Pyrography: A Beginner's Guide to Learning Wood Burning Techniques and Patterns provides a step by step process for setting up a space to work, safely, choosing your tools and then making use of them. Everything from the basic tools and their use, the preferred medium (including a breakdown of many types of wood and how they are useful, or not) and basic and advanced techniques is introduced. Even finishing the work so that it might be integrated into useful objects, or just for durability, is covered. The continuous emphasis on safety is welcome, and probably very wise given the fiery nature of the work, and the toxic nature of the fumes you will often be making. Caution is a good part of being a long lived artist, especially in this case.
The organization of the book is excellent. Every chapter has helpful summaries that help to refresh your memory regarding what you have just learned, and the overall organization of information is very well done, with a logical progression of what information is needed without any divergence from clearly conveying information. It’s refreshing to read a book like this that does not seem content to spend words on meaningless narrative tidbits.
In some ways the text is timeless, but it also has a ‘Troubleshooting’ section which is very modern. Illustrations/Photographs of techniques are provided in text, and they translate very well to e-ink. This is a good book, and I recommend it. I have the tools and I have already started practice. If I make something I am proud of I may add a photo later.