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Fewer, Better Things: The Hidden Wisdom of Objects
Things matter. So why are we losing touch with them?
From the former director of the Museum of Arts and Design in New York comes a timely and passionate case for the role of the well-designed object in the digital age. In this delightful exploration of craft in its many forms, curator and scholar Glenn Adamson explores how raw materials, tools, design and technique come together to produce objects of beauty and utility.
A thoughtful meditation on the value of care and attention in an age of disappearing things, Fewer, Better Things invites us to reconnect with the physical world and its objects.
From the former director of the Museum of Arts and Design in New York comes a timely and passionate case for the role of the well-designed object in the digital age. In this delightful exploration of craft in its many forms, curator and scholar Glenn Adamson explores how raw materials, tools, design and technique come together to produce objects of beauty and utility.
A thoughtful meditation on the value of care and attention in an age of disappearing things, Fewer, Better Things invites us to reconnect with the physical world and its objects.
272 pages, Paperback
First published August 7, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
February 27, 2019
I don’t know that I agree with other reviewers when they come to the conclusion that this book’s title is misleading. Not with an overline that reads “The Hidden Wisdom of Objects”, nor with a perfectly adequate description of the book’s contents available right inside the cover. You know what you’re in for: various informed musings on how objects come to be, from someone who used to be director of the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, among other things.
Come on, people. Were you expecting the ubiquitous Marie Kondō – again?
With Fewer, Better Things, Glenn Adamson takes you on a grand tour of people’s rapport to material realities, but he also takes care not to wear you out. By the time you’re done with this essay, you’ll have thought about all kinds of materials, long-established traditions in craft versus current industrial techniques, the place of objects in your life, the implications of an ever-growing digitalization of resources, the roles and strategies of museums, and much more. The chapters are short but eloquent and each one either brings new water to the mill or shifts your perspective by a few degrees. I believe Adamson trusts you to independently reflect further on each concept he introduces, and I love that his approach is not moralistic. The broad culture displayed from one chapter to the next makes this a rich and interesting read; I found the author’s use of real-life situations and third-party expertise judicious, through and through.
All of this book’s efforts have to do with putting humans back into the heart of, well, things. The end result is a generalist view presented smartly, in an amiable tone. Very glad I picked this up.
Come on, people. Were you expecting the ubiquitous Marie Kondō – again?
With Fewer, Better Things, Glenn Adamson takes you on a grand tour of people’s rapport to material realities, but he also takes care not to wear you out. By the time you’re done with this essay, you’ll have thought about all kinds of materials, long-established traditions in craft versus current industrial techniques, the place of objects in your life, the implications of an ever-growing digitalization of resources, the roles and strategies of museums, and much more. The chapters are short but eloquent and each one either brings new water to the mill or shifts your perspective by a few degrees. I believe Adamson trusts you to independently reflect further on each concept he introduces, and I love that his approach is not moralistic. The broad culture displayed from one chapter to the next makes this a rich and interesting read; I found the author’s use of real-life situations and third-party expertise judicious, through and through.
All of this book’s efforts have to do with putting humans back into the heart of, well, things. The end result is a generalist view presented smartly, in an amiable tone. Very glad I picked this up.
December 14, 2019
This is an excellent study of objects. I highly recommend reading this book but maybe reading one chapter a day like a book of daily inspiration. The chapters are short and are almost like meditations on craft and the object.
Such a pleasure to read something so thoughtful and beautifully written.
Such a pleasure to read something so thoughtful and beautifully written.
March 11, 2022
Seduced by the cover design (a detail of a beautiful and deeply contemplative still life by William Bailey), the title (holding the allure of a more sustainable way of life), and the bona fides of the author (the former director of the Museum of Art and Design), I purchased this book as soon as I heard about it. Maybe there’s a lesson there; I certainly should have checked my local library. LOL.
I had hoped for a philosophic and aesthetic framework for “Fewer, Better Things.” Although I’m not anti-capitalist, I am certainly ready to endorse an approach to life that encourages us to be more thoughtful about what we acquire. I anticipated a more nuanced Marie Kondo argument for only holding onto things that “bring you joy.”
Instead, with great disappointment, this book did not bring me joy. Right away (and let’s be clear, I’m old . . . past 60), I was concerned with the opening chapters, which were inspired by the “the old days” (of the author’s grandfather, who clearly had a closer relationship with material), and the author’s appreciation for his beloved childhood teddy bear. Literally, his teddy bear. This view of the golden past was, of course, contrasted with the superficiality of today’s digital world. Still, I persevered. But it was only the “fewer pages” that I ended up appreciating: I was grateful there were only 227 of them.
