This book is so good it's funny as well I'm not sue how much fun he had but if you watch his videos on Youtube then read this book or vice versa
your in for a treat and yes pencils sharpened by hand are way better than any pencil sharpener out there. I just hope regular pencils dont ' go extinct or down in quality with the brain dead digital age out there.

I had know idea there was so much fascinating information about the common everyday pencil. The history is amazing. If your a geek like me and like to know interesting facts about common things, this book is for you.

This book has made me a much more valuable member of my family.

The holiday season is usually an awkward time for me because of the countless family reunions I'm forced to attend. I have aunts, uncles and even little cousins who would constantly be nagging me about how my line of work is too "sketchy" or "illegal". Now, thanks to Rees' easy-to-follow guides in this brilliant book, I was able to ditch the old job and become an apprentice for the pencil master at my local shop here in Nova Scotia. While I still need more hands-on experience with pencil sharpening (particularly the two-holed sharpener technique and the classic pocket knife technique), this book has definitely put me on the right track for a solid pencil sharpening career. Maybe I'll be promoted in a few years at the shop!

And don't be fooled, in addition to talking about pencils, the book also includes helpful life advice in every chapter (the part about proper stretching applies to not just pencil sharpening, but also many other activities - helpful if your work requires lots of physical movement or if you're into sports). Rees' wise words have prepared me for the real world more than both of my college degrees (English and Psychology).

10/10 would recommend to a friend.

I gave this to my girlfriend as she was trying to finish writing the last chapters of a 60,000-word nonfiction book on deadline. The idea was, she'd laugh, blow off a little steam and maybe get the joke about how to pad out ANY subject, no matter how simple. It was a huge hit, and now she uses it as a stress-relieving reference ... for good AND bad examples. This book is hilarious.

If you have ever wanted to know how to sharpen a pencil but are not willing to pay thousands of dollars for a week long course then this is the book for you. I have always considered myself a pencil connoisseur especially when it comes to the point but I tell you what I learned more about sharpening a pencil than I ever thought possible. With the knowledge I have gained from reading this book I have been able to impress my friends and coworkers with how sharp I can get a pencil. Seriously though this is a fun read that I recommend to all that enjoy a little tongue in cheek humor.