YouTube vs Books

Video - May 3, 2017

Recently, I came across a post in the Wood Whisperer Community Facebook Page where a new woodworker asked for advice on beginner-friendly books. Several folks replied with something like, “Don’t waste your money and time, just go to YouTube.” Every time you say something like this, a tiny baby bookmark bursts into flames.

This video gives you a pretty clear idea of where I stand on this topic. Keep in mind I’m not advocating keeping a “dead” medium alive. If books go away because of new technology, then so be it. But it then becomes our responsibility as the craftspeople of today to get as much info as possible OUT of those books and into whatever new medium we’re responsible for. And while YouTube is indeed a fantastic resource, we’re not quite there yet. Not even close.

Here are a few books that I really enjoy and I think you will too. Please feel free to list your favorites in the comments.

Discussion

TerryMcK May 3, 2017 10:54 am

Here are a few of my essential books from my collection including authors. A lot of these are out of print but you can buy them very cheaply preowned from Amazon (a couple of dollars/pounds). Some, of course, are current and are well worth buying at full price. Long live the printed medium. A couple of yous are in there too Marc.

Workbenches: From Design and Theory to Construction and Use Chris Schwarz
Making Workbenches: Planning, Building, Outfitting Sam Allen
Build Your Own Acoustic Guitar Jonathan Kinkead
Making an Archtop Guitar Robert Benedetto
Make Your Own Acoustic Guitar Melvyn Hiscock
A Guitar Maker’s Manual Jim Williams
Engineering the Guitar: Theory and Practice Richard Mark French
Cabinetmaking: A Foundation Course John Bullar
Table Saw Book Kelly Mehler
Ingenious Jigs and Shop Accessories Fine Woodworking
Jigs & Fixtures for the Table Saw & Router Woodworkers journal
The Toolbox Book Jim Tolpin
The New Yankee Workshop Norm Abram, Tim Snyder
Woodworkers Guide To Wood Rick Peters
A Cabinetmaker’s Notebook James Krenov
Setting Up Shop: The Practical Guide to Designing and Building Your Dream Shop Sandor Nagyszalanczy
Shop Improvements: Outstanding Ideas from the World’s Finest Woodworkers Fine Woodworking
Bill Hyltons Ultimate Guide to the Router Table Bill Hylton
Woodshop Dust Control Sandor Nagyszalanczy
Pimp That Strat Antony Dewar
Jigs and the complete bandsaw Steve Maskery
The Complete Table Saw Steve Maskery
Hybrid Woodworking Marc Spagnuolo
Handplane Essentials Chris Schwarz
By Hand And Eye George Walker and Jim Tolpin
Is it Genuine?: Guide to the Identification of Eighteenth Century English Furniture William Crawley
Virtuoso: The Tool Cabinet and Workbench of Henry O. Studley Donald Williams
The Perfect Edge Ron Hock
The Complete Woodworker’s Companion Roger Holmes
Collins Complete Woodworker’s Manual Albert Jackson & David Day
Projects in Wood David Field
Band Saw Handbook Mark Duginske
The Technique of Furniture Making Ernest Joyce
Essential Woodworking Hand Tools Paul Sellers
Using & Sharpening Essential Woodworking Hand Tools Paul Sellers
Modern Cabinet Work. Furniture and Fitments Percy Wells and John Hooper
English Furniture 1550-1760 Geoffrey Wills
English Furniture 1760-1900 Geoffrey Wills
New Complete Woodworking Handbook Jeannette T Adams
Working in Wood Ernest Scott
The Art Of Thomas Chippendale Jane Sellars
The great tool emporium David X Manners

Reply
Alan Pomeroy May 3, 2017 11:28 am

I find Youtube videos very informative, but to really understand something I need a book. My favourite book, “Soul of a tree”, my favourite Youtube videos, anything by Paul Sellars or Marc J. Spagnuolo.

