Sure, we’d probably all like to take a woodworking class right now (goodness knows I miss teaching them!), but we can’t. So to help you soak up some knowledge and woodworking entertainment at home, below is an annotated list of 10 books (in no particular order) that I think should be in every woodworking library for various reasons. Know that it was difficult to cull my choices, and have another 50 or so that were vying for mention. But I needed a cutoff point – so here we are.

My list (no surprise to those who know me) skews toward traditional work and hand tools, and material culture; your choices are likely different and I’d love to see them. Please comment below.

The Anarchist’s Tool Chest by Christopher Schwarz
Yes, this book will teach you how to build a traditional English tool chest, but that’s not the primary reason to read it. Of most practical use – particularly to those just starting out on a hand tool journey – is the list of hand tools Schwarz feels are needed to make just about any kind of furniture, and his explanation of what each one is and what it does. But I like it most for the discussion of aesthetic anarchy and why we build things.

The Soul of a Tree by George Nakashima
This autobiography of one of the most important names in 20th-century furniture weaves the author’s history into an exploration and reverence for the natural world, and with his design process. “We work with boards from these trees, to fulfill their yearning for a second life, to release their richness and beauty. From these planks we fashion objects useful to man, and if nature wills, things of beauty,” he wrote. And though I don’t agree that “each plank can have only one ideal use,” this book is a lovely and lavishly illustrated encomium on the material we use, and a clarion call to use it wisely.

Good Clean Fun by Nick Offerman
Unless you’re quite new to woodworking, most of the projects in this book will not challenge you. But the writing is laugh-out-loud funny, and Offerman’s love for woodworking shines through. It’s an absolute joy to read, and a great reminder of why we love woodworking in the first place. Plus, the delightful vignettes on those who’ve inspired the author will inspire you, too.

Illustrated Cabinetmaking by Bill Hylton
This encyclopedic treatment of furniture forms was a godsend when I was first trying to figure out how things go together, and learning all the names for things in woodworking terms. And I still dip into it regularly when I’m designing a new piece of casework; it helps me work through joinery choices and construction solutions.

With Hammer in Hand by Charles F. Hummel
This book tells the story of the Dominy family of Long Island, whose tools and shop are now part of the Winterthur Museum in Delaware. (While known for their clocks, the family also made furniture, some of which is preserved at the museum.) Hummel’s detailed book connects in context the makers and their tools with the work they produced, which makes for a more robust understanding of pre-industrial work. Plus, it’s just a good read.

Workbenches: From Design & Theory to Construction & Use by Christopher Schwarz
The workbench is the most important tool in your shop. While one can do great work with a crappy bench (and many do), it’s a lot easier with a good one. While Schwarz provides plans for four benches (plus a travel bench that can be clamped to any flat surface) in this book, most important is his discussion of the time-tested fundamental rules of good workbench design. (My only complaint is that there have been a lot of advances in workholding of all sorts since this book was published. But the fundamentals haven’t changed!)

The Essential Woodworker by Robert Wearing
This 20th-century hand-tool how-to is a must for anyone new to the craft. The author not only shows you how to set up and use tools (with easy-to-understand illustrations), but also shows how the tools and your new skills work together to produce actual work in any style.

The Woodwright’s Guide: Working with Wedge and Edge by Roy Underhill
It was difficult to choose just one of Underhill’s many delightful books, all of which are informed by his decades of exploration of traditional tools and techniques. I think I settled on this one because I love his daughter Eleanor’s illustrations. But it’s also a fascinating approach to a technique-focused book. Underhill starts with the tree in the forest, then follows it through its progression toward becoming furniture. While new skills and techniques are introduced with every profession, in every case, the work boils down to using a wedge or an edge.

Human Dimension & Interior Space by Julius Panero and Martin Zelnik
This anthropometry bible is the foundation for everything in furniture making that’s constant. While styles may change, the spatial needs of the human body don’t (much). What’s the best height for a chair for a child or adult? How much space does each person need at a dinner table? What’s a comfortable height for a workstation and file storage? You’ll find all that and much more in this book.

Oak: The Frame of Civilization by William Bryant Logan
While I don’t buy in wholesale to Logan’s beguiling argument that the mighty oak is what enabled humankind to shift from a hunter-gather model to a settled cultivation model, this book presents a thought-provoking look at how our modern craft is intrinsically connected to history.

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