A Splintered History of Wood: Belt-Sander Races, Blind Woodworkers & Baseball Bats

Wood has been fundamental to human survival and development. It provided the fire, heat, and shelter that enabled humans to inhabit colder regions. Without wood, many everyday items would not exist—violins, baseball bats, chopsticks, wine corks, and even books. Many people today are disconnected from the world where wood is actively shaped and celebrated. That world contains eccentric craftsmen and enthusiasts who have created beloved musical instruments, weapons, architecture, sacred objects, and unusual forms of transportation. In A Splintered History of Wood, Spike Carlsen explores remarkable characters and examples from this world, including world-champion chainsaw carvers, blind woodworkers, the Miraculous Staircase, and the Lindbergh kidnapping case, among others.