Understanding Wood: A Craftsman's Guide to Wood Technology

The first edition of Understanding Wood was published in 1980 and has since sold more than 130,000 copies. It is widely held as a definitive reference work and the cornerstone of every woodworker's library. Now, Bruce Hoadley's comprehensive guide to wood technology has been revised and updated in this 20th-anniversary edition of a classic.

New information on composite materials, adhesives, and finishes brings this book into the 21st century, while more than 300 photographs bring important visual information to life. This edition covers the nature of wood and its properties, the basics of wood technology, and the woodworker's raw materials. Understanding Wood was written for woodworkers by a scientist with a love of woodworking. It will be sought after by craftsmen and collectors alike.

R. Bruce Hoadley has a degree in forestry from the University of Connecticut and a doctorate in wood technology from Yale. He is a former professor of wood science and technology at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He frequently consults for museums and acts as an expert witness at trials. He is also the author of Understanding Wood (The Taunton Press, 1980, 2000) and Identifying Wood (The Taunton Press, 1990).