Must have bonsai books

[Luke308]

Hello......me again

Had a lot of time on my hands recovering from surgery, and have read a review on a book I'd be interested in getting my hands on......"The Art of Natural bonsai by David Joyce." http://books.google.com.au/books/about/ ... sRORoqFmUC
Has anyone read this, is it as good as the review makes it out to be? I have not found it available anywhere at a reasonable price, so I was hoping someone here might know where I can find a copy?

The best books I have read on bonsai so far are "The Bonsai Workshop" by Herb L. Gustafson, Bonsai with Japanese Maples by Peter Adams, and Bonsai Techniques I by John Naka. ( I haven't managed to track down volume II of bonsai techniques), but from reviews this sounds like it could be worthy to add to my list of must have books.

Can anybody add to my list of must have/read books?
Thanks

[daiviet_nguyen]

Good evening,

Hope you are recovering well and can move about

I found the Stone Lantern "Master" series quite useful. E.g. PINES, Stone Lantern Publishing Company, P.O. Box 70 Passumpsic, VT 05861, U.S.A. 2005.

Stone Lantern Publishing Company is also the publisher of the now stopped Bonsai Today magazine.

They also have books on junipers, azalea etc.

These Master series books are like the focused subjects of the Bonsai Today magazines over the years.

I found Mr. Craig Coussins' books useful too.

Ms. Deborah Koreshoff, an Australian bonsai writer, book is a "must" read for Aussies too.

[Luke308]

Thanks Daiviet, I have read some of the maters series books which are in my bonsai club's library.


I was wondering if anyone has read Harry Tomlinson's book "the complete book of bonsai" http://www.betterworldbooks.com/the-com ... 91184.aspx

If so, would you recommend it? I have just been asked if I have read it by my gf's parents, so I am thinking it may be a Xmas pressie. I am really wanting a copy of David Joyce's book The art of natural bonsai, but I have no idea where to source it, so I can't tell them to get me that instead.
Thanks

[oscar1]

Hi Luke,
I have a copy of The Art of Natural Bonsai, which I was going to put on ebay, it is interesting but I thought it would be much more advanced. I have been growing Bonsai for over 50 years, and there wasn't anything much new in it for me. The book is in as new condition, so if your interested send a pm

Good luck
Oscar1

[Andrew F]

Dan Bartons book is great i was lucky enough to be given a copy by my bonsai sensei.

[Pup]

Thanks Daiviet, I have read some of the maters series books which are in my bonsai club's library.


I was wondering if anyone has read Harry Tomlinson's book "the complete book of bonsai" http://www.betterworldbooks.com/the-com ... 91184.aspx

If so, would you recommend it? I have just been asked if I have read it by my gf's parents, so I am thinking it may be a Xmas pressie. I am really wanting a copy of David Joyce's book The art of natural bonsai, but I have no idea where to source it, so I can't tell them to get me that instead.
Thanks

Have it, read it, it is good. Remember North and South hemispheres though. Dan Bartons book is good, and Any thing by Peter Chan. Simon and Schusters guide to Bonsai is also very good as is Colin Lewis, the Bonsai Handbook.
Just a few, that I have read and remember. That are worth the read.

Cheers Pup

[Brian]

Dan Bartons book is great i was lucky enough to be given a copy by my bonsai sensei.

I disagree strongly. He doesn't know bonsai. I find his technique flawed. The best book on bonsai in the world is Debra Koreshoff by far !

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi Luke,

Mr. Harry Tomlinson' book is great also. I have a hard cover one, second hand though. I have seen it in soft cover as well.

And as Pup points out previously, we have to keep in mind North and South hemispheres.

And I strongly believe we have to read Ms. Deborah Koreshoff's book. I did

There is no rush Luke, you can build up your library slowly.

Cheers.

[Andrew F]

Dan Bartons book is great i was lucky enough to be given a copy by my bonsai sensei.

I disagree strongly. He doesn't know bonsai. I find his technique flawed. The best book on bonsai in the world is Debra Koreshoff by far !

Ok thanks for the heads up ill have to find a copy.

[Pup]

Dan Bartons book is great i was lucky enough to be given a copy by my bonsai sensei.

I disagree strongly. He doesn't know bonsai. I find his technique flawed. The best book on bonsai in the world is Debra Koreshoff by far !

It what way is Dan Bartons technique flawed? Brian, I think Deborah Koreshoffs book is good, but the same can be said, as some of the techniques there, are the same as Dans.

Justmy

[Brian]

The Koreshoff book clearly explains branch ramification, nebari, jin and goes into great detail with the 5 basic styles of bonsai. The book was published almost 30 years ago but it still holds up well as a reference piece. Perhaps i'm being unfair of Barton's work, but I viewed a dvd of a demonstration some time ago and his technique was not up to par with some Australian bonsai exponents.

[toohey]

Hi All,
I like Deborah Koreshoff's book, but as books with great information and fantastic pictures the two books recently written by Hoy Leong Kwong: Ficus Bonsai in the Temperate Climate and Pines in the Temperate Climate are fantastic and worth the money. I live in hope that he would write another. The pictures of bonsai are great (many his own).

I have just resubscribed to the magazine published by Bill Valanvalis in the USA as it too has both great information and some great pictures. The quality of printing today makes such publications really worthwhile.

Let us live in hope for more Australian written books.

Regards,
Michael Toohey

[daiviet_nguyen]

And there is also:

Dorothy & Vita Koreshoff, You too can grow Bonsai BONSAI IN AUSTRALIA, Boolaroong Press, 4th ed., QLD, Australia, 1996.

This book is only 48 pages, A3 size, I guess. I like it also.

[Paulneill]

Deborah Koreshoff's has a few different books which one is the best one to get ?

[Craig]

Deborah Koreshoff's has a few different books which one is the best one to get ?

Bonsai,It's Art, Science, History and Philosophy