New Book: "Bonsai" by Peter Chan

ripsgreentree

I have not talked much about the books that are on my shelves, but the one that I have just purchased bears mentioning. I just found this at my local bonsai shop:
"Bonsai" by Peter Chan is an impressive hard cover book filed with good photos and information including a good sellection of web links.

At U.S. $19.95 I felt it to be an excellent bargain, the fact that it is large enough to be a coffee table book is just an added bonus.

ripsgreentree

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Carl_Bergstrom

Rip,

I'm not sure I agree with you on this one. If I'm thinking of the same book, there are some pretty poor specimens pictured in that book and little in the way of useful technical advice. At 19.95, I'd think that one would be better off with any two issues of Bonsai Today and pocket change.

Respectfully,
Old Mister

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Brian

Thanks for tip rips" bought mine from amazon.com
I had a $10.00 gift certifcate to use,, cost shipped was $13.97

For anybody else looking at amazon.com , there are new ones listed by outside sellers starting at $15.88 + shipping

"Bonsai" by Peter Chan

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Rene_Voortwist

I've read a few books from Peter Chen, and he has a style that is very "loose", like the Chinese have. Can't say I like it very much but I guess that's a matter of taste.

René

ripsgreentree

Rene: I also have read some of Mr. Chan's earlier work and in fact own some of his books and they are as you describe. I think that it would be better though if you looked at the currant material befor suggesting to everyone that they pass it off.
Mr Crow: I own every issue of bonsai today and most of bonsai europe and more than I care to list. You are definatly commenting with out looking at the book because it contains works of many masters including Kimura. Also if you have the book in your possesion turn to page 57 and explain why you would not want this juniper in your collection.
Just wondering why you would make negitive comments befor seeing the material.
ripsgreentree

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bonsaial1

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.

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bonsaial1

How about this extrodinary Crape myrtle. Sorry, Artist unknown, but they are a member of John Naka's study group, Nan Pu Kai. I photographed this tree in 2001. The nebari and tachiagari on this tree are exceptional. This would also make a fine addition to any bonsai book for inspiration. This is also a fine example of a very uncommon tree for bonsai, why I don't know. AK

PS My bride, Norene

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ripsgreentree

Thats ok Al I own Kimura's book and both of John Naka's books. I don't think that Mr. Crow needs you to interpet for him. He is very understandable, and I still think that this book is an exelent value for someone who does not have a liberary.When we were at Nee Hai you did not spend two minutes looking at Mr. Chan's book. Now if you don't mind would you please give me a list of better books in this price range, keep your list to coffie table sized books. I hope that you come up with a couple of good ones because in this price range I will buy a couple.
ripsgreentree

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bonsaial1

Rip, the "favor" is an inside joke between Crow and I. He knows what I am talking about. Loosen up dude everyone is entitled to an opinion in the open forum.

And no, I can't come up with one book in a coffee table format in your 19.99 price range. Although I would expect to know what your definition of a coffee table book is. If you think this is it then you and I differ on what a coffee table book is.

Lets look at size: first most standard format books come in at appx. 8.5x11.5

Peter Chan's book comes in at 11.5x11.5. That seems a pretty unusual size for a book. Maybe thats what does it. No, wait a minute these books are an unusual size too, Bonsai, by Colin Lewis at 11.5x10.5 or Bonsai Art Europe I, at 10x9 or Bonsai The Art of Living Sculpture, by Jack Douthitt at 9x9.5 or Forest, Rock Planting & Ezo Spruce Bonsai by Saburo Kato at 9x7. While all these book were printed in strange size formatts, just because they are different does not make them coffee table books in my opinion.

The photo's, thats what does it.
While this book is chock full of photo's, some of them in very large sizes, the quality of the photo's is just average. While this is OK for a bonsai book it in no way is of the quality of the imagery I have seen in very good coffee table books.

The Artistry, thats what it is,
Now this book is very well laid out for a bonsai book. But it is not very good for a coffee table book. While the book has much to give in the way of information( same old stuff) it is not the kind of text that would be included in a coffee table type book.

So,,, What is it that makes a good coffee table book. Well in my opinion it should fit this criterion.
60% pictures
20% text
20% white space
It should be the work of three artists: The Photographer, The Author, The Editor or Publisher
The pictures: They should be museum quality, the trees should have professional lighting, great stands, backdrops should be black to make the tree blend into the surroundings. The tree should be well lit at the top of the tree to make the foliage sparkle, and the bottom of the tree should be in the shadows to make the pot blend into the stand. Walter Pall is very good at this.
The Author: The text should be informational only. It could give a brief history of the tree and the artist. It could give the age and height of the tree, and where the stand and pot came from.
The Editor or Publisher: These folks put the whole thing together. The photo's are arranged in a order that leads you on to turn the next page. The use of "white space" for dramatic effect is used throughout the book. The stock in which the book is printed will be heavy and glossy. The binding on the book will be cloth and will have a sewn spine. The end pages will reflect the quality of the book. The pages may have guilded edges but probably not on a bonsai book.

Two very nice coffee table books on bonsai have been published in the USA. There may be more that I am not aware of. "Timeless Trees, The US National Bonsai Collection, By Bloomer", and " Outstanding American Bonsai, by Randy Clark". These books are works of art.

To me that is what distinguishes a coffee table book, is it a work of art. I have a few books of this caliber that I have bought from time to time. One on Nascar by Nascar, one by Jaques Cousteau on coral reefs, and African Experiance by Simon Combs.

After all that, Rip, it's still a good bargain at 19.99 AK

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