10 books like The Impractical Cabinetmaker

By James Krenov,

Here are 10 books that authors have personally recommended if you like The Impractical Cabinetmaker. Shepherd is a community of 7,000+ authors sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Understanding Wood

By R. Bruce Hoadly,

Book cover of Understanding Wood: A Craftsman's Guide to Wood Technology

This is a foundational text on wood as a material for building furniture, written by someone who knows the material thoroughly as both a wood scientist and as a woodworker. The combined insights give you the information you need to work with wood effectively. It reads well if you feel like plowing through it, but you can also use it as a resource for answering specific questions about wood and its behavior.

Understanding Wood

By R. Bruce Hoadly,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Understanding Wood as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Understanding Wood is the definitive reference on wood technology, and is a keystone of every woodworker's library. The first edition (1980) sold over 128,000 copies: this new edition updates the classic text with new information on new materials: composite board, adhesives and finishes which have been developed since the original edition. There are also 225 brand new colour photographs! Up-to-date and Comprehensive: revised and updated edition of a woodworking classic (Taunton Press, 1980; 1-918804-05-1) which continues to sell thousands of copies a year to this day. New four colour photography is clearer and more informative. Comprehensive: everything you know about…


The Anarchist's Tool Chest

By Christopher Schwarz,

Book cover of The Anarchist's Tool Chest

Chris has a very personal and very persuasive approach to woodworking. In this book, he uses the discussion of a tool chest and its contents to explain his take on the basic tools needed to work with wood by hand, as well as his philosophy of working wood this way. The book is funny, compelling, and an essential read for anyone interested in hand tools and working with them.

The Anarchist's Tool Chest

By Christopher Schwarz,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Anarchist's Tool Chest as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

When I am too exhausted, ill or busy to work in my shop, I will shuffle down the stairs to my 15' x 25' workshop and simply stand there for a few minutes with my hands on my tools. To be sure, I thought I was a touch nuts because of this personality quirk. But after reading the oral histories and diaries of craftsmen from the last 300 years, I found it's actually a common trait among artisans. I am drawn, married or perhaps addicted to the things that allow me to coax wood into new shapes. At the same…


The Why & How of Woodworking

By Michael Pekovich,

Book cover of The Why & How of Woodworking: A Simple Approach to Making Meaningful Work

This is a beautiful and thoughtful book. And much like others on this list, it offers up a personal take on woodworking. Mike feels that shop time should be devoted to engagement in the work, and offers up strategies for achieving that goal. He also offers beautiful projects, from simple to fairly advanced, that foster learning a slew of techniques for accurate work. The book also includes a discussion of design and its role for the woodworker.

The Why & How of Woodworking

By Michael Pekovich,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Why & How of Woodworking as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Why and How of Woodworking reflects the growing appreciation for the handmade, a movement toward simplifying and uncluttering. There is a growing understanding of the need to fill our lives with meaningful and useful objects. How can woodworkers answer that call? Instagram sensation Mike Pekovich explains how to make work that is worth the time and effort it takes to make it, work that makes a difference, and work that will add to the quality of our lives. . Explains the basics of woodworking, from choosing lumber with care, cutting joinery accurately, and preparing and finishing the surfaces. .…


Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking

By Tage Frid,

Book cover of Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking: Three Step-By-Step Guidebooks to Essential Woodworking Techniques

This is on many people’s lists—and for good reason: an essential book, it will give you a solid foundation on which to build your knowledge and skill set, most specially if you are just starting out, though there is much to learn here for even the more experienced woodworker. Frid’s training contains the practical knowledge of centuries of woodworking passed through an apprenticeship system as it began its transition into the 21st Century, adapting power tools, new materials, and ways of working that will give you the information that will let you build almost anything. He wrote 2 more books in the set, also valuable, but if you can only afford one, get this one.

Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking

By Tage Frid,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

As a tribute to Tage Frid who passed away in 2004, combined with the 30th anniversary of The Taunton Press, this three-volume slipcase set is the most complete, authoritative guide to woodworking for readers of all skill levels. The books in the slipcase include: ""Book 1: Joinery,"" ""Book 2: Shaping, Veneering, Finishing,"" and ""Book 3: Furnituremaking,"" The techniques illustrated in these books are demonstrated step by step, with clarity and organization that allows readers to understand and carry out virtually any woodworking project. This is a limited edition.


Solid-Wood Cabinet Construction

By Franz Karg,

Book cover of Solid-Wood Cabinet Construction: 70 Contemporary Designs with Details

Franz Karg's book is a challenge: Design and build cabinets without any sheet goods—all solid wood— and make the designs exciting, the joinery accommodate stress and expansion and contraction while adding to the quality of design, or even inspiring the design. Working your way through these designs will kick your thinking and your construction approach up a notch!

Solid-Wood Cabinet Construction

By Franz Karg,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Solid-Wood Cabinet Construction as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A master cabinetmaker shows how to build a wide array of lasting furniture for your living room, dining room and bedroom. Sharp photographs and detailed drawings provide the technical information needed to build wall cabinets and other pieces of furniture.


