George Grotz

I probably wouldn't want to use most of his tips on my high end antique furniture, but he does have some nifty tips that could come in handy for that bookcase or chair or table you found at the garage sale or thrift store. Practice before you tackle any job, and remember that there's a lot of flammable stuff that gets used on furniture.

Buy it for its wisdom, read it for the fun. Grotz knows all about faking antiques, although he wonders why people bother. They build perfectly good reproductions and then toss them in a swamp for a few weeks to "age" them, just so they can put something over on the consumer. The book is full of great furniture care advice and fun. There's always a copy in some used booksale. Buy it - it's timeless.

Absolutely hilarious reading, and some useful tips too! If you don't look at 'antiques' with a jaundiced eye after reading this book--I have a bridge to sell you.

Fabulous resource for anyone who owns items made of wood. I actually used it as my guide when stripping, dying and refinishing my husband's great-grandmother's dining room table. Trust him!