Bonsai for Beginners [Hardcover]

Craig Coussins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2001

Make this the very first book you read on bonsai! Illustrated with the author's own photographs of internationally popular varieties, there are also case studies that take you through important techniques one by one. "...a thoroughly illustrated reference that will captivate and educate newcomers to the art...a wealth of personal insights accompanied by illustrations that are refreshing in their clarity and in the depth of the accompanying explanations."--Bonsai Online.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

((Revised author bio for the new in paper edition of Bonsai with Beginners))
About the Author
Craig Coussins travels around the world teaching about bonsai. He has worked in the United States, South Africa, Ireland, Russia, England, and Italy, studying the indigenous species and working toward developing them. He is also a writer for many bonsai magazines.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Sterling; First edition/Full number line edition (June 30, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080694031X
• ISBN-13: 978-0806940311
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 9.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #325,884 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars [e-mail], June 2, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Bonsai for Beginners (Hardcover)

Bonsai for Beginners is a superb book written by someone that obviously knows their subject. Unlike many other Bonsai books, this book shows you through many examples methods of achieving excellent results from this `art'. The photographs are simply amazing and I have never seen so many in a Bonsai book before. There are close on approaching 450 in this volume and while there is a lot of text, the text is easy to read and follow. In fact, I found myself sitting down and reading what I thought was a reference book. The quality of the writing is almost novel in its structure and very riveting. If you want to know how to make Bonsai then this is, without any doubt, the book for you. As you develop your Bonsai skills, you go to some of the slightly more advanced sections such as taking a cascade style, where the Bonsai foliage is cascading down over the pot and below the table and turning it upside down to make a wonderful informal upright tree shape. You really have to see this to appreciate it. The core of this book is its excellent series of step-by-step photographs covering all the techniques such as potting, pruning and root pruning, subjects that usually scare the pants of many a beginner. Scattered throughout the book are many wonderful examples of Bonsai from Craig Coussins own collection and prize specimens from a number of other Bonsai collections.

Craig Coussins shows you in a clear and concise way all the techniques that fill you with confidence to try these techniques for yourselves. Not only a `best buy' but also a truly necessary purchase if you are interested in Bonsai.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The nicest book I have read about Bonsai, January 31, 2002

By 

paul (London) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bonsai for Beginners (Hardcover)

"Now and again in Bonsai, or indeed any other art form, comes along someone who not only knows how to do this art but also, and more importantly, knows how to teach this art."

Bonsai for Beginners is much more that a simple beginners book. It takes you form the beginners points of reference up to intermediate standard in Bonsai. I am a beginner to intermediate grower and I was astonished at the breadth of information in this truly wonderful book. It is the most lavishly illustrated book on the subject that I have seen and I was riveted to the pages as it is a very easy to follow text. The step by step is practical in every sense and the subject matter made me want to go out and try them immediately.
Now and again in Bonsai, or indeed any other art form, comes along someone who not only knows how to do this art but also, and more importantly, knows how to teach this art. Craig Coussins is such a person and I would heartily recommend his writing to anyone that truly wishes to understand the subject.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book to introduce a beginner to Bonsai, November 16, 2002

By 

Craig David (Boston, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bonsai for Beginners (Hardcover)

I found this book a wonderful read. Excellent information, not too lengthy in detail but concise and intelligent. No information overload. Just the very thing to get a beginner interested in starting Bonsai. Sound techniques and a very friendly read throughout.The sections are well laid out and in my opinion, the book acts like a teacher of Bonsai was just behind me when I am working on my Bonsai. I have been keeping Bonsai for two years now and this was exactly the kind of book I was looking for-a book to take me from the elements to intermediate. I have seen this excellent teacher twice now and I have been inmpressed with his teaching abilities. This is clear in his writing. Succinct, to the point and no faffle! This beautifully illustrated book must obviously make one or two other Bonsai writers very jealous.