Underhill is a very good writer. He's descriptive, clear & concise whether he's describing a bark pattern or a how-to project. Yet, at the same time, he takes time to go beyond the necessities & provide tidbits that made me want to read beyond his books. Often these are historical (e.g. Thomas Jefferson's carpenter) or alternate methods to try. This book is a good reference for any carpenter, history buff or writer. For the carpenter today, with all the power tools, it shows methods that are still valid & often forgotten in the mass of machines & paint-by-number instructions. Historically, he's a gold mine. He helped rebuild Colonial Williamsburg & is well known for his attention to authenticity. Writers can learn how it was really done before the invention of electricity & what kind of trees & wood were available in an old growth forest. Most get it wrong.There are a number of projects outlined in this book, both practical & fun. It assumes you have some knowledge of woodworking, but not a lot of tools are needed. ( )