Synopses & Reviews
The host of TV's A Craftsman's Legacy makes the case that the craftsman's way — the philosophy, the skills, and the mindset — can provide a helpful blueprint for all of us in our increasingly hurried, mass-manufactured world.
Today, even as so many of us spend hours in front of screens and in the virtual world, there is a growing movement that recognizes the power in the personal, the imperfect, the handmade. Eric Gorges, a metal shaper, taps into that hunger to get back to what's "real" through visits with the fellow artisans he has profiled for his popular public television program. In this book, he tells their stories and shares the collective wisdom of calligraphers, potters, stone carvers, glassblowers, engravers, wood workers, and more while celebrating the culture they've created.
Filled with insights about the physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of craftsmanship, A Craftsman's Legacy identifies the craftsman's shared values: taking time to slow down and enjoy the process, embracing failure, knowing when to stop and when to push through, and accepting that perfection is an illusion. Gorges extols the benefits of getting out of one's comfort zone and the importance of learning the traditions of the past in order to carry those values into the future. Along the way, Gorges tells his own story about leaving the corporate world to focus on what he loves. This is a book for seekers of all kinds, an exhilarating look into the heart and soul of modern-day makers — and how they can inspire us all.
Review
“A congenial and thoughtful host, Eric Gorges takes us on a guided tour of a rare species — resourceful individuals who buck the herd to build purposeful lives through self-employment at skilled crafts and trades.” Peter Korn, author of Why We Make Things and Why It Matters
Review
“Invigorating...Digressions on the very real dangers of many of these jobs, the challenge of determining price, and the often circuitous path many artisans take before finding their place (as well as the role of failure in that path), satisfyingly round out the book. This is an impressive and emotionally rich appreciation of the work often taken for granted.” Publishers Weekly
Review
“It’s a serious tome that deals with the significance of work and with principles like honesty, integrity, and purpose, which oddly mirror the world of business. There is indeed much to ponder.” Booklist
Review
“This is a book full of cool stuff and the people who do it...Like the kindred-spirit book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Gorges' narrative serves up the lessons that one learns from hard, deliberate, artful work...a fine read for DIYers looking to up their game — or get their hands callused in the first place.” Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Eric Gorges has been the host of A Craftsman's Legacy since it began in 2014. After a health crisis caused him to reevaluate his life, he sought out one of the best metal shapers in the country and signed on as his apprentice. In 1999, he struck out on his own, opening the custom motorcycle shop, Voodoo Choppers, in Detroit, Michigan, where he lives today.