I have a pretty good book by Harry Tomlinson. It looks like a coffee table book and has many pages of perfect old trees, but it also has quite a bit of how-to advice on potting, wiring, fertilizing, etc. The Complete Book of Bonsai.

Great! I think I'll start with "Successful Bonsai Shaping" and "The Art of Bonsai by Peter Adams. I think I'll get the Tomlinson book too...

For color, if that helps make a recommendation, right now I have:

-Bougainvillea
-Various ficus
-Azalea
-Juniper
-Fukien Tea Tree
-Nea Buxifolia
-Arboricola
and then a couple succulents (desert rose, crown of thorns) and cuttings of bougainvillea, azalea, and jade that I have no idea what I'm doing with in terms of actually growing them into bonsai. I'd like to add a trident maple and a chinese elm eventually at least, and who knows from there...

The John Naka books would be great but woof those are pricy from what I'm seeing.

I also noticed Bonsai: A Comprehensive Guide to Growing, Pruning, Wiring and Caring for Your Bonsai Trees by Daiki Sata that came out this year, has anyone checked it out? The title sounds promising at least.

Clicio wrote:

Clicio wrote: This is the direct link of the lost thread:
www.bonsaiempire.com/forum/evolve/11967-...i-books-a-basic-list

AHA! I think I have found the culprit.
The Category "EVOLVE" where this thread were located is gone!

I have GOOD NEWS for you all.
@Oscar was kind enough to find the lost thread and it is online again.
I will post the direct link here, and will also post something over there to bring it up.
www.bonsaiempire.com/forum/general/11967...s-a-basic-list#43212
As I have a little more time now after being in a strange situation during the pandemics peak here in Brazil, I guess I will participate in some threads more often from now on.
Thanks, Oscar.

Thank you!

I have the little book of bonsai and the book called happy bonsai. They both seem to be excellent books