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Made by Hand: Searching for Meaning in a Throwaway World
From his unique vantage point as editor-in-chief of MAKE magazine, the hub of the newly invigorated do-it-yourself movement, Mark Frauenfelder takes readers on an inspiring and surprising tour of the vibrant world of DIY. The Internet has brought together large communities of people who share ideas, tips, and blueprints for making everything from unmanned aerial vehicles to pedal- powered iPhone chargers to an automatic cat feeder jury-rigged from a VCR.
DIY is a direct reflection of our basic human desire to invent and improve, long suppressed by the availability of cheap, mass-produced products that have drowned us in bland convenience and cultivated our most wasteful habits.
Frauenfelder spent a year trying a variety of offbeat projects such as keeping chickens and bees, tricking out his espresso machine, whittling wooden spoons, making guitars out of cigar boxes, and doing citizen science with his daughters in the garage. His whole family found that DIY helped them take control of their lives, offering a path that was simple, direct, and clear. Working with their hands and minds helped them feel more engaged with the world around them.
Frauenfelder also reveals how DIY is changing our culture for the better. He profiles fascinating "alpha makers" leading various DIY movements and grills them for their best tips and insights.
Beginning his journey with hands as smooth as those of a typical geek, Frauenfelder offers a unique perspective on how earning a few calluses can be far more rewarding and satisfying than another trip to the mall.
DIY is a direct reflection of our basic human desire to invent and improve, long suppressed by the availability of cheap, mass-produced products that have drowned us in bland convenience and cultivated our most wasteful habits.
Frauenfelder spent a year trying a variety of offbeat projects such as keeping chickens and bees, tricking out his espresso machine, whittling wooden spoons, making guitars out of cigar boxes, and doing citizen science with his daughters in the garage. His whole family found that DIY helped them take control of their lives, offering a path that was simple, direct, and clear. Working with their hands and minds helped them feel more engaged with the world around them.
Frauenfelder also reveals how DIY is changing our culture for the better. He profiles fascinating "alpha makers" leading various DIY movements and grills them for their best tips and insights.
Beginning his journey with hands as smooth as those of a typical geek, Frauenfelder offers a unique perspective on how earning a few calluses can be far more rewarding and satisfying than another trip to the mall.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published May 26, 2010
16 people are currently reading
787 people want to read
About the author
Mark Frauenfelder
88 books44 followersEditor-in-chief of MAKE magazine. Founder of Boingboing.net.
My books: The Happy Mutant Handbook (1995, Riverhead), a guide to offbeat pop culture. Mad Professor (2003, Chronicle), science experiments for kids. Worlds Worst (2005, Chronicle), a guide to the worst stuff on Earth, The Computer (2005, Carlton books), an illustrated history of computers. Rule the Web (2007, St. Martins), a guide to online tricks and tips. Next book, The World in Your Hands, to be published in 2010 by Penguin,"
My books: The Happy Mutant Handbook (1995, Riverhead), a guide to offbeat pop culture. Mad Professor (2003, Chronicle), science experiments for kids. Worlds Worst (2005, Chronicle), a guide to the worst stuff on Earth, The Computer (2005, Carlton books), an illustrated history of computers. Rule the Web (2007, St. Martins), a guide to online tricks and tips. Next book, The World in Your Hands, to be published in 2010 by Penguin,"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
December 10, 2014
In the beginning, I was chuckling at what he took to the island in search of the simple life. I'm still astonished that he went so far, but too much money seems to have hindered his learning many of the simple joys of life, so I guess things balance out. He's a writer who lives around Los Angeles, CA & I've known many city folk who are astonished at the variety of things we do for ourselves right here in the U.S. The divide between city & rural life is mind boggling.
Apparently I was really lucky to grow up on a small, working, family farm. So much of what Mark has discovered is simply putting into words what I've always known. He says it far better than I could, but I did manage to pass the bug along to my kids. I never made much money on it, so I'm jealous of his ability to do so.
I loved the idea for the manufacturer's guide. I agree completely; dis/assembly should be practical, parts lists included, & standard. I grew up fixing & building most everything, so have always looked for that in items I buy, but it's impossible in too many items today. (Yes, I have those 56 bits & a lot more besides.) I also try to buy for quality & use until dead - within reason. He & his wife got new laptops every 8 months?!!! I want their trash, although it seems as if he got the hang of using scraps & has slowed his compulsive consumption down now that he appreciates & understands things more.
It was a lot of fun listening to him learn about building & chickens. He obviously still doesn't know many of the simple tricks, even if he does write/edit/blog about DIY. (He never measured the diagonals of the roof to see if it was square or which way it was out.) Well, he's certainly taking baby steps, but at least he's asking questions, taking advice, & not taking on more than he can handle.
He also has a sense of responsibility & even took a chicken to the vet, (Wow. We'd just eat it.) but he feels bad when he doesn't take proper care of his animals. He does his best not to take on more than he can handle. Perfect! Kudos!!! We've seen so many people move to the country with the idea they're going to raise all sorts of animals & then completely fail. Unfortunately, that often leaves the animals in poor straits; starving or turned loose to fend for themselves. Totally irresponsible!
I'm wondering if he's ever going to add up how much his half dozen chickens cost him. That would be a bad idea, likely working out to $10 or more per egg. Oh well, he obviously has too much money & is learning a lot. Some things are beyond pricing. His sheer joy in learning to do the simplest things by hand is wonderful. (It also makes justifying keeping my shop heated this winter far easier. Thanks, Mark!)
;)
I was astonished at his fear of failure & how he sees it permeating our society. His comments on how to learn & the failures of the "No Child Left Behind Act" were good. He took us far out on the edge with the "No Schoolers", a movement I've never heard of before. They believe kids will learn at their own pace - too far out for me. I don't find the attempt at drawing parallels with 'natural' hunter-gatherer learning compelling or even logical. Not that I'm particularly happy with our current system, but we have a far more complex society. Kids need a basic understanding of what is available &, although it is currently out of fashion, a common set of our society's standards. For all the jokes about them, the Dick & Jane readers they did give generations of immigrant kids a commonality that a nation needs.
The Golden Book of Chemistry Experiments that he mentions downloading from a torrent site is also available here:
http://chemistry.about.com/library/go...
The only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is that there is a bit too much wandering & musing without enough meat. For a novice DIYer or someone who is more like Mark, I think you'll give it higher marks. Still, I recommend it to one & all.
