A Handmade Life: In Search of Simplicity

by William S. Coperthwaite

William Coperthwaite is a teacher, builder, designer, and writer who for many years hasexplored the possibilities of true simplicity on a homestead on the north coast of Maine. In the spirit of Henry David Thoreau, Emily Dickinson, and Helen and Scott Nearing, Coperthwaite has fashioned a livelihood of integrity and completeness-buying almost nothing, providing for his own needs, and serving as a guide and companion to hundreds of apprentices drawn to his unique way of being. A Handmade Life carries Coperthwaite's ongoing experiments with hand tools, hand-grown and gathered food, and handmade shelter, clothing, and furnishings out into the world to challenge and inspire. His writing is both philosophical and practical, exploring themes of beauty, work, education, and design while giving instruction on the hand-crafting of the necessities of life. Richly illustrated with luminous color photographs by Peter Forbes, the book is a moving and inspirational testament to a new practice of old ways of life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Philosophy, Sustainability, Nature, Research, Memoir, Essays

144 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2003

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

RIP and Earth to Earth

This is a beautiful book of meditation on life off the grid and applying craft to the simple life. In the tradition of Thoreau and the Nearings, Coperwaite has lived periodically in yurts in a wild spot of my town in coastal eastern Maine. Now he has died at 83 in a car accident on an icy road. I have to pay some homage by praising this wonderful book. This 2003 book highlights his ecological philosophy and aesthetic in functional design and engineering. His education includes a doctorate in education from Harvard. Along the way we are treated to little projects for hand crafting of useful and beautiful objects. They range from carving a wooden ladle to constructing furniture. Beautifully illustrated with photographs. It inspires in me some hope for humans to make a smaller footprint in use of nature's resources. This is the kind of book that gives good vibes just from touching it.


Coperwaite and model yurt in Machiasport--photo from Jill Anderson story.

Designs for simple living--from Yurt Foundation page on Coperwaite

The Bangor Daily News for Nov. 28, 2013 reports that:
Coperthwaite lived in a house modeled after a yurt, a traditional Mongolian home built in a circular fashion. He was an advocate of yurts, led yurt-building workshops and lectures and created a foundation dedicated to promoting yurts.
He lived in a remote area in the village of Bucks Harbor, about two miles from the nearest road. Coperthwaite lived without a phone, running water or electricity — he had solar-powered lights. He got his water from a brook, had a yurt for an outhouse, and used a wood stove for cooking and heat.
“It’s the best way I know,” Coperthwaite said in a 2003 interview, describing his lifestyle on a 400-acre tract with waterfront along the serene harbor. “Each of us tries to live in the best way we know how. I want to contribute to the problems of the world as little as possible. I really believe we must find simpler ways to live or society will collapse.”

The Amazon book description captures Coperthwaite’s mission A Handmade Life: he
has fashioned a livelihood of integrity and completeness—buying almost nothing, providing for his own needs, and serving as a guide and companion to hundreds of apprentices drawn to his unique way of being. His writing is both philosophical and practical, exploring themes of beauty, work, education, and design while giving instruction on the hand-crafting of the necessities of life.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book in the hopes of finding a how-to guide on homesteading and creating a simple, self-sufficient life... what I found was an amazing inspirational, philosophical and spiritual autobiography of sorts. Coperthwaite's philosophy is wonderful, simple and a great inspiration. I do wish I could have learned more about the details of his simple life, but even without the details to guide me, I came away with a better understanding of simplicity.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice statement of practise, by someone heavily influenced by Scott Nearing, et al.

Encompassing definition of design, as well as a very nice summation of his ideas in the last chapter, entitled "Simplicity." In particular, his ideas of production and work, things (versus skill), and balancing choices. His criteria for designing things to focus upon making than having:

– low in cost
– simple to make and easily replaced
– easily cared for
– pleasing to the eye and the mind
– not dangerous to use, make , or dispose of
– durable, aging well (as does glass, wood, cotton, leather, copper and ceramics)
– made with care and affection

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Categorizing this book is very difficult as it really falls under the broader philosophy of simplicity, but Coperthwaite also offers a gentle and poetic view of how he lives "a handmade life" -- using simple, "democratic" tools drawn from different traditions and approaching everything in life (including "mere" things) with a compassionate, nonviolent spirit. I don't really know how to capture the book adequately. All I could do was savor each page, each caress of an idea, and appreciate such a beautiful outlook on life. I hope my own life and living can show a similar gentleness and joy in time.

[Emily Carlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I knew what was good for me, I'd probably follow Coperthwaite's lead and go live in a yurt in rural Maine. This man's integrity inspires. A warmer Thoreau (and one who def wasn't going home to have his clothes laundered by his mom on the weekends). In many ways this book is a love letter to design in its purest form. Beholden to people not to markets. "[Design is] the conscious shaping towards perfection." 😮‍💨

[Niall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in the spirit of Thoreau - Coperthwaite even writes like Thoreau - this is a philosophical cry for simplicity. It's inspirational, but there is little that's actually new. It's a call for nonviolence on all levels - about not doing harm, but also about building a positive, nurturing society.

Contrary to another reviewer, I didn't find his tendency towards "socialism" to be off-putting, but I don't come from a country where "liberal" is equal to "Commie" and an insult. Yes, he would disagree with Ayn Rand, but that's a strength when we need society to be moving away from individualist solipsism.

I learned little from this book: Coperthwaite considers very little that I hadn't thought about already, but he is inspirational as a person who walks the talk.

[tonia peckover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this every year and every year I wish I could spend a year learning from Coperthwaite.

