Non-fiction books that resemble notebooks

October 22, 2009 5:44 PM

I am looking for a certain type of non-fiction book. These books are very often instructional with the words handwritten (or typed with a font that imitates handwriting) and the illustrations hand-drawn giving the book the appearance of a photocopied notebook.

Two examples of this type of book are Getting Started in Electronics by Forrest M. Mims III (example page) and Complete Guide to Fishing Skills by Tony Whieldon (example page). I love these books for their aesthetical quality rather than the subject matter per se so welcome suggestions that cover any topic.

posted by wannalol to writing & language (14 comments total)

It's been a while, but I believe Broccoli Forest is in that format.
posted by you're a kitty! at 5:48 PM on October 22, 2009

I had these books that were printed in the '70's called Making Things: The Handbook of Creative Discovery and Making Things 2. I think they were the type of book you're looking for. And you're in luck, it looks like they're back in print (sort of).
posted by cleverevans at 6:00 PM on October 22, 2009

The '70s was probably the peak decade for this kind of thing, thanks to the ex-hippies that started the DIY boom. Books published by punk publishing houses (especially ones written by zine folks) are probably the most likely place to find it these days.
posted by box at 6:10 PM on October 22, 2009

Boy, I would say look around at Lindsay. Lots of wacky old-timey do-it-yourself books. The best known items there are probably the Gingery series on how to build a metal shop starting with a bucket and some sand, but I can't remember if they're actually in that hand-written format that you're looking for.
posted by madmethods at 6:31 PM on October 22, 2009

You might like Keri Smith's books.
posted by backwards guitar at 6:40 PM on October 22, 2009

Does How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive count?
posted by dirtdirt at 7:34 PM on October 22, 2009

i think 'the FORTRAN coloring book' was actually hand-written rather than using a handwriting-like font.
posted by rmd1023 at 7:44 PM on October 22, 2009

The Zen of Seeing by Frederick Franke

The Self-Healing Cookbook by Kristina Turner

Seconding The Enchanted Broccoli Forest, and adding The Moosewood Cookbook by the same Mollie Katzen. Her Still Life with Menu cookbook doesn't have hand-lettered text, but it does have LOTS of lovely watercolor illustrations.

Edward Espe Brown's Tassajara Cookbook doesn't have hand-lettered text, but it DOES have many simple line drawings, and it feels similiar in tone to a lot of the personal notebook style books.
posted by marsha56 at 8:49 PM on October 22, 2009

Alfred Wainright eg A pictorial guide to the Lakeland Fells
posted by thatwhichfalls at 9:59 PM on October 22, 2009

A far cry from Forrest Mims (my favorite writer for years BTW!), but The Creative License by Danny Gregory fits your criteria.

Many books in the how-to-draw genre also have this type of look. My favorites are by Claudia Nice.
posted by mmoncur at 10:38 PM on October 22, 2009

Sark's self-help/creativity books are like this.
posted by belladonna at 6:00 AM on October 23, 2009

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. There are a few books there that I may well buy.
posted by wannalol at 9:32 AM on October 23, 2009

Nomadic Furniture
posted by enfa at 3:28 PM on October 23, 2009

The Art of Shen Ku
posted by fairmettle at 3:58 PM on October 24, 2009