Wood Wright's Companion by Roy Underhill (1983, Paperback)

Roy Underhill is a master woodright. His knowledge is profound and extensive about the use of vintage tools. Tools that are no longer made for the most part and the knowledge of how to use them is fast disappearing. This book and others by him do an exellent job of illustrating their use and history.
His instructions and descriptions are concise and easy to follow and for anyone who wants to further a Do-It-Yourself plan for life, his books rank up there with the Foxfire books in usefullness. It was the Foxfire books that pointed me to him as a matter of fact. Some of what he shows comes right from the general area that the Foxfire series origated from. Anyone familier with them will see this as soon as they read Underhills books.
Be warned! Reading his books can cause you to get bit by the tool collecting but as well. I have launched on a search for tools that I can use in conjunction with what he has shown in his books. Some advice, seek out the old tools that are functional and not so much collectable. You'll save a bundle.