The nature and art of workmanship
by David Pye · first published 1968
6mentions
4recommended by
5HN commenters
2018–2026first – last mentioned
80% recommend20% neutral
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None, I keep em on my bookshelf. I refer to my design books. My favorite of all time, is "The Nature and Art of Workmanship" by David Pye, given to me by a former woodturning mentor.
on “Ask HN: What books do you keep on your desk?” ↗“The Nature & Art of Workmanship” by David Pye. I picked it up related to my woodworking hobby, but also thought it was an interesting way to think about Risk in a tech company, and how (for example) more and more structure is built around releasing software to minimize risk and increase certainty of success. I also really enjoyed: “Joinery, Joists and Gender: A History of Woodworking for the 2
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2023 and recommend for 2024” ↗"Of what use is a new-born baby" Michael Faraday, asked about electricity. There's also David Pye, and his thoughts on "useless work", and how that builds a better world. See "The Nature and Art of Workmanship".
on “The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge (1939) [pdf]” ↗…professional Bachelor of Architecture doesn't even touch digital modeling of any sort. If you want a foundational read that touches on deeper meanings around workmanship let me recommend David Pye's The Nature and Art of Workmanship[0]. [0] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/319901.The_Nature_and_Ar...
on “Schools reviving shop class” ↗Victor Papanek's Design for the Real World [0] is a foundational text in the area of Appropriate Technology (cited here by others). Essential reading alongside the Illich (also linked by others), Pye's Nature and Art of Workmanship [1], and Winner's "Do Artifacts Have Politics?" [2] for those interested in.... Let's call it an ecology OF technology? And also the Papanek was probably the book that felt most like a forbidden text…
on “Open Source Low Tech” ↗…way) and various facets of all of the above. The author discusses the development of the linux kernel as a reference for madern skilled craftsmanship, which was a pleasant surprise. My next read is The Nature and Art of Workmanship, by David Pye. It's been referenced by a few other sources that I've watched or read, so I'm very much looking forward to it. I also really enjoyed an episode of The Woodwright's Shop called "The Spirit…
on “Knolling” ↗