Must have bonsai books

[Andrew F]

Just got a few more to add to the list:

The Art of bonsai - Peter D Adams
Chinese bonsai - Li Zhimin
Forest, rock planting - Saburo Katos
A dwarf tree manual for westerners [lol @ the title] - Samuel Newsom
The art of driftwood - Tatsuo Ishimoto

And I'm awaiting original copies of:

Bonkei tray landscapes - Jozan Hirota
Saikei, Living Landscapes in Miniature -Toshio Kawamoto


Merry bonsai folks.

[Luke308]

Just scored some books for Christmas......


I got....
"The Bonsai Book" by Dan Barton
"The Art of Natural Bonsai" by David Joyce - courtesy of Oscar1 (thanks again)
"Bonsai Today # 12" (the issue about growing from seeds)- courtesy of Taffy (thanks again also)

And I'm getting another bonsai book from my partners Mum, but I dont know which one it is yet. Looks like I have some reading to do, especially since I still haven't finished reading "The Art of Bonsai" by Peter Adams, or "Bonsai its art, history, and philosophy" by Deborah Koreshoff

[Andrew F]

Just ordered a copy of: Penjing: Worlds of Wonderment - Qingquan Zhao.

[Mojo Moyogi]

It is no coincidence that both Peter D Adams and Deborah Koreshoff hold art degrees, both Adams and Koreshoff are masterful with pen and ink. Outside of Japan, and from a design and mechanics of bonsai point of view, these 2 authors are at the very top of my must have bonsai book list. Adams has long been an influence for me, especially his work with deciduous material, his writing on visual balance and perspective is essential reading. Through her one and only printed bonsai bible, Deborah K opened my eyes to real bonsai for the first time, I haven't been the same since. It is a pity that Deborah Koreshoff didn't write another book following Bonsai, its art science history and philosophy, even more disapointing that she no longer practices bonsai.

For pure visual impact, Classic Bonsai of Japan is just beautiful.

Mojo

[paddles]

John Yoshio Naka (THE GODFATHER OF BONSAI!!) - I dont own any of his books but have read some and by god, he is a genious and very down to earth.
- Bonsai Techniques 1 and 2. they are expensive but if you can afford them, get them. they are mostly writing but has a
lot of sketching in them and are just brilliant.

I was lent these, and swear they are some of the best books on bonsai I have ever read, with lots of examples of what is good, and what is wrong (and why it is wrong) I find it a great reference book and I'm nagging hubby that I need a set of my own... lol... I'm dreading haveing to return the ones I've got.

A thing I have to say about bonsai books is that there is levels? for instance I think harry tomlinsons encyclopedia of bonsai is a great beginners book, but a little basic once you get a bit more experiance etc...

I have read books that were just too technical for my level of bonsai knowledge, but many others would find brilliant.

so.. all is in the eye of the beholder.

reading any book is good, as is all learning.

[Stewart_Toowoomba]

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

Where is the frowning jealous smilie!! that other one is too happy for my liking - sensei.... bottom lip quivering here....

Stew

[Andrew F]

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

Where is the frowning jealous smilie!! that other one is too happy for my liking - sensei.... bottom lip quivering here....

Stew

Its a nice book, MattA can vouch for it being my bible coz it sits in the car, so if im stuck at the shops for more then 10mins i can read front to back, for the 50th time since it was given to me. I have about 15 pieces of literature devoted to bonsai/penjing but Dan's book is the one that i will go to first when i have an idea.

[Luke308]

I have read Dan Barton's book, and I thought it was very informative, but I have to say I am far more impressed with Bonsai, its Art, Science, and philosophy by Deborah Koreshoff. It is so detailed, and I am only half way through it!! The one thing I loved about Dan Barton's book is the how to make a crescent pot out of fibreglass. very handy to know I have had a quick flick through David Joyce's book also, and that seems quite detailed too. Is it just me or do all bonsai authors make their own pots too??


Paddles,I have found there are plenty of books aimed at beginners, and only a few aimed at the advanced bonsai artist. I started at my library and they had only basic beginner books which all seem to cover the same thing (history, styles, suitable trees, how to wire etc) But then you read more specialised books like Peter Adams books (eg The Art of bonsai - Peter D Adams or bonsai with Japanese Maples) and like you say, you need a firm understanding, and even then you need to concentrate. But I have found that if I learn only one thing from a "beginner book", then it is worth while. I now have a shelf dedicated just to bonsai books.

