The Minimalist Woodworker: Essential Tools and Smart Shop Ideas for Building with Less

My first book in woodworking (hand tools were my start) was The Anarchists Tool Chest. That book gives a great exhaustive list of everything you’ll need, and I’m glad I own it. That said, I wish I’d bought The Minimalist Woodworker first. It IS the book for the person starting out on a budget. The projects are focused on making your shop work. That would also be my only criticism. It is fiercely practical, so it offers no “vanity projects” you can take in to your spouse to earn some good will and shop time.

This book was not useful for me, and I returned it. I respect what the author has attempted to do in writing it and appreciate his publishing a book that aims to popularize woodworking. However this volume attempts to cover too much in too little space, and thus can't go much into depth on anything. Much of the book is taken up with some simple projects. There are lots of photos, which are nicely done, but don't leave room for as much text as I would have hoped for. Statements are made about what hand tools are necessary for woodworking, but little is actually said in detail about why the tools listed here are needed, or what makes them important vs other options, how to choose them, where to buy them, or what to look for in the comparing various models and features available. I would have liked to see much more comprehensive detail in this area. I learned a lot more than is covered in this book simply by browsing Paul Sellers free videos on the web.Instead of -- or in addition to -- this book, please consider "The Anarchist's Tool Chest" by Christopher Schwarz, for a truly comprehensive, minimalist list of hand tools you really need to do good woodworking, and the comprehensive reasons why these specific tools were selected. Also consider "The Essential Woodworker" by Robert Wearing for an excellent introduction to woodworking for those with little or no experience.

This is the best book in the related subject that I've found and I've read through many. Within minutes I knew I finally found what I was after. If you're looking for the fastest and simplest way to get into woodworking while making due with very little this is the way to go. YouTube helped me a lot as well, but there's no substitute for detailed instructions and plans.

This beautiful book gives great advice on how to do get by with a very small set of tools --- no motors required! Live in an apartment and want to be able to do some wood projects? Then this is good source material. Even if you live in a sizable place, but don't want to fall into the trap of thinking you need every sort of power tool available, this is a good place for ideas. It is empowering to see what can be done with the minimum. The projects are a great start too.

Just arrived today- I am only 2 chapters in- it's a short book- but absolutely perfect! Everything a new woodworker needs to get started. Im looking forward to spending my Friday night reading it cover to cover and keeping it on the shop shelf for a long time to come. Great philosophy, great projects!

Minimalist may be a bit of a stretch. If you buy the premium planes in the pictures you shouldn't need a power grinder. It is a good and readable book but my minimal list would be shorter and have less specialized tools.

I loved getting this book, diving into the pages and read about how it's possible to keep doing my hobby, even in the confines of a small apartment.

This book, as well as The Hybrid Woodworker have completely changed my approach and thought process on woodworking. Buy the book, you will not regret it.

Fantastic and inspiring book.I did woodwork in the old days at school (1961 to 1969) and I was - to be fair - pretty useless at it.Since then I have never had enough money to buy a nice house, so I have had to learn to do a lot of stuff that I probably could have learned at school if I had listened!This book has reintroduced me to that 'old school' philosophy - using hand tools instead of noise makers and taking a bit more time and trouble to produce something with a bit more style and accuracy.Now I'm retired I have a shed (which my daughter calls my man cave for some reason) and I am enjoying a rather more sedate pace of working with wood thanks entirely to reading this book.

Good little book for woodworkers starting off on a small scale and planning to keep it simple.

Great book! Building my own ‘tiny workshop’

Je nach Erwartungshaltung...Für mich etwas zu minimal, aber das ist ja Ansichtssache. Ich konnte dem Buch dennoch das ein oder andere an nützlicher Information entnehmen.

Very motivating for people who want only enjoy woodworking and not be annoyed by the noise of machine that people say you really need, and for people who don't want spend a lot of money on it. It's more about philosophy at the begining then about techniques at the end. It give me the motivation to believe i can do something without having the big tools, and without having the big space i would.