Made by Hand: Searching for Meaning in a Throwaway World
"It's not merely good, it's foundation-shaking." -Seth Godin
From his unique vantage point as editor-in-chief of Make magazine, the hub of the do-it-yourself movement, Mark Frauenfelder takes readers on an inspiring and surprising tour of the vibrant world of DIY.
Frauenfelder spent a year trying a variety of offbeat projects such as keeping chickens and bees, tricking
...morePaperback, 256 pages
Published
October 25th 2011
by Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
(first published May 27th 2010)
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If you've ever had to do something for yourself, this may not be for you. If, however, you've never in your life had to be personally competent and you think it might be a lark to throw a bunch of money at half baked DIY projects, then by all means give this book a go. To be clear, though, you will find almost no instruction or valuable reflection.
I don't write a lot of reviews, though I'm a hefty consumer of mostly non-fiction books. I don't enjoy being negative, either, as I feel that any earn...more
I don't write a lot of reviews, though I'm a hefty consumer of mostly non-fiction books. I don't enjoy being negative, either, as I feel that any earn...more
Oct 19, 2012
Brandie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Brandie by:
Kim M
So I just think this is a wonderful book that has made my dream for chickens become even more serious than it was before! Because chickens are cute and practical and I think everyone should have some! I will admit thoguh, at times I was torn: keep reading or stop and go try what Frauenfelder was talking about (yes, I now want to make some instruments, do some wood carving, build something, make something, anything, everything!). This is a book I want to keep forever and ever. But I also want oth...more
I enjoyed reading this light and entertaining book written by a magazine editor and freelance writer. I have even tried some "do it yourself" things he talked about, like making homemade yogurt without buying any fancy modern gadgets to do so. I ended up with really tasty delicious yogurt for a fraction of the cost of store-bought stuff. I was so encouraged by that simple first-time-I-tried-it success that I'm going to try making my own cottage cheese next. I've looked up some of the books he sp...more
Frauenfelder was incredibly honest in this account of his DIY pursuits. There's no misleading us. It's hard to be DIY and take risks and bring failure into your life. And yet getting dirty really is living and experience life and it was inspiring.
As a guy that spends most of his time virtually and misses being hands on, i'm really inspired to step out and try things from reading this.
It's not about winning and being a supernaut. DIY isn't about taking your life to some perfect superman nirvana o...more
As a guy that spends most of his time virtually and misses being hands on, i'm really inspired to step out and try things from reading this.
It's not about winning and being a supernaut. DIY isn't about taking your life to some perfect superman nirvana o...more
I've always liked making stuff, and I've always liked reading about making stuff. Blame genetics. I subscribed to Make magazine before the first issue came out (though I let the subscription lapse after I moved from California). But for many years, my minimalist tendencies got in the way. Now, I have a house, with a workbench in the basement and a yard with the right sunlight for growing plants. And suddenly I'm a little envious of one brother's constant tinkering around the house and of the oth...more
If you're looking for a book that's long on the specifics and details of at-home DIY projects, this is not going to work for you (I recommend Making It: Radical Home-Ec for a Post-Consumer World, authored by two of Fraeonfolder's Maker pals from the book) . If you're looking for some inspiration to get started with some DIY Making or repair, however, Made By Hand is perfect. Frauenfelder brings the reader along for a look at some of the DIY projects he tackled over the course of a year, from rai...more
Simultaneously inspiring and guilt-inducing, this book by the editor of Make magazine had a pretty cool concept - each chapter focuses on a different giant DIY project Frauenfelder took on, like raising chickens or making his own musical instruments. I loved when he deconstructed "givens" like having a lawn around a suburban home and explained the history behind the present reality. I wasn't too crazy about reading 20-page detailed accounts of the steps he took to modify his espresso machine so...more

I’m what you would call a consumer. I use an iPhone which I’m sure I’ll replace every two years. I eat out a lot. I buy cheap clothing that wears out in a few years. You can find me at Target at least a couple times a week. I’m not proud of it, but take it as you will. I’m busy, or more likely, lazy.
