Essential Woodworking Techniques

Tage Frid

4.2

As a tribute to Tage Frid who passed away in 2004, combined with the 30th anniversary of The Taunton Press, this three-volume slipcase set is the most complete, authoritative guide to woodworking for readers of all skill levels. The books in the slipcase include: "Book 1: Joinery," "Book 2: Shaping, Veneering, Finishing," and "Book 3: Furnituremaking," The techniques illustrated in these books are

58

The Village Carpenter

Walter Rose

4.1

Walter Rose was a master carpenter and the son and grandson of master carpenters. He writes of a village carpentry as it was practiced in Buckinghamshire, England, by his family in Victorian times. Their definition of carpentry was broader than that of the present day; it covered most of the woodworking done except for Wheelwright's work from windmills to furniture, farm grates to coffins, sawpit

59

Wood Work: A Step-By-Step Photographic Guide to Successful Woodworking

DK Publishing

4.1

From carving and veneering to jewelry boxes and custom cabinetry, "Woodwork" is the ultimate visual guide to every essential woodworking technique.

Featuring an attractive range of finely crafted projects in easy-to-follow step-by-step detail, from household items to furniture, "Woodwork" is an inspiring book for woodworking enthusiasts who want to develop their skills, whether a beginner or more a

60

Why We Make Things and Why It Matters: The Education of a Craftsman

Peter Korn

4.1

In this moving account, we follow Korn's search for meaning as an Ivy-educated child of the middle class who finds employ- ment as a novice carpenter on Nantucket, morphs into a self- employed designer/craftsman of fine furniture, takes a right turn into teaching woodworking and design at Colorado's Anderson Ranch Arts Center, and finally founds a school in Maine: The Center for Furniture Craftsma

61

The Handbuilt Home: 34 Simple Stylish and Budget-Friendly Woodworking Projects for Every Room

Ana White

4.1

Create a Beautiful, Modern Home with One-of-a-Kind DIY Furniture
Beds, organizers, Adirondack chairs, a play table, and more! It's easy to build inexpensive, quality furnishings with this indispensible collection of woodworking projects from Ana White, the popular blogger who has inspired millions of homemakers with her stylish furniture plans and DIY spirit. As a young mom on a tight budget, Ana l

62

The Complete Guide to Joint-Making

John Bullar

4.1

This comprehensive and practical book demystifies the all-important subject of choosing, designing, and cutting woodworking joints. Strong, appropriate, and well-fitting joints are one of the hallmarks of the skilled woodworker. Making them properly requires intelligent planning, accurate marking out, and a sufficient degree of care in the cutting, fitting, and final assembly. A methodical approac

63

Choosing Using Hand Tools

Andy Rae

4.1

“Offers a wealth of information about the selection, care, and use of nearly every kind of hand tool...each entry is profusely illustrated with color photos...will prove to be a valuable resource.” —Library Journal. “If you are a decent woodworker this book is concentrated fun. If you are on your way from a serious beginner level on up to the next level, this book will fill lots of gaps in regard

64

Wood Finishing 101: The Step-By-Step Guide

Bob Flexner

4.1

Wood finishing doesn't have to be complicated or confusing. It can be "boiled down" to simple step-by-step instructions. And that's what this book offers; no science, no art, just easily-to-follow directions with lots of pictures to show you every step of the process.

Inside, you'll find specific instructions on how to finish common woods using widely-available finishing materials--the kind of wood

65

Identifying Wood: Accurate Results with Simple Tools

R. Bruce Hoadley

4.1

With just the naked eye and a hand lens or elementary microscopy, you will be able to identify over 180 domestic and tropical hardwoods and softwoods by following the straightforward techniques in this book.

Bruce Hoadley, a professor of wood science and technology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, provides:

an overview of the wood identification process a look at the basic anatomy of wo

66

Making Authentic Craftsman Furniture: Instructions and Plans for 62 Projects

Gustav Stickley

4.1

Rejecting the "badly constructed, over-ornate, meaningless" furniture of the late Victorian period, architect, furniture designer and manufacturer Gustav Stickley developed a radical new design concept that stressed careful workmanship, simplicity, and utility. His important monthly magazine The Craftsman (1901–16) published construction plans for his distinctly American furniture.
The 62 simple, s

67

How to Make Workbenches & Shop Storage Solutions: 28 Projects to Make Your Workshop More Efficient from the Experts at American Woodworker

Randy Johnson

4.1

Everything a woodworker needs to know about building a workbench, making outfeed tables for shop machines, making work tables and assembly tables, storage cabinets for tools, materials, supplies. Bonus: Build like an aircraft engineer, super-flat and strong with a torsion box workbench, assembly table, and alignment beams.

