Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
In the midst of a seemingly endless supply of mass-manufactured products, we find ourselves nostalgic for goods bearing the mark of authenticity--handmade tools, artisan breads, craft beers, and other goods produced by human hands. What often goes unnoticed is the transformation of our understanding of craft--or rather, craft-- in the wake of industrialization. When the word first appeared in Old English, craft signified a sense of knowledge, wisdom, resourcefulness, and capacity.
Reaching as far back as the Neolithic period, archaeologist Alexander Langlands attempts to recover the lost sense of craft, combining deep history with detailed scientific analyses and personal anecdotes. Describing crafts from weaving to beekeeping, tanning to pottery, and thatching to haymaking, Craft brims with vivid storytelling, rich descriptions of natural landscapes, and delightful surprises that will convince us--for our health, wealth, and well-being--to introduce more craft into our lives.