How to Make Books

The best first book for someone who has never bound a book before. Esther K. Smith runs Purgatory Pie Press in New York City, and her handmade books have been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria & Albert Museum. She distills decades of experience into a book that makes every technique feel approachable.

Why Start Here

Most bookbinding manuals either assume you already know the basics or bury the fun parts under pages of theory. This book does neither. Smith starts you off with projects you can finish in minutes, like a simple one-sheet fold that turns a single piece of paper into an eight-page booklet. From there, the complexity builds naturally. You move through accordion folds, pamphlet stitches, and multi-signature bindings, each project introducing one or two new skills without overwhelming you.

The photography is excellent throughout. Every fold, cut, and stitch is shown clearly, so you rarely need to guess what a step looks like in practice. Smith also includes projects that go beyond the traditional codex form: tunnel books, flag books, and pop-up structures that push your understanding of what a book can be. This variety keeps the learning process engaging, because you are never just repeating the same binding in a slightly different size.

What truly sets this book apart is its personality. Smith writes like a teacher who genuinely enjoys showing people how things work. Her instructions are precise but never clinical, and she frequently offers variations and creative prompts that encourage you to experiment. By the time you finish the book, you will have the skills and confidence to design your own structures from scratch.

What to Expect

A 128-page hardcover packed with full-color photography and step-by-step instructions. You will need basic supplies: a bone folder, a ruler, a craft knife, a needle, and waxed linen thread. Most projects use standard paper or cardstock that you can find at any art supply store. The simpler projects require nothing more than a single sheet of paper and your hands. Plan on spending 15 minutes to an hour per project, depending on complexity.