#726

Mentioned in 28 episodes

Shop class as soulcraft

an inquiry into the value of work

Book • 2009

In 'Shop Class as Soulcraft,' Matthew B. Crawford argues that the manual trades offer a unique form of intellectual and personal satisfaction.

He critiques modern society's emphasis on 'knowledge work' and the devaluation of manual labor, highlighting the cognitive demands and personal fulfillment that come from working with one's hands.

Crawford draws on his own experiences as a motorcycle mechanic and philosopher to illustrate the importance of craftsmanship, self-reliance, and the integration of thinking and doing in meaningful work.

The book challenges consumerist culture and advocates for a more humane economy that values and rewards meaningful labor.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 28 episodes

Mentioned by

Cal Newport

as an influential book exploring the value of craftsmanship and manual labor.

2,200 snips

Ep. 325: Simple Focus Protocols

Mentioned by

Cal Newport

, referring to Crawford's ideas about the deep satisfactions of work that involves physical engagement and skill.

585 snips

Ep. 363: Escaping the Digital Doldrums

Mentioned by

Brett McKay

and Stephen Knepper in the context of similar critiques of modern life and the commodification of attention.

453 snips

Auto-Exploitation, Positive Violence, and the Palliative Society: A Modern Philosopher’s Ideas for Making Sense of the Present Age

Mentioned by

Brett McKay

in the context of agency and autonomy.

152 snips

Thick Desires, Political Atheism, and Living an Anti-Mimetic Life

Mentioned by

Cal Newport

in the context of alternative career paths.

141 snips

Ep. 171: Is Slow Productivity the Solution to Burnout?

Recommended by a guest as thought-provoking reading for self-reflection.

98 snips

Guilt, imposter syndrome & doing good: 16 past guests share their mental health journeys

Mentioned by

Brett McKay

in relation to similar themes explored in "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance."

89 snips

A Guide to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Mentioned by

Brett McKay

in relation to Thoreau's views on manual labor.

55 snips

Thoreau on Making a Living

Mentioned by

Christopher Trudeau

as a book exploring the value of work and craftsmanship.

46 snips

Manage Projects With pyproject.toml & Explore Polars LazyFrames

Mentioned by

David Sparks

as a book detailing his journey from physics and philosophy to owning a motorcycle shop.

46 snips

208: Moving the Needle Revisited

Mentioned by

Cal Newport

in the context of a previous podcast episode with Steve Magness and Brad Stolberg.

40 snips

Ep. 202: TikTok Dismisses Facebook

Mentioned by

Cal Newport

as an exploration of the intrinsic satisfaction of skilled manual labor.

39 snips

Ep. 11: Work Resistance, Techno-Criticism, Tales from MIT, and the Depth-Destroying Power of Children | DEEP QUESTIONS

Mentioned by

Van Neistat

as the inspiration for "The Spirited Man", highlighting Crawford's views on the value of working with one's hands.

37 snips

Van Neistat Is The Spirited Man

Mentioned by

John Eldredge

in the context of corrupt elites and liberalism.

35 snips

How Is God Calling Us to Mature?

Mentioned by

Christine Rosen

in the context of the decline of craft and the difficulty of repairing things oneself in the modern era.

35 snips

The Extinction of Experience w/ Christine Rosen

Recommended by

Cal Newport

as a thought-provoking book for self-reflection and understanding oneself better.

27 snips

#106 – Cal Newport on an industrial revolution for office work

Mentioned by

Cal Newport

, referencing his ideas on the satisfaction of skilled manual labor.

21 snips

Ep. 42: GREG MCKEOWN and I Discuss Unplugging, Doing Less, and Finding Focus

Mentioned by

Cal Newport

when discussing deliberate practice in writing.

19 snips

Ep. 139: Am I Good at Time Management or Just Lazy?

Mentioned by

Brett McKay

in the introduction as one of the author's previous works.

18 snips

#619: What Driving Tells Us About Agency, Skill, and Freedom

Recommended by

Ryan Holiday

as an accessible and practical book on philosophy.

16 snips

Matthew B. Crawford on Practical Philosophy and Shop Class as Soulcraft | This is The Opinion To Care About

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