WoodCentral’s book picks

Here are some lists of important woodworking books compiled by John Kelsey at our request. All titles were in print when this page was created, but we can’t guarantee they still are.

These lists are not intended to be exhaustive or necessarily complete, but there are no clunkers in here either. We will add other worthy titles as they occur to us, including a reading list of works by WoodCentral regulars. Meanwhile, please don’t hesitate to recommend your own favorites in the comments below.

All-Time Best Woodworking Books

Nicely produced, mind-expanding and influential, these books are generally acknowledged to be among the all-time best woodworking books. Links go to Amazon searches for the books. Prices listed are the suggested retail price at the time of publication. Amazon prices may be more or less.

• Understanding Wood by Bruce Hoadley
           Hardcover. Price: $39.95
• A Cabinetmaker’s Notebook by James Krenov
           Paperback. Price: $21.95
• Soul of a Tree by George Nakashima
           Paperback. Price: $45.00
• Nature & Aesthetics of Design by David Pye
           Paperback. Price: $22.95
• Traite d’Ebenisterie by L. Chanson
           Hardcover. Price: $125.00
• Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono
           Paperback. Price: $7.95
• Japanese Woodworking Tools by Toshio Odate
           Paperback. Price: $24.95
• Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking by Tage Frid
           Paperback. Price: $29.95
• Hans Wegner on Design by Hans Wegner
           Paperback. Price: $50.00
• Sam Maloof: Woodworker by Sam Maloof
           Paperback. Price: $50.00

Essential Woodworking Books

They may not qualify as the all-around best woodworking books, but here are some titles that rank at or near the top of many woodworkers’ “must have” list:

• Elements of Woodcarving by Chris Pye
           Paperback. Price: $17.95
• Nature & Art of Workmanship by David Pye
           Paperback. Price: $22.95
• The New Woodfinishing Book by Michael Dresdner
           Paperback. Price: $19.95
• Sharpening with Waterstones by Ian Kirby
           Paperback. Price: $13.00
• Turning Wood with Richard Raffan by Richard Raffan
           Paperback. Price: $21.95
• Understanding Wood by Bruce Hoadley
           Hardcover. Price: $39.95
• Encyclopedia of Furniture Making by Ernest Joyce
           Paperback. Price: $24.95
• Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking by Tage Frid
           Paperback. Price: $29.95
• Setting Up Shop by Sandor Nagyszalanczy
           Hardcover. Price: $24.00
• Mastering Woodworking Machines by Mark Duginske
           Paperback. Price: $22.00

Top Furnituremaking Books

Here are the titles that furniture-making woodworkers ought to own. We’ve left out books on period styles and projects.

• Elements of Woodcarving by Chris Pye
           Paperback. Price: $17.95
• The Chairmaker’s Workshop by Drew Langsner
           Paperback. Price: $24.00
• The Nature & Art of Workmanship by David Pye
           Paperback. Price: $22.95
• Woodworkers Guide to Furniture Design by Garth Graves
           Hardcover. Price: $27.99
• The New Woodfinishing Book by Michael Dresdner
           Paperback. Price: $19.95
• Illustrated Handbook of Furniture Restoration by George Buchanan
           Paperback. Price: $29.95
• Furniture Mouldings by E. J. Warne
           Paperback. Price: $16.95
• Hand Tools, Their Ways and Workings by Aldren Watson
           Hardcover. Price: $20.00
• A Woodworker’s Guide to Joints by Jim Kingshott
           Paperback. Price: $22.95
• The Veneering Book by David Square
           Paperback. Price: $20.00
• Complete Metalsmith by Tim McCreight
           Spiral-bound. Price: $17.95
• The Accurate Router by Ian Kirby
           Paperback. Price: $14.95
• The Accurate Tablesaw by Ian Kirby
           Paperback. Price: $14.95
• Sharpening with Waterstones by Ian Kirby
           Paperback. Price: $13.00
• A Cabinetmaker’s Notebook by James Krenov
           Paperback. Price: $21.95
• Dictionary of Woodworking Tools by RA Salaman
           Paperback. Price: $39.95
• Turning Wood with Richard Raffan by Richard Raffan
           Paperback. Price: $21.95
• Understanding Wood by Bruce Hoadley
           Hardcover. Price: $39.95
• Upholstery, A Complete Course by David James
           Paperback. Price: $20.95
• Bending Wood by “FWW on” series
           Paperback. Price: $7.50
• Encyclopedia of Furniture Making by Ernest Joyce
           Paperback. Price: $24.95
• Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking by Tage Frid
           Paperback. Price: $29.95
• Tage Frid Teaches Furnituremaking by Tage Frid
           Hardcover. Price: $24.95
• Controlling Dust in the Workshop by Rick Peters
           Paperback. Price: $14.95
• Setting Up Shop by Sandor Nagyszalanczy
           Hardcover. Price: $24.00
• Mastering Woodworking Machines by Mark Duginske
           Paperback. Price: $22.00
• Workshop Math by Robert Scharff
           Paperback. Price: $17.95
• Building Your Own Kitchen Cabinets by Jere Cary
           Paperback. Price: $19.95
• Appearance & Reality: A Visual Handbook for Artists Designers and Makers by Stephen Hogbin
           Paperback. Price: $29.95