If you have ever thought that you'd like to do more for yourself, read or listen to this book. Mark's small steps are an inspiration. If you want to figure out how to turn someone on to DIY, this is worth reading too, but if you already DIY &/or want a book to teach you any DIY methods, this book isn't it. Instead it focuses on the DIY is good for the soul, something I've known for years, too. While this is a book review & should be about the book, I'm adding my personal endorsement to his below.
------------
Like Mark, I work with computers all day. They pay well, but don't offer any visual or tactile reward. I work hard all day, but when I walk out of my office, the server room, it looks the same. I go home & do something physical - turn a bowl, fix a fence, or make a toy for my grandson. Even when it doesn't work out, I've learned something & can see what I did - priceless. When it does work out, it's even better, of course.
The balance it has brought to my life is fantastic. I'm too old to want to do hard labor in all sorts of weather all day any more & the pay generally sucks. Not so with computers. I probably spent 7 hours on a couple of wooden puzzles I made for my grandson while the Chinese ones cost about $7 each. No, they're not as nice, but no sane person would pay for the difference in quality. Of course, it's not about that. My great grandfather made a high chair for his kids, the first born in 1897, & my grandson used it this summer of 2014. Wow! It's not fancy, but it's family, solid & reliable. I can only hope that some of my projects will make it as long.
I taught all my kids the basics of mechanics & construction. All left the house with a good set of tools & have done much of their own remodeling on their houses. They all maintain their own equipment. All enjoyed learning & all of them & their spouses have told me how it has helped them. Even if they didn't feel competent to do the work themselves, they didn't get snowed by people giving them quotes or doing the work.
Each of the kids has expanded their knowledge & become far better in some areas than the rest of us. My son-in-law was impressed that my daughter's tool box was bigger & better organized than his. Their first major fight was because he didn't put her tools back properly after borrowing them. Another son is into electronics & another has a magical touch with anything mechanical. We call each other for advice as needed. Anyone who has kids knows how tough it is to find a commonality with them at various ages. DIY projects have always been there for us.
If you want to do more DIY, try the "General Craft & DIY" group here on GR.
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Apparently I was really lucky to grow up on a small, working, family farm. So much of what Mark has discovered is simply putting into words what I've always known. He says it far better than I could, but I did manage to pass the bug along to my kids. I never made much money on it, so I'm jealous of his ability to do so.
I loved the idea for the manufacturer's guide. I agree completely; dis/assembly should be practical, parts lists included, & standard. I grew up fixing & building most everything, so have always looked for that in items I buy, but it's impossible in too many items today. (Yes, I have those 56 bits & a lot more besides.) I also try to buy for quality & use until dead - within reason. He & his wife got new laptops every 8 months?!!! I want their trash, although it seems as if he got the hang of using scraps & has slowed his compulsive consumption down now that he appreciates & understands things more.
It was a lot of fun listening to him learn about building & chickens. He obviously still doesn't know many of the simple tricks, even if he does write/edit/blog about DIY. (He never measured the diagonals of the roof to see if it was square or which way it was out.) Well, he's certainly taking baby steps, but at least he's asking questions, taking advice, & not taking on more than he can handle.
He also has a sense of responsibility & even took a chicken to the vet, (Wow. We'd just eat it.) but he feels bad when he doesn't take proper care of his animals. He does his best not to take on more than he can handle. Perfect! Kudos!!! We've seen so many people move to the country with the idea they're going to raise all sorts of animals & then completely fail. Unfortunately, that often leaves the animals in poor straits; starving or turned loose to fend for themselves. Totally irresponsible!
I'm wondering if he's ever going to add up how much his half dozen chickens cost him. That would be a bad idea, likely working out to $10 or more per egg. Oh well, he obviously has too much money & is learning a lot. Some things are beyond pricing. His sheer joy in learning to do the simplest things by hand is wonderful. (It also makes justifying keeping my shop heated this winter far easier. Thanks, Mark!)
;)
I was astonished at his fear of failure & how he sees it permeating our society. His comments on how to learn & the failures of the "No Child Left Behind Act" were good. He took us far out on the edge with the "No Schoolers", a movement I've never heard of before. They believe kids will learn at their own pace - too far out for me. I don't find the attempt at drawing parallels with 'natural' hunter-gatherer learning compelling or even logical. Not that I'm particularly happy with our current system, but we have a far more complex society. Kids need a basic understanding of what is available &, although it is currently out of fashion, a common set of our society's standards. For all the jokes about them, the Dick & Jane readers they did give generations of immigrant kids a commonality that a nation needs.
The Golden Book of Chemistry Experiments that he mentions downloading from a torrent site is also available here:
http://chemistry.about.com/library/go...
The only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is that there is a bit too much wandering & musing without enough meat. For a novice DIYer or someone who is more like Mark, I think you'll give it higher marks. Still, I recommend it to one & all.
If you have ever thought that you'd like to do more for yourself, read or listen to this book. Mark's small steps are an inspiration. If you want to figure out how to turn someone on to DIY, this is worth reading too, but if you already DIY &/or want a book to teach you any DIY methods, this book isn't it. Instead it focuses on the DIY is good for the soul, something I've known for years, too. While this is a book review & should be about the book, I'm adding my personal endorsement to his below.
------------
Like Mark, I work with computers all day. They pay well, but don't offer any visual or tactile reward. I work hard all day, but when I walk out of my office, the server room, it looks the same. I go home & do something physical - turn a bowl, fix a fence, or make a toy for my grandson. Even when it doesn't work out, I've learned something & can see what I did - priceless. When it does work out, it's even better, of course.
The balance it has brought to my life is fantastic. I'm too old to want to do hard labor in all sorts of weather all day any more & the pay generally sucks. Not so with computers. I probably spent 7 hours on a couple of wooden puzzles I made for my grandson while the Chinese ones cost about $7 each. No, they're not as nice, but no sane person would pay for the difference in quality. Of course, it's not about that. My great grandfather made a high chair for his kids, the first born in 1897, & my grandson used it this summer of 2014. Wow! It's not fancy, but it's family, solid & reliable. I can only hope that some of my projects will make it as long.
I taught all my kids the basics of mechanics & construction. All left the house with a good set of tools & have done much of their own remodeling on their houses. They all maintain their own equipment. All enjoyed learning & all of them & their spouses have told me how it has helped them. Even if they didn't feel competent to do the work themselves, they didn't get snowed by people giving them quotes or doing the work.
Each of the kids has expanded their knowledge & become far better in some areas than the rest of us. My son-in-law was impressed that my daughter's tool box was bigger & better organized than his. Their first major fight was because he didn't put her tools back properly after borrowing them. Another son is into electronics & another has a magical touch with anything mechanical. We call each other for advice as needed. Anyone who has kids knows how tough it is to find a commonality with them at various ages. DIY projects have always been there for us.
