Book report-The Bonsai Bible by Peter Chan

The Bonsai Bible; The definitive guide to choosing and growing bonsai

by Peter Chan

Peter Chan is a well known name in the bonsai community. An Englishman of Chinese heritage, his first book on bonsai was published more than twenty years ago.  His most recent title is a small, photo heavy book that is obviously aimed at a few select groups: casual bookstore browsers, bonsai beginners and those gift shopping for  bonsai growers.

The copyright dates tell a story. Published in Great Britain in 2014, the text is copyrighted back to 2007, and some quite familiar. Granted, there are only so many ways to cover the material. Chan's publishers know the trick that several other eminent bonsai authors have discovered-recycling. A new title and a new format makes things look like a new book, even if the content is the same-most buyers wont notice until they get it home.

For a book with more than 300 pages, this has very little detailed or specific information. History of bonsai, differences between Chinese and Japanese types and the usual care and feeding are glossed over in the most brief and general way.  This may be an excellent way to introduce concepts for a reader just starting their bonsai journey, but only the truest beginner  will be satisfied with the amount of information they find here. Propagation-a topic that can be an entire book unto itself gets two pages. Wiring gets three.  Chan's Bonsai Bible might start a flame, but has little to keep it burning.

He certainly scores big points for including some advice about considering one's environment and conditions when choosing species for bonsai, that picking plant that grow well in your area will make success more assured. He also totally eliminates that useless feature of so many beginners books, the run down of the basic styles. Lately I've come to the opinion that beginners get too hung up on style rules and try to make their plants fit into a certain 'regulation' style, rather than let the plant do the deciding. 

The bulk of this little but thick book is given over to a compendium of possible bonsai species. Chan has organized these in an interesting way-outdoor conifers, outdoor broad leaf, outdoor flowering and indoor/tropical. Each two page spread shows a close up of individual foliage for identification as well as a 'finished' example. Required environment, watering and fertilizing tips an a warning about special things to be aware of are included for each tree.  The selection is extensive, featuring all the usual suspects plus some odd balls and plants used in just one part of the world.  The trees are not all Chan's work, and in his acknowledgments the author thanks "his bonsai friends around the world" for sharing images of their trees. The audience for this book-and for the bonsai hobby-is truly world wide.

This extensive section on plant material is the publication's strength, serving as a useful identifier  and a quick reference guide.  It's easy to page through the slick pages and use it as a  wish list as well.