Customer Reviews

Koi: Living Jewels of the Orient

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have a pond business, and I not only keep koi myself, but I have read several books on koi. This book is absolutely incredible. It has just enough of everything to be educational without being overwhelming. The material is presented in an easy to understand format, from the origins of the hobby to the present, and the pictures are spectacular. Each variety of koi is beautifully represented, and the chapters on nutrition and water quality are enlightening. I loaned my copy to a friend and have not gotten it back yet!

This book has received such glowing reviews I felt the need to add a sour note. It is full of beautiful pictures and has lots of useful information, but it is not as exhaustive a reference as it would seem from its size. The chapters are divided between four authors, with uneven results. The water quality chapter wastes entire pages on step-by-step instructions on how to use a particular brand of water test (they come with instructions,we don't need this in a book). The filtration chapter is devoted almost exclusively to a particular filtration system that chapter's author designs and sells. On the other hand, most of the other chapters are at least adequate, and the koi varieties section is outstanding, with the clearest delineation of the many koi types I have ever read--anyone can tell a showa from a sanke after looking at the side-by-side comparison. This section alone makes the book worth buying.

If you are looking for a book that is easy to understand and detailed this is it. I spent some time in a few of the major book stores and just was not satisfed with what I saw in the way of books on koi. I ordered this book on a recommendation here on the web, from some other person. I can not tell you how impressed I am with this book. I highly recommend it. Great colored photos of all the different strains and the proper care of koi. Order it and you will like me, not be disappointed.

There are not many Koi books in the market. I think this book is the best I ever read. It is very up todate information (technology) especially pond and filtration system. The pictures and diagrams are beautiful and easy to understand.

This book an extremely useful book. It's helped me on many occasions and though it's been out a few years it remains relevant and it's a lovely coffee table book as well.

Ok, first off, the book is a-ight. It's not bad, and it explains things fairly well, although I think the author doesn't understand the difference between fuzzy and fussy??? The reason I am instructing you NOT to buy it, is that you can get the EXACT SAME CONTENT in another book for less. I bought this book online, and then while waiting for it to arrive went to Barnes and Noble to browse around and see what was there. They had another book by a different name, which I apologetically do not recall. It had the SAME EVERYTHING which I came to realize only after my book arrived in the mail! I think this Koi Jewels of the Orient went out of print, and the price shot up. If you look on the inside cover of the book, the sale price is $29.95, but here it is going for $150 new and I bought it used on Amazon for $43 plus shipping, which ended up being ~$50. The clone book, and I am talking EXACT CLONE, same photos, same text, same figures, same content, same chapters, different name and cover at Barnes and Noble brand new was like 25-30. Go get it there. It is probably revised,and I'm sure has the same authors (Steve Hickling,Mick Martin,Bernice Brewster,Nick Fletcher) although I seem to remember they still used fussy in place of fuzzy. Also, do not buy the smaller "Koi Health" book ~$20 by the same people as it is very nearly if not completely contained in near exact replica (same figures, same pics, same text) inside this book and the other just like it that I found at Barnes and Noble. Save yourself some money and buy the ~200pg book in the store by the same authors if you look at it and decide it is comprehensive enough. I'm kind of wishing I would have gotten the Koi Kichi book as this one is kind of lacking in encyclopedic type content. It's more of an introductory bunch of information with a pic or two of several different kinds of koi. There is not a ton of content that helps you understand very well what makes the difference between excellent koi and so-so koi. You will be able to tell the difference between the scaly and non-scaly, the splotchy red white and black and the stripey koi, but you aren't going to be a koi show judge after reading the book. There are so many different varieties, you would really need 500-1000pgs to do that I guess... Just don't expect a lot. If you're an engineer or other highly technical type just bite the bullet and get a more comprehensive book. If you want something to sit on your coffee table this or equivalent clone book will do. Happy Ponding.

I just can't stop looking at this book. Ive read it front to back and referred back for advice. Also, the koi identification section is wonderful- really describes the varieties and coloration, beautiful pictures. The only koi book I need...

a good koi book with good info on koi keeping and good additional for your collections

This is a good reference book for people new to the hobby. I especially like the section on the different varieties of koi.

This beautiful, hard cover book has much to offer any person who is interested in caring for KOI>
I bought the book as a Christmas gift for my husband's folks...
They just installed a 16 X 33 foot Koi pond in their back yard.
They have three little waterfalls the aerate the water, and are in the process of adding appropriate plants.
They really do not know a thing about KOI.
But I guess it's a new hobby for them....they're retired and
perhaps need a new direction in life.
I hope they read this book before they lose too many of those expensive, shiny fishies!
I read the book prior to giving it to them, and it details the many names and types of KOI, (which means CARP in Japanese.)
The book explains how one would proplery build an in-ground Koi pond, and shows many examples of how to go about this.
It's facinating...did you know that KOI require a high protien diet for their health, and to maintain their beautiful, bright colorings? There is quite a variety of food available to give them.
There is a ton of useful information in this book about KOI,
and it makes a very nice gift for the Holidays.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!