Every year, your spouse and friends ask us which books they should buy for you during the holidays. And if they aren’t sure which book you want, they ask us: “Well, which books are your best-sellers?”
Until today, I had only a gut feeling about it, but I’d never really looked at the statistics. After some ciphering, I came up with a list that had a few surprises.
10. Doormaking and Window Making by Anonymous. This was a shock. This small book is a reprint of two historical texts brought to our attention by joiner Richard Arnold. It found an audience among people who restore old buildings.
9. Campaign Furniture by Christopher Schwarz. This book is one of the few in print on this style of furniture, which my grandparents collected for many years. I’ve been told by readers that it is a nice text on classical casework.
8. Kitchen Think by Nancy Hiller. I was a little surprised by this one because it was released in the summer of 2020. It’s a fantastic book, as is everything Nancy writes. If you are interested in how to design (and build) a kitchen that is in context for your house, this is the book.
7. By Hand & Eye by Jim Tolpin and George Walker. This one is no surprise. Ever since this book was released, it has continually found new audiences who are interested in designing good-looking furniture using whole-number ratios.
6. The Anarchist’s Workbench by Christopher Schwarz. On the one hand, I am not surprised to see this book on the list. It is, after all, about workbenches (the birdhouses of the intermediate woodworker clan). But on the other hand, the book is free as a pdf. Free.
5. The Woodworker’s Pocket Book edited by Charles Hayward. I love this little book. I knew it would be a home run among woodworkers, and I was (for once) correct.
4. With the Grain by Christian Becksvoort. This book is immensely popular because it is incredibly practical and avoids the heavy science stuff, but it still tells you exactly what you need to know to use solid wood in furniture effectively.
3. The Essential Woodworker by Robert Wearing. This book is a classic and should be on the shelves of every woodworker who is curious about hand-tool woodworking. We fought hard to bring it back into print, and readers have been thrilled as well.
2. The Anarchist’s Design Book by Christopher Schwarz. I am so happy to see this book on this list. This book took so many years to write and get just right. I feel like it’s the right combination of practical construction advice and a screed about poorly made and overly ornate furniture.
1. The Anarchist’s Tool Chest by Christopher Schwarz. This book helped us get this company on its feet and the capital to publish the works of other authors. Even after 10 years, this book still sells and sells – thanks to word of mouth.
On a last note, please remember that we are a small publisher (we recently graduated to “small publisher,” up from “microscopic publisher”). So none of these books would make a blip on the screens of a corporate publisher. And our annual revenue could easily be found between the couch cushions of the CEO of Penguin/Random House.
Maybe someday we’ll hit the Medium Time – with a book on birdhouses.
— Christopher Schwarz
I think I may have eight of these ten books, and another ten LAP besides? In this world it would probably take a book on birdhouses, bird feeders, or such, to hit the Medium Time. Stay small with the quality and subjects that have made you Big Time with your following!
Note: I have made birdhouses and bird feeders when I needed them, but I did not buy a book to learn how!
Delighted to say I have read ( and own ! ) this wonderful list of books . Just wait until the Dutch Tool Chest is published . A potential new member of the top 5 club …
I can hardly contain my excitement about a deep dive into the history of birdhouses. With any luck, ancient frescoes and religious art will also be a rich source of information about birdhouse development. I’m already anxious about finding and choosing the best wood for my birdhouse.
I bought a copy of the free workbench book. I think I am not at all unique wanting LAP to keep producing stuff I am interested in (hint: Japanese tools, Japanese/Chinese/Korean woodworking) so I decided to get a copy of my free PDF.
funny you mention this Fedster, as earlier today I was looking at Chris’s blog post about an antique japanese tool chest as I am about to build an authentic japanese tool chest for my japanese tools. Currently they are all mixed together.
The workbench book is the polar opposite of someone trying to sell you something.
Oh, trying to give me the Workbench book for free, huh? Oh yeah, well I’ll show you!
As one who has emptied mine pockets (and his childrens) to enhance my personal woodworking library with tomes from Lost Art Press – from the mini (‘The Woodworker’s Pocket Book’ but mighty in information) to the weighty (‘Deluxe – Roubo on Furniture) which BTW makes a great leaf press – using parchment paper to protect book leaves, I do not hesitate to enrich my being with more books (except if I find I am going to move).
