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Every Tool's a Hammer: Life Is What You Make It
by
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
“An imperative how-to for creativity.” —Nick Offerman
Adam Savage—star of Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters and one of the most beloved figures in science and tech—shares his golden rules of creativity, from finding inspiration to following through and successfully making your idea a reality.
Every Tool’s a Hammer is a chronicle of my life as a ...more
“An imperative how-to for creativity.” —Nick Offerman
Adam Savage—star of Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters and one of the most beloved figures in science and tech—shares his golden rules of creativity, from finding inspiration to following through and successfully making your idea a reality.
Every Tool’s a Hammer is a chronicle of my life as a ...more
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I'm not a big fan of "Mythbusters" Adam Savage. He can come across as loud, obnoxious and wanting the one liners all the time.
I am a huge fan of Adam Savage though. He is a gentle man full of passion, care and wisdom. I have gotten to know him over the years on Tested.com. I found tested about 2 months before Adam joined, in the heyday of Norm and Will. Adam fitted in so well.
Over the years, through videos and podcasts, Adam has been a source of wisdom and inspiration. He's all "let your freak ...more
I am a huge fan of Adam Savage though. He is a gentle man full of passion, care and wisdom. I have gotten to know him over the years on Tested.com. I found tested about 2 months before Adam joined, in the heyday of Norm and Will. Adam fitted in so well.
Over the years, through videos and podcasts, Adam has been a source of wisdom and inspiration. He's all "let your freak ...more
Check out my review/discussion (with my husband) over on Booktube! https://youtu.be/v4ATwUxp3mY
I really liked this book. If you are looking for a Mythbusters tell all this is not the book for you.
This is part how his mind works, bio, how to, and self-help. He is funny, full of energy and seem like the guy you saw on Mythbusters is exactly who he is.
This is part how his mind works, bio, how to, and self-help. He is funny, full of energy and seem like the guy you saw on Mythbusters is exactly who he is.
I wish there was a slip in time so I could have read this book earlier in my life, say annually mid teens to mid 20s, & a couple of times a decade after that. Very well narrated by him, this is a must-read for every young maker out there. Older ones like myself will nod along & hear voice given to some things we've felt, but never managed to really come to grips with. It's well worth the time.
Savage is a maker. He's done it from an early age & made it his life's work as well as his ...more
Savage is a maker. He's done it from an early age & made it his life's work as well as his ...more
So many books on success principles are rooted in the business world; it's refreshing to have one built around the joys of makerspace. Adam Savage's unbridled enthusiasm and his willingness to share both his triumphs and “this is what you should not do/let that be a lesson to you” experiences make this a fun read for dreamers, builders, artists, crafters, writers, cosplayers, and of course, Mythbusters and Tested fans.
...more
If you're looking for a complete autobiography, this isn't the book for you. There are some personal stories, but they aren't really the main focus. If you're looking for a glimpse into a makers creative process and progress, and possibly a little motivation of your own, I highly recommend this book.
I loved this book. I’ve been a fan of his and really wasn’t sure what to expect of the book but it was, for me, a bit inspiring, funny, honest, educational, and an overall good read.
It actually inspired me to start, and soon will finish, a woodworking project I’ve thought about for a while. I was reading this, and how he prepares and sketches and uses check boxes, and I just decided it was time and I was going to borrow some of his processes and start the build.
I’m almost done and couldn’t be ...more
It actually inspired me to start, and soon will finish, a woodworking project I’ve thought about for a while. I was reading this, and how he prepares and sketches and uses check boxes, and I just decided it was time and I was going to borrow some of his processes and start the build.
I’m almost done and couldn’t be ...more
Loved this book! So much encouragement to embrace our eccentricities and obsessions, and that through our differences we find greatness. (Plus practical tips) Proclaim loudly: I am a crafter, I am a maker!
Most people who know me, know that I am a big fan of Adam Savage. And boy, was I excited when I heard he was busy writing a book! I rarely pre-order books, but this one was paid for as soon I could give someone my money. Equal parts instructional, philosophical and autobiographical, I had such a good time reading this! Almost every single chapter left me excited to try something new or to improve the way I do something (how I make lists, how I set deadlines, how I use glue vs. mechanical ways to
...more
This is a book that seems like it might have been more entertaining as an audiobook but even then it is not at all what I anticipated based on it being an Adam Savage memoir. It's also not what I hoped for based on the title. This is not a true biography detailing the major beats of Adam's life. It's also (sadly) not an insight into many cool MacGyver Moments where Adam somehow used tools in interesting manners to finish a project or meet a deadline in a unique way. It is definitely not an in
...more
As a fan of Mythbusters I was excited to pick this book up. I was expecting a memoir from Adam Savage and hoping for some Mythbuster stories along with thoughts about his life and how he got there. Instead, Every Tool's a Hammer is Adam's ode to his life's passion: making. One part memoir and two parts instruction manual to people looking to get into the craft this ended up being an enjoyable read, though not exactly what I was expecting. Adam's love and passion for making things shines through
...more
This didn't get 5 stars because it's brilliant, but because it did what it said in the intro. It made my fingers itch to make stuff
I want to choose my words carefully, since it's not like I was tricked into reading this or didn't know what to expect: this book will probably not change your mind about Adam Savage.