But I’ve always been fascinated with Do-It-Yourselfism. Also called the Maker culture, it’s a response to consumer culture that often results from an existential crisis about consumerism and unsusta...more
At first I was disappointed, since the author is editor in chief of Make magazine, I thought this book would be filled with projects and tips, sort of like the magazine as a novel. What I didn't expect the book to be about was the author's journey to become a DIYer. At first, he seemed to be a bit of a poser, buying all the materials for his projects online and then assembling them. But then I realized I define DIY as more starting from scratch. Unfortunately, that means more work, more time and...more
I really really liked this book. It is well written as I would expect from a professional writer, focused and concise, and is very inspiring. I try to do many handyman things myself as a source of independence and personal competence and freedom. This book goes beyond just home repair to exploring the many ways that we can become makers, not consumers. With chapters on cigar box guitar making, "hacking" an espresso machine to fine tune it to make better coffee, bee and chicken keeping, and unsch...more
I saw ads for Made by Hand when I attended the recent (2010) Maker Faire in San Mateo, CA. I'm a big fan of Make Magazine, so I ordered the book expecting something good. I was not disappointed.
The book is an almost autobiographical series of stories about the author's various different do it yourself (DIY) projects. Many of these aren't exactly what you'd normally think of as DIY projects. For example, the projects include moving to Rarotonga (in the Cook Islands), killing his lawn, raising chi...more
The book is an almost autobiographical series of stories about the author's various different do it yourself (DIY) projects. Many of these aren't exactly what you'd normally think of as DIY projects. For example, the projects include moving to Rarotonga (in the Cook Islands), killing his lawn, raising chi...more
This was thoroughly interesting: Frauenfelder discusses his journey from consumer to maker across a wide arena of subjects, from chicken farming through making simple musical instruments from scrap.
There were moments when I was somewhat aghast at his naivete: "you didn't KNOW THAT?" But that's the whole point of the book, and indeed, he is, in essence, paid to be naive. There were a few other jarring moments as well. But it was interesting and refreshing that he presented his material in all its...more
There were moments when I was somewhat aghast at his naivete: "you didn't KNOW THAT?" But that's the whole point of the book, and indeed, he is, in essence, paid to be naive. There were a few other jarring moments as well. But it was interesting and refreshing that he presented his material in all its...more
Pretty entertaining book. It's a collection of essays, basically, about Frauenfelder's efforts to get more connected to the things in his life. He gardens, raises chickens, builds, and tinkers. The chapters are linked by the overarching DIY philosophy.
That said, some of the writing feels a little precious, and the book actually discouraged me a bit. I'm relatively handy, but the problems the author encounters served as cautions against taking on anything too grandiose (like raising chickens in a...more
That said, some of the writing feels a little precious, and the book actually discouraged me a bit. I'm relatively handy, but the problems the author encounters served as cautions against taking on anything too grandiose (like raising chickens in a...more
this was a really cool book. it is a how to kind of book that shows you how to make anything from iphone chargers to peanut butter. anything thing that you would want to make by hand, and wondered or tried to make, this book will have. Mark Frauenfelder writes about a electronic age that is being taken over and becoming more lazy by the second and i agree. we are taking advantage of many things and it is nice to make stuff by ourselves for once. its a book that would keep you thinking from his i...more
Jan 18, 2011
Andrea
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
cleaning-recycle-reuse
The content wasn't new having been raised with chickens in the suburbs and living in the bay area "Land of DIY", but the writing style kept me hooked. The way the author approached every topic as new, yet keeping to the spirit of the project and less of a how-to guide, he provided stories around the making and upkeep of things while slowly building to their value. The stories were entertaining with a high, low, and time to root for the good guy to win near imminent defeat. It was interesting to...more
Made by Hand had a lot of hits and misses. The subtitle "searching for meaning in a throwaway world" gives some clues about what the book could have been about, but I don't think it ever really reached that goal.
