The Workbench Guide to Jewelry Techniques, by Anastasia Young This is a new book by second time author Anastasia Young. Her website is located here: http://www.anastasiayoung.co.uk/ . Her first book, Jewelry Techniques: The Essential Guide to Choosing and Using Materials, Stones and Settings, was a well received reference source. The Workbench Guide is a high quality hardcover, 320 page text which a reader might like to consider adding to his or her permanent library of "how to" books. Packed with 400 photographs, 200 illustrations and 100 charts, it doesn't allow your mind to wander for a second as it guides you step by step through the five sections it is divided into. Whether purchased by a serious student of jewelry design and technique, or just by a passionate lover of jewelry who privately, safely teaches herself as much as she can, there is valuable knowledge to be found in this book. I am not a believer of choosing one book as the "be all and end all" for any process of learning. I am well aware that there are fine books in existence already [ here are a few, for example , 1. Jewelry: Fundamentals of Metalsmithing (Jewelry Crafts) by Tim McCreight 2,The Complete Jewelry Making Course: Principles, Practice and Techniques: A Beginner's Course for Aspiring Jewelry Makers by Jinx McGrath 3. Jewelry Making Techniques Book (Quarto Book) Elizabeth Olver . There are many, many more ]. However it is a good idea to stir up new energy and insight by adding to older favorites, whether you are the teacher or the student. Artists create amazing new styles of jewelry all the time and some of them are exhibited in here. How to make them is explained, carefully. Some of the subjects covered are shown as part of the design on the front of the book : Engraving, Chasing and repousse, Fusing, Riveting, Enameling (one of my favorite parts), Drilling, Piercing, Cutting, Filing, Annealing, Soldering, Pickling, Wirework, Fold Forming, Bending Metal, Hammering, Carving, Mounting and setting stones, polishing, Stamping, Dappling/swaging, Forging, Anticlastic raging, Hydraulic press, Wax carving and modeling, and masses more. The book's sections are as follows: First there is a history of jewelry making. Then come the five sections, very clear and extremely helpful if you are searching out something specific. Chapter 1: Work Space, Tools, and Materials Chapter 2: Techniques Chapter 3: Design Chapter 4: Going Into Business Chapter 5: Reference (for example, Directory of Gemstones,Conversions, Suppliers and more) As I said, any one book is not sufficient to teach a reader every aspect of jewelry making, design , photography, selling, and more, no matter how good that book is. But if you are building yourself a solid library of jewelry technique books, I recommend this consistently fine addition: The Workbench Guide to Jewelry Techniques, by Anastasia Young. I think you will be happy to own it. It truly is quite successful as a text which attempts not to leave anything out! ~~~ This book was given to me to read/review by The Interweave Publishing Group.