Makers

The New Industrial Revolution

By: Chris Anderson

Narrated by: René Ruiz

3D Robotics co-founder and bestselling author Chris Anderson takes you to the front lines of a new industrial revolution as today’s entrepreneurs, using open source design and 3-D printing, bring manufacturing to the desktop.

In an age of custom-fabricated, do-it-yourself product design and creation, the collective potential of a million garage tinkerers and enthusiasts is about to be unleashed, driving a resurgence of American manufacturing. A generation of “Makers” using the Web’s innovation model will help drive the next big wave in the global economy, as the new technologies of digital design and rapid prototyping gives everyone the power to invent--creating “the long tail of things”.

Critic reviews

"A thrilling manifesto, a call to arms to quit your day job, pick up your tools, and change the future of manufacturing and business forever.” –BoingBoing

"Chris Anderson has been called many things: a visionary, a pioneer of the Internet economy, a proselytizer of DIY 2.0. But it's probably more apt to think of him as a weather vane: He might not control the winds of change, but he's often the first to see which way they're blowing." -Foreign Policy

"Chris understands that the owners of the means of production get to decide what is produced. And now you're the owner. This book will change your life, whether you read it or not, so I suggest you get in early." –Seth Godin, bestselling author of Tribes and Purple Cow

“A visionary preview of the next technological revolution. If you want to know where the future is headed, start here.” –Tom Rath, author of StrengthsFinder 2.0

“Makers is must read for understanding the transformative changes that are shaping, and will shape, the future of inventing.” –Dan Ariely, author of Predictably Irrational and The Upside of Irrationality

"Inspiring and engaging. Anderson delivers a compelling blueprint of a future where America can lead in making things again." –Elon Musk, co-fouder of Tesla Motors and CEO of SpaceX

“In Makers, Chris Anderson gives us a fascinating glimpse of a hands-on future, a future where ‘if you can imagine it, you can build it.’” –Dan Heath, co-author of Switch and Made to Stick

“For those who have marveled at the way software has helped disrupt industry after industry - buckle up, that wave is coming soon to an industry near you. Chris Anderson has written a compelling and important book about how technology is about to completely shake up how America makes things. Required reading for entrepreneurs, policy makers, and leaders who want to survive and thrive in this brave new world.” –Eric Ries, author of The Lean Startup

"The Maker movement powered by desktop manufacturing will revolutionize the global economy. Chris Anderson once again reinvents the future in "Makers": a big vision driven by down-to-earth and practical ideas. A must read for anyone who wants to see the leading edge of change." –Peter Schwartz, Co-founder of Global Business Network and author of The Art of the Long View

Didn't realize I am a 'Maker' until I read this.

Would you listen to Makers again? Why?

Yes, this was an excellent and inspiring book for people who like to design, create, and invent.

What did you like best about this story?

I didn't realize there were so many people like me. This book opened my eyes to the world of 'Makers' and also provided a guide to making my ideas reality. I have been using the concepts in this book to bring my ideas and inventions to life.

Another idea generating audio by Chris Anderson

Excellent introduction into the Maker movement. He thinks there will be a new industrial revolution caused by personal manufacturing which will be similar to what happened with the computer revolution. We are at the very beginning. His prediction that this new technology will bring jobs back from overseas is an encouraging one. He also applies his insights from his previous works Free and The Long Tail (both are must reads) to this topic.
Some great reviews are online.

A little repetitive and one sided

Good book and interesting. No balance. Just his vision of this possible future.

"Tea. Earl Grey. Hot." It's on its way.

Chris Anderson of Wired Magazine and "The Long Tail" has written another insightful book about and emerging technological and societal phenomenon.

Three-D printing,small-batch internet based manufacturing, and the culture of shared creativity are changing the face of manufacturing and erasing the advantage of outsourcing jobs.

When Captain Picard of the Enterprise ordered a cup of hot tea from the replicator, it was fiction. Today, we can make the tea cup. It is not unimaginable that soon, we can fill the cup with tea, too.

Very well read, I enjoyed the cadence and timber of the narrator's voice. Some of the material gets a little dry and geeky, but the narration helped keep it from being boring.

Invention in a new perspective

What did you like best about this story?

I find the whole idea of the book fascinating and have a huge respect for the people and communities that drives the maker revolution. The book is well written and the narration is good - so an easy listening. I can recommend the book to anyone who has an interest in "userdriven" invention and community driven innovation.