Cræft

An Inquiry into the Origins and True Meaning of Traditional Crafts

By: Alexander Langlands

Narrated by: Matthew Lloyd Davies

In the midst of a seemingly endless supply of mass-manufactured products, we find ourselves nostalgic for products bearing the mark of authenticity - handmade 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, craeft - in the wake of industrialization.

In Craeft, 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 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 12-month soak.

©2017 Alexander Langlands (P)2018 Tantor

Overall a good read with interesting topics

I enjoyed reading the book. it's filled with interesting tidbits of information that I would have never known or thought to look up. Learning about the various history of the crafts described in this book has deepened my appreciation of the handmade and the maker. My only criticism is that some crafts felt like they were skimmed over in the book, such as ceramics. But overall, I'm glad I read it.

importan knowled shared through storytelling.

extremely fascinating book. we all need to be reminded of our ancestral knowledge. I feel it's important that modern generations understand we still possess the tools, imagination and resources to learn and practice the concept of craft and will be healthier and more resilient for it.

incredibly fascinating book.... read in a whisper

I loved this book, the knowledge was esoteric while still being relavent.

narrator has a soothing voice, but is very very very quiet.

As in I had to use speakers designed for outdoor parties.

thought provoking

philosophical, yet historically detailed. inspires me to excel in my cræft, to think about my choices and actions

yes!

A perfect mix of idealism, archeology and nostagia. Delivering food for thought and something to contemplate whilst executing my own craeft (pottery).

It strikes a chord that I have felt but rarely heard expressed.

I like all of it but perhaps some might feel the more idealistic and philosophical first and last chapter enough and the substantial middle bit to lengthy..