Books like Craft

Loved Craft by Glenn Adamson? Here are 8 books with the same pull, and why each one fits.

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8 books

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1The Craftsman
The Craftsman
Richard Sennett
A philosophical account of skilled making and the satisfaction of doing work well, written from the perspective of a sociologist.
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2Shop Class as Soulcraft
Shop Class as Soulcraft
Matthew B. Crawford
An essay on manual work and the value of skilled trades, drawn from the author's experience repairing motorcycles.
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3The Thinking Hand
The Thinking Hand
Juhani Pallasmaa
A short study of how the hand and making shape knowledge, written by an architect.
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4Why We Make Things and Why It Matters
Why We Make Things and Why It Matters
Peter Korn
A reflection on the satisfactions of making by a furniture maker, covering the craft of working with wood and hand tools.
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5The Nature and Art of Workmanship
The Nature and Art of Workmanship
David Pye
A short, influential essay distinguishing the workmanship of the maker from the mass-produced object.
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6The Nature of Gothic
The Nature of Gothic
John Ruskin
A nineteenth-century essay that links the value of craft to the freedom and imperfection of the worker.
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7Hopes and Fears for Art
Hopes and Fears for Art
William Morris
A collection of lectures by one of the central figures of the Arts and Crafts movement, arguing for art made by hand and for ordinary people.
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8A Potter's Book
A Potter's Book
Bernard Leach
A practical and reflective book by a studio potter about the values and techniques of handmade ceramics.
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