27 Books Every Woodworker Should Read

摘要

Ask around and you may find two common themes among woodworkers: Their shops are overrun with old hand-planes, and their bookshelves are brimming with inspiring tomes on the craft. We decided to survey Fine Woodworking's staff members and regular contributors to find out which books have had the greatest impact on their woodworking careers. Many remember the book that first got them hooked or was responsible for influencing the techniques and philosophies that they continue to practice in their shops today. While some popular titles didn't make our list, the ones we compiled can serve as a great source of inspiration, as well as provide answers to many questions about the properties of the materials, about the concepts of furniture design and craftsmanship, and about the techniques that have been practiced in the woodshop for centuries. They include some not-so-obvious titles as well as a few always-referenced ones, such as Ernest Joyce's Encyclopedia of Furniture Making and R. Bruce Hoadley's Understanding Wood. While some of these books could be considered antiques, the information they promote remains fresh. If you ask us, all of these books are must-reads. And if nothing else, adding them to your collection may be just the inspiration you need to get started on that new bookcase you've been meaning to build.