If you want to do more DIY, try the "General Craft & DIY" group here on GR.
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
January 5, 2012
If you've ever had to do something for yourself, this may not be for you. If, however, you've never in your life had to be personally competent and you think it might be a lark to throw a bunch of money at half baked DIY projects, then by all means give this book a go. To be clear, though, you will find almost no instruction or valuable reflection.
I don't write a lot of reviews, though I'm a hefty consumer of mostly non-fiction books. I don't enjoy being negative, either, as I feel that any earnest attempt at something is at least a little bit honorable. Truth be told, I did learn something in this book; there are a few pages about a man named Edward Bernays who was the originator of psychological based marketing in the early 20th century that I found very interesting. Beyond that, this book ought to have been condensed by 70% and turned into a passable pamphlet.
This guy and his wife made money hand-over-fist during the dot com boom by being freelance writers. When the bubble popped, they found themselves with some vague sense of emptiness that couldn't be filled by their paid-off LA mortgage, sizable nest egg, or espresso so they decided to move to a small island in the middle of the Pacific where they'd once vacationed for a short period. They sold the house during the grossly inflated real estate bubble and left with only a big vanload of their most important stuff. This included 13 pairs of shoes for his wife and an espresso machine worth as much as a used car. This well-thought-out plan turned sour when they were struck with the epiphany that it's difficult raising children without the support structure of friends + family and that living on a small Pacific Island isn't all up-side.
After 4.5 months they admit defeat and fly all of their stuff back home. I should have stopped reading here but I figured this could just be the back story; how the author's naive eyes were opened to his new life's reality. It wasn't. This guy just does whatever he wants like a child with no tangible sense of responsibility. He wants to be a DIY guy ("Maker" is the hip term, I guess) so he throws a bunch of money and very little forethought at it and his final conclusion is that he's become a Maker and he's inspiring others now. Wanna build a garden in your front lawn? Don't bother doing all the research that the people who know what they're doing tell you that you need. Just go drop a grand on mulch at Home Depot and take a week to spread it out. You've got nothing better to do with a week, right?
I don't want to start ranting like mad. Frauenfelder wants you to know that it's okay to fail. It's true. People are too worried about failing. Screwing stuff up is the best way to learn how to avoid screwing stuff up. Go out, start tinkering, break a few things, be humbly proud of your successes and try to show those around you the value of doing things for yourself. You don't need to read his self-indulgent musings to learn this.
If you want to read a meandering personal journal of how a rich guy with more cash and time than sense and patience justifies defining himself as a "Maker" then look no further.
If you want a very thoughtful and scholarly work on the very real personal value of being intimately involved with the Things in your life, then please purchase Matthew B. Crawford's "Shop Class as Soulcraft". Crawford's book is a tremendous value at almost any price, though right now it's $10.20 brand new.
Good luck and have a great day!
I don't write a lot of reviews, though I'm a hefty consumer of mostly non-fiction books. I don't enjoy being negative, either, as I feel that any earnest attempt at something is at least a little bit honorable. Truth be told, I did learn something in this book; there are a few pages about a man named Edward Bernays who was the originator of psychological based marketing in the early 20th century that I found very interesting. Beyond that, this book ought to have been condensed by 70% and turned into a passable pamphlet.
This guy and his wife made money hand-over-fist during the dot com boom by being freelance writers. When the bubble popped, they found themselves with some vague sense of emptiness that couldn't be filled by their paid-off LA mortgage, sizable nest egg, or espresso so they decided to move to a small island in the middle of the Pacific where they'd once vacationed for a short period. They sold the house during the grossly inflated real estate bubble and left with only a big vanload of their most important stuff. This included 13 pairs of shoes for his wife and an espresso machine worth as much as a used car. This well-thought-out plan turned sour when they were struck with the epiphany that it's difficult raising children without the support structure of friends + family and that living on a small Pacific Island isn't all up-side.
After 4.5 months they admit defeat and fly all of their stuff back home. I should have stopped reading here but I figured this could just be the back story; how the author's naive eyes were opened to his new life's reality. It wasn't. This guy just does whatever he wants like a child with no tangible sense of responsibility. He wants to be a DIY guy ("Maker" is the hip term, I guess) so he throws a bunch of money and very little forethought at it and his final conclusion is that he's become a Maker and he's inspiring others now. Wanna build a garden in your front lawn? Don't bother doing all the research that the people who know what they're doing tell you that you need. Just go drop a grand on mulch at Home Depot and take a week to spread it out. You've got nothing better to do with a week, right?
I don't want to start ranting like mad. Frauenfelder wants you to know that it's okay to fail. It's true. People are too worried about failing. Screwing stuff up is the best way to learn how to avoid screwing stuff up. Go out, start tinkering, break a few things, be humbly proud of your successes and try to show those around you the value of doing things for yourself. You don't need to read his self-indulgent musings to learn this.
If you want to read a meandering personal journal of how a rich guy with more cash and time than sense and patience justifies defining himself as a "Maker" then look no further.
If you want a very thoughtful and scholarly work on the very real personal value of being intimately involved with the Things in your life, then please purchase Matthew B. Crawford's "Shop Class as Soulcraft". Crawford's book is a tremendous value at almost any price, though right now it's $10.20 brand new.
Good luck and have a great day!
July 30, 2013
Good bio/info book for yuppies who want to try back-to-the-land sorts of things without "leaving it all behind", kwim? I'm sorry, I know that sounds snarky. I really *ought* to have enjoyed this much more than I actually did, but a central characteristic of the author (that I've seen in lots of this sort of book) began to bother me treMENdously. For some reason. I guess I'd just finally had enough of reading about folks with a good deal of money (compared with me...) who try to "go back to the land".
Envy, I suspect. See, I'm one of those really "frugal" types, but mainly out of need, not always inclination. Although my training has been in that sort of frugal lifestyle, but that's mostly because we were poor, and Mum was a young homemaker during The Great Depression and never let us forget it! Plus we're an old Yankee family, with all *that* entails, y'know? (grin) So being "careful" and using things up and re-using, etc, are second nature me, and I actually enjoy it.
This author is a very good writer, and his stories were illuminating and funny (difficult to do simultaneously, I agree), but it really annoyed me that he and his family and friends always seemed to be able to "find" enough money to pay for anything they pretty much wanted whenEVER they wanted it (no "hanging in there and saving" for these guys, nope!) and whenever any emeregency arose they always had plenty of money and resources available too - whatever they needed! I guess I'm just jealous (disability income doesn't go very far, even for somebody as "tight" as me).
