Sorry about that, it probably wasn't fair to tease. Here are a few books off the top of my head that you might enjoy: The Piano Shop on the Left Bank by Thad

Sorry about that, it probably wasn't fair to tease. Here are a few books off the top of my head that you might enjoy: The Piano Shop on the Left Bank by Thad Carhart House: A Memoir by Michael Ruhlman I'm also going to throw in a few other books, mainly because I see Crawford's primary argument in a different light. I do believe it is essential to work with your hands. I spent the last few months doing just that and it is has been very instructive. Practical skills are so very important. However, I also think there is an essential human spirit to be enjoyed as well, something that is very present in the moment when engaged in such work. For that reason, I'm going to recommend a few other books: Gentleman in the Parlour by W. Somerset Maugham Twilight in Italy by D.H. Lawrence Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl Zen and the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel In the Land of Pain by Alphonse Daudet (Julian Barnes translation) Seven Years in Tibet by Heinrich Harrer Crawford may well disagree with my thoughts here. He seems to be a pretty devout stoic, but I never met a stoic who didn't have the heart of the mystic beating deep inside. They just need a little push to bring it to the surface.