[LISTENED: April 15, 2013] Shop Class as Soulcraft
My sister-in-law Karen got me this audio book for Christmas. Now that I have a daily commute I had a chance to listen to it. And it has really stayed with me. I think about things from it nearly every day.
Think of the book as “Western Philosophy and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance.” Crawford studied philosophy in college. He later went to work for a think tank. But underneath all of that learning was a kid who worked as an electrician and a man who was always a gearhead. So after working in a knowledge job, he quit the life and opened a motorcycle repair shop in Virginia (Shockoe Moto). This is very likely the only book that quotes Heidegger and Hannah Arendt and also liberally uses the words shit and motherfucker (until I write my novel, of course).
My initial reaction to this book was not great. I didn’t especially like the reader, Max Bloomquist (although I see he is a frequent audiobook voice). His voice reminded me a lot of old filmstrips from grade school–a little stilted (which made the cursing even more surprising). But I got used to it after an hour or so. I also didn’t like the introduction/first chapter. There was something about the tone of the Introduction that was either snooty or pedantic which I found off-putting. The first chapter was a lengthy summary/example of what the book was supposed to be about–so much so that it felt like he wouldn’t need the rest of the book. By the end of the chapter I didn’t understand why there was so much left. So I’m actually pleased with myself for sticking with it, as I really didn’t enjoy the first two hours or so. It was an uncomfortable mix of fifty cent words and a comparable dismissal of people who use them, or at least that’s how it felt.
But then he seemed to loosen up and that’s when it got really interesting. His story is a fascinating one. I think he grew up on a commune (although I feel like he only started talking about that about midway through the book). His scholarship, his abandonment of it, his love of motorcycles and his work as an electrician and an apprentice mechanic all led to where he is now–a well-rounded individual.
I enjoyed when he talked philosophically and I liked the he used classical philosophers to back up his arguments. I also liked that he went into incredible detail when talking about fixing bikes (I know nothing about motorcycles, having never driven one and only ridden one once), which made it all the more fascinating. But that may be where the conundrum lies for many readers (and I may not have enjoyed this book as much if I actually read it instead of listening to it). He is a knowledgeable philosopher, often using philosophical terms that are not for the weak of brain. But he also goes into great detail about engine repair: not for the faint of heart either. Rather than something for everyone, the book has little things for specific readers. My esoteric tastes allowed me to enjoy this mixture but I can see many people being turned of by it.
But aside from all of that, Crawford makes a very convincing case, that for some people a college degree is not only worthless, it is stupid. He lays out flatly that there is nothing wrong with the manual arts–being an electrician, repairman or any other technical trade. They pay very well and, unlike many other types of jobs, they can never be farmed out of the country. During my six month lay off, I considered studying HVAC and I believe I would have gotten decent work had I made the switch. Because, as Crawford pints out, jobs in the knowledge industry (like the one I was let go from) can easily be outsourced (mine wasn’t, but it could have been).
He makes some arguments that are valid and some that are perhaps stretching it. I do agree that it’s a shame there are no more shop classes. I went to prep school, so there would have been no shop class for me anyhow, but I wish I knew a lot more mechanical truths before I recently started all my own DIY projects. And in that respect he is right on–the less we know how to do ourselves, the more beholden we are to others. He also proves that it’s never too late to start over. True, he had the working knowledge from when he was younger to fall back on, but to make a life and career change of that magnitude is pretty major.
The most amazing thing is that this book made me, a life long learner and multiple-degree attainer, seriously consider whether or not my kids need to go to college. They’re young enough now that it’s a moot question, but depending on their aptitudes when they get older, I know I’ll be thinking back on this book when we figure out what career path they pick. My wife and I love the life of learning and that our family are all readers. But when Crawford was reiterating that after he got his degree, he didn’t want to take jobs that were “beneath” his degree. And I could relate to that as I was looking at jobs that were “beneath” me.
Of course in ten years the world could be entirely different.
My nod to Robert Pirsig’s book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was quite deliberate. I read it in college and loved it. If you liked that book, you should like this one. Whereas Zen was more a meditation about life and self-reliance, this one seems more extreme at both ends, both intellectually and mechanically. It was definitely a challenge from time to time, but it proved to be a very enjoyable listen.
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