If you gave me 50 guesses, I would not have gotten this list correct.
I’m surprised the Chairmakers Notebook isn’t on the list. What’s wrong with people?
Hey,
So you won’t feel alone, I have a copy and refer to it all the time. Sometimes just to relax and dream 😊.
Add me to the list of people who think Chairmakers Notebook deserves to be in the top 10. It’s my desert island woodworking book – assuming the island had oak and pine trees.
If you sort by ‘Best Selling’ on the LAP Books page it shows as #12 on the list.
Just a note: Our store’s data only goes back seven years, and it doesn’t include wholesale orders. So there might be differences between its list and mine.
I seem to recall a story that someone at F+W convinced another writer to do a book on birdhouses. Contrary to the author’s expectation, it sold a lot of copies. Is that your implication? Anxious awaiting “The Anarchist’s Birdhouse”
I would buy a copy of The Anarchist’s Birdhouse.
If only to make Chris’ head spin a little 🙂 🙂
Maybe in the good tradition of fantasy novels it could be “The Anarchist’s Daughter’s House of Birds”? (sorry)
I’ll use the video by Doug Linker as inspiration til then…
As an owner and reader of all these books and many more published by LAP, I found this very interesting with a few surprises. I was not surprised that the Anarchist work bench made the list since many people still prefer real books with real paper. I suspect folks who use hand tools would generally prefer physical books over digital. (Digital book, at least in my mind, is an oxymoron.)
I hope The Joiner and Cabinet Maker is number 11. I purchased five versions of that book; 1 hard cover, 3 of the reprints, and recently the audiobook. I would have purchased more, but I’m saving up for the little book about an intrepid snail.
I’m actually saving up for a book on turning birdhouses 🙂
Here me out- a new take on birdhouses. Birdhouses with live edges. Coincidentally I’ve started a new book. Working title: “Life in the Sedges, Birdhouses with Live Edges”. Have your people contact my people.
Just make sure to buy the special edition one-time tool Crucible WING dividers to mark those perfect bird holes.
Tine for Chris to cut a deal and bring back Nic Brawer’s book on Campaign Furniture ‘Elegance under canvas’. I would jump on this book if I could obtain it. Seriously, what is going on here?
More people should buy “The Intelligent Hand,” which (sadly) isn’t on the list. It is my favorite of the LAP titles. Difference Makers is a close second.
Add me to the list of “Chairmaker’s Notebook” not on the list? HUH?
with apologies to Chris: for me, while the ‘anarchist’ series is enjoyed, Chairmaker’s Notebook is loved.
Based on “Doormaking and Window-Making” I have made quite a few (divided lite and profiled sash) windows to match existing windows. The windows are working great. The house looks better. The information in the book is quite difficult to find elsewhere. The book is easily the most cost-effective woodworking book I have purchased. I am glad to hear that other readers have found the book.
A lot of snark in the comments about birdhouses. There is a quite adequate book on birdhouses authored by Carrol L. Henderson. “Woodworking For Wildlife”. Copyright 2009 by State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resource. Mr. Henderson is an excellent birder, field guide, and was responsible for the largest release ever of trumpeter swans into the wild.
I don’t know how many copies were sold. My copy does not show too many elegant details
or touches such as fancy molding for the birdhouses, but the birds probably don’t give a darn.
Hi Terry,
Birdhouse books are a long-running trope on this blog. But I promise you there is no snark – we’ve all built birdhouses.
Instead, it’s the duality of the subject. Every birdhouse book will sell many times better than any other woodworking topic.
So, do you write a birdhouse book (which doesn’t take a huge amount of effort – I’ve edited many), reap the financial rewards – yet you will never be asked to present at Colonial Williamsburg, MESDA or Winterthur.
Or do you do a very difficult book on furniture, that sells very little – but you might become a heralded furniture designer/author/etc/?
I like to think of it as similar to Carl Jung’s dualistic framework of positive psychology.
I was thinking more along the lines of the Hegelian dialectic. I think you’ll find that Chippendale birdhouses is the best of all worlds.
Thanks! I’ll check it out.
Something to build with the kids, they are always eager for this type of projects. The girl (aged 3) loves planing wood (small Japanese plane), both kids enjoy using bit and brace..
Has anyone else gone looking for this book Terry recommended ? I cant seem to find a reasonably priced used copy ??
