Why We Make Things and Why It Matters: The Education of a Craftsman

Korn, Peter

ISBN 10: 1567925111 / ISBN 13: 9781567925111

Published by David R Godine Pub, 2013

About this Item

179 pages. 9.00x6.25x0.75 inches. In Stock.

Seller Inventory # 1567925111

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Why We Make Things and Why It Matters: The Education of a Craftsman
• Publisher: David R Godine Pub
• Publication Date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1567925111
• ISBN 13: 9781567925111
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Brand New
• Weight: 0.48 kilograms

About this title

Synopsis

This is an evocative account of what it means to be a craftsman in a mass produced world. The good life that society prescribes - the untrammelled pursuit of wealth, fame, leisure and consumption - often leaves some essential part of us malnourished. We may be capable, competent individuals yet find ourselves starved for avenues of engagement that provide more satisfying sustenance. Furniture making, practiced as a craft in the 21st century, is a decidedly marginal occupation. Yet the view from the periphery can be illuminating. For woodworker Peter Korn, the challenging work of bringing something new and meaningful into the world through one's own efforts is exactly what generates authenticity, meaning, and fulfilment, for which many of us yearn. This is not a 'how-to' book in any sense, Korn wants to get at the "why" of craft in particular, and the satisfaction of creative work in general, to understand their essential nature. How does the making of objects shape our identities? How do the products of creative work inform society? In short, what does the process of making things reveal to us about ourselves? Korn draws on four decades of hands-on experience to answer these questions eloquently in this personal and revealing book.

About the Author

Peter Korn is the founder of the Centre for Furniture Craftsmanship, and has been a furniture maker since 1974. He is the author of the best-selling book. Woodworking Basics.