If you like him and the kinds of things he does, you'll probably enjoy it for the straightforward memoir it is (though you should be aware it barely talks about the Mythbusters years), and you may even be fooled into believing, probably like Savage himself, that it's more than that—Nick Offerman generously calls it ...more
If you like him and the kinds of things he does, you'll probably enjoy it for the straightforward memoir it is (though you should be aware it barely talks about the Mythbusters years), and you may even be fooled into believing, probably like Savage himself, that it's more than that—Nick Offerman generously calls it ...more
The Audiobook Is Definitely Better
4.5 out of 5 stars
Before reading this I wouldn’t have considered myself a “maker”. I’m not really good with tools or making things with my hands, but I do create things online. I blog, I write, and I do design work as well. It was interesting that early in this book Savage covers this (“I don’t make, I code”) where he is telling someone if they are making something then they are a maker even if it’s on a computer. I liked that a lot.
The whole book was a “how to” ...more
4.5 out of 5 stars
Before reading this I wouldn’t have considered myself a “maker”. I’m not really good with tools or making things with my hands, but I do create things online. I blog, I write, and I do design work as well. It was interesting that early in this book Savage covers this (“I don’t make, I code”) where he is telling someone if they are making something then they are a maker even if it’s on a computer. I liked that a lot.
The whole book was a “how to” ...more
I like Adam Savage on Mythbusters, but I had very little knowledge of him outside of that. Also, I don't consider myself a "maker". I consider myself creative, but my creativity comes in words - I can't build or craft; I'm definitely not a visual learner; I have zero spatial skills and can't use any but the most basic of tools in an extremely rudimentary fashion. But I liked this book because it is about how how we are all makers in our own way, even if the specifics are different. It is about
...more
An organized and meditative dissertation of Adam Savage's career life and his philosophy of making, no matter what you make. Savage's bombastic energy and optimism come through on the page, and the act of reading this is pure enjoyment as a consequence. Extremely useful advice (a scale-balancer for Adam) is imparted throughout, and drawings, photographs and illustrations abound. I keep hoping Adam Savage will write something that lays out his personal philosophy (glances are available on Tested,
...more
This book is precisely what I would expect a book by Adam Savage to be--a frenetic flurry of information, some obvious, some insightful, but all delivered with an undeniable enthusiasm. I appreciate that he acknowledges the massive privilege he's had in his life, but it's still just a wee bit annoying that he says things like, "I called up Guillermo del Toro..." Sure, great, let's all just call up our heroes in Hollywood and get some inside information. While the occasional acknowledgement is
...more
Like many people, I loved watching Mythbusters not only for the busted myths but also to see what contraptions they built each week to test them.
Every Tool's a Hammer is an insight into Adam Savage's mind and creative process - one that I found fascinating as a maker myself. In fact, it was quite cathartic to be told by a professional maker of things that my thoughts, obsessions, projects, tests, and even failures are a good thing and that I should keep going. We all need that reassurance ...more
Every Tool's a Hammer is an insight into Adam Savage's mind and creative process - one that I found fascinating as a maker myself. In fact, it was quite cathartic to be told by a professional maker of things that my thoughts, obsessions, projects, tests, and even failures are a good thing and that I should keep going. We all need that reassurance ...more
I absolutely loved the first 1/3 of this book. That's the bit that seems to deal most with the idea of creating. The middle 1/3 was interesting too, because that's the bit that goes through a lot of Adam's background and reads like an autobiography. I found the final 1/3 a bit difficult to get through, as that seems geared towards an very specific audience - one that would appreciate tips on which glue to use in certain situations, or how to store tape in a way that made the most of your
...more
This was exactly the creative inspiration I needed. Savage breaks down his creative process into fundamental blocks that can apply to any and all creative pursuits. (I'm using his checklist method at work and it has done wonders for my productivity and sanity.) Highly recommend!
A beautiful insight into the life of Adam Savage and his ways of making. A essential guide to all makers or want-to-be makers!
Great book for teacher's the early chapters cover a bunch of meta cognition and philosophy about making. Very inspiring.
I was happy that it was not a straight autobiography. Adam just used stories from his life as support for his thesis.
A fun and interesting read.
I was happy that it was not a straight autobiography. Adam just used stories from his life as support for his thesis.
A fun and interesting read.