Maybe “The Anarchist Birdhouse in Your Soul” could be the title of your memoir
Back in the late 1990’s when I became a homeowner, I wanted to build a birdhouse. I wasn’t very good at using a hardware store handsaw, so I went to Sears and bought a very dangerous little table saw for $169 to build my birdhouse. I was lucky I didn’t hurt myself, although I did put a nice dent in my washing machine from kickback. Twenty-five years later, I have now spent many thousands of dollars on woodworking classes/vacations, machinery, quality hand tools, books, lumber, etc., and I have a whole bunch of projects that probably won’t be completed until I retire. Perhaps I should take on a small project that I can finish, like a nice birdhouse with hand-cut dovetails…
That poor dove! I hope you make it handicap accessible to counter the barbarity in your soul. 😉
This whole post is ripe for deliberate misinterpretation. Like 10 best selling books? Sheesh, they must be pretty threadbare by now. And who keeps returning these 10 books like Scientology fanatics?
Or
The kitchen book is useful, but a birdhouse book? I’ve never known birds to be too picky about picking domiciles, but what does a ground bound lout like me know?
Enough respite from the day job. Back to the salt mine (to everyone’s relief).
What do you suppose she’s going to use them for? Some sort of shingles-like layers on the roof?
Interesting stuff! The Intelligent Hand has been the most important woodworking book to me. Next level inspiration.
I like doormaking and window making. But personally I think that the best book is Campaign furniture, that book is worth the money alone on the chapter about installing hardware.
Grandpa’s toolchest deserves a broader audience, cause that is actually also a great book.
Brgds
Jonas
The top two are fun to keep around, fun reading. In terms of projects – I haven’t mustered yet the courage to make properly staked furniture, but has already completed my fifth bookcase from ADB with small variations. Incredibly sturdy design that works well with the Riviere nails.
Just need some good reason to make another ATC toolchest, this overbuilt behemoth is such fun. 😉
Count me among those who bought a copy of “The Anarchist’s Workbench” BECAUSE you offered it for free. It was such an astonishing act of generosity.
Can you post a picture of the philosophy section of your bookshelf? I’m a philosophy professor (with a Bad Brains shirt), amateur spelcher, and very keen to know more about how your take on the connection between philosophy and craft.
Hey, Mr. Schwarz !
“It is, after all, about workbenches (the birdhouses of the intermediate woodworker clan).”
This got me thinking …
Altho’ I haven’t yet built myself a custom workbench I do like to make shop furniture, wooden tools, jigs & various ‘helpers’ inbetween jobs. Just last week I finished a small batch of frame saws for some vintage Swedish Sandvik sawblades I’ve had hanging on a succession of nails for almost 30 years (Mere mortals do not understand the breadth of my temporal horizons, so please stop this talk of ‘laziness’ 🙂 Last year I made a series of 6 traditional beech joiner’s mallets, all with different head-weights (sizes) & 8 different length handles (all interchangeable) to see what combination I would prefer. Answer: none of them. Turned carver’s mallets are superior in all regards.
But I digress…
My idea was this: Let’s assume I’m not alone in having these interests. Why not have a corner of the LAP blog where readers can show & excange ideas for ‘my best shop gizmo-thingy-tool’ ? Perhaps with links to plans / drawings / parts suppliers, or contact information for those who want to produce ‘limited edition’ runs for sale ? Might even unearth possible candidates for future Crucible Tool products ?
They’re an ingenious bunch, your readers; I’d love to see what they’re up to.
Just an idea.
There was a LAP forum at one time. Proved more trouble than its worth and went the way of the dodo.
People build huge lovely houses, yet everyone ends up hanging out in the kitchen. Well, with mansions on the internet, everyone seems hell bent on hanging out in the outhouse.
tsstahl now that is dang funny… or would be if it wasn’t true
Can you post a picture of the philosophy section of your bookshelf? I’m a philosophy professor (with a Bad Brains shirt), amateur spelcher, and very keen to know more of your thoughts on the connection between philosophy and craft.
I own 7 of the top ten, plus a few others…
When can I pre-order “The Birdhouse Book”??
Bird Trailers [US] /Caravans [UK] — for the migratory species??
Well-deserved No1, Chris. I still read (re-read) it almost every year and I still fully enjoy myself when I do. And I still recommend that as the first or next book a person should buy when asked about woodworking books.