Another plus: the 34 chapters were also better, perhaps, for being shorter. On the other hand, these chapters seemed like the barest of threads, each briefly raising thoughts the author had at some time in his life. In many, there were kernels of important concepts: the value of hand labor (why do we admire the academic more than the plumber?); the distinctive character of materials (even from one type of wood or stone to another); and the “revelation” that there are things to learned in that vast space between NY and LA.
I can endorse all these observations. But these anecdotes didn’t coalesce into any larger whole. At one point it seemed that the author—with his impressive museum experience—might advocate for a more thoughtful “curatorial” perspective (he devoted several pages to the important role museums play in presenting objects). But he stopped short of any such recommendation. Was he shy of seeming too elitist? Of encouraging cultural judgment? Of not being inclusive?
Whatever the reason, these thoughts were just that: thoughts. And while I appreciated the author’s tone (always respectful, never didactic), it left me yearning for a writer who might step up to not only advocate for acquiring/keeping things the “bring you joy,” but also providing a philosophical framework for a sustainable theory of acquisition. While a Wunderkammer may be compelling, it is not sustainable for us or our world. Let’s step back, and be thoughtful “curators” of our lives.
I had hoped for a philosophic and aesthetic framework for “Fewer, Better Things.” Although I’m not anti-capitalist, I am certainly ready to endorse an approach to life that encourages us to be more thoughtful about what we acquire. I anticipated a more nuanced Marie Kondo argument for only holding onto things that “bring you joy.”
Instead, with great disappointment, this book did not bring me joy. Right away (and let’s be clear, I’m old . . . past 60), I was concerned with the opening chapters, which were inspired by the “the old days” (of the author’s grandfather, who clearly had a closer relationship with material), and the author’s appreciation for his beloved childhood teddy bear. Literally, his teddy bear. This view of the golden past was, of course, contrasted with the superficiality of today’s digital world. Still, I persevered. But it was only the “fewer pages” that I ended up appreciating: I was grateful there were only 227 of them.
Another plus: the 34 chapters were also better, perhaps, for being shorter. On the other hand, these chapters seemed like the barest of threads, each briefly raising thoughts the author had at some time in his life. In many, there were kernels of important concepts: the value of hand labor (why do we admire the academic more than the plumber?); the distinctive character of materials (even from one type of wood or stone to another); and the “revelation” that there are things to learned in that vast space between NY and LA.
I can endorse all these observations. But these anecdotes didn’t coalesce into any larger whole. At one point it seemed that the author—with his impressive museum experience—might advocate for a more thoughtful “curatorial” perspective (he devoted several pages to the important role museums play in presenting objects). But he stopped short of any such recommendation. Was he shy of seeming too elitist? Of encouraging cultural judgment? Of not being inclusive?
Whatever the reason, these thoughts were just that: thoughts. And while I appreciated the author’s tone (always respectful, never didactic), it left me yearning for a writer who might step up to not only advocate for acquiring/keeping things the “bring you joy,” but also providing a philosophical framework for a sustainable theory of acquisition. While a Wunderkammer may be compelling, it is not sustainable for us or our world. Let’s step back, and be thoughtful “curators” of our lives.
September 19, 2018
The myth of the dumb object.
You cannot go visit someone through our screens. Individuals are reduced to a screen scroll of texts. We have tactile contact with the screen and make it our master. If an event is not digitally captured to the cloud, then it did not happen. "The only permanent anchor in our lives will be the cloud".
"The problem is that, as we come to depend on these mysterious machines more and more, we are less and less aware of our physical environment." On a famous mountain trail in my city, I came within a foot's length of a woman who was walking down the trail as I was going up. She exclaimed, "I did not see you!" Her gaze was fixed on her screen. She had no eyes for the physical world, much less the spiritual, nor for the humans she was with and among. She was entirely operating in a virtual reality. Notice that I did not say living.
Her reality is made in and through a screen. She was caught off guard by my presence because she was ignoring the physical world. "We aren't even aware of how unaware we are," states Adamson. I have come toe to toe with such unawareness and come away as a woman present,
yet unseen.
