Bonsai Techniques 1 or 2?

[Kevster]

I want to buy both of these books but I really can't afford it. Can someone suggest which I should get and a brief description of what's in each book.
I found both new and signed. I believe 1 is $99 and 2 is $77. Are these the expected prices?

Thanks everyone in advance!
Kevin

 

[rockm]

Good lord the prices of these has gone through the roof...

I've seen prices for used copies for about $50. You have to do some digging to find them though.

For my money, Techniques II is a better value -- better theory and other stuff in that. Techniques I contains a lot of outdated info or info that is specific to Southern California care, etc. as it was put together from Naka's instructional pamphlets that he gave to his students out there. It's a nice historical thing to have, but the design and theory that is pretty timeless is scant.

That's why he wrote Techniques II to expand on those themes...

I wonder how much an autographed copy is worth these days...

 

[october]

I believe when I purchased them they were around $40 for 1 and around $50 for the second one. This is if I am remembering correctly. Also, they were not signed. I believe if you look around enough, you may be able to purchase both for the sum of around $100. As far as these books.. These are probably some of the best bonsai writings in existence. Basically, if you purchase these, you would not really need to purchase any other books in the future. John Naka covers all aspects of bonsai in both books.

Rob

 

[rockm]

"Basically, if you purchase these, you would not really need to purchase any other books in the future."

Not true. Some of the information in them is hopelessly outdated, especially the soil stuff. These were written long before the strides made with inorganic soil mixes and even some subsequent black pine techniques. They also don't cover anything but "traditional" mostly Asian tree species. Don't cover collecting or North American native species. They also don't provide accurate, detailed care advice for anyone living outside So. Cal.

If you use these an no other bonsai books, you are living in 1967, possibly 1970-something. Buy them for the excellent design and artistic techniques they go into (like pot selection, more natural shaping, etc) and for their value as icons of American bonsai history written by one of its true pioneers and legends.

They are excellent books, but hardly the only excellent source out there.

 

[Kevster]

These are both new and signed by him.

 

[Ron Dennis]

Actually the prices you found for new and signed copies of J. Naka's books don't sound bad at all. Did you check Amazon and search on line in "used" book stores. I recently found a copy of Peter Adam's The Art of Flowering Bonsai on line at a much reduced price.

Whether you agree or not as to needing other resource books, I cannot imagine being without these two volumes; however, I keep looking and buying other resources.

 

[Kevster]

Yes I just checked amazon and found II for almost half the price. Glad I checked! Last time I looked they didn't have it in stock. It's paperback and not signed but lets be real. I don't want it as a collectors piece.

 

[cmeg1]

I had the books,but I did not gain a single thing from them,the soil is way to complicated.I learned from books and it was a very slow process(like 5 years).The only books I still have are Choosing and Growing Bonsai by Peter Chan and I have the pines book from stone lantern.Again I do not understand the soil in Chans book.Like what is loam?Other than that ,the book is great.

 

[Mike423]

Not sure if it would apply to you but my local Botanical garden (where my local bonsai meetings are held) has an excellent library. They have both the Naka books Kokufu books and a load of other bonsai material. They even get in every months issue of International bonsai and some other international magazine. I've read them but still would like to purchase them for my own library.