I agree with you all. When I get interested in something, say soap making for example, I tend to get EVERY book I can find and compare information. Why I do this is beyond me. I seriously think it may be a mental issue. Sheez, you should have seen it when I went on my "Finding Jesus"kick (very short kick). I had every imaginable version of the bible. And until that fiasco (not sure I spelled that right), I had no clue there were so many ways to say the same thing. In the end, I had read three bibles from front to back, word for agonizing word. And through it all never considered myself Christian. I am more pegan if anything, or maybe intelligent life from elsewhere had a lot to with putting us here. hippy maybe even. Wouldn't that be funny if Hippy was a religion? I'd rather talk to a tree that pray to thin air.
Back to soap. Of all of my books, my favorites so far would have to be "Soap Naturally" by Garzena and Tadiello. They give a bit more info on the real how-to of it than some others. "The Natural Soap Book" by Susan miller Cavich, "Smart Soap Making" by Anne L. Watson, "The Everything Soap Making Book" by Alicia Grosso.
One common thread I notice with authors though is a tendency to sway you into a feel that their way is THE way. When really there is one right way, "water and lye and fats in proper amounts = good quality, safe to make and use soap, along with proper safety precautions and common sense. Oh, and a GAZILLION TONS OF PATIENCE!
I just ordered Kevin Dunn's Book "Scientific Soap Making" about a week ago. I have butterflies in my tummy waiting for it to get here, like Christmas. I love reading. But I love the mechanics of things even more. I like to be able to pick things apart and know for myself that "THAT's why it works that way,not just because some one said so." But I also want to know what everyone thinks about the same topic. When I was in high school, my science teacher actually called me "the littlest pain in her @$$ she'd ever known". I still laugh about that every time I think of it. I asked too many questions and questioned too many of her explanations. When she said it was this way for a reason, i said," why?" and ,"I'll just confirm your teachings for myself (right after you tell me how to do that without blowing myself up)." I always wanted to be a chemist but some life situations and set backs put some serious dampers on things. And before I knew which way was up, I was too old and to tied down with others that I had to put before myself. So maybe that's what soaping does for me, fills that little wanna be chemist void. Who knows!?
I HATE to cook food but love cooking up soap and cosmetics
Like you all said, there are great books out there. Though nothing beats the live, instantaneous, hands on experience you gather from real people like all of you guys/gals here. I appreciate all of you guys and all the help you offer and the time it take s you to help everyone else. Thanks for all your input. I also like to write, a lot....can you tell? A friend told me that the world should consider itself lucky that I didn't talk as much as I think.
