[TheForge] New

[Mike Porter]

GOOD books are seldom written by practical people; it simply isn't the 
practical thing to do. I'm not claiming that it can't happen, but when it 
does you may consider the author to be a tower of integrity. For people of 
smaller moral stature good books are born of passion, just like great art 
and disastrous affairs. Not that giving in to a passion means the author was 
never practical, but rather that, just that as with disastrous affairs, 
passion overcame good sense :-) The four recommendations which follow should 
demonstrate my point:

The Kiln Book, by Frederick L. Olsen is considered a classic. It was first 
published in 1973 and is still the gold standard for solid information on 
kiln construction. I bought a copy four years back, to become informed about 
kilns while considering a kiln chapter in Gas Burners; it was first reduced 
and then cut from the book completely. However, The Kiln Book did make an 
important contribution by example. I wanted my book to be as honest and 
useful as Olsen's. His book would lead us to believe that the author was as 
practical as an IBM accountant. In fact, he appears to have devoted his 
whole life to a passion for ceramics.

An even more practical example would be A Glassblower's Companion by Dudley 
F. Giberson, Jr. It was first published in 1998, and is much more like my 
book. It is filled with contemporary advice based on the latest materials 
available. There are lots of equipment designs, which have been tested out 
by the author over more than forty years. This book will not last like 
Olsen's book, because it is based on materials and techniques which 
themselves become dated. Olsen's book leans far more heavily on engineering 
principles, which always remain contemporary, whatever Materials Science 
comes up with next. Therefore it takes much less rewriting to stay current. 
Dudley's friend Henry Halem has also written a how-to for hot glass work, 
and like Olsen's book, it will weather the years well. I have both books and 
prefer Dudley's.

The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, by Betty Edwards, is a 
revision of the original, which was first published in 1979. This is 
probably the most honest, intense, and important how-to for artists ever 
published. Once again we find a perfectly competent practical and 
disciplined person who becomes overcome with passion. That "eureka" moment 
should always be veiwed with suspicion (after all, it is said to have caused 
one of the most brilliant men of his age to run naked through the streets). 
In this case the stunning revelation has worked out well for the author, and 
for thousands of us who have taken her advice. What, you thought I knew how 
to draw all along? Wrong again; desparation drove me to buy this book, 
thankfully! Like Giberson's book, it is strictly contemporary, but like 
Olsen's book, it's also a classic.

Finally, we come to the most diciplined, and practical author of the lot. 
Herbert Maryon, who wrote Metalwork & Enamelling in 1912 (British spelling). 
My own copy is the fifth revision of a book which is both dated and current. 
Craftsmen and jewelry teachers have been making a living out of his book for 
a almost a century. How is it current? Well, many of the techniques are 
still relevant today, but perhaps the most valuable aspect of this book, is 
as a check when being offered 'secret knowledge' by others. It saved me over 
$475 that was not shelled out for "an advanced class in gold soldering." The 
class was merely based on a technique for turning borax into a particularly 
useful jewelers flux. The book will give any reader a rock solid foundation 
in metal arts techniques, which I personally would regard as superior to the 
knowledge acquired while earning a master of arts degree in today's school 
system. Chapter sixteen alone (Twisted Wires) makes it a must have for any 
blacksmith.

Well, so much for passion, it's time to "put on my apron" and go clean the 
house.
Mike P.








----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Demon Buddha" <osan at netlabs.net>
To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 9:13 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] New


> Well, if you're not comfortable, you're not.  It's no sin, though there 
> are some practical issues.
>
> Did you ever see a book on kilns by some guy... is it Larsen?
>
> Mike Porter wrote:
>> I could come back with a snappy "I'm just bashful," but will own up to 
>> not feeling comfortable promoting anything. I do advocate things of 
>> value, but sales work is not appealing.
>> Mike P.
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Demon Buddha" <osan at netlabs.net>
>> To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 9:37 PM
>> Subject: Re: [TheForge] New
>>
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Mike Porter wrote:
>>>
>>>> Dick,
>>>> O.K., I don't like promoting my book,
>>>
>>>
>>> Why not?  Is it a bad book?
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