In this work, the author's have contributed something of profound depth (without being obscure) that empowers the individual to meet the challenging times in which we live - with greater understanding. The author's accomplish this difficult task by sharing their researches into the cosmological themes that, unknown to most, serve as the back-drop to daily life, and connect us to the Divine-Spiritual Powers. It is hoped that, in the future, there will be more works of this caliber - that address the recondite concepts of Astrosophy (Star Wisdom), in a manner that is both accessible to the general reader, and useful to the specialist.

In that this seems to be the only available book on scythes you could say it is the best book on scythes. The author drifts into New Age gibberish twice but then only for a moment. The rest of the info seems to be good; and this is certainly a great beginer's book. My complaint is that it does not go beyond a beginer's book. The book will help you get started, but if you buy a scythe you really should find some old hand at scythes to further your education.

The second edition of The Scythe Book was released this June and I am posting this before Amazon lists it as available, but I hope that will soon change.

The original text by Dave Tresemer has not been re-edited. It is still a good introduction to this wonderful tool. The core of the new edition is the addendum by Peter Vido. Peter is extraordinarily dedicated to the scythe as both a practical tool and as a model of wisely applied human engineering. Peter shows us how complex and subtle this simple tool can be. The depth of his knowledge may overwhelm the uninitiated on first reading, but as your experience grows with this tool, Peter's commentary becomes increasingly valuable. There is a lot of important information packed into this addendum and any scythe enthusiast will learn much from this master.

The European scythe accomplishes more than the mundane job of cutting grass. It offers us an opportunity to step away from the craziness of American lawn culture. It gives us the space in which to breathe, listen and explore our own rhythms without burning gasoline. This book is the place to begin.

This book covers the history, the care and the operation of an ancient farming tool--the scythe. It offers a fascinating history such as answering the question of how an acre came to be a unit of area. You will want to use a scythe after reading this book!

An odd amalgam of practical firewood splitting and woodland mythology and mysticism; I'd bet the author misses few if any historical or mythological references to splitting firewood, the mystical attraction of a fire, and lore of the wood lot. The author covers Druidic tree worship, gods, sprites and spirits of the wood from numerous cultures, and includes an extremely broad and interesting index of his sources. Some of the connections and references are rather strained, but the joy and strength of the book is in realizing a reverence for the wood, (or The Wood.) In olden times men belived that a tree should be greeted with respect, thanked humbly for its sacrifice, and told to what use it would be put before it was cut down. If that makes sense to you, you'll like this book. If you are looking for a lesson on splitting firewood, here it is: bend your knees.