Why We Make Things and Why It Matters

The Education of a Craftsman

By: Peter Korn

Narrated by: Traber Burns

Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

In this moving account, Peter Korn explores the nature and rewards of creative practice. We follow his search for meaning as an Ivy-educated child of the middle class who finds employment as a novice carpenter on Nantucket, transitions to self-employment as a designer and maker of fine furniture, takes a turn at teaching and administration at Colorado's Anderson Ranch Arts Center, and then founds a school in Maine: the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, an internationally respected nonprofit institution.

Furniture making practiced as a craft in the 21st century is a decidedly marginal occupation. Yet the view from the periphery can be illuminating. For Korn the challenging work of bringing something new and meaningful into the world through one's own volition—whether in the arts, the kitchen, or the marketplace—is what generates the meaning and fulfillment that so many of us seek.

This is not a how-to book in any sense. Korn wants to get at the why of craft in particular and the satisfactions of creative work in general to understand their essential nature. How does the making of objects shape our identities? How do the products of creative work inform society? In short, what does the process of making things reveal to us about ourselves? Korn draws on four decades of hands-on experience to answer these questions eloquently, and often poignantly, in this personal, introspective, and revealing book.

©2013 Peter Korn (P)2014 Blackstone Audiobooks

Insightful

I enjoyed the mix of making philosophy, administrating philosophy. And being philosophy. As an art professor who has taken on some administrative responsibilities recently, I found it both inspiring and comforting.

interesting but didn't resonate

interesting to hear him talk about his craft and his life and how he relates to them but it feels like he is missing a large chunk of what I experience in living my craft... cant put my finger on it, but as such the book felt frustratingly incomplete

Very interesting.

I bought this as a Daily Deal last year and didn't listen right away. I was between credits and so fished through my library and "what do you think I saw?" That party will make sense after you read the whole thing. Loved this book. Not sure if it answered the question of why we make things, but it was thought provoking and I enjoyed the biography feel and friendly telling of the book. Thanks for putting this out there.

Annoying

This book annoyed me.

It would have annoyed me less if the "We" in the title was changed to the "I" that it should have been. Then I wouldn't have touched it with a bargepole.

I make things and am going to flatter myself that this gives me at least the right to hold an opinion.

One of the advantages that I have discovered of making things is that it brings me more into contact with other people who make things and , my experience is, that we all do it for different reasons.

This guy appears to do it because it lets him adopt a superior view of his own importance. I do it because it lets me avoid having to deal with people who adopt a superior view of their own importance. And because I can spend all day listening to audiobooks.

For every maker out there, there is a mix of reasons for the choice. This book, despite the "we" of the title, is interest in just one of them. And it is one of the less interesting ones.

I didn't expect woodworking but I think I hoped for something just a bit less self centred and pompous

Making Things...

Mr Korn chronicles his woodworking career in biographical form while asserting the value of artistic creation & finishing the timetable with the altruistic generation of a non-profit school for furniture makers. As a dabbling woodworker myself, I enjoyed this effort of explanation of why we make things, it seemed a bit narrow in scope, solely biographical, and thus less rewarding for me, because the term "things" encompasses a much greater genre than handicraft. Perhaps I would've enjoyed it far more if the reference photos could be included as a .pdf file to the audiobook.

More autobiography than I was expecting

I chose this book thinking it was going to be a philosophical look at why people create things. Instead it was an autobiographical look at one person’s journey that included his woodworking craft. Just not the book I was hoping it would be.

Finally a working book for people who think why

If you could sum up Why We Make Things and Why It Matters in three words, what would they be?

Woodworking soul food

Any additional comments?

Finally a woodworking book that translate into an audible book. I enjoyed every word of this adventure. It is about Peter Korn but I am glad I was able to peek into his path. If making things is more than the sum of their parts to you, this is a great book.

Really great

For anyone creative. From the angle of a furniture maker but lots of good info. Highly recommended!

This book spoke to my spirit

Definitely worth your time. Wow. The author articulates things that I didn’t know were inside of me but when he said them my heart leapt in agreement.

I intend to listen to this regularly.

Great read

Overall great read. I came away inspired with fresh perspective. Can’t wait to give it a reread