As a fan of the old Mythbusters show I thought this book might be interesting. And having the opportunity to get a signed copy I made the purchase. I wasn’t sure what to expect, was it a how to book, a memoir? It a little bit of each. What it is mostly is an introspective look at his passion, making things and all that it takes to be a maker. He focuses on his work in commercials and in movies, the show Mythbusters, and his passion of maker costumes for Cosplay. It’s an interesting story and
...more
Umm.....
I'll start by saying I've always been in awe of people who cosplay. In fact, I've spent a lot of my own life wondering why I couldn't achieve that level of detail. Having read Adam Savage's memoir, I now understand why. I will never, ever, ever have that kind of brain. I have achieved quite a lot in my own making but I think I might kill myself before spending four (or much more) years on a project.
That said, though, this book will be catnip for a certain kind of maker and, as a book ...more
I'll start by saying I've always been in awe of people who cosplay. In fact, I've spent a lot of my own life wondering why I couldn't achieve that level of detail. Having read Adam Savage's memoir, I now understand why. I will never, ever, ever have that kind of brain. I have achieved quite a lot in my own making but I think I might kill myself before spending four (or much more) years on a project.
That said, though, this book will be catnip for a certain kind of maker and, as a book ...more
I enjoyed this book, but as a long time fan of both Adam and Tested, I was disappointed by the lack of original stories. A lot of the anecdotes were ones I had heard already. Despite that it was an enjoyable read and reminded me, as a parent, to facilitate the love of making that I can definitely see in my son.
My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.
I wasn’t 100% sure what I was getting into with this book. Amazon has it listed as #8 in Mid Atlantic U.S. Biographies, #1 in Science Experiments & Projects, #7 in Mythology & Folklore Encyclopedias (at the time I wrote this). But as I was listening to this book, I found it to be part memoir, part self-help, part business and part how-to. Basically, Adam Savage, of Mythbusters fame, writes a story similar to ...more
I wasn’t 100% sure what I was getting into with this book. Amazon has it listed as #8 in Mid Atlantic U.S. Biographies, #1 in Science Experiments & Projects, #7 in Mythology & Folklore Encyclopedias (at the time I wrote this). But as I was listening to this book, I found it to be part memoir, part self-help, part business and part how-to. Basically, Adam Savage, of Mythbusters fame, writes a story similar to ...more
Oct 29, 2019
Mason Soerens
added it
PERSONAL RESPONSE
Every Tool’s a Hammer by Adam Savage is a very inspiring book. It helps me dig deeper into my hard to reach creative side. The book catches me off guard with the fast-paced and advanced vocabulary, which is similar to Adam Savage. He is a fast talker and very knowledgeable. I had been struggling a little bit in this book, but once I slowed down and took my time to comprehend what it is saying, it really has opened my mind to many great ideas. I found this book after watching ...more
Every Tool’s a Hammer by Adam Savage is a very inspiring book. It helps me dig deeper into my hard to reach creative side. The book catches me off guard with the fast-paced and advanced vocabulary, which is similar to Adam Savage. He is a fast talker and very knowledgeable. I had been struggling a little bit in this book, but once I slowed down and took my time to comprehend what it is saying, it really has opened my mind to many great ideas. I found this book after watching ...more
If you've ever seen Mythbusters and know Adam Savage's voice, then you can practically hear him reading his book to you as you turn the pages. It's incredibly genuine to Savage as a creator, maker, and person and it makes you wonder: Is there anything he can't do?
Filled with photos of his workshops, projects, and sketches, Every Tool's a Hammer brings the life and work of Adam Savage to life on the page, told by the maker himself. It's an inspiring and telling book about his life as a creator ...more
Filled with photos of his workshops, projects, and sketches, Every Tool's a Hammer brings the life and work of Adam Savage to life on the page, told by the maker himself. It's an inspiring and telling book about his life as a creator ...more
I've admired Adam since his days on Mythbusters. Since then, I've come across him and his work on various platforms. So when I came across this book and saw what it was about, I happily took the opportunity to see what he had to say on the topics of making, creativity and life in general.
I did the audiobook version, narrated by Adam himself. I'd highly recommend this version since he has a great voice and reads the book in his unique style of inflection and passion. The writing also feels like ...more
I did the audiobook version, narrated by Adam himself. I'd highly recommend this version since he has a great voice and reads the book in his unique style of inflection and passion. The writing also feels like ...more
This is the Leatherman Wave of books about creative creation - an irreplaceable universal tool that anyone involved in imaginative endeavors should read. There is so much valuable information and informed perspective in this that I wish I would have had it available to read 20 years ago!
Adam Savage always comes across as energetic, enthusiastic and up-beat positive. That shines through in this book. He encourages readers to do their thing while providing examples of his successes and failures, ...more
Adam Savage always comes across as energetic, enthusiastic and up-beat positive. That shines through in this book. He encourages readers to do their thing while providing examples of his successes and failures, ...more
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