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

~ 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 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #18,708 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #10 in	Books > Children's Books > Arts & Music > Art > Sculpture
  #11 in	Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Origami
  #27 in	Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Papercrafts

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 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.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Advanced origami book, September 27, 2005

By	Gillian Buchanan "Classical Music Editor at B... (London, UK) - See all my reviews

The author of "The Complete Book of Origami" has become notorious for producing some of the most advanced origami models in the literature and this book contains a range of models which cannot be considered anything but difficult. Most of the pieces will not be possible from ordinary paper but will require either foil or very thin bank weight paper to work well. Wet folding would also be suitable for some of the models though the diagrams for the elephant sail into a patch of fog when making its behind!

Be prepared to spend some hours making each piece and you may well find yourself starting over again several times until a series of folding procedures becomes clear.

That said the book contains some excellent models - I have always liked the Cuckoo Clock and the Viking Ship, and can confirm that the action pieces really do work.

The diagrams are hand drawn rather than computerised which may explain the level of verbal instruction; however some of the sets of folds are very complex and the verbal instructions provide that much needed extra to understand what is going on.

This is a book for the seasoned folder and most paper folders who have reached the high intermediate to advanced skill level will enjoy it.