I can't help but be disappointed that this is such a basic book on bookbinding and book repair. It takes a lot for me to be interested in a how-to book especially since basic instructions can usually be found for free on the internet. I would have appreciated more than two or three types of bindings. As a visual person I also prefer detailed pictorials or diagrams with more steps and feel that bookbinding requires a lot of photos if the instructions are not in a video.

Very nicely done - contemporary design and simple layout. This is a perfect addition to our craft category for book and notebook lovers.

For someone like me, who has always wanted to repair and...(wait for it)...MAKE books, this is exciting stuff! No giant cutting machines or forbidden industrial suppliers required!

The author provides simple directions, pictures to view, and "Poof!" we can do it ourselves!

No secret guild, no stuffy room in a hallowed university, or the bowels of a city library. We can do all of this with a few simple tools in a well-lit room, with a cutting mat and fairly common items! (She provides links to her suppliers in the UK.)

It begins with terms and definitions; all of which make sense. Then we ease into choosing paper by weight. (There will be some conversion for Americans, but we have apps for that.)

We learn about the "grain" of paper; and just like with fabric or wood, it's very important to know which direction it should go, or there can be some big problems. Recalling all of those times as kids when we were told to fold the paper in half for a booklet, we were folding "against" the grain. A big no-no! Plus, putting it on the table to fold it, was wrong as well! (I discovered that one myself when folding 300 programs every week as a volunteer.) There is a better way, and it is in this book.

We find that books have a head and tail, a little about end papers, then we get a supply list and jump into Pamphlet Binding; the most basic in terms of stitching. When finished with this section, a small book-style pamphlet is complete!

Different styles of books are detailed, and types of stitching shown; broken down into simple steps in conversational language. (If you have examples of these kinds of books to examine in real life, you will understand more quickly.)

I took extra long to read this book because I was literally unable to read without taking notes. They are so basic and clear, I was afraid they might disappear. And yet, none of it seemed dry or boring. The author truly enjoys the process.

Reality has not permitted me to create a book of my own--yet--however, thanks to Aimee Spillman, I feel ready to repair the books I bought long ago, (hoping to find guidance and affordable tools), and to complete that shining dream (honestly, no kidding); to become a bookbinder!

Many, many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for granting my Wish to read a preview of this book. I will buy a copy as soon as I can!

5/5 Stars

#BookbindingandHowtoBringOldBooksBacktoLife #NetGalley

My rating should not reflect negatively on this book….I was not the ideal audience. My expectations and sole interest were centered on book repair, so I was (unfairly) disappointed that most of the book focused on teaching book making. Not being a “crafty” person, I’ll admit to skimming these sections. Other readers, so inclined, will find valuable instruction in creating their own books. The brief history lesson and examination of terminology was interesting. I did obtain some helpful hints on cleaning and repair.

I requested Bookbinding from NetGalley for two reasons. Firstly, because I've always thought bookbinding would be an interesting skill to learn, and secondly, because I have an old book from my childhood which is falling apart and which I have long been considering getting rebound. Bookbinding is nicely presented, with clear instructions and plenty of illustrations. I could follow all the steps without any difficulty and think I would be capable of performing the tasks myself; however, reading this book has put me off trying to complete the project for myself, since, while the required tools are not numerous, I would need to buy certain items, some of which might take a while to source, and given the amount of work involved, especially trying it for the first time, I believe I would be better off paying a professional to take care of my childhood text. That doesn't mean I consider Bookbinding of no use though. It contains some interesting projects for creating your own notebooks etc., which is something I might try in the future (if I ever have enough time to spare), and thus it will be of interest to anyone keen to learn a new skill or perhaps looking to make some kind of custom gift for friends and family. It will also, doubtless, appeal to booklovers who wish to know how their favourite items are produced. So, while it may not have solved my immediate requirements, I am still glad I read this book and I definitely learnt something new from it to try out on some future day.

This was a great quick read about bookbinding, fixing beloved books or upcycling/personalizing your favorite books.
The book is set up mainly as an instruction manual that is easy to follow with photos of the most important steps. This reminded me a lot of "sealemon" a youtuber that specializes in book binding etc.
What I loved most about this was the section about how to fix and upcycle books. I have a lot of thrifted books that are not necessarily in the best condition and this can help you make your books even more special with just a few materials and tools. I have started spraying the edges of my favorite books in the last month and it is surprisingly easy to do yourself.
I already have some more DIY bookish projects on my list ;)

Thank you so much Netgalley for granting a wish! I can recommend this to anybody who's interested in sprucing up their old books or if you're looking for a fun easy project or special gift for someone.