68

A Museum of Early American Tools

Eric Sloane

4.1

This absorbing and profusely illustrated book describes in detail scores of early American tools and the wooden and metal artifacts made with them. Informally and expressively written, the text covers bulding tools and methods; farm and kitchen implements; and the tools of curriers, wheelwrights, coopers, blacksmiths, coachmakers, loggers, tanners, and many other craftsmen of the pre-industrial ag

69

Complete Starter Guide to Whittling: 24 Easy Projects You Can Make in a Weekend

Editors of Woodcarving Illustrated

4.1

You can whittle just about anything—the only limit is your imagination. It’s so easy to get started in this relaxing and rewarding hobby. All you need is a knife, a twig, and this book!

We’ve assembled a team of 12 leading woodcarvers to bring you a complete starter guide to whittling. They present 24 easy whittling projects that you can make in just a weekend, complete with step-by-step instructio

70

Sam Maloof, Woodworker

Sam Maloof, Jonathan Fairbanks

4.1

What if Picasso had been a chair maker and Stravinsky a designer of tables? What would have been the impact of such intense creative talent on twentieth-century furniture? Today there is a man with this quality of profound artistic vision and talent who has devoted his life to making furniture. His name is Sam Maloof, and this book is his life and work told in his own words.

Sam Maloof started maki

71

The Foundations of Better Woodworking: How to Use Your Body, Tools and Materials to Do Your Best Work

Jeff Miller

4.1

Woodworking with Mind, Body, and Senses

What's the secret to producing beautiful furniture that you and your family will treasure for generations? It starts with the fundamentals--those essential, yet often overlooked principles upon which all of your skills should be based.

In The Foundations of Better Woodworking, craftsman, teacher and noted woodworking author Jeff Miller clearly lays out these b

72

Flexner on Finishing: Finally - Answers to Your Wood Finishing Fears & Frustrations

Bob Flexner

4.1

Everything You Need to Finish Your Woodworking Projects Like a Pro

No more mystery. No more hype. Told as it is. Take control of finishing by learning how to use the many finishes available--and what those products actually are. In this book, his first since Understanding Wood Finishing, Bob Flexner delves deeper into many of the issues woodworkers struggle with and he does it with an authority tha

73

The Art of Joinery

Christopher Schwartz, Joseph Moxon

4.1

n 1678, a printer and globe maker named Joesph Moxon began publishing a series of pamphlets that explored the tools and practices of six trades, including the joiner. When assembled, these pamphlets became “The Mechanick Exercises” – the first English language account of the trades.

Today, 330 years later, Moxon’s description of joiners is still important to woodworkers who incorporate hand tools i

Cover unavailable

74

Audubon Birdhouse Book: Building, Placing, and Maintaining Great Homes for Great Birds

Margaret Barker

4.1

A visit to almost any home or garden center presents birders with numerous cute and colorful contraptions that are sold as bird homes. But the fact is, many of these products provide anything but a safe refuge for your feathered friends. Produced in association with the National Audubon Society, Audubon Birdhouse Book explains how to build and place functional DIY bird homes that are safe and appr

75

Making Traditional Wooden Planes

John M. Whelan

4.1

John Whelan unlocks the fascinating secrets of an almost lost art: wooden planemaking. For those curious about the ingenious ways of the craft, this book lays out clear, step-by-step instructions that will enable any woodworker to make a plane. Each chapter (covering 20 different types of planes and spokeshaves) is fully illustrated by the author's line drawings. In addition, there are chapters on

76

Shaker Inspiration: Five Decades of Fine Craftsmanship

Tella Olayeri

4.1

Opinionated? Yes. Informative? Absolutely. Interesting and inspiring? You bet.

Not too many woodworkers can claim five decades of business success, but Christian Becksvoort is among them. In "Shaker Inspiration," he shares not only his woodworking knowledge and some of his best professional techniques for producing top-quality work, but also the business advice that helped him establish and sustain

77

Norwegian Wood: Chopping, Stacking, and Drying Wood the Scandinavian Way

Lars Mytting

4.1

The latest Scandinavian publishing phenomenon is not a Stieg Larsson–like thriller; it’s a book about chopping, stacking, and burning wood that has sold more than 200,000 copies in Norway and Sweden and has been a fixture on the bestseller lists there for more than a year. Norwegian Wood provides useful advice on the rustic hows and whys of taking care of your heating needs, but it’s also a though

