Every Tool's a Hammer

Lessons from a Lifetime of Making

By: Adam Savage

Narrated by: Adam Savage

Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

In this New York Times best-selling “imperative how-to for creativity” (Nick Offerman), Adam Savage - star of Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters - shares his golden rules of creativity, from finding inspiration to following through and successfully making your idea a reality.

Every Tool’s a Hammer is a chronicle of my life as a maker. It’s an exploration of making, but it’s also a permission slip of sorts from me to you. Permission to grab hold of the things you’re interested in, that fascinate you, and to dive deeper into them to see where they lead you. Through stories from 40-plus years of making and molding, building and break­ing, along with the lessons I learned along the way, this book is meant to be a toolbox of problem solving, complete with a shop’s worth of notes on the tools, techniques, and materials that I use most often. Things like:

• In Every Tool There Is a Hammer - don’t wait until everything is perfect to begin a project, and if you don’t have the exact right tool for a task, just use whatever’s handy;
• Increase Your Loose Tolerance - making is messy and filled with screwups, but that’s okay, as creativity is a path with twists and turns and not a straight line to be found;
• Use More Cooling Fluid - it prolongs the life of blades and bits, and it prevents tool failure, but beyond that it’s a reminder to slow down and reduce the fric­tion in your work and relationships;
• Screw Before You Glue - mechanical fasteners allow you to change and modify a project; glue is forever, but sometimes you just need the right glue, so I dig into which ones will do the job with the least harm and best effects.

This toolbox also includes lessons from many other incredible makers and creators, including: Jamie Hyneman, Nick Offerman, Pixar director Andrew Stanton, Oscar-winner Guillermo del Toro, artist Tom Sachs, and Chef Traci Des Jardins. And if everything goes well, we will hopefully save you a few mistakes (and maybe fingers) as well as help you turn your curiosities into creations. I hope this book serves as “creative rocket fuel” (Ed Helms) to build, make, invent, explore, and - most of all - enjoy the thrills of being a creator.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Adam Savage (P)2019 Simon & Schuster

loved it!

My son and I listened to this book every day before school. we are both makers. Fenix with Lego's myself with just about everything. We both got something different from this book.

Amazing!

Really eye opening, I’d be lying if I said that every time I read or listen to this book I want to get to making, finishing, or cleaning up something. I really enjoyed how Adam Savages narration also.

Enjoyed Every Minute!

No matter what you do for a living or what is going on in your life this book is for you.

Motivational!

This just reignited a blazing fire for my curiosity and has motivated me to clean my shop and begin to make again.

a beautiful love letter to making and makers

Adam's love of making things really shines through but its his ability to communicate that love to others with encouragement to try it for them selves that sets him apart. Thanks Adam!

Great Assembly!

I am a big fan of Mr. Savage. I am not "officially" a maker but I have thus same multimedia spirit and this book was a bless. Really recommend for those interested in level up their creativity. Thanks for this amazing gift Adam!

for those that love to create.

A fantastic story of one of my creative heroes and his journey. I have picked up alot of good ideas and inspirations for my own passions of making.

Awesome book

Great story and really enjoyed the tool's and process part. Definitely a great first book from Adam Savage.

First order reading

I loved this book. It helped that I was listening while reorganizing my garage workshop but that isn't required. Insightful, funny, intimate and endearing Mr Savage has compiled a list of autobiographical stories, encouragement and joy into a book I'm sure I will pick up again to lift my spirits and get me making. if you make, create or just enjoy his antics on tv or Tested you will certainly find something worthwhile in this book.

Hooked in minutes

I was as emotional as Adam’s enthusiasm within the first few minutes of the book.

I’m on my second listening this time with my 9 year old daughter. The first time I kept murmuring she needs to hear the messages on failure, passion, patience, etc but I thought the book might be above her reading level. When she caught a few minutes mid book she was hooked and asked to hear the whole thing.