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David Herman May 3, 2017 12:38 pm

I would say use youtube kind of like a wikipedia. Watch other dudes to get an idea of what you like and what styles, techniques are your thing, then use books to do the deep dive and really get in to the nitty gritty on what you find useful/interesting. So for example, I found a love of french woodworking and furniture in part through the American woodshop, so I went and found scans of André Roubo’s original manuscript. Loads of inspiration to be found there. Basically what I’m trying to say is that print and mediums like youtube really do complement each other.

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Matthew May 3, 2017 1:48 pm

Books dont have commercials or notifications about your upcoming credit card payment competing for your attention.

No one is collecting data on what you click on or how you learn.

Library cards rock.

With books you’re given a level of freedom to imagine the authors tome and style, humor and character.

Oh, you asked for favorite books not supportive statements to the point…

Hybrid woodworking
Understanding Wood finishing
Understanding Wood
The Anarchists Design Book
Why we Make Things and Why it Matters

Reply
Arron Pauley May 3, 2017 3:19 pm

Books work when the power is off! LoL love them both!

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Gary May 4, 2017 5:22 am

YouTube will never replace the feel of a book in your hand. Judging by what others are saying about YouTube these days, and their impending financial doom, I’d say books are going to be safe for a while. If the stuff on YouTube was produced by professionally trained with adequate skill in conveying technique, I’d say maybe, but unfortunately finding an active channel like the Wood Whisperer and a competent person who CAN put two sentences together to present a subject is very difficult these days. It isn’t all a bed of roses is it Marc?

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MarkJ May 4, 2017 9:51 am

I want to point out that pretty much anyone can post on YouTube. There are a few more barriers (and costs) to publishing a book, which tends to limit publication to authors with some merit. Then only the better books get recommended by others woodworking folks.
Hoadley’s Understanding Wood
Tage Frieds three volume set are my two recommendations, but there are others.

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Kaetwo May 5, 2017 12:02 pm

I would have to agree that YouTube is a great supplemental medium to our woodworking kit. For me the most influential books at this time in my woodworking career are The Woodworker: The Charles H. Hayward Years. These books have such a great way of breaking down the basics, and when I have a question or need to reference a piece of work, it’s in these books that I head too. I love’em!!

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Reginald Taylor May 5, 2017 11:07 pm

I believe the same you do about books and you can learn a lot on you tube. I fear that one day paper books will go away. I like the finishing books by Bob Flexner and I will be buying your Hybrid book. We will have to hold on our books to keep the tradition going.

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tom Fink May 6, 2017 4:55 am

While I like the convenience of Youtube, no technology bests the printed word for the long term archival storage of information and the ability to pass it down for generations. I read lot’s of ebooks, but we still buy lots of physical books. Why? If something is for long term reference (see first comment) a book is worth the extra money. Plus, if you use Halfbay and Ebay, physical books, though rarely new, are way cheaper than the ebook.

As to favorite boks, I like Paul Sellers and Grham Blackburn.

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Jaypeay May 6, 2017 7:41 am

I agree that books are still a good resource for doing woodworking. As a relatively new woodworker, I found a good way to build a resource library. I go to the public library (I’ve since moved from my original source) and check out two or three books at a time, take the home and either read them or look through them. Then I ask myself the question: “Would this be a good resource and reference for later?”If the answer is “Yes”, I then go to Amazon and find out if the book is available there. Most of the time, it is. And almost always used ones are available. It is amazing how many good woodworking books I have bought for 1 penny plus $3.99 shipping. So for $4.00 I have that book as a future reference. It is also amazing how many of those “used” books are new and have never been opened. Is this for everyone? No! But it sure has worked for me.

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Jaime Guerrero May 6, 2017 2:48 pm

You tube is a good source of information, specially for people like me who need pictures to help understand what’s going on. But I still buy and read as many books I can get my hands on. I particularly like Lost Art Press, they publish books mostly about hand tool woodworking. I read anything written by Christopher Schwartz because his books are easy to understand, I can build the projects in my head as I read. I have a large library that I use as a source for ideas and techniques when I build something. Books are great and are worth the money and should be a source for learning. I never get enough.

