The Gear Journal

Rashy · 06-08-2009, 08:41 PM

"An Inquiry Into The Value Of Work"

Not really a gadget but I reckon it could be "gear".

A really good book a friend of mine got me for my birthday. Not done with it yet but it's main focus is on what appears to have been lost by shifting the focus from "Doing Workers" to "Knowledge Workers" or, placing a higher value on those behind the desks than those who are cranking out the product.

My buddy thought of me when he read it because he is a dude behind the desk who could not understand why I was so happy being the guy in the trench. Literally. Working in trenches on hydraulic delivery systems at our training centers. I thought he was right and worked my way to a desk as he worked his way up.

Now we both know I WAS right....

It's written by Matthew B. Crawford and printed by The Penguin Press.

Rashy · 06-08-2009, 09:26 PM

http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/B...ew_B._Crawford

Tman · 06-09-2009, 08:49 AM

Interesting.

ranunculous · 06-12-2009, 04:38 PM

I'm at the tail end of a work-supported associates course that touted the book,"A Whole New Mind" by Daniel H. Pink.He discusses Automation,Abundance and Asia,left/right brain thought and why right-brainers will rule the future.
Some parts are interesting.

scottybaccus · 06-14-2009, 01:50 AM

I teach LEAN management principles to managers all over the country for my company. It's amazing how many desk managers have no idea how trench work is done and how many off-base decisions they make as a result.
Our program is based on Toyota's and the material from The Lean Enterprise Institute. Both show a high respect for the knowledge of the workers and ultimately placing quality in their hands. "Andon" I like my job. I need to learn more. I'll be ordering a copy of this book.

ttarver · 06-15-2009, 05:35 PM

Just got my copy in the mail today!

AZAV8 · 06-24-2009, 09:03 AM

This is something I already knew, and at age 62 have reinforced over 30 years of an engineering career. I have always loved to make things since I was a kid. I took woodshop in junior and high school. (I should have taken welding shop in high school). As an engineer I found it easy to understand the systems and buildings I have designed. I also found it easy to relate to the construction workers and contractors I've had to work with over the years.

Engineering school teaches you the theories, principals and science behind what you are designing. It does NOT teach you how to build the things you "design". A REAL engineer can design the widget, system, etc. and then knows how to build it. In fact, he engineers a better design if he knows how it has to be built.

Phil
AKA AZAV8

Jay Rush · 06-26-2009, 09:41 PM

Just picked up my copy at Borders since they didn't have it at the library. Looks good should be a interesting read

bobx · 03-03-2010, 12:08 PM

tried reading it. couldnt get past the first couple chapters. just wasnt for me.

gatewaysysop · 07-13-2010, 07:31 PM

I've heard both ways on this book. Been tempted to check it out, just haven't gotten around to it yet. Any chance of getting more information about what made it unreadable?

bobx · 08-09-2010, 05:00 PM

dont remember...and that was the problem. i read a couple of chapters and i just wasnt into it. cant tell you exactly what i didnt like, because i dont remember. i just remember that it wasnt for me.

maybe youll like it. check it out...just keep the receipt......

gatewaysysop · 08-10-2010, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobx

dont remember...and that was the problem. i read a couple of chapters and i just wasnt into it. cant tell you exactly what i didnt like, because i dont remember. i just remember that it wasnt for me.

maybe youll like it. check it out...just keep the receipt......

A lot of the negative reviews say that the language gets too technical or that the guy babbles about psychological stuff using a lot of "fancy" terms or something to that effect. Any comment on whether or not there's any truth to that? I'd hate for the whole book to be written like a clinical journal article, because while I'm no stranger to journal articles, I don't read them for recreation.

teledan · 08-31-2010, 12:26 PM

I finished the book recently. Best book I've read in a long time. (of course thats not saying much)

gatewaysysop · 09-01-2010, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teledan

I finished the book recently. Best book I've read in a long time. (of course thats not saying much)

Can you speak to what some of the reviews or other people have said, as far as whether or not the writing style was any good?

teledan · 09-02-2010, 10:56 AM

Yeah, I noticed that every once in a while he would kind of go off on a psychological kick and use some pretty advanced vocabulary. I got into the book a couple of chapters and sort of got uninterested because of this, but then I picked it up again and it very quickly got more interesting to me. I am a big believer that technology can make us more stupid, and the author seems to agree. I may need to pick it up and read it again. I'm not a big reader, I have the attention span of about a five-year old, but I really enjoyed it.

gatewaysysop · 09-02-2010, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teledan

Yeah, I noticed that every once in a while he would kind of go off on a psychological kick and use some pretty advanced vocabulary. I got into the book a couple of chapters and sort of got uninterested because of this, but then I picked it up again and it very quickly got more interesting to me. I am a big believer that technology can make us more stupid, and the author seems to agree. I may need to pick it up and read it again. I'm not a big reader, I have the attention span of about a five-year old, but I really enjoyed it.

