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.

I wanted to get into origami again, but I didn't want something that was just beginner folds. However, I didn't want a book that was only higher level folds either. This book starts you with a simple mouse and duck, but after a few days I was already making the swan and a rocket-ship. If you flip towards the back, there are insanely complex folds for you to learn. Ones that include tiny folds for insects requiring tweezers, rounded paper, and even origami that moves--a pianist and a violinist! I am not near those folds, but I feel confident that I will be able to accomplish them with enough practice because of the excellent instructions and diagrams in this book. The author will also not shy away from letting you know it takes work and will not come easy, so have patience. Very rewarding and cheap hobby that uses your hands. I discovered my love for legos recently, but I wanted something less expensive and that would not take up space--origami is like Legos on a budget!

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.

My son loves this book. It's pretty advanced so not for beginners. Keeps him busy for a long time!

Nice variety of examples.

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

Great gift