This book is pretty much what the title says it is. The explanations and photos in the book are well done, to the point that I'd name it the most inviting of several blacksmithing books I've dipped into over the last year. It's a helpful resource especially for learning some of the tools and terminology if you're a new blacksmith.

I've read and reread bits of the book since I got it in June. I never read it start to finish, though I've covered the bulk of the book at least in my piecemeal reading.