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pfanzie's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
ephan's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
robyn_m's review against another edition
4.0
Our arts book club really enjoyed this. Plenty of creative wisdom inside, applicable to most endeavors -- and not just for fans of MythBusters. I listened to the audiobook, but also read the print edition.
A few notes...
- Sweep up every day; it's a gift from your past self to your future self. This also allows you to enter the studio in the present rather than in the past.
- Importance of comprehensive checklists (emotional momentum) and sharing, collaboration.
- p. 64 : "...at a certain point, it's time to just begin."
- p. 105 : "Self-doubt never leaves the attentive craftsperson, so you best make friends with it."
- p. 115 : Clarifying power of a deadline -- perfect vs. done
- p. 150 : "Creation is iteration."
- p. 226 : "Drawers are where stuff goes to die."
A few notes...
- Sweep up every day; it's a gift from your past self to your future self. This also allows you to enter the studio in the present rather than in the past.
- Importance of comprehensive checklists (emotional momentum) and sharing, collaboration.
- p. 64 : "...at a certain point, it's time to just begin."
- p. 105 : "Self-doubt never leaves the attentive craftsperson, so you best make friends with it."
- p. 115 : Clarifying power of a deadline -- perfect vs. done
- p. 150 : "Creation is iteration."
- p. 226 : "Drawers are where stuff goes to die."
vonwortchiller's review against another edition
5.0
Great book
A great book that is enabled my own idiosyncrasies as a maker. The chapters on list-making and setting deadlines really helped me to focus on my own projects more successfully!
A great book that is enabled my own idiosyncrasies as a maker. The chapters on list-making and setting deadlines really helped me to focus on my own projects more successfully!
jadonm's review against another edition
5.0
I went into this expecting a typical memoir, but instead found a fascinating look into the creative process. I've always admired Adam Savage, but this book may be some of his best work. Come for the conversations on creativity and how to optimize your life for staying happy and productive in the pursuit of a creative project, stay for the highly detailed guide on different types of glue.
stevenyenzer's review against another edition
3.0
Adam Savage is an interesting guy and I enjoyed this peek inside his head. It's a weird mix of practical advice, philosophy, and memoir, but a fun and quick read.
embers_of_amber's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
I loved this book.
I grew up watching Mythbusters, and reading this book was like a Mythbusters Adam Savage movie-special, but in my brain.
I love the reverence he has towards his craft of making, and how he acknowledges things like art, cooking, and writing as ALSO making. We're all makers, and this advice is all useful.
The tools and glue sections might not be that helpful to everyone, but I'll always have a reference now for when my creativity leads me down a path I'm not well-versed in. Also, the philosophy behind his choices of glues and tools can be applied to any makers of any field.
I really appreciate how conversational the book is: part pep-talk, part memoir, part instructional guide, part permission-slip.
An absolute must read for creatives.
I grew up watching Mythbusters, and reading this book was like a Mythbusters Adam Savage movie-special, but in my brain.
I love the reverence he has towards his craft of making, and how he acknowledges things like art, cooking, and writing as ALSO making. We're all makers, and this advice is all useful.
The tools and glue sections might not be that helpful to everyone, but I'll always have a reference now for when my creativity leads me down a path I'm not well-versed in. Also, the philosophy behind his choices of glues and tools can be applied to any makers of any field.
I really appreciate how conversational the book is: part pep-talk, part memoir, part instructional guide, part permission-slip.
An absolute must read for creatives.
bmpicc's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a little torn on this one. I loved it and I was not in love with it at the same time. I loved the section about lists (I felt so seen!), the little bits about his childhood and his life, the idea that we are looking at "failure" & "wrong turns" incorrectly.
Sadly, what bored me was when he would go deep into different types of glue or scissors. I can appreciate his love of these things, but it was a little much for me. I still think it is worth a listen and has some wonderful takeaways.
“The best part of making a list is, you guessed it, crossing things off.”
“When we say we need to teach kids how to “fail,” we aren’t really telling the full truth. What we mean when we say that is simply that creation is iteration and that we need to give ourselves the room to try things that might not work in the pursuit of something that will.”
“Wrong turns are part of every journey. They are, as Kurt Vonnegut was fond of saying, “dancing lessons from God,” and the last thing we want to do is give our kids two left feet.”
Sadly, what bored me was when he would go deep into different types of glue or scissors. I can appreciate his love of these things, but it was a little much for me. I still think it is worth a listen and has some wonderful takeaways.
“The best part of making a list is, you guessed it, crossing things off.”
“When we say we need to teach kids how to “fail,” we aren’t really telling the full truth. What we mean when we say that is simply that creation is iteration and that we need to give ourselves the room to try things that might not work in the pursuit of something that will.”
“Wrong turns are part of every journey. They are, as Kurt Vonnegut was fond of saying, “dancing lessons from God,” and the last thing we want to do is give our kids two left feet.”