To Turn the Perfect Wooden Bowl: The Lifelong Quest of Bob Stocksdale (Fox Chapel Publishing)

This will be short. I just received this book. I've read and studied it in the last two hours. (I plan on many more hours of pouring over it.) I've looked at all the photos and the sub-info under the photos.I can only say that someone did a great job in putting this little honey out on the sales blocks!!This is an info and picture book. If you are a total novice and don't like looking at photos to learn, well, don't buy this gem. The Q&A portion of this book is stiff and direct, but then this was not supposed to be a novel. If you are at all interested in the creativity of one fellow with a lathe and how he thought and how he used various tools... well, then grow with this book and gain in creativity.This book was not meant to be the end-all in DIY or HOW-TO. It WAS intended to make you aware of a genius artist and how he created his work. It helps if you have a little wood turning knowledge to begin with. But, if you don't, it is still beautiful and worth reading... How can you help but learn to improve your quality when you have this kind of information at your finger-tips.?

I have been a fan of Bob Stocksdale's work from the moment I took up turning--in fact, Stocksdale is one of the people that, through his work inspired me to take up the craft. So I pre-ordered this book, much anticipating its arrival and subsequent understanding of the drive and inspiration behind the man's work. Uh-uh.Stocksdale never taught a woodturning class, never wrote a book on the topic, never made an instructional video. Take that as a warning. This book is the result of a week that the author spent in Stocksdale's shop, "looking over his shoulder," trying to figure out what made Bob Stocksdale tick. He (the author) admits up front that it was difficult to get Stocksdale to talk about his work, or to dig into his own psyche. I'd go with impossible.We as readers are rewarded with bits and pieces of conversations from the week-long visit, and whatever the author could glean or intuit through observations. You'll not get anyone's life story in a week, especially if your subject is Stocksdale, who for better or worse was just not interested in talking about himself. Stocksdale left behind a body of work that inspired the first generation of American turners, and anyone turning today should know about that body of work. But in the end, I think that's all we'll get of Bob.For the photos alone I am grateful for this book and will probably keep it on my shelf for occasional reference and inspiration. But for the text, well, I just didn't learn much. Stocksdale the man, along with his methods, will remain unknown.

I highly recommend the book on Mr. Stocksdale. I thoroughly enjoyed reading on how he became a celebrity woodturner.. the problems he encountered as s woodturner and his sources for exotic woods. Its a fast read and i re read it just to make sure i didn't miss out on any of the details. I am sure we are all going through what Mr. Stocksdale had gone through. Buy the book its worth reading :)

Amazing book! The craftsmanship and beauty of the bowls is astounding. It is hard to believe such gorgeous wood exists and that artists can see and bring forth that splendor. Whether or not you are a woodworker, this book is worth owning for the sheer magnificence of the photographs. A great gift!

This was a gift. It was a surprise & meant more than expected. Very well received.

Arrived quickly and is more of a biography. Still got some good ideas from it. Thanks.

An excellent book by one of the master woodworkers in the States.

Well done

superb read for a learner wood turner.

This is a present and is exactly what was requested. Very extensive use will be made of this very informative book.

inspiring full of great pictures of vessels and work in progress shots excellent profile of a super craftsmanalso contains a fair amount of practical notes

Bon pour l'inspiration...