The highlights were Mark's successes: raising chickens and making espresso.
I went into the book hoping for great successes and insight, and left with a feeling of vague disappointment. I wanted him to have more satisfaction and happiness with his projects than it sounds like he did. As a...more
The highlights were Mark's successes: raising chickens and making espresso.
I went into the book hoping for great successes and insight, and left with a feeling of vague disappointment. I wanted him to have more satisfaction and happiness with his projects than it sounds like he did. As a...more
This book is the result of Frauenfelder's attempt to take back control of his life and become a "do-it-yourselfer" (DIYer). When Frauenfelder actually discusses the details of his projects rather than making broad pronouncements, it makes for interesting -- but sometimes disturbing -- reading. He emphasizes the willingness to make mistakes that is central to the DIY ethos, and admirably tries again and again when things go wrong. However, this stubbornness is harder to regard positively when his...more
I picked up this book because I thought it would be mostly about the family trying to live on Rarotonga, which turned out to be a very small part of the book. Otherwise, the essays were entertaining; some too technical for my tastes. And yeah, the guy's kind of a hack, but I guess that's sort of the point, even if it might be more interesting to read about more competent people sometimes. His experiment in teaching his daughter was interesting and a little sad. I left the book thinking that it's...more
I read The World Made by Hand, and The Witch of Hebron, by James Kunstler, and Made by Hand, by Mark Frauefelder right in row, right before Christmas. All three books focus on how people adapt to a do it yourself world. The novels give every characters’ former profession, car salesman, model, university teacher, and then what they do in the post oil, post machine world, butcher, candle maker, carpenter. Kunstler looks at how these characters move from the world of ideas in to a world that they h...more
I really wanted to love this book, and I did devour a few chapters that I think DIY fans can get a lot of info from (the ones on chickens and espresso machine hacking). I also love the research Mark did, showing how the growth of advertising parallels our culture's decline in DIY ability, and introducing us to the lifestyles of expert "makers" like the couple who study how to do everything without relying on petroleum powered machines. So interesting. But I really expected more drama, pathos, an...more
I picked this book up while I was at a conference in Ottawa; I had brought along a reel of wire and needlenose pliers to work on a project from a recent issue of Make magazine, so the appeal was obvious. I enjoyed reading this book plenty; it made me want to pick up things I'd once dabbled in (like whittling) and maybe even some things that I'm hardly likely to enjoy (making kombucha, for example). I didn't find this book life-changing or full of new information; for me, it was cozy. Mark Frauen...more
If one were to read this book, and critique purely on a writing standpoint, you might find it lacking. However, one would entirely miss the point of this book.
By taking time to create items for entertainment, necessity, or curiousity, Mark Frauenfelder teaches us how to change our perceptions on what is valuable in life, and how to get the most out of it.
It is also an inspiring read on what it's like to be a DIY-er, something that I've been slowly building myself into. It's good to know that mi...more
By taking time to create items for entertainment, necessity, or curiousity, Mark Frauenfelder teaches us how to change our perceptions on what is valuable in life, and how to get the most out of it.
It is also an inspiring read on what it's like to be a DIY-er, something that I've been slowly building myself into. It's good to know that mi...more
May 02, 2012
Marcia
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
nonfiction,
grown-up-books
Boing Boing's Frauenfelder writes about his attempts at DIY--living simply on a tropical island, raising chickens and bees, crafting musical instruments from discards, brewing kombucha, unschooling. It's all very interesting, and he seems like an every man--plenty of blunders along the way. Many of my friends are doing these things now--chickens--making yogurt--creating art from found objects. We all grow vegetables. My DIY attempts are mostly focused on upcycling garage sale finds and a little...more
The good: the acknowledgment of the tangible and intangible benefits of engaging more fully with the things we use, the reminders that mistakes are part of the learning process and are not failures, and the joy the author clearly feels when accomplishing something physical (as most of us do).