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Jason Peterson May 7, 2017 10:47 am

Can’t agree more. I have been following Marc on woodwhisperer. com for nearly the 10 years he has been making videos. I have watched every video at least once, sometimes a few times. As this is my first ever post, I cannot thank him enough for sharing his knowledge which I have used in my wood working journey. I must say I am very proud of the stance he takes in this video. I think this probably depends on how each of us learn. I prefer multiple sources. Marc’s videos are by far my favorite out there. We are similar in age, so I get his style. In my library, I have only a couple books. I subscribed to a DVD video instruction by George V for a while, I probably have 25 or more hour long videos by him. But for me, what opened my imagination most was magazines. I have piles and piles of Wood, Woodcraft, Popular Woodworking, Fine Woodworking (my favorite), and many others. Every couple of months a new one arrives in the mail and I read it cover to cover in a night or two. Marc has game, I have been mimicking him for years now. But my full skill set is due to my desire to reach out and study the crafts of others. It’s like Christmas every time a new wood magazine arrives in the mail. My wife hides them from me occasionally because she knows I will be ignoring her for the next few hours while I get my fix. If you are not maintaining a subscription or two, you are missing valuable content. Thanks again for all of your content Marc! We all appreciate you doing this.

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Jason Peterson May 7, 2017 11:14 am

I couldn’t agree more. I have been following Marc’s videos for the past 8 or more years. I have watched every video at least once, and several videos a few times. In addition, I have a library of videos by George V, and a few books. The one thing missing from these posts is the supplementation of magazines. The content of my many magazine subscriptions over the past years has opened my imagination, and allowed me to create my own projects with added Woodwhisperer pazaze. I have piles and piles of Wood, Woodcraft, Popular Woodworking, Fine Woodworking (my favorite) magazines. It’s like Christmas every couple of months when they arrive. My wife intentionally hides them from me because she is a terrible person. Just kidding, she is not really. She hides them because she knows I will totally ignore her for the next few hours while I get my fix reading and studying the content. I enjoy reading about wood working as much as I do watching the YouTube videos about it. And probably enjoy watching & reading more than actually doing the Woodworking. Get my fix, without the mess. But, I am a big believer in studying and educating yourself. Get better at your craft with each project. All valuable lessons I have learned from Marc. Thank you for your content as well Marc. PS The sleeves look awesome.

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John A Colorado Springs May 13, 2017 10:35 am

In general, anything on-line does not have any true feeling or personality. I realize it is a good medium, just not for truly “getting the feel” of really doing something “real”. As an example, there are lots of cute dogs on the internet, what good does it do us if we cannot interact with the dog? Like getting a wet nose on the cheek, or petting that fluffy fur. It’s the same with Wood Working, get a book, open it, and take in all the senses of the process. Take time to smell the Wood!

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Michael Hanes May 19, 2017 6:33 am

Good rant, more rants please Marc!

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John A Colorado Springs May 27, 2017 8:44 am

My favorite books are “Box Making” by Doug Stowe and “A Cabinet Maker’s Notebook” by James Krenov. What excites me is the feeling, the doing, and creating something with my hands, to be emotionly involved. James Krenov had similar feelings, and reading his work brings great joy to me. So far, I have only created pieces for close friends and family, it’s a wonderful joy to give in this way. Mr. Krenov says it best, “But there are people for whom wood and working with wood is not simply a profession, but a very intimate thing: the relationship between the person and the material, and how they are doing it. I mean how they are doing it in the most intimate detailed sense; their relationship between wood and the tools they use, between their feelings, their intuition, and their dreams. Wood considered that way, is to me alive”

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John Kasparian May 29, 2017 8:38 pm

Wood Magazine’s “How to Build a Great Home Workshop”
Basically a collection of Wood Mag’s best shop plans up until 2006. A bit dated, there are other collections out there.