So I didn't really enjoy this back-to-the-land book. If like the author you're somebody who works in the computer and/or entertainment industry, live in a nice warm climate and have a good income (i.e., to me that's anything over $25,000/year but I suspect for these folks the minimum "needed" would be a *great* deal more!), have a car and/or a good truck and with a huge support system of friends and information around you, then this book is definitely for you. If you just want to live frugally and/or decrease your carbon footprint, then, no, this won't help you much. But it *is* entertainingly written, and if you just want to read about a young family who simply tried to live better and bring up their kids in a more family-centric, slower kind of life, then you might enjoy it.
This is an old idea, btw, and has been written about for decades, think the most famous is THE EGG AND I, but am too lazy to look it up (grin).
Envy, I suspect. See, I'm one of those really "frugal" types, but mainly out of need, not always inclination. Although my training has been in that sort of frugal lifestyle, but that's mostly because we were poor, and Mum was a young homemaker during The Great Depression and never let us forget it! Plus we're an old Yankee family, with all *that* entails, y'know? (grin) So being "careful" and using things up and re-using, etc, are second nature me, and I actually enjoy it.
This author is a very good writer, and his stories were illuminating and funny (difficult to do simultaneously, I agree), but it really annoyed me that he and his family and friends always seemed to be able to "find" enough money to pay for anything they pretty much wanted whenEVER they wanted it (no "hanging in there and saving" for these guys, nope!) and whenever any emeregency arose they always had plenty of money and resources available too - whatever they needed! I guess I'm just jealous (disability income doesn't go very far, even for somebody as "tight" as me).
So I didn't really enjoy this back-to-the-land book. If like the author you're somebody who works in the computer and/or entertainment industry, live in a nice warm climate and have a good income (i.e., to me that's anything over $25,000/year but I suspect for these folks the minimum "needed" would be a *great* deal more!), have a car and/or a good truck and with a huge support system of friends and information around you, then this book is definitely for you. If you just want to live frugally and/or decrease your carbon footprint, then, no, this won't help you much. But it *is* entertainingly written, and if you just want to read about a young family who simply tried to live better and bring up their kids in a more family-centric, slower kind of life, then you might enjoy it.
This is an old idea, btw, and has been written about for decades, think the most famous is THE EGG AND I, but am too lazy to look it up (grin).
March 12, 2012
If you're looking for a book that's long on the specifics and details of at-home DIY projects, this is not going to work for you (I recommend Making It: Radical Home-Ec for a Post-Consumer World, authored by two of Fraeonfolder's Maker pals from the book) . If you're looking for some inspiration to get started with some DIY Making or repair, however, Made By Hand is perfect. Frauenfelder brings the reader along for a look at some of the DIY projects he tackled over the course of a year, from raising chickens to building guitars from scratch to tutoring his daughters in math and even souping up his expresso machine. I was most struck by how much these different projects bleed into each other. While he tries to keep the book organized by project (rather than chronologically), he's constantly cross-referencing projects. The leftover wood from his home-built chicken coop gets turned into a wagon. The beeswax from his hives gets used to patch up some of his wood carving projects. Frauenfelder is also amusing and candid in his frustrations and setbacks encountered along way.
I'm glad he spends some time questioning our formal education systems, asking how all this scholarly learning is really equipping students to thrive in the real world. His profile of the "unschooling" movement was totally new to me and tremendously interesting.
I'm glad he spends some time questioning our formal education systems, asking how all this scholarly learning is really equipping students to thrive in the real world. His profile of the "unschooling" movement was totally new to me and tremendously interesting.
September 9, 2016
This is an autobiography of a guy who is trying to find meaning in life by examining and lessening his 'more, more, more' lifestyle. He basically becomes a self proclaimed DIYer. He starts doing things he had never done before. I especially enjoyed the chapters on gardening and having chickens. While I have two nice size gardens, I've always wanted chickens and just may have to do it. I also found his chapter on bees interesting, but it sounded like a lot of work and a little scary, as well as a crap-shoot.
I liked his words about his family and trying to do right by them. So 4 stars.
I liked his words about his family and trying to do right by them. So 4 stars.
December 4, 2011
As an intermediate-level do-it-himselfer, Mark Frauenfelder makes tinkering with and building your own stuff sound appealing and fun. But it's hard not to notice that he's also a (very) successful writer and editor with the time and money to spend a thousand dollars on mulch, or buy a $280 kit to improve his $500 espresso maker. To be fair, he does some more traditional projects with scraps and found resources later on, but this is home improvement for the well-heeled.
I do like his style, the people he talks to, and his point that you can do a lot by committing half an hour per day to a project. I just think he'd have a lot more trouble "searching for meaning" if he didn't have plenty of money to buy stuff from the industrialized society he's trying to take a step back from.
I do like his style, the people he talks to, and his point that you can do a lot by committing half an hour per day to a project. I just think he'd have a lot more trouble "searching for meaning" if he didn't have plenty of money to buy stuff from the industrialized society he's trying to take a step back from.
January 22, 2011
Sorry, Mr. Frauenfelder, I admire your cigar-box guitar, but your book still makes you seem like kind of a douche.
June 13, 2011
I enjoyed reading this light and entertaining book written by a magazine editor and freelance writer. I have even tried some "do it yourself" things he talked about, like making homemade yogurt without buying any fancy modern gadgets to do so. I ended up with really tasty delicious yogurt for a fraction of the cost of store-bought stuff. I was so encouraged by that simple first-time-I-tried-it success that I'm going to try making my own cottage cheese next. I've looked up some of the books he spoke of at my local library, and will read them soon.
Also, he and I are alike in that we both have a rather intense interest in permaculture gardening and lifestyles. I found his story about how he killed his front lawn to begin a permaculture garden by sheet-mulching it both funny and encouraging. My own experiences with permaculture gardening have been very hit-and-miss, since I have had to learn to garden in New England from scratch and have not yet mastered some of the permaculture principles (like creating workable guilds), though I am still working on it.
His observations about the deficiencies of the public education system resonated with me, though I don't know what, if anything, can really be done to fix it. I wish I had answers but I don't. I simply observe that a huge amount of momentum has been put behind "teaching to the test" lately in public education - and while I am convinced that this is wrong, I cannot seem to convince most people. There is too much of a school-as-a-factory attitude out there, which is also wrong-headed.
