Origami Kit for Dummies (For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback)) [Paperback]

The book contains instructions for seventy-five models which are well chosen and contains a sufficiently wide range of subject method and folding styles to have something of interest from absolute beginners to the origami expert. A pack of origami paper accompanies the book and although the paper is coloured on both sides and a little small it is a crisp paper which provides an excellent folding experience and will enable the beginner to start using the book immediately.

Inside the book is divided into three parts. After the introduction the first part Coming to the Crease: Basic Techniques contains sections on getting started, drawing diagrams and getting creative. Each of the title pages for the book contains a cartoon related to origami, the whole book is characterised by a light touch and humour which is sadly lacking in a lot of origami books. This opening section is excellent and gradually introduces the reader to origami and introduces the beginner to symbols and techniques.

As with all Dummies books the text has bullet points indicated in the margins by icons drawing the reader's attention to important points or potential pitfalls. This section includes important and often neglected advice about diagramming styles and techniques and offers important sections on approaches to creativity. Also in this section is discussion of ethics and copyright in origami, including selling of origami and "e-books". This is the first time this subject has been discussed in a mainstream published book although discussion of these thorny subjects regularly appear in origami forum and chat rooms.

The book then moves into Part 2 Folding On: The Models starting with simple ones moving on through moderately tricky via geometric onto more challenging models. The excellent diagrams and folding methods will enable everyone to complete all the models enclosed and there is ample help along the way for beginners. Seventy five models are included of all styles of origami and the book continues with a nice balance of diagrams and text which makes for an easy reading style with sufficient text to be of interest but not too technical or heavy, making this a volume of more than a book of just origami diagrams. Throughout the book the author adopts the method of introducing a technique and then immediately showing a model using the technique so the beginner is producing origami models from the start including excellent minimalist designs such as the Horizon and a simple Sailboat.

The models chosen are excellent the only traditional models are the Flapping Bird and Lazy Susan (which deserves to be republished). Most are contemporary and new including unpublished works by recognised origami experts Dave Brill, Robert Lang, Eric Joisel and John Montroll amongst others. Highlights include Ted Norminton's Santa, Robinson's own take on the Dummy Man logo, Max Hulme's flying Aladdin, Grzegorz Bubniak's Beetle and the first mainstream publication of Louis Fernandez Perez's classic Perro Liberando ( a dog attending to it's basic needs!) complete with "complemento" and the new symbol of a gas mask. Perhaps uniquely in any origami book all the models deserve folding and it is difficult to find any "fillers" or sub standard models.

The third section The Part of Tens is a part of every Dummies book, a concise and quirky set of small but perfectly formed chapters which deserve reading and re-reading. This section includes ten top tips, ten styles of origami including the little mentioned school of ultimate realism. The book is complemented by an excellent index. Such an excellent book has few drawbacks - some of the layout of the diagrams is a little careless with too much white space (a fault of the publishers not the authors) and the front cover photo of the crane is not included in the model diagrams but these are minor points. A few minor errors have crept in but these should not prevent anyone completing any models or enjoying the book, hopefully these will be corrected in future editions,

A video promoting the book has been viewed over 30,000 times on Youtube and so proves the interest this book has generated. The popular and well trusted Dummies brand deserves to have a book about origami and this book delivers the goods. Although origami is new to the Dummies format and there are a few minor niggles in adopting the in house style of the format this book has lived up to its promise, providing an excellent introductory and reference book. Unlike most origami books this one has excellent sections on diagramming and creativity and has a superb collection of mostly unpublished models and not just a collection of already well known traditional models. As such this book is heartily endorsed as an excellent buy for anybody, and would make an ideal gift. It's the perfect introduction to origami for the complete novice and has much to interest even the most proficient origami expert.
Wayne Brown

Origami Kit for Dummies (For Dummies)

For me, Origami Kit For Dummies scores amply & abundantly well in areas which users of an origami book would want - It's clear, precise & illustrated well; It contains a very diverse range of models of varying complexity to fold; There's a pack of paper squares to get readers started; It includes tips for folding, designing, & diagramming; There's an overview of origami's history, lists of folders' materials & tools, a recap on folding classic origami model bases, advice on recognising creators' rights, glossaries of model/folding styles, a Top 10 of master creators; And much, much more.
But having seen, read, & used many origami books over equally many years, including several from this author, Nick Robinson, what sets this book (& others from him) apart from many others on the subject are the warmth, humour, & humanity that he always injects. Yes, he's also included comic origami-related cartoons here (& to good effect) but Robinson's books are not as staid & arid as so many others in the genre, & this is so welcome to see!

This has to be one of the best introductions to origami I've seen yet (and, believe me, I've seen quite a few). There are plenty of origami books that focus mainly on just teaching models, but unless you already have a certain amount of experience they can be disappointing if there is no proper guidance for the reader. Origami Kit for Dummies is a complete course that not only gives you lots of things to fold but also provides a waelth of interesting background information and tips along the way. The models themselves are carefully chosen to take you from the stage of complete beginner to a level where you are ready to take on much more advanced work. Another strong point is that, apart from a very small number of essential classics that are have been explained many times before in other books, much of the material will be new even to quite experienced folders. Above all the whole tone of the book is easy-going and encouraging, yet serious enough to show how fascinating origami can be as a hobby and even as an art. Thoroughly recommended.