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Cræft: An Inquiry Into the Origins and True Meaning of Traditional Crafts
Cræft: An Inquiry Into the Origins and True Meaning of Traditional Crafts | Alexander Langlands
8 posts | 9 read | 16 to read
An archaeologist takes us into the ancient world of traditional crafts to uncover their deep, original histories. An archaeologist takes us into the ancient world of traditional crafts to uncover their deep, original histories. In the midst of a seemingly endless supply of mass-manufactured products, we find ourselves nostalgic for products bearing the mark of authenticity—hand-made furniture, artisan breads, craft beers, and other goods produced by human hands. What often goes unnoticed is the transformation of our understanding of craft—or rather, craft—in the wake of industrialization. In Craft, archaeologist and medieval historian Alexander Langlands argues that our modern understanding of craft only skims the surface. His journeys from his home in Wales have taken him along the Atlantic seaboard of Europe, from Spain through France and England to Scotland and Iceland in search of the lost meaning of craft. Reaching as far back as the Neolithic period, he combines deep history with scientific analyses and personal anecdotes. We follow the author as he herds sheep, keeps bees, tans hides, spins wool, and thatches roofs. We learn that scythes work much better on tall grass than the latest model of weed trimmers, that you can spin wool using a large wooden spoon, and that it was once considered criminal to work on animal hides before a requisite twelve-month soak. When it first appeared in Old English, the word craft signified an indefinable sense of knowledge, wisdom, and resourcefulness. Rediscovering craft will connect us with our human past, our sense of place, and our remarkable capacity to survive in the harshest of landscapes. Craft helps us more fully appreciate human ingenuity and the passing on of traditions from generation to generation.
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review
CampbellTaraL
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Mehso-so

I wanted so much more from this book. It's a very man-centric view and exclusive to Britain. The author ropes me in with statements like: "[...]we have become detached from making, and it isn't a good state for us to be in." But then slogs on and on, primarily about his experiences as someone with the wealth and time to dedicate to reenactment under the guise of research. Excellent points made throughout, just falls flat with delivery.

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jmofo
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this #bookspin which is part memoirish, part historical ponderings, part commentary. I was hoping for something drier, more academic, I guess, 🤷ðŸ»â€â™‚ï¸ but it was an enjoyable read. This is one of those times when I wished I had read a book before another because I‘m always chasing the books I already love but different. The behind the scenes historical farm anecdotes were delightful.

jmofo The quote above cracked me up. My roommate (who introduced me to the BBC historical farm shows) and I have a “drinking game†(I usually drink water) wherein one of the many drink prompts is “Alex talks while Peter works very hard in the backgroundâ€. Alex puts in the work, but he‘s always got something to say. 5y
TheAromaofBooks haha I'm definitely better at talking the craft myself! 😂 5y
27 likes2 comments
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jmofo
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On haymaking:
“...in an act of mock knowingness, testing its sweetness between my teeth.â€
As I have posted before, I love the BBC historic farm shows and so I am acquainted with Alex‘s delight in imagining and supposing and theorizing. Some criticism of this book has come to bear (ableist, limited view, romanticizing the past) but I knew what I was in for when I opened this book. It‘s not what I hoped for but it‘s 💯 Alex. #bookspin underway!

TheAromaofBooks This sounds like an intriguing one. I'll be interested to hear what you think when you finish! 5y
Litsi Please ignore the criticism. One could do that to any work. Science fiction can be seen as silly escapism, faux science. Romance as approved porn. Fantasy as not realistic. Read and enjoy the world as it is and isn‘t- which is the entire point of fiction in my book. 5y
23 likes2 comments
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jmofo
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#bookspinbonanza list!
I admit there are no chunksters in this list. This month is a mix of audio books and paper-based books since this month‘s a little different.
Thank you @TheAromaofBooks for organizing this! Now back to my #doublespin for April...

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Great list. I'm thinking about making my list all books I've been meaning to reread. 5y
jmofo Oooh! @TheAromaofBooks that‘s a fun idea! I love to reread too many chunksters to attempt that! Best of luck! 5y
22 likes2 comments
review
AmandaL
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book about traditional crafts. It's amazing the sustainable technologies people have created through the ages with locally available resources, and the amount of know-how that went into them. Unfortunately, that ingenuity is dying out as people rely on mass manufactured, cheaply made products. Although this book focused mostly on the U.K., it's message of the importance on supporting and promoting craft is universal. ðŸ‘ðŸ‘

50 likes1 stack add
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AmandaL
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This is the summer of nonfiction for me, especially books about sustainable living. Rather than a 'how-to,' this book discusses traditional crafts, what they meant to British culture through the ages, and the author's experience with them. So far, it's made me want to take up weaving and keep bees. ðŸ

8leagueboot It‘s so handsome! 6y
Reecaspieces Awe....peanut says hey! #pugsoflitsy 6y
AmandaL @8leagueboot Thank you! 6y
AmandaL @Reecaspieces 😊 Buster says hey to Peanut! 6y
55 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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BarefootBurk
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Pickpick

This was fascinating. Also, it was quite a challenge compared to most of what I read these days. But it felt good to stretch the brain a bit.

Booksnchill Waiting on this one from the library! 7y
21 likes1 stack add1 comment
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silentrequiem
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At Kramerbooks waiting for @erinreads and resisting buying this...

erinreads Getting on the train now! Be there in less than 15 mins! 7y
silentrequiem I think @queerbookreader might like this one? 7y
queerbookreader Crafting + history ??????? Yes PLEASE 7y
38 likes3 stack adds3 comments