The Complete Book of Origami: Step-by Step Instructions in Over 1000 Diagrams (Paperback)

by Robert J. Lang (Author), Robin Macey (Photographer)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Create timeless figures with clear, step-by-step instructions, helpful diagrams. Simple to advanced objects: cube, parrot, rabbit, seagull, cuckoo clock, rocket, mouse, elephant, violinist, Viking ship, more.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (January 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486258378
• ISBN-13: 978-0486258379
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #65,072 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #16 in	Books > Children's Books > Arts & Music > Art > Sculpture
  #39 in	Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Origami
  #61 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Sculpture

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars pretty good but has some faults, September 16, 1999

By A Customer

The book starts off so well with great written instructions and clear diagrams. However, the author too quickly abandons the beginner by shortening the written directions and cutting out parts of the diagrams which we've supposedly already learned. Also, he states in the beginning that the shaded sides of the diagram will indicate which side of the paper you're looking at (most paper is white on one side and colored on the other) but only in the first diagram and in a few other advanced ones does he do this. Plus, I believe that he starts a few off wrongly by telling the wrong side of the paper to start with.

On the good side, the structures quickly build off of the folds of the previous one so you can master various folds and apply them to the next. The beginner form, the mouse, is really cute. Not a bad book on origami but I believe I'll need to add another book to my collection in order to get further along.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quality Origami, December 9, 2001

By	Christopher Reed (Mansfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a great book-but only if you are already familair with origami. You cannot simply look at the diagrams, as Lang has made the text descriptions almost more important than the visual descriptions. The cuckoo clock is by far one of the most advanced models I've ever seen in a book-but there are some easier models as well. Most people will be able to find SOMEthing to make, but I would only suggest this book for a NON-beginner.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive models not for beginners, November 13, 2000

By	Gary Bunker (San Angelo, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The models in this book are among those that most impress my friends when I make them. Nobody else has a full grand piano, with moving pianist. Certainly it requires a piece of paper of unusual dimensions, but Lang still holds true to the artifice of Western origami: no cuts.

The models in this book certainly cannot be considered for beginners, but the cuckoo clock alone is worth the price of the book. Be prepared to use some tweezers, though. :-)