Here’s a quick update for those of you who have ordered leather-bound editions of “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest.” We dropped off the unbound book blocks at Ohio Book on Tuesday afternoon and they should be ready in three weeks.
These books will be bound in brown leather that is then hand-distressed. The end sheets are hand-colored. The spines of the books are hand-rounded on the ancient machinery in the basement of Ohio Book. And then the final result is stamped with a gold foil on the front cover and spine.
The result is, quite frankly, gorgeous. These books – regardless of the content between the covers – are a joy to hold, read and own.
Of the 26 books in this batch, we have six left. The cost is $185 postage paid anywhere in the United States. To order one of the last six, click here.
Today we received our third printing of “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest” from the printer in Michigan and – of course – it was raining the entire time.
After the last two shipments of books that were delivered during rainstorms, I decided to spend some coin on some tarps. I now have tarp riches that most Arkansas boys would only dream of. Blue ones. Green ones. Big and little.
The new printing has a few new features compared to the first two printings:
1. The cover is a charcoal gray cotton cloth with white debossing.
2. We’ve added a complete and amusing index prepared by Suzanne Ellison.
3. I corrected a couple typos that escaped the scouring on the second printing. Plus I updated a couple sections of the book on some small technical matters — nothing of significance to most people.
4. I wrote a new ending to the book.
Yup, when the first printing was shipped I was still at Popular Woodworking Magazine. And the book ends on that note. And now I’m full-time at Lost Art Press and a contributing editor to Popular Woodworking – a significant change.
So here, for your reading pleasure, is the new ending to “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest.”
Date: Nov. 18, 2011
Shortly after I wrote the final paragraph (above) of my original text, I sent
the first printing of this book to the presses. Then I had time to think – a
dangerous thing.
Some people (not me!) write books in hopes of changing the world. As a
lifelong writer I can tell you that what usually happens is that a book really
changes only one person – the author. After forcing myself to face the stupid
things that institutions do to individuals, it became impossible for me to go
to work every day for one of these large institutions.
Lucky for me, my wife and I had paid off our mortgage in 2008. We had
no debts or obligations, other than our utilities and the cat food bill. So I quit
my job. It was the happiest day of my life – right behind the birth of my two
children and my wedding day. (Right honey? Did I say that right?)
Since the day I walked out of my fantastic dream job in June 2011 I have
focused all my energy on publishing books and blog entries that promote the
cause of handwork – my true love.
By the time you read this, I might be handing you a carton of fries via
some Midwestern drive-through window. But when I’m not cleaning out the
grease trap for the deep-fryer or adjusting my hairnet to conceal my receding
hairline, I’ll be writing outlines during my breaks for my next book.
Next up: Furniture design.
Other than the above changes, it’s the same book – no need to buy another one. The new gray-cloth version will start shipping next week. Same price – $37.
“It is not, truly speaking, the labour that is divided, but the men: – divided into mere segments of men – broken into small fragments and crumbs of life; so that all the little piece of intelligence that is left in a man is not enough to make a pin, or a nail, but exhausts itself in the making the point of a pin or the head of a nail.”
“The cheapest things are bought in India; as much labour or manufacture may be had there for two pence as in England for a shilling. The carriage there is dear, the customs are high, the merchant has great gains, and so has the retailer; yet still with all this charge, the Indians are a great deal cheaper than equal English manufacture.”
— Sir Dudley North, “Considerations upon the East India Trade” (1701)