78

The Complete Illustrated Guide to Shaping Wood

Lonnie Bird

4.0

Introducing a new woodworking series in the tradition of Tage Frid...a series filled with essential information required by woodworkers today. For the first time ever, all the techniques and processes necessary to craft beautiful things from wood have been compiled into three comprehensive volumes: The Complete IllustratedGuides. Highly visual and written by woodworking's finest craftsmen, these t

Cover unavailable

79

Woodworking with the Router: Professional Router Techniques and Jigs Any Woodworker Can Use

Bill Hylton

4.0

Still the Undisputed Champion of Router How-to Books

More than 10 years after its original publication, WOODWORKING WITH THE ROUTER remains the most highly regarded--and best-selling--router manual available. Clear, comprehensive, and readable, it's packed with the techniques and tricks you'll need to unleash your router's incredible potential.

All that and more is covered in this expanded, thorough

80

The Woodworker: The Charles H. Hayward Years, 1939-1967

Charles H. Hayward and et al.

4.0

Two volumes.

81

Make Your Own Cutting Boards: Smart Projects & Stylish Designs for a Hands-On Kitchen

David Picciuto

4.0

Whether you’re new to the craft of woodworking and looking for a great first project or you’re a seasoned craftsman showcasing a piece of treasured wood, it’s hard to deny the appeal of a cutting board. The techniques can be as simple or as complex as you like and the finished designs can be tailored to suit any style or taste. For beginners, these gateway projects are a great way to try out a new

82

Woodwright's Companion: Exploring Traditional Woodcraft

Roy Underhill

4.0

With The Woodwright's Companinon, Roy Underhill continues to demonstrate how to start with a tree and an axe and make one thing after another until you have a house and everything in it. This volume features chapters on helves and handles, saws, the search for the whetstone quarry, crow chasers and turkey calls, hurdles, whimmy diddles, snaplines and marking gauges, candle stands, planes, window s

83

Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work

Matthew B. Crawford

4.0

A philosopher/mechanic's wise (and sometimes funny) look at the challenges and pleasures of working with one's hands

Called "the sleeper hit of the publishing season" (The Boston Globe), Shop Class as Soulcraft became an instant bestseller, attracting readers with its radical (and timely) reappraisal of the merits of skilled manual labor. On both economic and psychological grounds, author Matthe

Recommended by Nicholas Carr.

Nicholas Carr

With the last two books I tried to move away from the historical and commercial side to the more personal consequences of the information age. Matthew Crawford’s book is a bit of a surprise in this list, because he doesn’t specifically talk about the Internet. But he does talk in a broad and philosophical way about things which are very important in the information age. That is, the way our technologies and our society increasingly encourage the abstract at the expense of the physical. [source]

84

Woodwright's Eclectic Workshop

Roy Underhill

4.0

For more than ten years, Roy Underhill has taught the techniques of traditional woodcraft, or 'how to start with a tree and an axe and make one thing after another until you have a house and everything in it.' Through his popular PBS series, The Woodwright's Shop, ' and his previous books, Roy has inspired millions--from professional craftspeople to armchair woodworkers--with his talent, knowledge

85

Measure Twice Cut Once

Jim Tolpin

4.0

This book teaches how to use measuring tools.

86

The Chairmaker's Workshop: Handcrafting Windsor and Post-And-Rung Chairs

Drew Langsner

4.0

In this woodworker-friendly volume on handicrafting chairs, the author takes an aspiring chairmaker, whether beginner or an experienced woodworker, from the living tree to the polished piece.

87

The Woodbook: The Complete Plates

TASCHEN

4.0

Culled and assembled by Romeyn Beck Hough between 1888 and 1913 in what still remains a stunning and unparalleled achievement, American Woods--originally published in 14 volumes, with actual specimens mounted on card stock--is a work of breathtaking beauty that has set the standard for the study of trees and wood.

TASCHEN's Wood Book reproduces, in painstaking facsimile, all of the specimen pages f

88

Woodwright's Workbook: Further Explorations in Traditional Woodcraft

Roy Underhill

4.0

Roy Underhill is America's best-known master of traditional woodcraft. Creator of the popular PBS series The Woodwright's Shop, Roy has inspired millions--from professional craftsman to armchair woodworker--with his talent, knowledge, and enthusiasm.