You cannot go visit someone through our screens. Individuals are reduced to a screen scroll of texts. We have tactile contact with the screen and make it our master. If an event is not digitally captured to the cloud, then it did not happen. "The only permanent anchor in our lives will be the cloud".
"The problem is that, as we come to depend on these mysterious machines more and more, we are less and less aware of our physical environment." On a famous mountain trail in my city, I came within a foot's length of a woman who was walking down the trail as I was going up. She exclaimed, "I did not see you!" Her gaze was fixed on her screen. She had no eyes for the physical world, much less the spiritual, nor for the humans she was with and among. She was entirely operating in a virtual reality. Notice that I did not say living.
Her reality is made in and through a screen. She was caught off guard by my presence because she was ignoring the physical world. "We aren't even aware of how unaware we are," states Adamson. I have come toe to toe with such unawareness and come away as a woman present,
yet unseen.
May 12, 2021
You ever want to hold words close to your chest because they're so precious? That's how I felt about a lot of the supporting text cited in this book. There were some thoughts in this that were so fascinating, that I wanted to write them out and pin them on my wall, so that I may look at them and commit them to memory.
Like most of the craft based books I've been reading lately, this is a call to treasure material intelligence and the objects in our lives. To respect those with working knowledge and to break away from overconsumption of materials that threaten our environment. It's a very accessible read, and I enjoyed reading it.
Like most of the craft based books I've been reading lately, this is a call to treasure material intelligence and the objects in our lives. To respect those with working knowledge and to break away from overconsumption of materials that threaten our environment. It's a very accessible read, and I enjoyed reading it.
January 26, 2020
In this world of digital connection and consumer overload, Glenn Adamson encourages us to exchange materialism for materiality. A delightful collection from this curator and scholar, Adamson explores the hidden wisdom contained within objects, and the felt experience of them in our hands and our lives. Short chapters to read before bed, or in between checking your Instagram before clicking on Netflix.
July 12, 2021
I picked up this attractive first edition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on a recent trip with my wife. This is a book about material intelligence. How much do you know about the objects you use? Or the materials they are made of, or who made them and how? There is much here about beauty and meaning and craftsmanship, but also probably too much science if you ask me. At times I was a little uninterested and wanted to skip ahead. Still a well-done tribute to beautiful things. Read it if you would rather hold a fountain pen than a smart phone. Thankfully there are a few of us left.
January 26, 2023
Enjoyed the sentiment but not the delivery.
March 26, 2019
Adamson makes the case for staying in touch literally with the real world of hand wrought artifacts and objects. Everybody wants her/his kid to go to college, even if the kid (by the thousands) would be happier and better off becoming a skilled craftsperson--plumber, electrician, carpenter, potter, metal worker, an auto repair expert. It's possible a few parents would see the light if they read this book and set their kid free from meeting their deluded expectations. This book is too quiet and too small to restore the respect these kind of jobs deserve, but it lights a candle in the darkness of our foolish ignorance when we look down on the people who build and fix everything the rest of us know nothing about and find indispensable. It's also a heartfelt plea for doing without badly objects that need to be replaced often in favor of a few well-made things that last a lifetime and longer. Those who rated it "boring" should open their minds and read it again.
September 7, 2024
I came across this book after finishing up an arts-absorbed stroll in the Whitney Museum and from the very first page it held my attention up until the very last page.
As a whole the book focuses on items we own, and in essence how far removed we are from the items we own materially. There were a few examples of this that made me ponder on my own lack of material intelligence such as the materials used to make the chair you are currently sitting in (if you are currently sitting in a chair) as well the sheer wonder of: What if you had to create a toaster for the first time, where would you begin?
As a maker of crafts as well as a lover of crafts in all their forms, this book was honestly a maker’s dream of breaking through the fourth wall of our own selves. For example: The way a person crochets with a hook but in such a way that they are one with the hook and have pushed past the 'thing-ness' of a crochet hook because they know the best way to hold the tension of the yarn so it doesn’t ruin the flow of making something.
The book also does a great job of joining both knowledge of our material environment as well as the importance of making things that work well with our environment, not contribute to its decay (ala plastics). It has really made me reflect that the materials we are using to make things should really first start with the question of: How do I make something that can recycle into the Earth versus add more damaging materials to it? Every plastic thing ever made is still on this Earth.
