If you want to learn tanning and you can only afford one book, don't make it this one. While James Churchill has clearly tanned numerous hides, he doesn't give the beginner near enough detail to have much chance of success... There especially aren't enough illustrations or photos of key parts of the process. Tanning is fairly simple craft, but it is precise and very tactile. You need an author who will walk you step by step through the process. Amazon.com offers two books that I highly recommend if you wish to learn hide-tanning: DEERSKINS INTO BUCKSKINS: How to Tan With Natural Materials, and Wetscrape Braintan Buckskin. Get one or both and you'll get the results you're looking for.
There is some good information in Churchill's work, so if you already have tanned numerous hides, you might get it as an additional source of knowledge or ideas. However you should still beware that some of the information is either faulty or just based on a severe lack of experience with certain tanning methods (an example of this is his info on tanning buckskin. Churchill has you use a smoking method that is not only a royal pain in the arse but takes three days of constant supervision. If done correctly, this process only takes 1 or 2 hrs. He also says that this smoking renders the hide water-resistant...which isn't even close to being true!)
I don't mean any offense to the author...just want to prevent would be tanners some serious frustration.
James Churchill has obviously tanned numerous hides, but that doesn't translate into a book that can teach you to tan. He covers a lot of topics, but they are so shallowly covered that I would be surprised if a beginner could tan something that they are satisfied with. I tan hides at home for a living, and teach hide tanning at events all over North America, and as far as what Churchill has to say about the tanning methods that I often use...brain and soap tanning, or bark tanning...I don't think you would have practically any chance following his directions. They are just too scanty. Tanning isn't hard but it is precise, you need clear in-depth instructions.
The directions are also sometimes incorrect or tell you a method that no self respecting tanner would use...simply because there are much easier ways! Take for example the directions on smoking a hide. He tells you that smoking makes the hide water resistant (which isn't accurate), and tells you to smoke it over a tripod arranged around a camp-fire, and to do it for two or three days!
In reality, smoking a hide makes it so that you can wash it (or get it wet), over and over again, and it will stay soft. And while smoking it over a tripod works, its the biggest hassle I can think of.
I certainly don't want to be putting Mr. Churchill down, writing a book is a lot of work, and he has clearly tanned many hides judging by the pictures of him and his son, but there just isn't the kind of quality detail or the number of photos and illustrations that people need to learn tanning.
If you are looking for a really good, simple to follow home tanning book, try out "Deerskins into Buckskins" by Matt Richards. It will teach you how to tan beatiful hides using traditional natural tanning techniques such as brains, or soap and oil(no dangerous chemicals necessary!). It is loaded with photos and illustrations, and the methods taught are efficient, tried and true, and don't require special equipment. Another worthwhile work is "Wetscrape Braintanned Buckskin" by Steven Edholm.
