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By Keith A. Smith Non-Adhesive Binding, Vol. 1: Books without Paste or Glue
Book by Keith A. Smith
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
October 14, 2011
If you’re looking for a fun read and pretty pictures, don’t bother. If you want to learn how to make books that are also one-of-a-kind art pieces by hand, using a needle and thread, boy have you come to the right place.
Like a lot of books by artists, this one begins with a lot of heartfelt rambling about the art that doesn’t really help. You’re already sold on bookbinding as an art, right? OK. You can skim this stuff. But don’t skip it; this part also explains all the basics and terminology.
After 40 pages or so, Smith’s artistic sentiment is spent, and he gets down to brass tacks. To me the author’s dedication and character shines through more in this hardcore craft-nerd material than in anything that comes before. Smith tells you what supplies you need. He teaches you how to sew. He tells you the difference between sewing and stitching. He teaches you the few knots you need to know. He spends 200 pages describing some 35 different bindings, starting with a few ways to sew a simple pamphlet. He explains the practical strengths of each binding. (For example, a few bindings open very wide so that the two pages you can see lie flat, and you can see all of both pages, even the parts closest to the spine. Most bindings do not.) He ends with 50 pages about covers and other artistic touches.
The diagrams and the step-by-step descriptions of each binding and cover are plentiful, clear, and meticulously done. I mean no insult when I say Smith doesn’t make it look easy: there’s just no hiding it, writing this was a ton of work. Some of the sewing is just amazingly complex. It’s super hard to illustrate stuff like that, much less describe it well enough for novices to attempt it. Smith does both.
I imagine this book must have been laid out and indexed (the two-page index is just enough to be useful sometimes) entirely by Smith; it might have been slicker if he had gotten help. But I’m just thrilled this book saw print.
Like a lot of books by artists, this one begins with a lot of heartfelt rambling about the art that doesn’t really help. You’re already sold on bookbinding as an art, right? OK. You can skim this stuff. But don’t skip it; this part also explains all the basics and terminology.
After 40 pages or so, Smith’s artistic sentiment is spent, and he gets down to brass tacks. To me the author’s dedication and character shines through more in this hardcore craft-nerd material than in anything that comes before. Smith tells you what supplies you need. He teaches you how to sew. He tells you the difference between sewing and stitching. He teaches you the few knots you need to know. He spends 200 pages describing some 35 different bindings, starting with a few ways to sew a simple pamphlet. He explains the practical strengths of each binding. (For example, a few bindings open very wide so that the two pages you can see lie flat, and you can see all of both pages, even the parts closest to the spine. Most bindings do not.) He ends with 50 pages about covers and other artistic touches.
The diagrams and the step-by-step descriptions of each binding and cover are plentiful, clear, and meticulously done. I mean no insult when I say Smith doesn’t make it look easy: there’s just no hiding it, writing this was a ton of work. Some of the sewing is just amazingly complex. It’s super hard to illustrate stuff like that, much less describe it well enough for novices to attempt it. Smith does both.
I imagine this book must have been laid out and indexed (the two-page index is just enough to be useful sometimes) entirely by Smith; it might have been slicker if he had gotten help. But I’m just thrilled this book saw print.
November 25, 2020
An extremely useful, comprehensive, and easy-to-read manual for hand book-binding. I've had to teach myself at home due to the current situation, and armed with Smith's book, you really feel like you've got everything you need!
January 18, 2009
This book completely fell apart on me.
April 20, 2019
This should keep me busy for awhile. I haven’t tried to follow any of the directions, yet, but they seem easy enough to understand. This will be my go-to reference. I checked out a few other book-binding manuals from the library. This one seems to be the best one for me. I wanted a book I could refer back to. Many of the bindings in other books were too artsy and impractical. This has some of those, but more of what I like, too. I also loved that there is a section on covers. So great.
As a side note, many of the photos (not instructional) are pixelated. I can still see enough detail, but it’s annoying to have such a nice book with amateur photoshop throughout.
I look forward to reading volumes 2 and 3.
As a side note, many of the photos (not instructional) are pixelated. I can still see enough detail, but it’s annoying to have such a nice book with amateur photoshop throughout.
I look forward to reading volumes 2 and 3.
February 19, 2018
3.5 stars
I am possibly not the intended audience of this book- It’s a little artsy for me. I wanted a simple but thorough intro to basic book binding, and this book was more than thorough. I read up to page 86 (all of part 1) in detail, and then skimmed the rest as it went through the steps of different projects. The directions seem very detailed, with diagrams and photos of examples. It could be useful for someone wanting to really get into book binding, especially some of the more artistic/less practical forms of binding. It was just a bit too much for me.
I am possibly not the intended audience of this book- It’s a little artsy for me. I wanted a simple but thorough intro to basic book binding, and this book was more than thorough. I read up to page 86 (all of part 1) in detail, and then skimmed the rest as it went through the steps of different projects. The directions seem very detailed, with diagrams and photos of examples. It could be useful for someone wanting to really get into book binding, especially some of the more artistic/less practical forms of binding. It was just a bit too much for me.
August 11, 2024
I'm wanting to bind some old comic books into a single volume and was hoping to find something reversible rather than using glue on the spine. Turns out that's not really what this book is for. This is more artistic bindings. That said, it has some interesting stuff and a few good tips even for purely practical bindings. I plan to keep it on my shelf.