The comparison of the Mars simulation and how formaldehyde from something added into the closed environment ruined the equilibrium the astronauts had established (leading all crops grown to die) to our current Earth environment which acts in the same manner with things created but at a slower pace (i.e. all harmful chemicals on earth are absorbed by the Earth and in the same way the Mars simulation immediately reacted to the formaldehyde and ended all sustainable life in the simulation, the Earth has the same reaction just slower but there all the same) was incredible.
My only issue with the book:
There was one part in the book that refers to the reverence Muslims have to an imprint of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ left foot. Unfortunately there wasn’t a footnote that could lead me to analyze the source (footnotes are aplenty in the book!), and as a Muslim raised primarily in the West, I found this to be a head scratcher. That’s not to say I alone represent all Muslims, just that as a Muslim myself this was the first time I heard of this and I wasn’t able to find any sources to verify it. Due to the lack of sources I was able to find, it caused me too question if it rings true at all.
Other than that, I immensely enjoyed reading 1-2 chapters a day and felt a canopy of sadness over me when I reached the end.
As a whole the book focuses on items we own, and in essence how far removed we are from the items we own materially. There were a few examples of this that made me ponder on my own lack of material intelligence such as the materials used to make the chair you are currently sitting in (if you are currently sitting in a chair) as well the sheer wonder of: What if you had to create a toaster for the first time, where would you begin?
As a maker of crafts as well as a lover of crafts in all their forms, this book was honestly a maker’s dream of breaking through the fourth wall of our own selves. For example: The way a person crochets with a hook but in such a way that they are one with the hook and have pushed past the 'thing-ness' of a crochet hook because they know the best way to hold the tension of the yarn so it doesn’t ruin the flow of making something.
The book also does a great job of joining both knowledge of our material environment as well as the importance of making things that work well with our environment, not contribute to its decay (ala plastics). It has really made me reflect that the materials we are using to make things should really first start with the question of: How do I make something that can recycle into the Earth versus add more damaging materials to it? Every plastic thing ever made is still on this Earth.
The comparison of the Mars simulation and how formaldehyde from something added into the closed environment ruined the equilibrium the astronauts had established (leading all crops grown to die) to our current Earth environment which acts in the same manner with things created but at a slower pace (i.e. all harmful chemicals on earth are absorbed by the Earth and in the same way the Mars simulation immediately reacted to the formaldehyde and ended all sustainable life in the simulation, the Earth has the same reaction just slower but there all the same) was incredible.
My only issue with the book:
There was one part in the book that refers to the reverence Muslims have to an imprint of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ left foot. Unfortunately there wasn’t a footnote that could lead me to analyze the source (footnotes are aplenty in the book!), and as a Muslim raised primarily in the West, I found this to be a head scratcher. That’s not to say I alone represent all Muslims, just that as a Muslim myself this was the first time I heard of this and I wasn’t able to find any sources to verify it. Due to the lack of sources I was able to find, it caused me too question if it rings true at all.
Other than that, I immensely enjoyed reading 1-2 chapters a day and felt a canopy of sadness over me when I reached the end.
May 13, 2025
There is so much I'd like to say an about this book. it was so rich, vivid, inspiring, thought-provoking and meaningful. From the meticulous descriptions of carving stone or playing an instrument to the reflective meanderings. The personal anecdotes were deeply humbling and personal. The insights into the disconnect of our modern technology and consumer culture were not announced with judgement, but with humility and an eagerness to learn and build awareness of our contemporary society.
Some quotes I liked:
“Every hour I spent online was not spent in the physical world. Every minute I was engrossed in a virtual interaction I was not involved in a human encounter. Every second absorbed in some trivia was a second less for any form of reflection, or calm, or spirituality. "Multitasking" was a mirage. This was a zero-sum question. I either lived as a voice online or I lived as a human being in the world that humans had lived in since the beginning of time. And so I decided, after Is years, to live in reality?” - Andrew Sullivan
„what happens when a maker, a tool, and a material come together is difficult to grasp from the outside, because it is intuitive and embodied”
“Some archivists fear that despite the overwhelming volume of the digital information we are currently producing, historians of the future may come to view our era as a black hole because the ephemerality of the media we use to store it”
"The problem is that as a society, we seem to be losing track of how to establish truth in the first place. This is a "third-order" problem. We no longer know how to know what we want to know."
