When I first started getting serious about making jewelry, I really didn’t know where to start. I hadn’t found my niche yet. I think I bought about a dozen “How To Make Your Own Handmade Jewerly books” In all honesty, I didn’t really learn very much from them. My best lessons about beads, techniques, wire, gemstones ect… were when I worked at a bead shop. For myself, hands on is always the best for me. I just find it easier on the wallet going to the book store for a couple of hours and looking at the jewelry books for tips, tricks, and ideas. If you do find that one book that has more than ONE thing you absolutely love then get it!