Well Bonsaial gets to return the favor. Rip, I think what Mr. Crow is trying to say, is that if you want to spend money on a book go ahead. But if you want to spend "hard earned" money, that someone may have to save up to do, then this book does not give much new technical advice on bonsai. This is just a "neatly packaged, rehash of old information, with more already published photo's, of 25 year old trees that have not changed since his last book". Yes he has published some web sites, but there are many link pages available for bonsai that will give you hundreds of valid bonsai sites for free. As far as photo's of trees, this is not the best book to buy if you are looking for inspiration. If you want trees by Kimura, buy the book written by Kimura. There are much better trees and much more technical advice there.
One tree on page 57, does not make a good book. The recent book by Jack Douthitt, while handsomely packaged, lacks specimens worthy of that book also. This book cost twice as much and has been passed off as an "bonsai inspiration book". While the photo's of the trees are adequate, there have been some great bonsai shown at some of the Cal. shows that are far superior to the trees pictured in that book.
Fortunatly the book cost no more than 19.95. While a nice book to add if you just collect bonsai books in hard cover no matter what the content, it will add no more to your technical skills as an artist.
I would like to see more books on artistry, the use of negative space, visual speed, less is more, applying moss tastefully. The basics of art, the "s" curve in bonsai, trunk movement and branch placement. While John Naka's two excellent books on technique explore these and more, I would like these books to be updated to the 21'st century. I feel we have come a long way in bonsai, and the art and technique is left as a chapter at best.
I have added this photo of Ernie Kuo's California juniper as inspiration. While this tree has graced the pages of Bonsai Today, I feel that some people out there writting the books have missed the boat on a tree like this.