Practical Woodwork

By Charles H. Hayward,

Book cover of Practical Woodwork

The most prolific woodworking writer of the twentieth century, Charles Hayward spans the era that started with hand tools and saw the introduction of the first electric tools thus making clear the advantages of the traditional methods. Profusely illustrated with drawings of joints, tools, and actual techniques, this is truly one of the most complete books on the basics of traditional woodworking.

Practical Woodwork

By Charles H. Hayward,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Practical Woodwork as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This book is intended to appeal to all those who want ot know the basic essentials of wood work and of furniture making in particular. It is written by a practical cabinet maker of many years' experience and is thus on thoroughly sound, approved lines. The author starts with the elementary processes - handling tools and cutting joints, passes on to the more specialized work of drawer and door making, veneering, finishing, etc., and closes with a series of attractive designs for things to make with full working drawings and cutting lists. Apprentices, students, and the man-in-the-street should find the…


A Cabinetmaker's Notebook

By James Krenov,

Book cover of A Cabinetmaker's Notebook

Many would say Krenov’s approach stands in strong contrast to Frid’s books. Krenov’s books contain much valuable practical information, but I believe the great value of this book is in his attitude toward his work. It is— and I know this is an overused word — but I think it is inspirational.  He speaks clearly and in-depth about his approach to and interaction with his materials; their interplay with design and function; how the physical act of doing the work affects it; his attitude towards time, energy, genuineness, and patronage, and achieving the highest levels of art, craft, and satisfaction. Highly recommended for artists and woodworkers.

A Cabinetmaker's Notebook

By James Krenov,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Cabinetmaker's Notebook as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Cabinetmaking at the highest level is an art, a discipline, a philosophy--even a way of life--in addition to being a useful craft. In this book one of the greatest living cabinetmakers reflects on the deeper meanings of his craft and explains for less accomplished workers how the right attitudes toward materials, tools, and time can increase the joys of this complex activity. Craftspeople in every medium will be inspired by this account of getting started and developing habits that lessen the difficulties of a complex craft.


The Practical Book of Period Furniture - Treating of Furniture of the English, American Colonial and Post-Colonial, and Principal, French Periods

By Harold Donaldson Eberlein, Abbot McClure,

Book cover of The Practical Book of Period Furniture - Treating of Furniture of the English, American Colonial and Post-Colonial, and Principal, French Periods

Photographs and detailed line drawings cover virtually the entire history of European furniture construction. Not merely a catalogue this book goes into minute detail about construction of the finest furniture that was ever made by hand from clockcases to bedsteads. It explains stylistic details as well as actual methods.

The Practical Book of Period Furniture - Treating of Furniture of the English, American Colonial and Post-Colonial, and Principal, French Periods

By Harold Donaldson Eberlein, Abbot McClure,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Practical Book of Period Furniture - Treating of Furniture of the English, American Colonial and Post-Colonial, and Principal, French Periods as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.


By Hound & Eye

By George Walker, Jim Tolpin, Andrea Love (illustrator)

Book cover of By Hound & Eye: A Plain & Easy Guide to Designing Furniture with No Further Trouble

Forget the tape measure. Leave the fractions, decimals, and mathematics behind. Long before the tape measure was a universal adornment on the woodworker’s belt, people designed furniture, houses, bridges, and cathedrals using nothing more than simple whole number ratios. This slender tome will show you how to do just that and will entertain you along the way. 

By Hound & Eye

By George Walker, Jim Tolpin, Andrea Love (illustrator)

Why should I read it?

1 author picked By Hound & Eye as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Cartoon character, "Journeyman" and his dog, "Snidely" teach the basics of furniture making. Geometry is a major component of the instruction plus the basic tools of the trade are explained and applied to this art. A novice will truly learn the craft while an experienced carpenter will find this enjoyable reading.


Dictionary of Woodworking Tools

By R.A. Salaman,

Book cover of Dictionary of Woodworking Tools

R. A. Salaman has cataloged virtually every woodworking handtool and holding device used in the trades up into the 20th Century. What’s better is he understands the use of the tools and describes their use in practical detail with accurate drawings and text. You can find solutions to problems here that have been around for centuries but may have been overlooked by the modern woodworker. The information here will help you make and modify tools and will add to your overall understanding and use of hand tools.

Dictionary of Woodworking Tools

By R.A. Salaman,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Dictionary of Woodworking Tools as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Since its first publication in 1975, R.A. Salaman's Dictionary of Woodworking Tools has come to be recognized as a definitive pioneering reference work, one of unparalleled value to craftsmen, collectors, antique dealers and all who are interested in the subject of woodworking tools and their uses. His rich language describes and explains the tools, not only of the more obvious woodworking trades (such as the cabinetmaker, chairmaker, joiner, coachbuilder, cooper, shipwright, plane maker, wheelwright and instrument maker) but of the less obvious trades as well, such as broom and brush makers, tree feller, hoop maker, upholsterer, millwright, coffin maker and…


5 book lists we think you will like!

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