Anyone who has ever spent several consecutive days in a studio or mill doing production papermaking can attest to the aches and pains experienced on waking from such a venture. Weekend workshops and short term apprenticeships do not necessarily teach one how to form sheets correctly, much less save one’s body from the wear and weariness that can result from improperly lifting heavy things, repeatedly bending over, and loading a press. Peter Thomas’s The Ergonomics of Hand Papermaking addresses the physical issues of making sheets of handmade paper comfortably and accurately. In this pamphlet-style book, Thomas initially mentions research he conducted during several trips to Europe between 1988 and 1992. He wanted to document the equipment in the mills he visited and to interview retired papermakers. Concerned that information about papermaking processes and history might be lost, he was determined to “honor the generosity of the papermakers who shared their knowledge with me” through various media. This pamphlet is one result of his research. While Thomas gives a bit of anecdotal information about his trips here, he does not describe the mills or the men in much detail at all. (He only mentions one papermaker from Europe by name: Cyril Finn, from Wookey Hole, in England.) Instead he sticks to the topics of ergonomics and equipment in general. Stressing the necessity of relaxing while doing repetitive work, Thomas suggests a series of warm-up exercises and stretches, which he names with papermaking terms such as “Layboy’s Stretch” or “Foolscap Pose.” Thomas’s written descriptions of these exercises are sufficient, though it would be fun to see him do the "Pose” in this work's companion video (which I have not seen). His advice is keen, reminding us to breathe and stay loose. Jack Lalaine would be proud. Thomas then covers the papermaking process itself and how to set up a mill to facilitate stress-free production methods. He briefly describes how traditional techniques in Europe varied between vatmen, though there were common practices that he feels were important for any papermaker. In one section, The Vatman’s Shake, Thomas gives a complete how-to of Western sheet formation, with numbered steps and directions for body movement. This section has many useful pointers, not only for good ergonomics but also for forming good sheets. The pamphlet is worth its price for this section alone. It is perfect for new students, who can learn proper procedures before developing bad habits. The Couching section is less specific in its numbered directions for a step-by-step approach, perhaps because the operation seems simpler than sheet forming. In his final section, Equipment and the Ergonomics of Papermaking, Thomas includes a brief discussion on beating and drainage. He goes on to describe fairly traditional devices used in mills, such as hogs, and how proper design and placement of the equipment, such as vat height, can make the process easier. He could have mentioned here the design of a couching table with a slight curve, or bridge, which aids the smooth release of each sheet onto the post. Thomas has put a lot of thought into the mechanics of papermakers' movements and his directions are clear. The tone of his writing is practical and sincere, appropriate for a small booklet of just ten pages. The first page opens with a print by his wife, Donna Thomas. He closes poetically with the statement, “Your breath is the rhythm in the dance of papermaking.” Eugenie Barron