Also, I am equally certain that a voucher-based system would primarily send our educational system careening even more into a state where, if you have money, you can get a really good elite education, and if you don't, you can't. We simply cannot afford this because we can't afford, in this increasingly "flat" world of ours, to waste that much of our potential national talent. People seem to have entirely forgotten why it is truly important for any nation these days to have a truly first class public education system that provides opportunities for all classes of people, and they've certainly gotten lost on what a first class education really needs to look like. What works great for the children of the privileged can and should be offered for everyone. Excellent teachers should be some of the highest paid and highest respected people in our culture instead of what they are: poorly paid, overworked, and desperately hanging on through what's left of their unions to what little they have. Oh, and to top it all off, the poor teachers are getting blamed for the failures of the public education system that they are powerless to alter or change. And no, I am not a teacher by profession. I merely observe. And if I had a good idea to fix things worth trying I would no longer be content to just observe.
The most important idea to me in the whole book was the importance of making mistakes and learning from them. His philosophy about mistake-making and learning for human beings, whether adults or children, is not new but it is a very important idea that I think our modern culture has totally lost touch with for some reason. We, as a culture, are too wrapped up in a need for perfection in every way, and this has become such a powerful need that we all often get to witness public figures who just can't - no matter what the cost - ever say, "Well, that was because I was wrong. But I know better now." Because in our culture, if you were ever once wrong and admit to it, you can't be trusted ever again. The end result is a lot of fake and fatally twisted "perfection" out there, and a total blindness to the lessons a good mistake can teach.
Also, he and I are alike in that we both have a rather intense interest in permaculture gardening and lifestyles. I found his story about how he killed his front lawn to begin a permaculture garden by sheet-mulching it both funny and encouraging. My own experiences with permaculture gardening have been very hit-and-miss, since I have had to learn to garden in New England from scratch and have not yet mastered some of the permaculture principles (like creating workable guilds), though I am still working on it.
His observations about the deficiencies of the public education system resonated with me, though I don't know what, if anything, can really be done to fix it. I wish I had answers but I don't. I simply observe that a huge amount of momentum has been put behind "teaching to the test" lately in public education - and while I am convinced that this is wrong, I cannot seem to convince most people. There is too much of a school-as-a-factory attitude out there, which is also wrong-headed.
Also, I am equally certain that a voucher-based system would primarily send our educational system careening even more into a state where, if you have money, you can get a really good elite education, and if you don't, you can't. We simply cannot afford this because we can't afford, in this increasingly "flat" world of ours, to waste that much of our potential national talent. People seem to have entirely forgotten why it is truly important for any nation these days to have a truly first class public education system that provides opportunities for all classes of people, and they've certainly gotten lost on what a first class education really needs to look like. What works great for the children of the privileged can and should be offered for everyone. Excellent teachers should be some of the highest paid and highest respected people in our culture instead of what they are: poorly paid, overworked, and desperately hanging on through what's left of their unions to what little they have. Oh, and to top it all off, the poor teachers are getting blamed for the failures of the public education system that they are powerless to alter or change. And no, I am not a teacher by profession. I merely observe. And if I had a good idea to fix things worth trying I would no longer be content to just observe.
The most important idea to me in the whole book was the importance of making mistakes and learning from them. His philosophy about mistake-making and learning for human beings, whether adults or children, is not new but it is a very important idea that I think our modern culture has totally lost touch with for some reason. We, as a culture, are too wrapped up in a need for perfection in every way, and this has become such a powerful need that we all often get to witness public figures who just can't - no matter what the cost - ever say, "Well, that was because I was wrong. But I know better now." Because in our culture, if you were ever once wrong and admit to it, you can't be trusted ever again. The end result is a lot of fake and fatally twisted "perfection" out there, and a total blindness to the lessons a good mistake can teach.
October 19, 2012
So I just think this is a wonderful book that has made my dream for chickens become even more serious than it was before! Because chickens are cute and practical and I think everyone should have some! I will admit thoguh, at times I was torn: keep reading or stop and go try what Frauenfelder was talking about (yes, I now want to make some instruments, do some wood carving, build something, make something, anything, everything!). This is a book I want to keep forever and ever. But I also want others to read and love it. I think I need to buy two copies of this book. One to keep and one to share. I loved it just that much. (And also, I want to go and check out all the books and blogs and other things he mentions so I really do need to have a copy to keep!). This is going to be a book that leads me to more books, that lead me to more books, and so on and so on. And I love those sorts of books as well.
To date I haven't yet tried anything specifically talked about in the book. Because of life. But that's okay. This book isn't a how-to guide. It's more of a motivational book - his main message is get out there and do it. You will screw up. It won't be perfect. And that is not only okay, but really really great. And just to prove that, he doesn't just talk about his successes, but shares the stumbling that took place along his journey! I just loved the whole book. One of my favorite quotes in the book came from Mister Jalopy (one of Frauenfelder's friends)
People are afraid they are going to screw something up, that they're going to ruin something. And unfortunately, it's valid -- they will. You will scrw stuff up. Things will be broken. But that's one step to overcome to get on the path of living this richer life of engagement, of having meaningful connections to the objects around you. It's that necessary step you have tot take - the courage to screw things up - so you're able to fix things, or make stuff from scratch or to refurbish stuff to live according to your standards.
Wow. That spoke to me. Because I get it - fear of failure holds me back. It holds back others I know. Failing is scary and I believe we are taught from a young age something to be avoided at all costs. And I think we'd be much better off if we threw that kind of thinking out the window. =)
So you should absolutely read this book. Then you should overcome fear of failure. And just get out there and do. Because doesn't that sound like so much fun? =)
To date I haven't yet tried anything specifically talked about in the book. Because of life. But that's okay. This book isn't a how-to guide. It's more of a motivational book - his main message is get out there and do it. You will screw up. It won't be perfect. And that is not only okay, but really really great. And just to prove that, he doesn't just talk about his successes, but shares the stumbling that took place along his journey! I just loved the whole book. One of my favorite quotes in the book came from Mister Jalopy (one of Frauenfelder's friends)
People are afraid they are going to screw something up, that they're going to ruin something. And unfortunately, it's valid -- they will. You will scrw stuff up. Things will be broken. But that's one step to overcome to get on the path of living this richer life of engagement, of having meaningful connections to the objects around you. It's that necessary step you have tot take - the courage to screw things up - so you're able to fix things, or make stuff from scratch or to refurbish stuff to live according to your standards.
