Has anyone read this book?

[Big IV]

http://www.amazon.com/Shop-Class-Soulcraft-Inquiry-Value/dp/0143117467/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280230063&sr=1-1
2009, Crawford, Micheal. Shop Class as Soul Craft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work

I started it last night and hope I can finish it soon. Interesting premise that the assembly line distinction of white collar and blue collar work has been blurred if not inverted. As more white collar jobs become about performing pieces of a job, piece mill, and compartmentalized they are becoming more assembly line oriented.  It speaks broadly and generally, but ties in interesting philosophy and economic ideas.  I like the discussion of the Ford assembly line and the wheelwrights that left because they thought of themselves as experts and that knowledge was not reflected in the assembly line model.

It make a nice argument for putting shop class back in the schools.

I might be biased since I too think that shop class needs to be emphasized in public education already.

Anyone else read this book? (Truthfully I wanted it so I could stare at the BMW on the cover).

[..]

I tried to but the guy goes on and on and on about what I perceive as nothing of substance.


"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" was much more enjoyable.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_Maintenance

[hubcapsc]

It make a nice argument for putting shop class back in the schools.

I'm remembering the good old days when me and a bunch of other 14 and 15 year olds had unsupervised
access to an industrial sized planer that could consume an entire chest-of-drawers in one gulp. I used it,
a hammer and a big file to make a wobbly set of book ends. They don't have shop class anymore?

-Mike

[Big IV]

I tried to but the guy goes on and on and on about what I perceive as nothing of substance.


"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" was much more enjoyable.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_Maintenance

I read that years ago. I think that I'll go back and re-read it soon. As my initial thoughts on it are a blur because of age, it is definately back on the reading list.

[Walküre]

(Truthfully I wanted it so I could stare at the BMW on the cover).

Looks like the BMW R50S I had the pleasure of riding, 30 years ago or so. When it was completely restored, it was bought by a gent from Germany - seems that they had all but disappeared in Germany, and the 30-somethings from over there, were willing to pay BIG bucks, to buy them and ship them "home" to Germany.

Beautiful bike! I like the 2002 tii also. We had a saying back then..."REAL BMW's have ROUND tailights!"





The had an "Earles fork", which allowed the front end to actually raise under braking, instead of dip, like regular forks. So, the other saying was "All other bikes "curtsy" at the stop sign!".

Another pic to drool over...



Nope, haven't read the book, but I owe my existence, to shop classes in school. There's virtually NOthing I won't tackle...

"I love my bike, it's a-right outside, ain't got a girl, but I sure got a ride!!"

R