By all means ,Clark, give it a try. I would recommend borrowing as many books as possible from your local library. If they don't have all of them in stock, have them transferred from another library/branch. Then when you find a set of plans you like in one of them you can buy just that book to relieve the possibility of copyright infringement. I strongly advise you to use more than one book since there are as many techniques as authors.

I just saw last night a new (to me) book-  Illustrated Guide to Wood Strip Canoe Building by Susan Van Leuven ($39.95 US). It may not be as strong on the nuts and bolts mechanics of stripping but it is very strong on the artistic side of the process and is gorgeously photographed. It may be focused entirely on canoes, but I highly recommend the book to any strippers.