Wow. That spoke to me. Because I get it - fear of failure holds me back. It holds back others I know. Failing is scary and I believe we are taught from a young age something to be avoided at all costs. And I think we'd be much better off if we threw that kind of thinking out the window. =)
So you should absolutely read this book. Then you should overcome fear of failure. And just get out there and do. Because doesn't that sound like so much fun? =)
December 30, 2010
Simultaneously inspiring and guilt-inducing, this book by the editor of Make magazine had a pretty cool concept - each chapter focuses on a different giant DIY project Frauenfelder took on, like raising chickens or making his own musical instruments. I loved when he deconstructed "givens" like having a lawn around a suburban home and explained the history behind the present reality. I wasn't too crazy about reading 20-page detailed accounts of the steps he took to modify his espresso machine so that it would be the perfect temperature. But maybe you're into that kind of thing! His tone was warm, honest, and engaging, and despite his slight inevitable(?) tendency to get a little preachy, I'm inspired by Frauenfelder's maxim to just GO FOR IT, mistakes be damned! However, something Frauenfelder never addressed was gender, but all the DIY pros he went to for advice were men. It's great that Frauenfelder was trying to interest his daughters in things like electronics, but reading this did make me wonder why these worlds of "go for it, just make mistakes!" are dominated by men. It's not really Frauenfelder's fault, but at times while reading this, I felt like I was getting ignored by the bros at Guitar Center. Where's da ladies? Can I do this stuff, too? ...Yeah!
March 23, 2012
This was thoroughly interesting: Frauenfelder discusses his journey from consumer to maker across a wide arena of subjects, from chicken farming through making simple musical instruments from scrap.
There were moments when I was somewhat aghast at his naivete: "you didn't KNOW THAT?" But that's the whole point of the book, and indeed, he is, in essence, paid to be naive. There were a few other jarring moments as well. But it was interesting and refreshing that he presented his material in all its warty glory, including failures and projects that just weren't working well enough for him to love, even after he'd succeeded. In a way, that was the most convincing aspect of the book: it wasn't a nonstop barrage of boosterism. That made it feel like a more genuine assessment of what he'd accomplished and its worth to his life.
There were moments when I was somewhat aghast at his naivete: "you didn't KNOW THAT?" But that's the whole point of the book, and indeed, he is, in essence, paid to be naive. There were a few other jarring moments as well. But it was interesting and refreshing that he presented his material in all its warty glory, including failures and projects that just weren't working well enough for him to love, even after he'd succeeded. In a way, that was the most convincing aspect of the book: it wasn't a nonstop barrage of boosterism. That made it feel like a more genuine assessment of what he'd accomplished and its worth to his life.
July 8, 2010
I’m what you would call a consumer. I use an iPhone which I’m sure I’ll replace every two years. I eat out a lot. I buy cheap clothing that wears out in a few years. You can find me at Target at least a couple times a week. I’m not proud of it, but take it as you will. I’m busy, or more likely, lazy.
But I’ve always been fascinated with Do-It-Yourselfism. Also called the Maker culture, it’s a response to consumer culture that often results from an existential crisis about consumerism and unsustainability.
I just got done reading "Made by Hand: Searching for Meaning in a Throwaway World" by a hero of mine, Mark Frauenfelder. He’s a co-editor of my favorite blog, BoingBoing, and we actually corresponded once about pencils, another interest of mine.
Anyhow, this book documents his journey from someone who, like me, is interested in maker culture but not ready to jump in, into a full-on maker who created a guitar out of cigar boxes, raises chickens in his city home, and several more DIY ventures. Although the narrative doesn’t really provide instructions on how to do these things, he outlines his journey and instills inspiration.
Some takeaways from the book that resonated with me:
* When you make it, or fix it, you form a deeper connection to your possessions, making it easier to save and reuse rather than throw away and buy new.
* You have to learn to make mistakes. A Maker will embrace mistakes and see them not as a failure, but as a learning experience.
* It’s environmentally and morally the right thing to do. It creates less waste, promotes open-source living, global citizenship, and provokes critical thinking and problem solving skills.
June 8, 2010
I saw ads for Made by Hand when I attended the recent (2010) Maker Faire in San Mateo, CA. I'm a big fan of Make Magazine, so I ordered the book expecting something good. I was not disappointed.
The book is an almost autobiographical series of stories about the author's various different do it yourself (DIY) projects. Many of these aren't exactly what you'd normally think of as DIY projects. For example, the projects include moving to Rarotonga (in the Cook Islands), killing his lawn, raising chickens, and educating his kids. In some sense, the specific projects doesn't really matter: this isn't a "how to" book that tells you how to accomplish specific projects. Instead it explains the DIY philosophy in general and gives advice that applies to pretty much any kind of DIY project. The more unorthodox DIY projects serve to show how versatile this general advice is.
Probably the main practical piece of advice in the book is: don't be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes are how we learn, and so without screwing up a few projects you'll never be able to expand your DIY skill-set.
Frauenfelder is also a great writer. The stories were all very engaging. Despite the fact that very few of the projects were things I would have considered doing before, the book not only kept me interested, it even made me at least think about trying some of those things. I probably won't actually raise chickens, but the fact that I not only enjoyed reading about Frauenfelder's chicken raising (mis)adventures, and even briefly considered the possibility of doing it myself says something about the quality of his writing.
If you like making things this book is for you. If you like the idea of making things but don't do it (enough) out of fear of screwing things up, this book is even more for you.
The book is an almost autobiographical series of stories about the author's various different do it yourself (DIY) projects. Many of these aren't exactly what you'd normally think of as DIY projects. For example, the projects include moving to Rarotonga (in the Cook Islands), killing his lawn, raising chickens, and educating his kids. In some sense, the specific projects doesn't really matter: this isn't a "how to" book that tells you how to accomplish specific projects. Instead it explains the DIY philosophy in general and gives advice that applies to pretty much any kind of DIY project. The more unorthodox DIY projects serve to show how versatile this general advice is.
Probably the main practical piece of advice in the book is: don't be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes are how we learn, and so without screwing up a few projects you'll never be able to expand your DIY skill-set.
Frauenfelder is also a great writer. The stories were all very engaging. Despite the fact that very few of the projects were things I would have considered doing before, the book not only kept me interested, it even made me at least think about trying some of those things. I probably won't actually raise chickens, but the fact that I not only enjoyed reading about Frauenfelder's chicken raising (mis)adventures, and even briefly considered the possibility of doing it myself says something about the quality of his writing.
If you like making things this book is for you. If you like the idea of making things but don't do it (enough) out of fear of screwing things up, this book is even more for you.
