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Simon Leach's Pottery Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Throwing Beautiful, Functional Pots
In Simon Leach’s Pottery Handbook —a book-and-DVD package—the world-renowned ceramicist and YouTube sensation presents clear tutorials and loads of original instruction on all the core techniques, including studio setup, basic throwing, applying appendages, trimming, glazing, and firing.
“Among how-to books, this volume stands out. This gem is as carefully honed as the skills it seeks to share.” — American Craft
At one time or another, every potter gets frustrated at the wheel. Whether struggling to center the clay or attach a handle with precision, potters of all levels crave advice and answers, and Leach has plenty to give. Topics covered For each technique, detailed step-by-step photography by Bruce Dehnert and Jared Flood captures the subtle, intricate movements that typically fly by too fast to be learned when watching a video lesson; callouts then lead readers to the relevant video on the DVD so they can see the technique demonstrated in real time—an ideal combination that makes learning from the master easy.
Leach writes in his introduction, “As you dive into this book, try to enjoy the sheer pleasure of working with your hands—an act I believe gives balance to our lives, and is a good antidote to too much intellectualizing. . . . Keep practicing! Soon enough, the walls of your pots will be consistent, the lips will be even, and you’ll see that the creations emerging from your hands get better and better with time.”
Useful for beginners and full of information for experienced potters, this is a full-color, how-to manual that will be read and reread.
“For those of us who learn best with a combo of text and demonstrations, Simon Leach’s new book is the perfect fit.” — Ceramics Monthly
“Among how-to books, this volume stands out. This gem is as carefully honed as the skills it seeks to share.” — American Craft
At one time or another, every potter gets frustrated at the wheel. Whether struggling to center the clay or attach a handle with precision, potters of all levels crave advice and answers, and Leach has plenty to give. Topics covered For each technique, detailed step-by-step photography by Bruce Dehnert and Jared Flood captures the subtle, intricate movements that typically fly by too fast to be learned when watching a video lesson; callouts then lead readers to the relevant video on the DVD so they can see the technique demonstrated in real time—an ideal combination that makes learning from the master easy.
Leach writes in his introduction, “As you dive into this book, try to enjoy the sheer pleasure of working with your hands—an act I believe gives balance to our lives, and is a good antidote to too much intellectualizing. . . . Keep practicing! Soon enough, the walls of your pots will be consistent, the lips will be even, and you’ll see that the creations emerging from your hands get better and better with time.”
Useful for beginners and full of information for experienced potters, this is a full-color, how-to manual that will be read and reread.
“For those of us who learn best with a combo of text and demonstrations, Simon Leach’s new book is the perfect fit.” — Ceramics Monthly
- GenresNonfictionArtCrafts
240 pages, Spiral-bound
First published May 1, 2013
66 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 31, 2015
Excellent book and one I will recommend to my pottery students.
I haven't checked out the DVDs yet - though I have looked at many of his on YouTube. Glad I have this book in my library - it was a gift from one of my students!
I haven't checked out the DVDs yet - though I have looked at many of his on YouTube. Glad I have this book in my library - it was a gift from one of my students!
December 27, 2018
Excellent book for the beginner or the professional. There is something here for everyone. As someone who has been working with pottery for over a decade this was an excellent little reminder that there are always new things to learn about how to perfect your craft.
December 18, 2018
I love this book. It is beautifully photographed, well written and was so helpful to me as a beginning potter. I still pull it out just to look through it for inspiration.
January 7, 2019
Great introduction and clear explanation.
October 24, 2020
Great referenc, I think it covered almost everything!
November 15, 2021
Very helpful! I’ve done seven pottery courses including hand building and wheel throwing and a kiln course and still learnt many things.
April 6, 2023
Skimmed.
March 2, 2024
Absolutely terrific
March 5, 2024
Most well-organized, step-by-step, thoroughly explanatory pottery book I've seen so far, though it only covers throwing and not handbuilding, so the title is somewhat misleading
October 2, 2023
This is probably the most comprehensive written overall guide for beginners out there. I love how the book is structured and I found the appendix extremely useful, especially the troubleshooting glaze flaws section. Highly recommended for beginner potters.
October 18, 2025
Simon Leach’s Pottery Handbook stands as both a technical manual and a philosophical meditation on craft. Descended from one of Britain’s most celebrated lineages of studio potters—his grandfather Bernard Leach being the seminal figure in the Anglo-Japanese pottery tradition—Simon Leach bridges tradition and contemporaneity with rare grace. His handbook is not merely an instructional text on how to throw, glaze, and fire clay, but an invitation into a way of thinking and being through making—an ethos deeply rooted in the tactile dialogue between hand, material, and purpose.
At first glance, the book appears to fit within the utilitarian lineage of craft manuals. Its structure is pedagogically sound, leading the reader through each essential stage of the potter’s process—from preparing clay and centring on the wheel to more advanced techniques of trimming, glazing, and firing. Yet beneath its clarity lies a reverence for imperfection, rhythm, and humility that aligns it more closely with the aesthetic philosophy of wabi-sabi. Leach’s approach is distinctly humanist; he celebrates the minor asymmetries, the quiet traces of the maker’s touch, and the living vitality that separates handmade pottery from factory uniformity.
