Origami to Astonish and Amuse: Over 400 Original Models, Including Such Classics as the Chocolate-Covered Ant, the Transvestite Puppet, the Invisible

I kinda fell into origami, and my mom bought me this book on a whim one day after I had expressed an interest in paper folding. This book is amazing. Shafer is hilarious. He inserts random comments into all of his instructions keeping the reader/folder in stitches. The instructions are very easy to follow, though origami does reqire practice and mastery of basic skills. But Shafer provides your basic skills and very easy folds to the more complex folds. Once you master the basics, you'll be on your way to making such crazy models as "Hands Folding a Square Base" and a "Transvestite Puppet." I very highly recommend this book either to a beginner or to and advanced folder.

I was surprised for a great Origami book that includes excellent models for different skills (23 simple, 8 low-intermediate, 20 intermediate, 12 high-intermediate and 26 complex, in total 89, and not 400 as is written in the cover) and different interests:Action Models, from beginners (Baby Bird, Men's Suit), intermediate (clapping hands), high intermediate (surfer on a wave), to complex (nail clippers), and in other areas like Symbols and Signs (some billfolds, a pyramid and a balancing eagle that poses at the top of the pyramid), Heart-related origami (Cards, envelopes) and others (like a square base with hands that folded it -a la Escher-).The book includes tips and ideas to fold variations for the models.If you are interested in Origami to entertain children and adults, or making not traditional models, this is the book.I recommended specially for intermediate to expert folders.

Jeremy Shafer has written a book that lives up to it's name. It's been too long since I enjoyed an origami book this much. Some of the models make "astonish" an understatement. The action models do some amazing almost miraculous things. While many of the models are quite challenging, there are models to please all levels of folders. Even some great action models require only the most basic paper folding skill. It's rare that an origami book combines so many fine features. The diagrams are understandable and beautifully executed. The pictures are amusing and informative. He has a wry, playful, and occasionally macabre sense of humor that is reflected in both his models and his commentary on them. He is thorough in listing his influences, inspirations, and collaborators. He is scrupulously honest in revealing when any of the models are derivative and giving credit where it is due. There are some origami books no origami lover should be without, and this is one of them.

It worths the long wait. This is the only origami book make you laugh to tears.All models here are folded from a single square, no cut. The author emphasize this philosophy, and wrote a quite clear essay about it and encourge the folder-reader to become designer.Followed are a lot of wonderful models. Besides the very excellent models "Swiss knife", "Nail clipper", etc, and extraordanary models: man swapper, man on the surf, eight interwine ring, eagle balanced on the tip of the mountain (both folded from dollar bill) etc, there are many funny models:An elephant from behind (so only butts and tail, and tip of nose), a walking man(when spread and flatten the whole paper, the creases become a labyrinth.) One I appreciated most is the "Origami square", fold as followes: Take a Square paper, rotate and rotate and rotate and flip and rotate and rotate, then VOILA, the origami square completes. (I got angry and very happy at the same time when I read this). Moreover, a invisible duck, a car with tires replaced by 4 legs....The author is so versatile and desperately funny, joyous atmosphere prevails the whole book. Highly recommended.

The title is rather apt. I was suitably astonish and amused by the origami subjects within. If I have to choose one word to descibe the book, it would be "quirky".For those who have been purchasing origami books and getting the usual stuff and would like some unusual subjects, this is definitely the book!Within the book is divided into 4 main sections: 1) Origami Action (32 models) 2) Symbols, Signs & Stunning Designs (21 models), 3) Models from the Heart (15 models) and 4) Origami for the Almost Deranged (21 models). Most of the subject matters cannot be found elsewhere, in any other origami books.I find the general format and presentation of the book rather unusual too, rather refreshing. Throughout the book, for every models, there is a section "Thoughts behind the fold". This allows you to get into the mind of the author and possibly ideas for creating your own models.There are so many models that I am unable to list all of them. Among my favourites are a workable Swiss Army Knife, a nail clipper and slithering snake skin! There are also a lot of action models and this suits me very well as I like action models.The general complexity ranges from simple to complex. On a range of 1 to 5, with simple (1) and complex (5), I find that most of the models fall in the range of 2. Do not let this fool you, simple models can be very effective and fun to fold too. The final result is astonishing and amusing, much more so that some complex models.I like to mention too that I had fun with the running car, hey!, running on legs, not wheels! Then you will be taught how to fold the carbon atom that even a rocket scientist could not fold. Do not forget to try folding the invisible duck too! It's a riot!Hey! as I am already almost deranged, folding from the book maintained me in the same deranged condition. Perhaps all you almost deranged origami enthusiasts would like to group together and form the ADOES (Almost Deranged Origami Enthusiasts Society).