How to Make Cool Stuff - Learn new skills, do a good job and embrace the Way of the Craftsman (US Pricing)

Discover the Art of Craftsmanship with "How To Make Cool Stuff" – Now Bundled with a FREE 50-Minute Masterclass

Unlock the secrets to craftsmanship with our updated package: not only do you receive the transformative eBook "How To Make Cool Stuff," but you also gain exclusive access to a 50-minute masterclass. Dive into the world of craft and creativity where quality and passion reign supreme.

Are You Ready to Rediscover the Mastery of Making Things Well?

In our hustle-driven world, have we lost the connection to making things with excellence—something our grandparents knew by heart? Do you feel a disconnect between your hands and your mind in today's factory-like educational and work environments? Are you seeking a way to genuinely make meaning in your life and in the lives of others?

If these questions resonate with you, you're not alone. Like many, I found myself yearning for a creative outlet, a way to escape a high-stress job and reconnect with the hands-on skills of my ancestors. This eBook is not just about learning leatherwork or any specific craft; it’s about embracing a philosophy that enriches every aspect of your life.

What This eBook Offers

• Practical Skills: Step-by-step guidance on various crafts, including traditional ones like leatherwork, taught from a place of deep personal experience and passion.
• Philosophical Insights: Engage with thoughtful discussions on how craftsmanship can serve as a template for living a meaningful life.
• Community and Support: Join a community of makers, each on their journey of creativity and self-discovery.

Transform Your Perspective

• Embrace The Way of the Craftsman and discover how crafting can enhance mindfulness and satisfaction in your everyday life.
• Learn to appreciate the process of creating—not just the outcome—as you forge a deeper connection with the materials and the world around you.

Exclusive Offer

For a limited time, get this eBook bundled with a 50-minute masterclass at no additional cost. Plus, enjoy additional resources and tutorials designed to get you started on your crafting journey.

Hear From Those Who’ve Embraced the Craft

"Magnificent esoteric and practical culture... This corresponds to how my uncle escaped bolshevik/Cheka Latvia to become a master craftsman in the family business in America. Can't praise the erudition and fun of this work highly enough." - @alanwittenberg3 on Twitter

"The author nails an unrecognised malady in the modern human world
Most of what we do, make, or manipulate doesn’t feel real. Much of our creative work is in the world of transient pixels, mouse clicks, and digits. How to make cool stuff inspires the reader to return to creating something real, something lasting, something deeply enriching - craftsmanship as an adventure. Darn it! Despite my busy schedule, I find myself longing to make something, start a project, get some tools, hunt down materials, and partake in making something real, lasting, and meaningful. This is a cool book, but DO NOT read it unless you want to become aware of that little hole in your soul." - Dr Damon Whitten  

"He sets the tone for a mindset shift that will make your life much better. Mr. Smith is a craftsman. He deals with crafts, which is unfortunately a dying tradition. Well, Mr. Smith wants to bring it back and explains in detail why he not only wants to bring it back but also why it would be a good thing for humans to do crafts, even if only as a hobby. He begins with an introduction. He’s from New Zealand and even throws in some Maori. Then he goes into the whys before getting into the hows. If there is no why, then why should we even bother with the how? Right?

Mr. Smith is a leatherworker. But, he only uses leather as an example. You can apply this to any craft, whether you’ll be using this knowledge as your trade or as your hobby, or even as a side business. I enjoy how you get to know Mr. Smith. He gives a little bit of his family background, including even an ad they used in the early 20th century for the lemonade and carbonated drinks that they sold.

Strengths:

• I think it’s imperative to know the why’s. Mr. Smith nails this. I’m a composer first and an artist second for instance. I can write a book on why. Can you?
• Detailed enough to understand leatherwork but vague enough you can apply it to any trade, craft, or hobby
• Pictures! I like pictures. You get an idea of what you can do
• Create, not just consume. Mr. Smith goes into intense detail about the mindset shift that some people will have to make before they can really apply these lessons
• Structure. I’m actually not that good of a reader and I had no problem reading this book pretty fast. It’s not too complicated and there’s not too much technical jargon.

To improve:

• There’s only one thing I’d like to see more of, but then again, I’m wondering if this would require a whole different book. Mr. Smith barely touched the marketing aspect. So, you created good stuff. What do you do with it?

Overall, I think it’s a wonderful book for someone who’s even thinking of developing a craft, a trade, or even a hobby. He sets the tone for a mindset shift that will make your life much better. I strongly think that that’s something that’s missing today. He also briefly touches on apprenticeship, which is yet another thing missing in today’s society. I like what I’ve accomplished so far in life, but if I actually had a mentor? Wow! The thought almost makes me sad. If Mr. Smith’s book sells well and people take it seriously, I sincerely think we’d have a better world." - @romanastral on Twitter