The strength of this volume lies in its balance between practicality and philosophy. Each technical explanation is enriched with Leach’s reflective insights—often recalling the teachings of his grandfather, or his own decades-long engagement with the medium. His tone is patient and conversational, guiding the reader not as a distant expert but as a fellow traveler on the creative path. The accompanying photographs, taken with documentary precision, not only clarify technique but also capture the intimacy of the studio environment: the clay-splattered wheel, the rhythm of repetition, the serene concentration of the maker at work.
Importantly, Simon Leach’s Pottery Handbook modernizes the Leach legacy for a new generation. Where Bernard’s A Potter’s Book (1940) carried the tone of a manifesto for a post-industrial craft ideal, Simon’s text demystifies those ideals without diminishing their beauty. He integrates the realities of contemporary life—limited studio space, digital learning, and global accessibility—into the timeless language of clay. His accompanying YouTube tutorials, referenced throughout the book, reinforce this hybridity: a confluence of ancient craft and modern communication.
From a literary and cultural perspective, the handbook contributes to a broader discourse on the renewal of the handmade in an age of digital abstraction. Leach’s writing reminds readers that making pots is not merely an act of production but an act of mindfulness—a reclaiming of slowness, presence, and the tactile imagination. His words echo the moral tone of the Arts and Crafts movement while resonating with the ecological and existential questions of today: how we inhabit the world, and how we make meaning through the materials at hand.
In essence, it’s a contemporary classic in studio craft literature. It succeeds not only as a “comprehensive guide” to throwing beautiful, functional pots but also as a meditation on the values that make pottery—and perhaps any form of creation—beautiful and functional in the fullest human sense. It belongs on the shelf not only of the aspiring potter but of anyone seeking to understand how craft endures as both skill and philosophy: a conversation, endlessly renewed, between hand, clay, and spirit.
At first glance, the book appears to fit within the utilitarian lineage of craft manuals. Its structure is pedagogically sound, leading the reader through each essential stage of the potter’s process—from preparing clay and centring on the wheel to more advanced techniques of trimming, glazing, and firing. Yet beneath its clarity lies a reverence for imperfection, rhythm, and humility that aligns it more closely with the aesthetic philosophy of wabi-sabi. Leach’s approach is distinctly humanist; he celebrates the minor asymmetries, the quiet traces of the maker’s touch, and the living vitality that separates handmade pottery from factory uniformity.
The strength of this volume lies in its balance between practicality and philosophy. Each technical explanation is enriched with Leach’s reflective insights—often recalling the teachings of his grandfather, or his own decades-long engagement with the medium. His tone is patient and conversational, guiding the reader not as a distant expert but as a fellow traveler on the creative path. The accompanying photographs, taken with documentary precision, not only clarify technique but also capture the intimacy of the studio environment: the clay-splattered wheel, the rhythm of repetition, the serene concentration of the maker at work.
Importantly, Simon Leach’s Pottery Handbook modernizes the Leach legacy for a new generation. Where Bernard’s A Potter’s Book (1940) carried the tone of a manifesto for a post-industrial craft ideal, Simon’s text demystifies those ideals without diminishing their beauty. He integrates the realities of contemporary life—limited studio space, digital learning, and global accessibility—into the timeless language of clay. His accompanying YouTube tutorials, referenced throughout the book, reinforce this hybridity: a confluence of ancient craft and modern communication.
From a literary and cultural perspective, the handbook contributes to a broader discourse on the renewal of the handmade in an age of digital abstraction. Leach’s writing reminds readers that making pots is not merely an act of production but an act of mindfulness—a reclaiming of slowness, presence, and the tactile imagination. His words echo the moral tone of the Arts and Crafts movement while resonating with the ecological and existential questions of today: how we inhabit the world, and how we make meaning through the materials at hand.
In essence, it’s a contemporary classic in studio craft literature. It succeeds not only as a “comprehensive guide” to throwing beautiful, functional pots but also as a meditation on the values that make pottery—and perhaps any form of creation—beautiful and functional in the fullest human sense. It belongs on the shelf not only of the aspiring potter but of anyone seeking to understand how craft endures as both skill and philosophy: a conversation, endlessly renewed, between hand, clay, and spirit.
August 10, 2014
This pottery handbook is great. Terrific pictures, detailed step-by-step instructions and DVDs that cover the lessons in the book. It is spiral bound so it is meant to be used. This is primarily is a book for throwers. I am a hand builder. However I can use many of the techniques in Chapter 4 - Assembling (covers handles and assembling complex forms) & Chapter 5 - Decorating and Glazing. Chapter 6 Firing is applicable and helpful for all potters.
This makes an interesting coffee table book too. You might need two copies -- one for the studio and another for the living room.
This makes an interesting coffee table book too. You might need two copies -- one for the studio and another for the living room.
November 10, 2013
This is a fantastic resource! I have yet to check out Leach's massive library of YouTube videos, but imagine they will be just as informative and easy to follow as his book. This may be the only written pottery resource I will need for a long time. Highly recommended.
December 17, 2016
An excellent overview with inspiring photography that is well-used in visual step-by-step tutorials. Enjoyable read that will make a great reference too; Though not a 'complete' reference, satisfyingly covers the nuances of skills for novice-intermediate potters.
August 21, 2013
So many great ideas!!!
December 31, 2014
great pictures and explanations from a down to earth potter with generations of experience.
June 28, 2015
Loved the DVDs that came with this. Super helpful.
May 5, 2020
Step-by-step photos, spiral-bound, two dvds. Straight forward, no nonsense. Love.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews