Ezra Shales

These are notes rather than a review.

This is a really thought-provoking book if you are involved or have been involved in craft activities.

One quote from p.17: 'Just as speech preceded writing, craft came before art and architecture. It seems unnecessarily basic to say, but yes: craft and art are often one and the same, and at other moments specialized, discrete.’

‘Commonplace craft is where human necessity and empathy for materials flow together…. Craft is not filling empty space with more things but a responsive articulation to a need.’ p.7

I have made lots of notes from the book.

One of the most challenging ideas in the book is that of: mnemosynthesis by which he means: the process of mnemosynthesis is making memories – for memory production is integral to the manufacture of material goods.

The author writes very well and his punctuation is impeccable.

I found it interesting that mingei is not mentioned: Japanese folk craft.

The book is not well-served by its index. Lady Gaga is indexed because she had some crafted clothes or shoes but there is no entry for 'mnemosynthesis'. Craft commons on which there is a whole section is indexed under 'craft as civic commons'.

The illustrative material is excellent and the captions detailed.… (mere)