The Craftsman

By: Richard Sennett

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

The Craftsman explores the relation between the hand and the head. Richard Sennett argues that working with physical things stimulates people to think. Craftsmanship, says Sennett, names the basic human impulse to do a job well for its own sake, and good craftsmanship involves developing skills and focusing on the work rather than ourselves. The computer programmer, the doctor, the artist, and even the parent and citizen all engage in a craftsman's work. In this thought-provoking book, Sennett explores the work of craftsmen past and present, identifies deep connections between material consciousness and ethical values, and challenges received ideas about what constitutes good work in today's world.

The Craftsman engages the many dimensions of skill - from the technical demands to the obsessive energy required to do good work. Craftsmanship leads Sennett across time and space, from ancient Roman brickmakers to Renaissance goldsmiths to the printing presses of Enlightenment Paris and the factories of industrial London; in the modern world he explores what experiences of good work are shared by computer programmers, nurses and doctors, musicians, glassblowers, and cooks. Unique in the scope of his thinking, Sennett expands previous notions of crafts and craftsmen and apprises us of the surprising extent to which we can learn about ourselves through the labor of making physical things.

©2008 Richard Sennett (P)2018 Tantor

very broad application of the word craftsman

An enjoyable philosophical exercise while working with your hands. Lots of interesting subject areas that are being placed within the context of craftsmanship.

Worth Multiple Rereads

Even as Richard Sennett explores the history and development of craft and craftsmen, he provoked me to think about vocation, learning, community, faith, and more. I will plan to read again.

Intelligent and delightfully inspiring.

A captivating reflection on craftsmanship. Abundant in historical references and intelligent psychological, social and philosophical insights.

The section on resistance was amazing

The book was very inspiring throughout and had great definitions and examples in each section.

Solid historical work...

So many in our day are waking up to the value of craftsmanship and are yearning for a noble task to give themselves to fully. This book lays a solid foundation of the history of craftsmanship and its implications of these facts in our day.

I recommend this read for anyone who is hoping to start into this kind of calling or have been doing the good work of craftsmanship and looking for solid encouragement and warnings of what will taint this good endeavor.

Sincerely,
JC

Insight into the process of Craftsmanship

I have always wondered why and how Craftspeople do what they do. This book provides history and methods ranging from physical movement to neuroscience, with specific examples and stories. I loved the performance and it was perfectly paced at 1.1x. Dropped a star for sheer density in some places and for lack of accompanying material with the audio book.

Craftsmanship is in everything

The gist: don’t strive to copy Stradivari, strive to be like Stradivari. As simple as that and so much more. Won’t regret this one, all should absorb this.

The readers inflection is distracting and distressing

I so badly wanted to listen to this book but the way the reader presents every sentence as if he’s reading an elegy to humanity takes away from the overall story.

Left wing talking points galore.

The Author takes a subject that is practiced by an individual and poisons it with pernicious collectivist talking points.