The bad: it felt like the author was moving from consumerism in some areas to consumerism in other areas. The DIY philosophy was a hobby, rather than a way to reduce his dependence on other systems. (Example...more
The bad: it felt like the author was moving from consumerism in some areas to consumerism in other areas. The DIY philosophy was a hobby, rather than a way to reduce his dependence on other systems. (Example...more
Other reviews have painted this book as some kind of failure or missed mark. I find this really sad, because it implies deeply that they've missed one of the central and over-arching themes of the whole work - that it's ok to make mistakes and it's ok if something turns out completely different to how you thought it would.
I sincerely enjoyed this book for exactly what it is. It's a story, told by an inexpert storyteller, with lots of false starts and endings, no resolution and no plot to speak...more
I sincerely enjoyed this book for exactly what it is. It's a story, told by an inexpert storyteller, with lots of false starts and endings, no resolution and no plot to speak...more
Excellent snapshot of a 5-10 year period where tech writer/editor Mark Frauenfelder went from being an average consumer, to living in the small pacific island nation of Raratonga for a couple of years where there is little to buy and most people make what they need, to moving back to the L.A. area and finding joy in making cigar box guitars, espresso machine hacks, raising chickens and bees, and learning to make what you want instead of just buying it. While there isn't much in the way of hard t...more
You want to read this book. Mark Frauenfelder, co-founder of the popular blog BoingBoing and editor of Make magazine, tells of his experiences with the do-it-yourself lifestyle. He talks about several different projects he undertook, including making yogurt, raising chickens, and tutoring his children in math and science. However, this book is about more than just projects - it's also about the value one gains from taking an active role in supporting yourself. It's also about taking a stand agai...more
The best thing about this book is the encouragement to persevere, pointing out that making mistakes is the best way to learn. I have often talked myself out of trying something, convinced I will make mistakes. Mark Frauenfelder assures me I will likely do just that, but that its OK and I'll get something more out of the trying than if I had simply HAP (hired a professional) as opposed to DIY. I loved this book for the freedom it gave me to not let failure crush me. Not everything in the book tur...more
As an intermediate-level do-it-himselfer, Mark Frauenfelder makes tinkering with and building your own stuff sound appealing and fun. But it's hard not to notice that he's also a (very) successful writer and editor with the time and money to spend a thousand dollars on mulch, or buy a $280 kit to improve his $500 espresso maker. To be fair, he does some more traditional projects with scraps and found resources later on, but this is home improvement for the well-heeled.
I do like his style, the pe...more
I do like his style, the pe...more
Tal being an avid BoingBoing reader, I would have liked to enjoy this book more than I did. I appreciated the themes and ideas that Mark Frauenfelder wanted to address, but having read every single one of the primary sources he mentions it seemed a superfluous read.
On killing lawns, cardboard is more effective as it is thicker and sturdier than newspaper and if you overlap the pieces, weeds and grass have a really hard time coming through. Also, instead of spending about $1000 purchasing bark,...more
On killing lawns, cardboard is more effective as it is thicker and sturdier than newspaper and if you overlap the pieces, weeds and grass have a really hard time coming through. Also, instead of spending about $1000 purchasing bark,...more
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Editor-in-chief of MAKE magazine. Founder of Boingboing.net.
My books: The Happy Mutant Handbook (1995, Riverhead), a guide to offbeat pop culture. Mad Professor (2003, Chronicle), science experiments for kids. Worlds Worst (2005, Chronicle), a guide to the worst stuff on Earth, The Computer (2005, Carlton books), an illustrated history of computers. Rule the Web (2007, St. Martins), a guide to onl...more
More about Mark Frauenfelder...
My books: The Happy Mutant Handbook (1995, Riverhead), a guide to offbeat pop culture. Mad Professor (2003, Chronicle), science experiments for kids. Worlds Worst (2005, Chronicle), a guide to the worst stuff on Earth, The Computer (2005, Carlton books), an illustrated history of computers. Rule the Web (2007, St. Martins), a guide to onl...more
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