Why We Make Things and Why It Matters: The Education of a Craftsman

Peter Korn combines personal memoir and philosophy to explore the meaning and value of craft. The book traces Korn's path from an Ivy League-educated background to work as a novice carpenter on Nantucket, then to establishing himself as a designer and maker of fine furniture, teaching at Colorado's Anderson Ranch Arts Center, and founding the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Maine—an internationally respected nonprofit institution. Rather than offering practical instruction, Korn examines why people make things and what creative practice provides. He considers how making objects shapes identity, how creative work enriches communities and society, and what the process of creation reveals about ourselves. The book addresses the role of craft and handmade objects in a mass-produced world, exploring their significance for both makers and society. Intended for craftspeople, artisans, artists, and anyone engaged in creative work, this book reflects on the rewards of bringing something meaningful into the world through one's own vision.