Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work (Paperback)

By Matthew B. Crawford

What do we lose when work separates thinking from doing? In Shop Class as Soulcraft, philosopher and motorcycle mechanic Matthew B. Crawford makes a forceful case for the intellectual, practical, and human value of skilled manual work.

Drawing on his experience as an electrician and mechanic, Crawford challenges the assumption that knowledge work is always more meaningful than working with tools. He explores craftsmanship, judgment, self-reliance, and the satisfaction of solving concrete problems in an increasingly abstract world.

Why we carry it: This book puts words to something riders, builders, and mechanics already understand: working with your hands can also be serious work for the mind.

Book details

• Paperback
• 256 pages
• Published April 27, 2010
• Dimensions: 5.3 × 7.66 × 0.69 inches
• ISBN: 9780143117469