December 29, 2010
I read The World Made by Hand, and The Witch of Hebron, by James Kunstler, and Made by Hand, by Mark Frauefelder right in row, right before Christmas. All three books focus on how people adapt to a do it yourself world. The novels give every characters’ former profession, car salesman, model, university teacher, and then what they do in the post oil, post machine world, butcher, candle maker, carpenter. Kunstler looks at how these characters move from the world of ideas in to a world that they have to make through their own labor. The book, Made by Hand looks at how actually making, or modifying something gives the thing and the the person who works on it meaning. People modify espresso machines, build guitars, whittle spoons, and share them with other “makers.” These people would thrive in Kunstler’s world. They’d trade home made yogurt for hand carved violins and everyone would get together to raise barns.
On Christmas morning I failed to put anything together properly. My son’s lego models, the games for the Xbox, the tin can robot all sit either half done, broken or awaiting my inept attention. In a post machine world that Kunstler imagines and Frauenfelder longs for I become fodder for the butcher, tallow for the candles or, best case scenario, spoon holder. The books reminded my of my grandfather, the tool maker’s hands. They were huge, but very sure when it came to tools. He could fix things, make things. He gave me bird houses to put together, poor low housing sparrows never got a decent house from me. My hands, they push keys on a keyboard or hold a pen. I can’t “make.” I can “read.”
On Christmas morning I failed to put anything together properly. My son’s lego models, the games for the Xbox, the tin can robot all sit either half done, broken or awaiting my inept attention. In a post machine world that Kunstler imagines and Frauenfelder longs for I become fodder for the butcher, tallow for the candles or, best case scenario, spoon holder. The books reminded my of my grandfather, the tool maker’s hands. They were huge, but very sure when it came to tools. He could fix things, make things. He gave me bird houses to put together, poor low housing sparrows never got a decent house from me. My hands, they push keys on a keyboard or hold a pen. I can’t “make.” I can “read.”
January 2, 2012
I was looking forward to hearing the thoughts of one of the leaders of the DIY movement, and to a degree it was as I'd hoped--a homespun tale of his adventures in making things by hand, learning how things work, and fixing it yourself. There was a goodly dose of the philosophy and even research on the value of Doing It Yourself. The author has led an interesting life and is a down to earth and likable guy.
At times however, it ended up reading like a diary. While a larger story or section might be worth adding to the book, the writing execution can often fall into a "...and then I did this, and then this happened, and I talked to this cool guy and he said this, and then we had lunch, and I finished the chicken coop. My family and I still aren't sure if we like it." Erm, right. After fifty pages on that story, I'm not sure I liked it either...
So, double points for the topics, his unique place in the field, and a likable author. It would have been better with a conscious effort at a story arc and tending the 'story garden' better to make sure all the pieces belong and fit together. "Here's a bunch of stories about my efforts in DIY" is just ok.
At times however, it ended up reading like a diary. While a larger story or section might be worth adding to the book, the writing execution can often fall into a "...and then I did this, and then this happened, and I talked to this cool guy and he said this, and then we had lunch, and I finished the chicken coop. My family and I still aren't sure if we like it." Erm, right. After fifty pages on that story, I'm not sure I liked it either...
So, double points for the topics, his unique place in the field, and a likable author. It would have been better with a conscious effort at a story arc and tending the 'story garden' better to make sure all the pieces belong and fit together. "Here's a bunch of stories about my efforts in DIY" is just ok.
April 7, 2013
I picked up this book because I thought it would be mostly about the family trying to live on Rarotonga, which turned out to be a very small part of the book. Otherwise, the essays were entertaining; some too technical for my tastes. And yeah, the guy's kind of a hack, but I guess that's sort of the point, even if it might be more interesting to read about more competent people sometimes. His experiment in teaching his daughter was interesting and a little sad. I left the book thinking that it's a good thing his wife seems to be able to keep him and his ego in check.
Oh, and one of the last projects the author mentions that he's working on is a device that will automatically flip a jar of natural peanut butter once a day. I mean, come on. Isn't that kind of antithetical to the concept? Gadgets are neat, but for god's sake, go flip your damn jar by hand if it's that important to you.
Oh, and one of the last projects the author mentions that he's working on is a device that will automatically flip a jar of natural peanut butter once a day. I mean, come on. Isn't that kind of antithetical to the concept? Gadgets are neat, but for god's sake, go flip your damn jar by hand if it's that important to you.
June 29, 2010
I really wanted to love this book, and I did devour a few chapters that I think DIY fans can get a lot of info from (the ones on chickens and espresso machine hacking). I also love the research Mark did, showing how the growth of advertising parallels our culture's decline in DIY ability, and introducing us to the lifestyles of expert "makers" like the couple who study how to do everything without relying on petroleum powered machines. So interesting. But I really expected more drama, pathos, and personality, like with Novella Carpenter's book City Farmer. I got glimpses of Mark's emotions about his DIY activities, especially when he was in Rarotonga with his family (crazy, they moved there for 5 months!), but overall I just yearned for more.
July 16, 2010
The good: the acknowledgment of the tangible and intangible benefits of engaging more fully with the things we use, the reminders that mistakes are part of the learning process and are not failures, and the joy the author clearly feels when accomplishing something physical (as most of us do).
The bad: it felt like the author was moving from consumerism in some areas to consumerism in other areas. The DIY philosophy was a hobby, rather than a way to reduce his dependence on other systems. (Example: when he decided to garden, he spent $1000 on mulch, and bought plants from Home Depot.) I wish he'd made a bigger intellectual or emotional leap.
The bad: it felt like the author was moving from consumerism in some areas to consumerism in other areas. The DIY philosophy was a hobby, rather than a way to reduce his dependence on other systems. (Example: when he decided to garden, he spent $1000 on mulch, and bought plants from Home Depot.) I wish he'd made a bigger intellectual or emotional leap.
April 13, 2011
This was a fun book to read about people who are trying the DIY way of life. He really honors the mistakes that are bound to happen and realizes that that is part of the joy of DIY. Reminds me of a story as a young DIYer the first time I changed up a sewing pattern because I liked the style of one shirt and then the sleeve style of another. I just lined the little notches up and it looked like it would work, so I told my mom I was going to do it that way. She about had a cow. The shirt turned out great! I think Mark should talk to a few OT's and I bet he'd be amazed at our ingenuity. Fun book.
May 5, 2011
Fascinating look into DIY culture. Frauenfelder can get caught up in the personal details of those he interacts with, but his ultimate message rings clear that the effort we put into projects helps us re-focus on things we might ignore.
May 13, 2012
Weak at best.
January 11, 2013
Things the book makes me want to try:
* more gardening
* cigar box guitars
* having a clean garage
* making yogurt and sauerkraut
* fixing things
So, okay.
* more gardening
* cigar box guitars
* having a clean garage
* making yogurt and sauerkraut
* fixing things
So, okay.