[Matt Speakes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insightful and Daft

A life of simplicity is appealing to me and this book is filled with simple lifestyle wisdom. However, please, for the sake of humanity, do not take the author seriously when he seems to suggest we need to design a society of simple living. I can’t imagine a more horrifying society than forcing my neighbors, by the hand of the State, to live a lifestyle that I personally find appealing. There are inconsistencies in the book such as the ridiculousness of compulsory education, but the author hints at favoring State coercion to invoke his ideal society. One may think the author is merely attempting to encourage people to voluntarily take on this lifestyle, but one example, and there are others, is that he spends a good deal of time writing on the virtues of radical wealth redistribution. Is this going to happen without State intervention? I don’t think so... However, if the simple lifestyle is interesting to you personally, then I believe you will find this book helpful. Just don’t force it on your neighbor.

[Abram · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting to me because it offered the true example of one mans simplification of his life. I enjoyed learning how he tailored his home his travel and consumerism to simplify his way of living in everything from building his own tools and furniture to using a canoe to access his house. I was very impressed by his genuine concern for other people and helping the people he met and taught find friendship and mentor-ship in him. The one thing I wasn't impressed with was his socialistic view point. I could sense the influence of Marx in his opinions of government and societal organization. Overall I feel that there are many things that might be gleamed from this book an with selective retention one can come away with a different viewpoint on materialism.

[Moonstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now re-reading. Having read many well-known self-sufficiency books I found it different in its not so hands-on approach but more of a theory on various subjects, and how to educate. I liked the quotes dotted about the pages which made you stop and ponder, Thoreau more than a few times. How and why you should build your own yurt kept cropping up. But I was constantly wondering how these simple living enthusiasts actually afford their chosen way of life. Inspirational even if you only have a go at making spoons.

[remi d · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for thoughtful and illustrated examples of simplicity, democracy and resourcefulness.
It is a little dry as the book is built as a list of fundamental ideas, pillars of a sound life and society, with examples illustrating his point punctuating the book.

[Mamafeelgood]

I checked this out but never did read it. However, Monkeyface enjoyed flipping through the book and loved the photographs.

[Alexander Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warm hearted look at achieving simplicity

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty pictures. Seems a little philosophical. Not much real "how to" information.

[Eric Kruger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a really interesting modern take on a truly simple life. This guy is a spiritual descendant of Henry David Thoreau, and reading this made me want to re-read "Walden" again.

[Torrie]

I picked up this book because I've been into the so-called 'simple living' movement for years. I resonate with the idea of returning to basic rhythms and not getting so caught up in the fast pace of today's world all the time.

I did like (and highlighted!) some ideas in the first half of this, but after a point, I just couldn't go on. I do enjoy when a writer has a totally unique viewpoint and is willing to share their vision with the world. I think we all need that sometimes. It just got to a point that it no longer had anything to do with me or how I see the world or how I want to move forward. His version of simplicity is radical--a total reimagining of all of human society as we know it.

Like I said, interesting for awhile, and then it just felt like it had nothing to do with me, especially as it is written by a single man, no family, off in the wilderness living alone, solving society's problems in a vacuum. Very Thoreau-esque. But as a married mom of 4, I just couldn't find the connection.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has moved to my "top ten" bookshelf. One of the very best books I've been through. Coperthwaite was an explorer - searching out the wisdom and crafts of indigenous communities across the world and applying that education to the wilds of the Maine coast where he lived most of his adult life developing ways to apply the simplicities of small communities to the world at large. His carefully though out methods to improve education, governments, industrial production, and building crafts are a delight to explore. This book was an absolute treat to read... and many times I backed over what I had just read, slowed down, and re-read the passages until I had them committed to my mind. Enjoyable and important reading here.

[Erin Mccarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely give books five stars, reserving this for only the most life-changing books I've read. Coperthwaite's book did this for me. While it is mostly a philosophical book about living, work, and education, as a teacher and someone who attempts to lead a sustainable, meaningful life, his writing will be seated in my mind for a very long time. It has already changed the way I approach teaching.

[J C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book if a little rambling in places. It certainly makes you think about the way we live and what we aspire to.

Simplifying a life sounds great in principle but hard in practice. How do we bring those ideals into our busy and full worlds?

Lots left in my mind to think about when I’m in my hand tool only wood shop.

[Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book, tracing connections between the dignity of hard work, nonviolence, genuine education, and the richness and wonder of the nonhuman world. If you’re looking for how to build a canoe, check out Nick Offerman.

[Artem Sapegin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good thoughts on doing what you love, bread labor, and so on but overall too much about education, democracy, society, and so on. Many ideas are too bold (like everyone should work 1 hour per day in a factory or something like this).

[Chad Gorshing · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a little different than what I expected going in. It has been sitting on my bookshelf for quite a few years, that I have forgotten who recommended it.

Highly likely I'll come back to this in a few years and spot read it again.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simplicity always appeals to me. Coperthwaite is an inspiring example. He also has collected here many quotes from like-minded people.

[Jeremy German · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is some nonsense in here but there's also a lot of very good material.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

s/b 3.5

[Viki Sonntag · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked the intro by John Saltmarsh better than the book

[Sandie Bushey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was great with a lot of good information about off grid living.

[José Tomás Petour · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspirador pero repetitivo y mesiánico a ratos. La edición es hermosa pero mal lograda en los textos, las citas y cuadros interrumpen la lectura constantemente.

[Colette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for Mortise & Tenon Apprenticeship

Coperthwaite dreamed of his perfect world and completely disregarded human nature.

[Sandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I tried reading this book and was interested in the person but the print was just too small. I will attempt it again another time, maybe reading short sections.