Taunton’s Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking
Basically Fine Woodworking’s top tier professional contributors

I might guess that between those two, you have 100,000 man hours worth of shop testing, writing, and editing. A well laid out instruction (with pictures!) is still a much faster way to learn.
1 hour of Taunton = 10 hours of YouTube

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Denis Solomon June 1, 2017 11:16 am

Couldn’t agree more. I can’t count the times I’ve seen something on YouTube that I’d already learned from a book. Just a few examples: I never do anything with a router without consulting Woodworking With The Router, by Bill Hylton and Fred Matlack. In fact, some of their shop-made jigs have now been copied, manufactured in plastic and commercialised – for example, their depth gauge. If you want an illustrated account of joints and construction techniques for every category of furniture, you can’t beat Jackson and Day’s Complete Woodworkers’ Manual.. And the top print gurus for box making are Doug Stowe in the USA and Andrew Crawford in Britain.
And don’t forget magazines. They don’t come better than Fine Woodworking.

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Hammer99 June 11, 2017 7:37 am

“In Reverence of Wood” by Eric Sloan

A shop teacher in New Hampshire and love the Wood Whisperer. When I have student who acts or claims like they want to do a project that involves expensive wood, I send them home to read some Sloan. If they return all educated in Monday, we start.

Couldn’t agree more on your take of books

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sjeff70 June 11, 2017 9:41 am

I agree with everything Marc said. I’ve got double the books than I have shelf space. One problem is most – if not all of the time – you have to buy books online. It’s like buying clothes, it comes down to taking a chance because you can’t try them on. Book previews, if there is one, have the seller in mind; and it’s a hassle returning books, especially when you know within the first minute the book isn’t for you. Then you have cost. Shipping is free if you order enough, but videos are free and offer immediate gratification.

Not saying it’s right, but successive generations will dictate future generations and I don’t think there’s anything we can do to stop its current momentum.

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Greg Gimbel June 25, 2017 6:26 pm

I love the books and I love Youtube. Over the years I have amassed a large book collection with most of them coming on birthdays and Christmas. There is something I find quite appealing about a large book shelf full of good books.

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Rob Porcaro July 28, 2017 12:20 pm

Hi Mark,

I agree 100%! Your video is a masterful perspective (delivered extemporaneously, as far as I can tell) by someone who is as online as can be.

Here are some of my favorites:

-The Krenov trilogy: A Cabinetmaker’s Notebook, The Fine Art of Cabinetmaking, Impractical Cabinetmaker (JK was a unique inspiring voice.)
-Woodwork Joints, Charles Hayward (Ounce for ounce, in paperback, maybe the best woodworking book of all time.)
-Understanding Wood, Bruce Hoadley (Every woodworker needs this.)
-Understanding Wood Finishing, Bob Flexner (The best explainer in all of woodworking.)
-The Perfect Edge, Ron Hock (Best sharpening book.)
-Illustrated Cabinetmaking, Bill Hylton (Encyclopedic review of construction options to consider when working on a new design.)
-Wood, Eric Meier (As good a reason as you’ll find for printed books to continue to exist!)

These are out of print, as far as I know:
-Working in Wood, Ernest Scott (Imperfect, but still was an enormous help to me more than 35 years ago, along with Hayward.)
-Designing Furniture, Seth Stem (Ugly examples but great to learn how to design.)
-Making Joints, Ian Kirby (Another great explainer and clear thinker. An underappreciated author in the woodworking world, in my opinion.)

Great job, Mark. Thanks,
Rob

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Zach September 22, 2017 5:29 am

Great video, youtube is great for a visual aid as well as information but books I believe are the most essential thing for the finer details.