Some quotes I liked:
“Every hour I spent online was not spent in the physical world. Every minute I was engrossed in a virtual interaction I was not involved in a human encounter. Every second absorbed in some trivia was a second less for any form of reflection, or calm, or spirituality. "Multitasking" was a mirage. This was a zero-sum question. I either lived as a voice online or I lived as a human being in the world that humans had lived in since the beginning of time. And so I decided, after Is years, to live in reality?” - Andrew Sullivan
„what happens when a maker, a tool, and a material come together is difficult to grasp from the outside, because it is intuitive and embodied”
“Some archivists fear that despite the overwhelming volume of the digital information we are currently producing, historians of the future may come to view our era as a black hole because the ephemerality of the media we use to store it”
"The problem is that as a society, we seem to be losing track of how to establish truth in the first place. This is a "third-order" problem. We no longer know how to know what we want to know."
May 5, 2022
Philosophy at it best until Glenn Adamson drew on his twin brother to philosophy with him on the topic of material intelligence and I very quickly agreed that it is not the philosophy that drew me to enjoy this book so much. His brother is a true philosopher and I guess what Glenn does in this book is actually a very practical statement of fact that I postulate we should know by nature, but lost the knowledge!! And now we have to reinvent the wheel.
Glenn, like the rest of us is not a maker/crafter trying to justify our makings, but someone looking in on making being exceptionally objective. Which indeed does in itself justifies it because he is not a maker.
The love of appreciation of material things and how they are made is universal and we differ only in what that material thing is that you choose to admire. I am so ready to find this fact as a way to interact with people especially being an immigrant myself - to assimilate to immigrants and natives alike. Respect for things seems such a beautiful way to build bridges of peace.
I would not have been able to read this book piecemeal, I had the luxury to complete it in one.
Glenn, like the rest of us is not a maker/crafter trying to justify our makings, but someone looking in on making being exceptionally objective. Which indeed does in itself justifies it because he is not a maker.
The love of appreciation of material things and how they are made is universal and we differ only in what that material thing is that you choose to admire. I am so ready to find this fact as a way to interact with people especially being an immigrant myself - to assimilate to immigrants and natives alike. Respect for things seems such a beautiful way to build bridges of peace.
I would not have been able to read this book piecemeal, I had the luxury to complete it in one.
February 22, 2023
This book was recommended in passing by a tutor of mine on my conservation course, as something he was reading at the moment that he was enjoying greatly, and I happened to stumble across it in my art school library.
I found this to be a deeply soothing read, as for the past few years I have been slowly awakening to the understanding that while I feel as though I am comfortable with my abstract reasoning of the world, as I make my way into my chosen career, I realize that coming to reckon with the material world – manipulating wood, sewing a book together, repairing paper, mixing pigments – requires an entirely different frame of mind. These many, tiny essays on different aspects of the material realm are individually illuminating and engagingly written. I would recommend this book to anybody. I wish that the message were delivered in a stronger and less diffuse way, but that doesn't mean I don't think this book is absolutely worth anybody's time and perusal, because what it has to say is something I have to say, every single day until the way we think about what is real comes back down to earth.
I found this to be a deeply soothing read, as for the past few years I have been slowly awakening to the understanding that while I feel as though I am comfortable with my abstract reasoning of the world, as I make my way into my chosen career, I realize that coming to reckon with the material world – manipulating wood, sewing a book together, repairing paper, mixing pigments – requires an entirely different frame of mind. These many, tiny essays on different aspects of the material realm are individually illuminating and engagingly written. I would recommend this book to anybody. I wish that the message were delivered in a stronger and less diffuse way, but that doesn't mean I don't think this book is absolutely worth anybody's time and perusal, because what it has to say is something I have to say, every single day until the way we think about what is real comes back down to earth.
February 4, 2019
The title of this book, as other reviews point out, is a little misleading, but what it actually is is much more interesting than what it sounds like. Rather than another minimalist, shed-the-weight-of-your -stuff self-help book, it's about the importance and value of knowing how things are made, and what they are made of. Adamson does have an argument to make about how can make us better appreciate what we have, and make better choices about what we bring into our lives, but there are other reasons for increasing what he calls "material intelligence." The book is also full of interesting examples of craft and craftspeople, as well as information about the history of materials and making. I could wish that it was less broken up into very short chapters, which especially toward the beginning of the book make it feel a little fragmented, but there is an interesting fact or idea on almost every page, and taking what he says seriously could, I think, give you a different, richer view of the world around you.
September 29, 2022
Not quite what I expected from the title, but it didn’t matter since the book was composed of very interesting musings about real objects versus intangible items (mostly digital). Made me wonder even more about bitcoin, non- fungible tokens, and other things that rely on electricity and computers to exist.
