There have been some strong criticisms of “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest” posted on the Internet during the last few months. (Don’t bother forwarding yours to me because I can just barely read.)
And while I lose very little sleep over most of the critiques, there is one criticism that I happen to agree with. The book needs an index.
Why doesn’t the book have an index? I was in a hurry to get it to the printer.
Why didn’t I publish an index after the first edition came out? I was really busy quitting my job.
Why didn’t I put an index in the second printing of “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest?” Sweet Jebus, don’t you realize that I was in special ed when I was 5? I mean really, the only thing I was good at then was singing “Itsy Bitsy Spider.” Do you think I’m capable – even 39 years later – of generating an index?
Well thank goodness that Suzanne Ellison of Maryland has stepped in to help. Despite Hurricane Irene and the fact that I didn’t pay her anything, Suzanne spent 14 days generating an index for “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest” that you can download. For free.
All hail Suzanne “Saucy Minion” Ellison.
This index is better than you (or I) deserve. In addition to the standard sort of subject-based index, Suzanne’s effort also includes a complete list of the photos in the book, a list of the notable personages (i.e. cool people) that I discuss, and a short selection of the pithier quotes within the book’s boards. And no, the stuff about “tube tops” did not make it into the index. Where is your mind, dude?
Click below to download a pdf of the index. And post a comment thanking Suzanne. Or I will sing and mime something.
— Christopher Schwarz
Holy Smokes, Susan meant business! She did a great job! Just a thought Chris, keep her contact info handy 🙂
Actually, “tube tops: 383” is in there. Although I’d have to go for either “cupcakes” or “nailsets (subhead:sexiest)” as most awesome index entry. Most awesome index compiler, though, is obviously Susan.
That’s incredibly good. And I would much rather have a digital index than pay for a thicker book. Thanks Suzanne! I don’t know what possessed you to do this, but thank you.
Thank you, Suzanne. Very well done and thought out–professional, to say the least.. Printing it, folding it, & laying inside the book.
And yes, I was reading the book (perfect for this hand tool noob) and thinking, “This is great stuff! I hope I can remember where this part is in the book for future reference, though”. It’s almost as if ya’ll read my mind…
And Chris, I’m glad you don’t lose sleep over any negativity about the book. As someone who is new to hand tools, this was exactly what I was looking for. And it was in a great conversational tone that made it easy to take in. Thank you as well.
Thank you Mrs. Ellison awesomely helpful. Tsk tsk Mr. Schwarz.
Brilliant! It makes the book even more useful. Now I’m off to look up the tool ghetto entry..
I never would have even conceived of an index that might be as fun to read (in it’s own right) as the actual book. I now stand corrected, and impressed by this feat.
Well done, Susan, you are extraordinary.
To Suzanne “Saucy Minion” Ellison,
many thanks for the index. It prompted me to go back to page 191 to remind myself what a “girl hammer” is! Not a phrase I will retain for future use, despite my anarchist tendencies ( I still write with a fountain pen which – for some strange reason – makes iPad wielding teenagers fall about laughing) . Perhaps Chris can send you a leather bound copy of the book for your efforts.
How about a metric cutting list for us Brits? Just kidding!!
Well done Susan! Thank you for taking the time to put this together. I bet your shop is well organized too!
Talk about awesome! Really like the quote section. Thanks Susan for your energy to produce the index.
Great news…I just musing a few days ago about the only thing that would make this book better was an index. Now we have it…good thing too, because I plan to glue panels up this weekend to make my first chest.
I never cease marveling at the generosity of woodworkers. Thank you Susan, for putting your time into this, and for sharing it with the rest of us.
Thank you Suzanne for keeping Chris on his toes and out of trouble. Remember the scales of the Nay-sayers and Aye-sayers doesn’t balance. The Aye’s have it!! WV John
sweet index suzanne, thanks!
was that good enough? you won’t sing, will you? or mime?
The index is quite lovely. Why does Ms. Ellison’s name not appear on the title page? Credit where credit is due….
Gentleman,
Thank you very much for your kind words. If you were wondering why some of those Chris-isms are in the index it started from here: in Keith Richards’ autobiography “Life” he talks about calling Mick Jagger ‘Brenda’, but it was not in the index. Inconceivable ! So, Brenda (p.453) was penciled into the index of my First Edition copy. I find myself adding to the indices of most books, all of you probably do the same. I offer you two comments emailed to Chris as we were trying to check spelling, etc.
“I’ll pick up on ‘S’ tomorrow afternoon…that would be sharpening….saws, squares, sawnut drivers (I actually know what they are now)…….spelching (rhymes with belching so we know a man came up with that), etc.”
“I have fallen into the trap of ‘genderfying’ since reading cross-peen (girl hammer) and claw hammer (big boy hammer). Girl hammer is in the index. Boy hammer is not, because, duh, everybody knows that.”
And one evening I looked at the tee shirt I was wearing that has the quote, “You, minion, are too saucy.” (Two Gentleman of Verona) and signed off as the Saucy (Indexing ) Minion. One of Chris’
heroes is Charles Hayward, mine is Shakespeare (he’s the man).
All the best, woodworkers!
Suzanne
Thanks a ton for the index! It is great!
FWIW, I wrote nice things about it over at Lumberjocks. I figured SOMEONE had to defend it 🙂
I have experienced indexing a book before. It was all computer generated, but we had to come up with the terms. It was still very time consuming. That computer generated index doesn’t hold a candle to this one. This one is readable in it’s own right, and entertainingly so. It is downright amazing. And I don’t even have a copy of the book!! This might be the best advertising the book ever gets!
David
Glad I read these posts, ’cause David just took the words right out of my fingertips, And I too have yet to purchase the book. Partly because I’n not sure which of several I want to get first. Chris & John, If you had something like this whenever you released a book, even if it took you a little longer, I do think it help sell more books. I know it would influence me!
And, thank you, Suzanne, spectacular work! Maybe Chris SHOULD pay you to do this.
-Lance
Thanks so much Suzanne!!
Books need indices. Thank you for creating one.
It is funny, but last weekend, I was searching the book for a particular passage when the lack of an index became a real issue. Clearly I should have been in the USA, so that this post would have reached me while I was still searching!
Lance,
buying woodworking books is a fun journey, just jump right in! ATC is a no-risk purchase. You might also enjoy the article ‘The Craft Classics in Just 5’ in the June 2011 edition of Popular Woodworking. This article reinforces my view that ATC is a no-risk purchase.
Erskine
The index is fanatastic. Thank you
It is a great index.
Thanks Suzanne!
Chris,
Why would you publish this without credit to the author?
Seems like a major oversight not to include the author’s name or some acknowledgement for such an exceptional and generous piece of work.
Chris,
Love the book. It has been great for someone like me that has more tools than sense. I did not even notice that it didn’t have an index, but of course I’m one of those weird guys that doesn’t read a book from front to back. Thanks.
Thank you Suzanne. You made a great book even better.
Suzanne, thank you for a very useful addition for our copies of ATC.
thank you.
Great job Susan. Thanks