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dcflh October 9, 2017 3:31 pm

The public library has book about this hobby that tells you how woodworking was and is done. Ways that are still used today. Like using hand tools,finishes,etc. Ways on doing woodworking that still work. Just look at furniture that is over hundred years old and still together like the first day it was built. I know today we have some better products that they did not have,but if we mix the 2 together we can make better products. So to all you beginners look at some paper books you may learn something.
Thanks

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Gervase October 11, 2017 9:35 am

I never was a fan of YouTube. But i think it’s a case of moving with the times. I prefer a book though any day, and have downloaded many and printed them out

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Duster November 7, 2017 9:03 pm

There two kinds of information that we acquire. One is conceptual, and if you can pick that up it applies across many different tasks. The other is physical – practice and observation. Youtube is or can be an excellent source for observing a process and its what I find most valuable. Books offer – or can offer – the necessary background information that ties practices together.

There are a lot of books that will enhance a list. I have a number, but these are all really useful:

“By Hand and Eye” by Geo R. Walker and Jim Tolpin (its actually right there on the top of Mark’s stack of books),
“Workbenches: from design and theory to construction,” by Christopher Schwarz,
“Cassel’s Carpentry and Joinery,” edited by Paul N. Hasluck – if you can actually find it. My copy was printed in 1913.
“Dictionary of Woodworking Tools, revised edition” R. A. Salman
“Woodwork Joints,” William Fairham
“Audels Carpenters and Builders Guide,”
“The Encyclopedia of Wood,” USDA
“Pocket Ref,” Thomas J. Glover
Bruce Hoadley’s books on wood
and a good book on constructive geometry – if you want to layout say a perfect five pointed star and don’t have a protractor, geometry is the way to go.

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Michael Dorsam February 8, 2018 6:36 pm

Great Video; Great Advice.

The one compelling benefit of reading books, these books holistically, is that the authors and their practices have stood the test of time; have proven themselves. Anyone can do a video; anyone can buy an expensive handplane or tool, and look like they know what they’re doing – passing alone potentially harmful or inefficient work practices. These authors have passed along decades of hard-earned experience in an organized and integrated composite. Again, any one can get on youtube; it takes a master to take 20 – 30 years of experience and synthesize it into a readable context.

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Kevin Maloney January 24, 2019 8:20 am

I believe that both have usefulness in woodworking. Books go in to a lot of detail, but the old saying still has merit – “A picture is worth a thousand words” Technique can be explained in a book, but a video shows it being done. I personally own several woodworking books and videos – both medias have their merits as long as they are well done.

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john burne February 12, 2019 2:18 am

Hi Mark, I love my woodworking and have found your channel a great inspiration, I feel that you make a very valid point here, as for books being a waste of money, well how about using the local library if buget is an issue. I have learned a lot from all manor of places books, other woodworkers, youtube, etc. lets face it we use many different tools both hand and power to make the things we make, and different tools to do the same things, ie hand or circular/table saws to cut wood to size, chisels or a router to make mortises and tennons.so why not use all the tools in the box to learn how. keep up the great work, kind regards John

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Gilbert Warner April 2, 2019 3:24 pm

I like to use both, I love books, I’m old school, but a video can be very useful for certain things. Sometimes I will read a book on something and then go see if there are any good instructional videos on the subject, especially when it comes to a good woodworking project.

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William M. Cwirla December 11, 2019 10:19 am

Late to the discussion. Great little rant, and I totally agree. I’m a woodworker and an artisanal bread maker. Same can be said of both crafts. YouTube and the internet are great. Game changing even. But they don’t replace books. Video is useful to teach technique – how to do something. It’s like watching a pro and then imitating. Books are better for knowledge, method, philosophy. Being a visual learner, I do better when seeing an operation than trying to visualize that operation from reading. But books are much more information dense than a video ever could be.

Speaking of books, I love The Woodworker’s Problem Solver by Tony O’Malley (Rodale 1998). It’s bailed my butt on numerous occasions.

For inspiration reading, I recommend Good, Clean Fun by Nick Offerman (Dutton, 2016) and A Splintered History of Wood – Belt Sander Races, Blind Woodworkers & Baseball Bats by Spike Carlsen (HarperCollins, 2016).

Reply

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YouTube vs Books

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