As a lifelong maker myself, I have a better idea now about my perspective on life — which frequently focuses on logistics and organization. When making, the devil is in the details, and so one must focus on organizing and assembling the right “ingredients.” It’s also easier to figure out when something won’t work because it’s missing a key component. Material intelligence is very handy when navigating the world!
As a lifelong maker myself, I have a better idea now about my perspective on life — which frequently focuses on logistics and organization. When making, the devil is in the details, and so one must focus on organizing and assembling the right “ingredients.” It’s also easier to figure out when something won’t work because it’s missing a key component. Material intelligence is very handy when navigating the world!
August 5, 2020
Excellent appreciation of a sleeping philosophy.
This book is an excellent introduction to the philosophy of craftsmanship. It's an informal read full of anecdotes, as well as historical citations. Adamson takes the approach that reacquainting ourselves with the origins of our stuff will consequently lead to the titular fewer, better things.
Concise chapters make this quick and enjoyable read, great for anyone who's ever thought to themselves "why do I need all this stuff?"
This book is an excellent introduction to the philosophy of craftsmanship. It's an informal read full of anecdotes, as well as historical citations. Adamson takes the approach that reacquainting ourselves with the origins of our stuff will consequently lead to the titular fewer, better things.
Concise chapters make this quick and enjoyable read, great for anyone who's ever thought to themselves "why do I need all this stuff?"
October 29, 2018
Not what I was expecting- the title is somewhat misleading. Nonetheless, this book was really interesting! It’s a survey of the history of material science, interlaid with stories of interesting individuals in the field. It also addresses the environmental impacts of materials and the philosophical implications of our current relationship to materials. Really interesting and unique read!
November 2, 2019
As a luthier, I am very interested in craft, material, and hands on building. This book explores a lot of craft concepts mostly from an old fashioned perspective. That is the author is fixated on the old crafts mostly from the British Isles. It is interesting to read about thrashing and such, but not too applicable.
February 15, 2020
Academic style writing, with personal anecdotes - interesting thoughts around how we should give more attention to crafted items. That an appreciation of where things come from, how they are made, engages us. Can be said of where our food comes from too. American examples, but no less relevant. Just didn't engage me in his writing style.
May 8, 2022
Material intelligence is the understanding of and ability to transform the world around us. Like knowing where and how your computer/smartphone was built, the material it’s made from. Or even how you could build the chair your sitting on.
It’s a concept that in the digital age where neglecting more and more. Like how we’ll use a plastic utensil once and then toss it, maybe if we appreciated the craft that went into creating it we’d think a bit differently?
It’s a concept that in the digital age where neglecting more and more. Like how we’ll use a plastic utensil once and then toss it, maybe if we appreciated the craft that went into creating it we’d think a bit differently?
February 23, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. It's a meditative look into objects - set into bite sized essays. I couldn't finish it quickly, it's meant to be read in chunks then thought over. I'm amazed at the perspective it gave me on the craftsmanship, history, environmental impact and relationship I have with my stuff.
July 29, 2020
I so enjoyed this book. Not about “crafting”, it’s about the craft of how objects are made, how to appreciate the different techniques used, and ultimately appreciate the item itself. I found something interesting in every chapter.
September 29, 2020
This book has such a soothing, familiar writing style that makes it very easy to read. I enjoyed and appreciated the discussion of material intelligence, how it is characterized and more importantly how it fits in our digital lives. Well worth the read. Looking forward to his next book!
January 31, 2021
An interesting look at our material intelligence and how it is decreasing and evolving in a digital age. As a weaver, I was fascinated with different discussions of materials as well as thinking about the value of objects in our lives.
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September 22, 2021I did not finish this book and I won't rate it. It was overly simplistic for my tastes and too abstract. Point seemed too be certain materials work well for certain applications. That was not enough substance to base a book on, IMHO.
February 22, 2023
Nice hodge podge of ruminations on material intelligence and being connected to physical objects. Doesn't have a particularly rigorous theoretical framework or anything. Chapters are extremely short and can be reread later if you want to revisit an idea.
November 14, 2018
Interesting, but not as compelling as I thought it might be.
November 14, 2018
A very thoughtful analysis of what supports our life, the real life, that is, and how little we pay attention to things that matter.
August 8, 2019
A thoughtful and educational book. Reading it was, in a way, like a meditation on sustainability.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews