I wish I'd had this book before I started making metal jewelry! I could have saved myself a lot of aggravation... and this book still has a lot to teach me. It's as though I had a patient and knowledgeable teacher by my side. She uses the book to introduce metal jewelry-making tools and techniques in chapters, starting with "wire cutters, pliers, hammer, and file," through saws/drills and mini torches, and working up to "the ring mandrel and bezel burnisher." Each chapter showcases projects made using those tools and techniques, and all of the designs have enough style to not look too much like "my first jewelry project."What really sets this book apart from most is the quality of the writing -- it's both breezy and informative. For example, she explains that she tells her students to leave pieces in the pickle until they're clean, and then explains, "No one likes this answer. They want a precise time frame. But each batch of pickle is different, and each piece can react in a different way. To appease everyone, let's just say three minutes and leave it at that." It's rare to chuckle while reading a book on jewelry-making! The author's sense of humor makes the book a fun read as well as a serious course in jewelry-making.Quibbles: The instructions are line drawings rather than photographs, and there could be more of them. The instructions are clearly worded but sometimes a picture is better. But these are minor quibbles indeed. This is a great book for beginners, and has something to teach just about everyone. I highly recommend this book.