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Craft and good work

On doing work well, with your hands or your head.

  1. Start here

    Shop Class as Soulcraft

    Matthew B. Crawford, 2009

    A philosopher-mechanic on the dignity of skilled, hands-on work.

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  2. The Craftsman

    Richard Sennett, 2008

    What doing a job well for its own sake teaches us.

    Medium length, about 326 pages

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  3. The Soul of a New Machine

    Tracy Kidder, 1981

    A team races to build a computer. The best book on engineers at work.

    Medium length, about 293 pagesPulitzer Prize, 1982.

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  4. Bird by Bird

    Anne Lamott, 1994

    Honest, funny advice on writing, and on getting through the work.

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  5. On Writing

    Stephen King, 2000

    Half memoir, half toolbox. Plain advice from a working writer.

    Medium length, about 288 pages

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  6. Deep Work

    Cal Newport, 2016

    The case for long, undistracted focus, and how to get it back.

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  7. The Design of Everyday Things

    Don Norman, 1988

    Why doors confuse us, and how good design respects people.

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