Mastering Beadwork - A Comprehensive Guide to Offloom- Techniques by Carol Huber Cypher is another gorgeous book by Interweave Press.
There are a lot of great books out there about how to bead that cover many of the same techniques. What makes this one stand out is the whimsy in the projects. They are gorgeous, well explained, and in bright popping colors. It's a fun book.
The introduction to the book explains how to use it to learn beadwork from the very beginning, and encourage you to play. To follow the instructions for the projects, but also to look at the end of each project at the "Try this" to do something new. It explains the tools and supplies very well, with color pictures. There is also a glossary in the introduction that tell you what a lot of popular bead terms mean. For an absolute beginner, it can be a bit overwhelming, but if you take it one step at a time, it's wonderful.
For people who have some experience, there are the projects.
Chapter 1 is peyote stitch. Absolutely essential for anyone who wants to master beadwork to learn. There are several bracelets with different types of clasps as first projects, starting simply with a purchased clasp, and working up to an amazing diagonally stitched peyote bracelet with a fringed beaded clasp. Just yummy.
The section on bead crochet makes enough sense I'm willing to give it another try. I can crochet, I can bead, but making crocheted ropes has never worked out well for me.
Like I said, the projects are full of whimsy, the colors make me smile, and the techniques are a solid foundation for learning to bead, and to follow any set of instructions. It's an absolutely inspiring book.