Cool, appreciate the update. I'll keep this in mind next time I think about buying the book.

06-08-2009, 08:41 PM	#1
Rashy Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 38	"Shop Class As Soulcraft" = required reading "An Inquiry Into The Value Of Work" Not really a gadget but I reckon it could be "gear". A really good book a friend of mine got me for my birthday. Not done with it yet but it's main focus is on what appears to have been lost by shifting the focus from "Doing Workers" to "Knowledge Workers" or, placing a higher value on those behind the desks than those who are cranking out the product. My buddy thought of me when he read it because he is a dude behind the desk who could not understand why I was so happy being the guy in the trench. Literally. Working in trenches on hydraulic delivery systems at our training centers. I thought he was right and worked my way to a desk as he worked his way up. Now we both know I WAS right.... It's written by Matthew B. Crawford and printed by The Penguin Press. __________________ SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING, BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.

06-08-2009, 09:26 PM	#2
Rashy Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 38	http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/B...ew_B._Crawford __________________ SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING, BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.

06-12-2009, 04:38 PM	#4
ranunculous Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: MD Posts: 4	Re: "Shop Class As Soulcraft" = required reading I'm at the tail end of a work-supported associates course that touted the book,"A Whole New Mind" by Daniel H. Pink.He discusses Automation,Abundance and Asia,left/right brain thought and why right-brainers will rule the future. Some parts are interesting.

06-14-2009, 01:50 AM	#5
scottybaccus Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Hutto, Tx Posts: 47	Re: "Shop Class As Soulcraft" = required reading I teach LEAN management principles to managers all over the country for my company. It's amazing how many desk managers have no idea how trench work is done and how many off-base decisions they make as a result. Our program is based on Toyota's and the material from The Lean Enterprise Institute. Both show a high respect for the knowledge of the workers and ultimately placing quality in their hands. "Andon" I like my job. I need to learn more. I'll be ordering a copy of this book.

06-15-2009, 05:35 PM	#6
ttarver Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2	Re: "Shop Class As Soulcraft" = required reading Just got my copy in the mail today!

06-09-2009, 08:49 AM	#3
Tman Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 69	Interesting.

06-24-2009, 09:03 AM	#7
AZAV8 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4	Re: "Shop Class As Soulcraft" = required reading This is something I already knew, and at age 62 have reinforced over 30 years of an engineering career. I have always loved to make things since I was a kid. I took woodshop in junior and high school. (I should have taken welding shop in high school). As an engineer I found it easy to understand the systems and buildings I have designed. I also found it easy to relate to the construction workers and contractors I've had to work with over the years. Engineering school teaches you the theories, principals and science behind what you are designing. It does NOT teach you how to build the things you "design". A REAL engineer can design the widget, system, etc. and then knows how to build it. In fact, he engineers a better design if he knows how it has to be built. Phil AKA AZAV8

06-26-2009, 09:41 PM	#8
Jay Rush Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 18	Re: "Shop Class As Soulcraft" = required reading Just picked up my copy at Borders since they didn't have it at the library. Looks good should be a interesting read

03-03-2010, 12:08 PM	#9
bobx Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 7	Re: "Shop Class As Soulcraft" = required reading tried reading it. couldnt get past the first couple chapters. just wasnt for me.

07-13-2010, 07:31 PM	#10
gatewaysysop Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 15	Re: "Shop Class As Soulcraft" = required reading I've heard both ways on this book. Been tempted to check it out, just haven't gotten around to it yet. Any chance of getting more information about what made it unreadable?

08-09-2010, 05:00 PM	#11
bobx Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 7	Re: "Shop Class As Soulcraft" = required reading dont remember...and that was the problem. i read a couple of chapters and i just wasnt into it. cant tell you exactly what i didnt like, because i dont remember. i just remember that it wasnt for me. maybe youll like it. check it out...just keep the receipt......

08-31-2010, 12:26 PM	#13
teledan Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Utah Posts: 6	Re: "Shop Class As Soulcraft" = required reading I finished the book recently. Best book I've read in a long time. (of course thats not saying much)

09-02-2010, 10:56 AM	#15
teledan Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Utah Posts: 6	Re: "Shop Class As Soulcraft" = required reading Yeah, I noticed that every once in a while he would kind of go off on a psychological kick and use some pretty advanced vocabulary. I got into the book a couple of chapters and sort of got uninterested because of this, but then I picked it up again and it very quickly got more interesting to me. I am a big believer that technology can make us more stupid, and the author seems to agree. I may need to pick it up and read it again. I'm not a big reader, I have the attention span of about a five-year old, but I really enjoyed it.

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