February 20, 2018
Brilliant, clear, helpful, creative, inspiring.
January 9, 2023
Great diagrams and explanations, just skip the first chapter's opaque and repetitive philosophising. I've made several practice books using Smith's techniques with some very satisfying results.
August 11, 2008
ILL
Pretty deep for book-making:
"I must be alert, not to assume a 'truth' but to understand that fact is dependent upon context." p. 12
So far, he's only talking about the act of folding a piece of paper in half, and how that creates, from one flat surface, 4 distinct pages, a hinge, and either a mountain or valley fold, depending on which way you hold the paper, and a blank canvas for 4 pages to interact as a whole.
I can't wait to take in all the myriad possibilities for sewing a book. I love making books.
**************
Had to return it before I properly perused it. I'll definitely look for it used; although even used, it demands a steep price for a paperback. He does fancy himself a bit of a paper philosopher, which was strange, but the bookmaking was marvelous and delicious fun.
Pretty deep for book-making:
"I must be alert, not to assume a 'truth' but to understand that fact is dependent upon context." p. 12
So far, he's only talking about the act of folding a piece of paper in half, and how that creates, from one flat surface, 4 distinct pages, a hinge, and either a mountain or valley fold, depending on which way you hold the paper, and a blank canvas for 4 pages to interact as a whole.
I can't wait to take in all the myriad possibilities for sewing a book. I love making books.
**************
Had to return it before I properly perused it. I'll definitely look for it used; although even used, it demands a steep price for a paperback. He does fancy himself a bit of a paper philosopher, which was strange, but the bookmaking was marvelous and delicious fun.
January 19, 2012
"The p o w e r of a blank book is that it is not blank in the sense of being empty, but is an entity complete in itself: It has a beginning and an end. Turning pages move through time and space. Even a blank book presents a group, series and a sequence. Every book is a format."
page 20
"A book is a combination of its content and its physical binding. Concerns for one flow back and forth into the other." page 35
Keith Smith has written a soulful how-to book. He's a book-binders book-binder. Filled with perfect illustrations for each binding, he has also given us many beautiful samples, made by the author or numerous other book binders. A treat to read, even for non-book-binders! For the book-binder, it is a lovely challenge to try every one.
page 20
"A book is a combination of its content and its physical binding. Concerns for one flow back and forth into the other." page 35
Keith Smith has written a soulful how-to book. He's a book-binders book-binder. Filled with perfect illustrations for each binding, he has also given us many beautiful samples, made by the author or numerous other book binders. A treat to read, even for non-book-binders! For the book-binder, it is a lovely challenge to try every one.
June 4, 2008
As with all of Keith Smiths instructional book arts books, this is a detailed and informative text book on how to make books without the use of adhesives. It is a wealth of information - the best.
It's not a "pretty" book, or one that will inspire you with color photos of other artist's works - it is truly n a style of text book, for serious students of book arts.
It's not a "pretty" book, or one that will inspire you with color photos of other artist's works - it is truly n a style of text book, for serious students of book arts.
November 6, 2014
A great book for anyone who wants to create their own books, learn bookbinding or just needs a good reference book for bookbinding. I got this book when I took a bookbinding class at college and it was extremely useful. The instructions are clear and easy to understand and there are some great pictures and diagrams. A must have for bookbinders.
April 27, 2015
You could certainly reproduce any of the bindings in this book based on the large number of illustrations, photos and clearly written instructions. I don't give it a five because I suspect that it would scare off beginners, it's part of a five volume set. Currently widely available including directly from the author.
March 2, 2008
I was utterly stymied by Keith Smith's books until a book arts teacher told me: "The way to understand his genius is to cover up ALL the words on the page and just look at the drawings." YES! Exactly.
January 22, 2011
I am equal parts intimidated and in awe of this book. Want to make a book? This guy is your guy. Maybe I will put it under my pillow in the hope it will seep into my brain overnight.
wow...still trying to work on some of these. It's am-azing. Glad I'm pairing it with a real-life class though
wow...still trying to work on some of these. It's am-azing. Glad I'm pairing it with a real-life class though
August 19, 2007
The diagrams require secret codes to discern, but other than that, a helpful and inspiring guide.
October 25, 2007
Keith Smith is the master of book binding.
April 26, 2008
The title says it all. One of the best comprehensive book on bookbinding without the use of glue.
I only wish I had a copy of it.
I only wish I had a copy of it.
Read
May 7, 2008How to make books by folding paper different ways.
July 3, 2017
not as illustrative as I'd like... but when you're dedicated, you can get something out of it.
December 27, 2008
The thing about this book is that not only does it describe each motion of the stitch, it also has helpful diagrams. I need to find the other volumes in this series.
March 15, 2009
A must reference for Bookbinders and Book Artists.
December 1, 2009
What an awesome book binding reference book! Love it.
January 8, 2011
Love all of Keith Smith's books. They are my go to reference for inspiration when making any book.
March 20, 2011
This is really more of a "read parts of it" and should be considered one of the best books to explain bookbinding techniques. I consider it a reference book I'll use again and again.
May 4, 2011
I got this for Christmas but haven't had much time to use it. I still rate his stuff as a 5 though.
December 11, 2011
Wonderful in every way!!
February 7, 2015
Best book on making books.
November 27, 2007
keep it close by when you're concepting your books
August 22, 2008
A fabulous text book for bookmaking.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews