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Every tool's a hammer : life is what you make it
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2019
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Summary
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

"An imperative how-to for creativity." --Nick Offerman

Adam Savage--star of Discovery Channel's Mythbusters and one of the most beloved figures in science and tech--shares his golden rules of creativity, from finding inspiration to following through and successfully making your idea a reality.

Every Tool ' s a Hammer is a chronicle of my life as a maker. It's an exploration of making and of my own productive obsessions, but it's also a permission slip of sorts from me to you. Permission to grab hold of the things you're interested in, that fascinate you, and to dive deeper into them to see where they lead you.

Through stories from forty-plus years of making and molding, building and break­ing, along with the lessons I learned along the way, this book is meant to be a toolbox of problem solving, complete with a shop's worth of notes on the tools, techniques, and materials that I use most often. Things like: In Every Tool There Is a Hammer --don't wait until everything is perfect to begin a project, and if you don't have the exact right tool for a task, just use whatever's handy; Increase Your Loose Tolerance --making is messy and filled with screwups, but that's okay, as creativity is a path with twists and turns and not a straight line to be found; Use More Cooling Fluid --it prolongs the life of blades and bits, and it prevents tool failure, but beyond that it's a reminder to slow down and reduce the fric­tion in your work and relationships; Screw Before You Glue --mechanical fasteners allow you to change and modify a project while glue is forever but sometimes you just need the right glue, so I dig into which ones will do the job with the least harm and best effects.

This toolbox also includes lessons from many other incredible makers and creators, including: Jamie Hyneman, Nick Offerman, Pixar director Andrew Stanton, Oscar-winner Guillermo del Toro, artist Tom Sachs, and chef Traci Des Jardins. And if everything goes well, we will hopefully save you a few mistakes (and maybe fingers) as well as help you turn your curiosities into creations.

I hope this book inspires you to build, make, invent, explore, and--most of all--enjoy the thrills of being a creator.
Trade Reviews
Booklist Review
As cohost of the long-running Discovery Channel series, Mythbusters, Savage and fellow special effects wizard Jamie Hyneman tested the validity of urban legends, rumors, and dubious news stories using a workshop full of tools to design and launch sometimes death-defying experiments. In his first book, Savage draws on his experiences from the show and other memorable projects to share his passion for making things and offer a treasure trove of tips on transforming creative visions into well-crafted realities. In four sections, Savage contemplates the healthy obsession of creative tinkering, encouraging readers to fly your freak flag, gives advice on dissecting work habits and sharing results with friends, looks at the power of learning from failure, and gives seasoned guidance on organizing a work space. He also includes anecdotes and insights from movie industry insiders, such as director Guillermo Del Toro and Pixar's Andrew Stanton. Artists, inventors, and creators of every stripe will find Savage's work inspiring and informative, while Mythbusters fans and others will savor his many amusing making foibles and misadventures.--Carl Hays Copyright 2019 Booklist
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