Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work
Product Description
A philosopher / mechanic destroys the pretensions of the high- prestige workplace and makes an irresistible case for working with one’s hands
Shop Class as Soulcraftbrings alive an experience that was once quite common, but now seems to be receding from society—the experience of making and fixing things with our hands. Those of us who sit in an office often feel a lack of connection to the material world, a sense of loss, and find it difficult to say exactly what we do all day.
For anyone who felt hustled off to college, then to the cubicle, against their own inclinations and natural bents, Shop Class as Soulcraft seeks to restore the honor of the manual trades as a life worth choosing.
On both economic and psychological grounds, Crawford questions the educational imperative of turning everyone into a "knowledge worker," based on a misguided separation of thinking from doing, the work of the hand from that of the mind. Crawford shows us how such a partition, which began a century ago with the assembly line, degrades work for those on both sides of the divide.
But Crawford offers good news as well: the manual trades are very different from the assembly line, and from dumbed-down white collar work as well. They require careful thinking and are punctuated by moments of genuine pleasure. Based on his own experience as an electrician and mechanic, Crawford makes a case for the intrinsic satisfactions and cognitive challenges of manual work. The work of builders and mechanics is secure; it cannot be outsourced, and it cannot be made obsolete. Such work ties us to the local communities in which we live, and instills the pride that comes from doing work that is genuinely useful. A wholly original debut, Shop Class as Soulcraft offers a passionate call for self-reliance and a moving reflection on how we can live concretely in an ever more abstract world.
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Customer Reviews
"Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work"
A Return to Common Sense! June 6, 2009
Loyd E. Eskildson (Phoenix, AZ.)
Working with one's mind instead of one's hands has been considered "better" for as long as I can remember - increasingly so in recent years. Crawford's "Shop Class as Soulcraft" will hopefully help eliminate this prejudice.
Crawford identifies two problems with this thinking. The first is that being able to fix things allows one some control over their life, instead of having to turn to a repair shop when eg. a "low oil pressure light" comes on in one's car. The second is that today's average worker is mired in an ill-defined world where it is often not possible to evaluate the quality of one's work, or to derive a sense of pride. Worse yet, he/she is often required to do a task incorrectly, to suit corporate biases - eg. employment in a "think tank." Worst of all, is being placed into a white-collar situation (managing, writing abstracts) without any area-specific knowledge, and being required to act guided only by a standard management outline. A third, not mentioned by Crawford, is that on-site working with one's hands is probably the occupation most protected from outsourcing. And a fourth is that it bypasses the increasingly exorbitant expenses of going to college.
Crawford doesn't bring these insights down purely from an ivory-towered abstract academic world - he himself owns a motorcycle repair shop and has worked on an assembly-line and as a VW mechanic. He clearly enjoys being his own boss and the mental challenge of diagnosing motorcycle problems and selecting the best repair strategy. On the other hand, it is a bit too easy to see the book as an apology for the career choices he has made, rather than a tested thesis. (P.S.: This reviewer has sympathy for Crawford's conclusions, having worked as a college instructor, middle/upper manager in a sea of back-stabbing and political correctness, and a cross-country truck-driver.)
A great book with so many useful lessons. June 27, 2009
Christopher M. Reynolds (Arizona)
It's hard to put into words the message I got from this book. As a college graduate with dual degrees in economics and engineering who spends most of his day in a cubicle, pushing paper and feeling my soul drain out of my body, this book put into words a lot of the feelings and internal conflicts I struggle with daily. About a year ago, I grew tired of not working with my hands and using my creativity so I enrolled in a machinist training program at a local community college to satisfy my needs. I got so much out of working with my hands, it was almost therapy for me. The author writes about how much we can gain from working with our hands, stimulating creativity, problem solving, and a real connection with a tangible result from our work. Think of how many days you've spent at the office, making conference calls, sending emails and filling out spreadsheets, only to go home and wonder "What did I really do today? What is the proof of my work today?" Reading this book puts a lot into perspective and extolls the virtue of skilled trades, and the author urges a well-deserved re-examination of the skilled trades as a rewarding career option.
Reason has a new apologist June 1, 2009
Bruce W Holsted (North Little Rock, AR USA)
Woah - This book is as substantial as it gets. I'll echo all that David McCune said in his review. Anyone who works with their hands, and likes it, will find a friend in this work. For those of us that have to problem solve with the fruits of a steel mill in our hands, we will find this book giving voice to our soul. It should be a graduation gift to all on your list this year. Thanks Mr. Crawford, for saying what needed to be said in a beautiful way, and thanks for the nod to Persig. www.bruceholsted.com
About the Author "Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work"
MATTHEW B. 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 owns and operates Shockoe Moto, an independent motorcycle repair shop in Richmond, VA
Shop Class as Soulcraft
