Overview

Why do some jobs offer fulfilment while others leave us frustrated? Why do we so often think of our working selves as separate from our 'true' selves? Over the course of the twentieth century, we have separated mental work from manual labour, replacing the workshop with either the office cubicle or the factory line. In this inspiring and persuasive book, Matthew Crawford explores the dangers of this false distinction and presents instead the case for working with your hands. He brings to life the immense psychological and intellectual satisfactions of making and fixing things, explores the moral benefits of a technical education and, at a time when jobs are increasingly being outsourced over the internet, argues that the skilled manual trades may be one of the few sure paths to a good living. Drawing on the work of our greatest thinkers, from Aristotle to Heidegger, from Karl Marx to Iris Murdoch, as well as on his own experiences as an electrician and motorcycle mechanic, Crawford delivers a radical, timely and extremely enjoyable re-evaluation of our attitudes to work.

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9780670918744

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Reviews

A beautiful little book about human excellence -- Francis Fukuyama New York Times A deep exploration of craftsmanship by someone with real hands-on knowledge. Quirky, surprising and moving -- Richard Sennett The best self-help book that I've ever read. Kind of like Heidegger and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance Slate [A] tender, wise little volume ... Crawford is a kindred spirit -- Lionel Shriver A masterpiece filled with surprises Dallas Morning News A superb combination of testimony and reflection, and you can't put it down -- Harvey Mansfield, Professor Of Government At Harvard A stunning indictment of the modern workplace ... Crawford points in the direction of a richer, more fulfilling way of life. This is a book that will endure -- Reihan Salam The Atlantic No one who cares about the future of human work can afford to ignore this book -- Jackson Lears, Editor Of Raritan A breakout success ... touched a big nerve, quickly becoming a national best seller and generating widespread publicity New York Times A surprise hit ... Americans, perhaps, have found their guide Financial Times While the specifics come from American experience, almost everything in the book also holds true for Britain -- Ian Jack Guardian May upend your preconceptions about labour and, just maybe, cause you to rethink your career (or how you spend your weekends) ... Impassioned and profound Washington Post The sleeper hit of the publishing season Boston Globe

Author Information

Matthew Crawford is a philosopher and mechanic. He has a Ph.D. in political philosophy from the University of Chicago and served as a postdoctoral fellow on its Committee on Social Thought. Currently a fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia, he also runs Shockoe Moto, an independent motorcycle repair shop.

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