The author isn't wrong about tight clamping potentially limiting glue penetration, but that's what edge preparation is for. In the books I've bound thus far, I

The author isn't wrong about tight clamping potentially limiting glue penetration, but that's what edge preparation is for. In the books I've bound thus far, I first scored the binding edge in crosshatches with a carving tool, then brushed on a first layer of glue and pressed a strip of cotton roll gauze into it, and finally gave that a second layer of glue. It worked pretty well; I rarely have trouble with pages coming loose or bindings cracking in the books I've made. I have a few ideas for how to further improve the result, but those will have to wait for when I find time to pick up the hobby again; lately the most I've done is quick stitched bindings for small booklets when I want to include some essay or article as a supplement in my diary. For spines I prefer black bookbinder's tape. It looks more handsome than duct tape, and takes silver paint pen very well for titling.