My collection consists of -

Bonsai with Japanese Maples - Peter Adams (read and highly recomend)
The Art of Bonsai - Peter Adams (read and highly recommend )
Bonsai, its art, science, history and philosophy - Deborah Koreshoff (reading atm, but very detailed..... a must have)
The bonsai book - Dan Barton (read, would recommend)
The Art of Natural Bonsai - David Joyce (yet to read)
The complete book of bonsai - Harry Tomlimson (Yet to read)
A guide to Bonsai - Peter Chan (read and whilst not as detailed I would have liked, it covers topics that more basic books don't)
The living art of Bonsai - Professor Amy Liang (Yet to read)
The secret techniques of bonsai - Masakuni Kawasumi II & III (yet to read)
Bonsai - Linda M. Walker (op shop find) (yet to read)
Step-by-step Guide to growing Bonsai trees - Joan Melville (op shop find) (yet to read)
Post dated - The schooling of an Irreverent monk - Michael Hagedorn (read, very informative, but bewarned, you will want to study under a Bonsai Master in Japan after reading this)
Bonsai Today issue # 12 (read, excellent info on growing seedlings)

I have read countless others including John Naka's bonsai Techniques and others from my bonsai club's library but I can't recall names and authors. I will be adding Bonsai Techniques to my collection when money permits

I will up date this post as I finish each book, or add to the collection

Enjoy

[Luke308]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DELUXE-KAKURY ... 4838124eee

Found this book whilst trawling UK ebay.......look at the price!!! only 1500 worldwide, would love to get my hands on this, even if it was a second edition

[daiviet_nguyen]

Dear Luke, you mean business!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DELUXE-KAKURY ... 4838124eee

Found this book whilst trawling UK ebay.......look at the price!!! only 1500 worldwide, would love to get my hands on this, even if it was a second edition

This is toward the realm of collectible I think?

Have you seen Classic Bonsai of Japan? -- Nippon Bonsai Association, translated by John Bester, Classic Bonsai of Japan, Kodansha International, New York, U.S.A, 1989.

It has a number of colour plates of famous bonsai in Japan ̣̣̣(as the name implies.) And to a lesser extend history of bonsai in Japan coupled along Japanese history. Also a brief description of early Japanese document on cultivations and techniques.

It is costly at $175.00 a long time ago (non-tax deductible too!)

Cheers

[Pup]

I concur, with Daviet on the Book Classic Bonsai of Japan, as we seem to be more into exotics now also quite a few others around one being,

The Art of Bonsai by professor Amy Liang ISBN 951-629-037-6.

It covers all aspect of Pun-Sai to Bonsai, starting well back in the Chinese history, and how and why of both cultures in Bonsai.

Cheers Pup

[lindsay farr]

An interesting and lively discussion. I have an expansive bonsai library with most of the wonderful publications discussed here as well as a few other gems. They have served me well for the past half century.

I feel that something is missing from this discussion. That books are old school nostalgia. It is not accidental that bookstores are shutting their doors in droves.

The future of bonsai instruction publication is video. The diverse and abundant array of online bonsai video transcend language and present a moving visual narrative that the printed page cannot match

The bonsai community is largely a nostalgic and conservative group. This discussion reflects those values.

It is nice to hold a beautiful bonsai book in your hands. The creative artist will take a broader view and embrace the new technologies with gusto.

[Luke308]

An interesting and lively discussion. I have an expansive bonsai library with most of the wonderful publications discussed here as well as a few other gems. They have served me well for the past half century.

I feel that something is missing from this discussion. That books are old school nostalgia. It is not accidental that bookstores are shutting their doors in droves.

The future of bonsai instruction publication is video. The diverse and abundant array of online bonsai video transcend language and present a moving visual narrative that the printed page cannot match

The bonsai community is largely a nostalgic and conservative group. This discussion reflects those values.

It is nice to hold a beautiful bonsai book in your hands. The creative artist will take a broader view and embrace the new technologies with gusto.

I agree it is great to hold a book in your hands, especially reading it amongst your collection in the sunshine. In regards to online bonsai video, I am yet to find a series that is as comprehensive and instructional as I would like. your "world of bonsai" series was fantastic, and I couldn't have done better, but I think it is time someone like yourself did a series that is more in depth & instructional that requires subscription (to recover costs) that covers various aspects of bonsai. eg working with natives, working with maples, working with pines, working with flowering & fruiting species. have a progression series and updates on previous trees worked on in past episodes. I would like to see something on quality pots, the differences between materials (tokanome, mika, earthenware etc) and why we use the pots we do. Maybe even something on modern substrates and fertilising regimes. Along with collecting trees from the wild, and working with nursery stock, and maybe even starting from seed? The thing I think the youtube videos lack is HD quality, and multiple angles of view, Graham potters video's seem the best I have seen, but they are more suited to northern hemisphere conditions and species.

I have searched for decent video lessons in the past, but they are few and far between. Maybe someone should start a new thread ( or continue on this one) listing recommended bonsai tutorials online???

[Greth]

With all respect Lindsay, you cant take a video to bed, lol. There will always be a place for real live books, to look, to dream..

[Andrew F]

With all respect Lindsay, you cant take a video to bed, lol. There will always be a place for real live books, to look, to dream..

Thats not true iv fallen asleep to Lindsays yt clips many of times, laptop in bed, fall off dreaming about being masahiko kimura's understudy lol

But i agree its great to have physical text to fall back on.