Roy returns here with his third book. The Woodwright's Workbook features step-by-step instructions for a selection of projects from his television se

89

The Bandsaw Book

Lonnie Bird

4.0

The bandsaw is one of the most widely used woodworking tools, found in 3 out 4 home and professional workshops. Although deceptively simple -- a steel blade rotating around two rubber-clad wheels, the bandsaw does its best work when it's tuned properly. Unfortunately, most owner's manuals provided by tool manufacturers are difficult to understand, and the drawings and photos are unclear.In this bo

90

Jim Tolpin's Woodworking Wit & Wisdom: Thirty Years of Lessons from the Trade

Jim Tolpin

4.0

Did you know?

The three most fundamental and essential tools can't be bought.
Sanding is the slowest, most tedious, and most counterproductive way to prepare a surface for the clearest, richest finish.
The absolute strongest bends are made without bending the wood.
A scrap of tarpaper and a chunk of scrap wood comprise one of the most precise layout tools available to a woodworker.
There is no such thi

91

The Artful Wooden Spoon: How to Make Exquisite Keepsakes for the Kitchen

Joshua Vogel, Seth Smoot, Kendra Smoot

4.0

Marvels of craftsmanship, beauty, and function, Joshua Vogel's hand-carved kitchenware is coveted far and wide. In The Artful Wooden Spoon, Vogel shares more than 100 gorgeous pieces from his workshop gallery, providing rich visual inspiration along with explaining the principles behind handcrafting spoons and sharing simple instructions and step-by-step photographs—no expertise and very few tools

92

Shaker Legacy

Christian Becksvoort

4.0

Solid construction and honest functionality make Shaker furniture one of the most popular and timeless design categories. Based on extensive research and personal experience with the last working Shaker community in Maine, this book traces the roots of Shaker design to Shaker belief, which inspired the clean lines, careful craftsmanship, and signature details that define the style. The author also

93

Mostly Shaker from the New Yankee Workshop

Norm Abram

4.0

94

Handmade: Creative Focus in the Age of Distraction

Gary Rogowski

4.0

95

A Timber Framer's Workshop: Joinery, Design & Construction of Traditional Timber Frames S

Steve Chappell

4.0

"Portions of the manual are updated, expanded, and edited versions of articles which have previously appeared in Joiners' quarterly"--T.p. verso.

Recommended by Alan Pierce.

Alan Pierce

This book is fantastic for teaching the old world and increasingly rare joinery techniques for framing. These techniques were used for houses that lasted for hundreds of years, far longer than many of the modern western homes of today. [source]

96

Scroll Saw Wooden Bowls, Revised & Expanded Edition: 30 Useful & Surprisingly Easy-To-Make Projects

Carole Rothman

4.0

While wood bowls are commonly made on a lathe, this updated and expanded guided resource offers 30 projects for crafting beautiful bowls with the more accessible scroll saw. Each project is organized in a progressive learning format; beginning crafters can start with the most basic starter bowl and gradually work their way toward more elaborate bowls--such as laminated swag bowls; a flared lobed b

97

Intarsia Woodworking for Beginners: Skill-Building Lessons for Creating Beautiful Wood Mosaics

Kathy Wise

4.0

Although intarsia--the assembly of various woods into a unified mosaic piece--is often perceived as a challenging, unapproachable woodcraft, this guidebook rejects that notion by describing the small, achievable steps, thereby offering crafters an easy entry-point into this rewarding art form. Following a progression, this resource starts simply, teaching how to cut basic shapes and introducing sa

98

The Drunken Woodworker Presents: The New Bandsaw Box Book: Techniques and Patterns for the Modern Woodworker

David Picciuto

4.0

No woodworking project is more fun to make than a box. Requiring little material and offering lots of challenges, making a wooden box results in a satisfyingly functional project that is proudly used and displayed or given as a gift that will be cherished for years. It's no wonder boxes rank as the most popular woodworking project by beginners and advanced craftsman alike. David Picciuto, aka The

99

Chris Pye's Woodcarving Course & Reference Manual: A Beginner's Guide to Traditional Techniques

Chris Pye

4.0

Akin to having a one-on-one carving course with a master carver, this resource--a collection of tips and tricks honed over many years--mentors newcomers and serious beginning woodcarvers alike. A comprehensive guide for those who want to learn carving, this manual provides a handful of lessons, including how to choose the best woods, safe tool-handling tips, making cuts, and executing a variety of

100

Mouldings in Practice

Matthew Sheldon Bickford

4.0

fter years of publishing woodworking information, you often hear that there is nothing new in the craft. Everything has been done before, written before and fully figured out.

I used to believe that was true, until I read the manuscript that was to become “Mouldings in Practice” by Matthew Sheldon Bickford. This books explains how to make mouldings in a simple way that I have never ever encountered