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Origami to Astonish and Amuse (Paperback)

by Jeremy Shafer (Author) "If you were an original model which would you rather be, a sad stationary model that has to sit idle on a display shelf getting..." (more)
Key Phrases: Thoughts Behind the Folds, Square Base, Waterbomb Base (more...)
4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)

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Origami to Astonish and Amuse + Origami Paper: 24 7 x 7 Sheets in 12 Colors + Origami Paper Pattern 6 3/4" 49 Sheets (Origami Paper Packs)
Price For All Three: $25.83

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Editorial Reviews

Review
"A brilliant and bizarre take on art and life." --Peter Engel, author of Folding the Universe -- Review

Review
"A brilliant and bizarre take on art and life." --Peter Engel, author of Folding the Universe


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Product Details

  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1st edition (July 6, 2001)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312254040
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312254049
  • Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #83,339 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category: (What's this?)

    #39 in  Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Origami

Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
If you were an original model which would you rather be, a sad stationary model that has to sit idle on a display shelf getting dusty and neglected,or a happy action model that frequently gets to frolic in the hands of a folder and give moving performances that astonish and amuse. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Thoughts Behind the Folds, Square Base, Waterbomb Base, Bird Base, Valley-fold Valley-fold, Swiss Army Knife, Two Interlocking Rings, Heart Attack, Kite Base, Man Swatter, Folding the Blintz Base, Star of David, Crane Envelope, Monolithic Rubblestone Boulder, Venus Flytrap, Beating Heart Card, Chocolate-Covered Ant, Diamond Heart Ring, Two Permanently Interlocking Rings, Waxing Waning Moon, Balancing Eagle, Bar Technique, Father's Day, Love Envelope, Pinwheel Base
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Customer Reviews

27 Reviews
5 star:
 (21)
4 star:
 (5)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (27 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Really good work plus really funny work, July 6, 2001
It worths the long wait. This is the only origami book make you laugh to tears.

All models here are folded from a single square, no cut. The author emphasize this philosophy, and wrote a quite clear essay about it and encourge the folder-reader to become designer.

Followed are a lot of wonderful models. Besides the very excellent models "Swiss knife", "Nail clipper", etc, and extraordanary models: man swapper, man on the surf, eight interwine ring, eagle balanced on the tip of the mountain (both folded from dollar bill) etc, there are many funny models:

An elephant from behind (so only butts and tail, and tip of nose), a walking man(when spread and flatten the whole paper, the creases become a labyrinth.) One I appreciated most is the "Origami square", fold as followes: Take a Square paper, rotate and rotate and rotate and flip and rotate and rotate, then VOILA, the origami square completes. (I got angry and very happy at the same time when I read this). Moreover, a invisible duck, a car with tires replaced by 4 legs....

The author is so versatile and desperately funny, joyous atmosphere prevails the whole book. Highly recommended.

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30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Astonishing and amuse definitely!, July 4, 2001
By "lhs1701" (Singapore, Singapore Singapore) - See all my reviews
The title is rather apt. I was suitably astonish and amused by the origami subjects within. If I have to choose one word to descibe the book, it would be "quirky".

For those who have been purchasing origami books and getting the usual stuff and would like some unusual subjects, this is definitely the book!

Within the book is divided into 4 main sections: 1) Origami Action (32 models) 2) Symbols, Signs & Stunning Designs (21 models), 3) Models from the Heart (15 models) and 4) Origami for the Almost Deranged (21 models). Most of the subject matters cannot be found elsewhere, in any other origami books.

I find the general format and presentation of the book rather unusual too, rather refreshing. Throughout the book, for every models, there is a section "Thoughts behind the fold". This allows you to get into the mind of the author and possibly ideas for creating your own models.

There are so many models that I am unable to list all of them. Among my favourites are a workable Swiss Army Knife, a nail clipper and slithering snake skin! There are also a lot of action models and this suits me very well as I like action models.

The general complexity ranges from simple to complex. On a range of 1 to 5, with simple (1) and complex (5), I find that most of the models fall in the range of 2. Do not let this fool you, simple models can be very effective and fun to fold too. The final result is astonishing and amusing, much more so that some complex models.

I like to mention too that I had fun with the running car, hey!, running on legs, not wheels! Then you will be taught how to fold the carbon atom that even a rocket scientist could not fold. Do not forget to try folding the invisible duck too! It's a riot!

Hey! as I am already almost deranged, folding from the book maintained me in the same deranged condition. Perhaps all you almost deranged origami enthusiasts would like to group together and form the ADOES (Almost Deranged Origami Enthusiasts Society).

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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Origami to Astonish and Amuse, August 9, 2002
By Carlos Garcia Macias (Naucalpan, Edo Mex Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I was surprised for a great Origami book that includes excellent models for different skills (23 simple, 8 low-intermediate, 20 intermediate, 12 high-intermediate and 26 complex, in total 89, and not 400 as is written in the cover) and different interests:
Action Models, from beginners (Baby Bird, Men's Suit), intermediate (clapping hands), high intermediate (surfer on a wave), to complex (nail clippers), and in other areas like Symbols and Signs (some billfolds, a pyramid and a balancing eagle that poses at the top of the pyramid), Heart-related origami (Cards, envelopes) and others (like a square base with hands that folded it -a la Escher-).
The book includes tips and ideas to fold variations for the models.
If you are interested in Origami to entertain children and adults, or making not traditional models, this is the book.
I recommended specially for intermediate to expert folders.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars perfect gift for the interesting
I bought this book for a friend who has always taken an interest in origami. She is a very odd person, but with a good sense of humor. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Joan A. Stanolis

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow
I am astonished and amused. Very clever models from a quirky, talented, and entertaining mind. My sixteen-year-old son LOVED this book and I am enjoying a new perspective on an... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Andra N. Doherty

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book but not very serious
The book is a lot of fun, both with completely new ideas and variations on traditional origami. Lots of amazing models and it manages to be clearly written while being interesting... Read more
Published 4 months ago by B. Parker

5.0 out of 5 stars Greatness!
This book is wonderful fun. It arrived on time and in good condition so that it was given to my sister as a gift. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Cassie Banks

1.0 out of 5 stars I can't cancel order right away although delivery time is far away.
I am not sure if your product is as sour as your delivery time and cancellation deadline.
Published 7 months ago by Joenil L. Jumbas

5.0 out of 5 stars Creative Book
Origami to Astonish and Amuse is Jeremy Shafer's first and only book so far (as far as I know).
The models vary from the simple baby bird to the complex eight interlocking... Read more
Published 12 months ago

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun book!
I love the sense of humor in Jeremy Shafer's creations. There's a nice range of models in here, from moderately accessible ones to the very difficult. Read more
Published 16 months ago by C. Y. Price

5.0 out of 5 stars Origami to Astonish and Amuse
Truly astonishing and positively amusing. A fabulous use of an ancient technique. Pushing the limits to new heights.
Published 17 months ago by Hellen Kitsandonis

5.0 out of 5 stars This book should be in every orgami collection
This is one of the best books in my origami collection. The models are unique - buying this book is not another case of getting only 10% new models - they are all new and... Read more
Published 20 months ago by R. Mapleson

5.0 out of 5 stars For the advanced origami enthusiast
This has to be the definitive book on really incredible origami. If you are a beginner, there are a few models in it you can do, but much of the content is fairly difficult, even... Read more
Published on April 1, 2007 by Kathy Peterson

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