The Complete Book of Origami: Step-by-Step Instructions in Over 1000 Diagrams/37 Original Models (Dover Crafts: Origami & Papercrafts)

I love this book it is a great way to relax and decompress or detach from a stressful day.

Nice variety of examples.

I appreciate the large book pages that allow the visual instructions to be clear and easy to understand. For those newer to origami, it’s tempting to just flip to a page and start folding. But it’s really worth it to take a moment to read the introduction before diving in (in particular, reviewing the “symbols and terminology” page will help to avoid mistakes and wasting beautiful paper!).

This is not a "complete book of origami" it is a handbook for advanced students. A complete book would include the classic bases and traditional models. This book contains only original models and these models are not easy. Lang issues several warnings at the beginning: you must read the instructions as well as look at the pictures; you must start at the beginning and work your way up to the harder models. Lang warns the reader that he does not repeat detailed instructions. If he told you once he won't tell you again. Unless you are very skilled already, don't try any model until you have *mastered* all the previous models. Lang adheres to the standard of using a single piece of paper for each model and not using any cuts or slits. But he uses several different shapes of paper. He gives ratios for rectangles such as 1:1.294 (8.5"x11) and and 1:2.360 (a dollar bill). But he doesn't give recommended sizes. Some of these models should be attempted with larger sheets than others but he gives no clue as to recommended sheet size. Most of these models are three dimensional and will not fold flat without being crushed and destroyed. They are also more rounded and smooshed than traditional Japanese origami. Sometimes the instruction is just to pull on a part and "form new creases as necessary". Lang prefers the more "realistic" rounded shapes characteristic of Western origami to the sharper crisper patterns of Japanese models. There is a mistake on page 12, in the Swan pattern. Illustrations 15 and 16 should be switched. This is not a book for beginners or casual paper folders. This is a book for serious hobbyists who want to improve their skills.

Great gift

The book was exactly what we wanted

Illustrations have big gaps between them. Also the illustrations leave out some of the previous folds so it is hard to know if you made the fold right. The written instructions help fill in gaps in illustrations but there’s a lot of trial and error This is not a book for someone learning origami

Challenging but my son is excited