Read
June 17, 2020For September's Book I chose Made by Hand by Mark Frauenfelder. In Made by hand Mark details his experience becoming a less of a consumer and more of a maker. The book starts with a story about the .com bubble burst. Shortly after the bubble burst Mark and his wife are sitting down to make life a little easier, they were both freelance technology magazine writers during the boom and almost all of the magazines they worked with collapsed due to lack of advertisement. This meant they needed to cut back on the spending, especially because of their decision to have a second child. Their best solution was to make their lives simpler, cut out the riff raff and live a little easier. They concluded that the best way to do this was to move to a small tropical island that they had visited a few years before. The problem with this plan, as Mark explains, was that they didn't plan for a simpler life just a movement of living space. Unfortunately their move to the tropics lasted less than a year.
Mark took some lessons from his time abroad but didn't learn why their experiment was a failure until a few years later. Mark was working on a blog that has gained some popularity in recent times called Boing Boing, a celebration of nerd culture. Because of his success managing such a website he was approached by a publisher to become the editor of a new magazine called Make. Frauenfelder was a little nervous about taking on this position because he didn't think of himself as too much of a handy man but took the position anyway thinking that he could exist as an observer. Quickly mark realized that this would not be the case, through meeting with some pretty prominent makers across the county he learned a very valuable lesson that escapes most of us, "failure is the best way to learn." He was inspired by the stories that were being printed and encouraged by their subjects to simply pick up a tool and give something a try.
As the book progresses Frauenfelder details the projects that slowly but surely changed him from the consumer, from before the bubble burst, to a producer. His life has become simpler just by truly investing in the objects that he surrounds himself with.
This book is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to invest in their community and well being, reduce their cost of living and/or take back control of their hectic life. The lessons contained in it will provide me with a large amount of inspiration for the coming CTEP year with not only project ideas but also many ways to remove the stress from the day before. I have and will recommend this book to anyone who spends most of their life in the virtual world, is tight on a budget, desires to take more out of life than just things and considers themselves to be a life long learner (all of which I believe CTEP members are).
Mark took some lessons from his time abroad but didn't learn why their experiment was a failure until a few years later. Mark was working on a blog that has gained some popularity in recent times called Boing Boing, a celebration of nerd culture. Because of his success managing such a website he was approached by a publisher to become the editor of a new magazine called Make. Frauenfelder was a little nervous about taking on this position because he didn't think of himself as too much of a handy man but took the position anyway thinking that he could exist as an observer. Quickly mark realized that this would not be the case, through meeting with some pretty prominent makers across the county he learned a very valuable lesson that escapes most of us, "failure is the best way to learn." He was inspired by the stories that were being printed and encouraged by their subjects to simply pick up a tool and give something a try.
As the book progresses Frauenfelder details the projects that slowly but surely changed him from the consumer, from before the bubble burst, to a producer. His life has become simpler just by truly investing in the objects that he surrounds himself with.
This book is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to invest in their community and well being, reduce their cost of living and/or take back control of their hectic life. The lessons contained in it will provide me with a large amount of inspiration for the coming CTEP year with not only project ideas but also many ways to remove the stress from the day before. I have and will recommend this book to anyone who spends most of their life in the virtual world, is tight on a budget, desires to take more out of life than just things and considers themselves to be a life long learner (all of which I believe CTEP members are).
May 4, 2018
The DIY world is bustling with new ideas, inventions, and communities. Frauenfelder goes into great detail as he describes the DIY aspects of his own life, and how he enlightened those around him. From automatic espresso machines to apiculture, each endeavor is filled with jokes, quotes, and comments which keep the reader entertained. Frauenfelder is no perfectionist, as shown by his many failures. This is why his story is so genuine; everything he does could be realistically done in an identical manner. The most valuable part of his book is the references to other authors. As he discovered new DIY challenges, he researched others who were more experienced in the subject. These individuals' stories are also included, so as to provide insight for as many people as possible. Frauenfelder doesn't just explain the DIY world, he promotes it.
June 3, 2017
This was an enjoyable memoir of a guy trying a bunch of new things, failing a lot, and talking to a number of brilliant people. The interviews are excellent. It's also very well written.
The author seemed to have no budget limit, which could feel odd since I relate DIY to being frugal. And many, many times, his projects weren't anything like frugal. On the other hand, that did also highlight the joy of doing something yourself. The author certainly wasn't working on any of this out of necessity.
Overall, a pleasant relaxing read with some insight into why we enjoy making things ourselves.
The author seemed to have no budget limit, which could feel odd since I relate DIY to being frugal. And many, many times, his projects weren't anything like frugal. On the other hand, that did also highlight the joy of doing something yourself. The author certainly wasn't working on any of this out of necessity.
Overall, a pleasant relaxing read with some insight into why we enjoy making things ourselves.
January 5, 2020
we are so quick to throw something away because it is broken or old, replacing it with something newer, fancier, easier to you, etc. we take for granted the ease of buying new things. this book discusses the benefits of repairing old possessions instead of tossing them out for something new and building/making something yourself instead of buying it. diy projects often cause you to slow down, appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into making something, take better care of your possessions and enjoy using something you made! this book talks about raising chickens, bee keeping, growing food, building your own instruments and many other topics!
December 28, 2024
This wasn't what I was expecting, or hoping. I thought this would be something of the history of the dawn of a new age of DIY. The title even leaves one believing that it is a philosophical investigation into the way that DIY relates to a sense of meaning. It was neither of those things. Instead, it was an autobiographical tour of Frauenfelder's own explorations of various DIY experiments. I'm sure some people might enjoy his ruminations, but it was a disappointment to me. I was hoping for something more revelatory. Ah well. I hope whoever gets a hold of the book next will enjoy it more than I did. Perhaps this review will set you up to have more realistic expectations.
April 10, 2024
I think I’m at my limit for “well-off people doing something so they can write a book about it” books. See: The Year of No Sugar.
It’s cool he did some stuff and I definitely want to do more making (I have shelves to build) but this book is very much of its time. I live in the Bay Area and know scores of people just like him and I can only handle so much of that middle-aged maker/burner energy.
It’s cool he did some stuff and I definitely want to do more making (I have shelves to build) but this book is very much of its time. I live in the Bay Area and know scores of people just like him and I can only handle so much of that middle-aged maker/burner energy.
July 3, 2024
This book actively made me angry within about the first two pages. In the setup, he and his wife lose their source of freelance income and decide that what they have to do is move to a remote tropical island that they just happened to have vacationed at and just loooved so much for its “unhurried lifestyle.” Entitle much? FU** YOU.
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