In this episode, the guys discuss Bill Coperthwaite’s chapter on labor: the goodness of it, the exploitation of it, and some of his ideas about how it can be improved. This is an idealistic vision that Joshua and Mike both resonate with and critique. Prepare to have your hackles raised. No matter where you’re coming from, you are sure to be offended by at least a few things in this episode.
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53:26
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53:26
77 – Coperthwaite Chapter 2: “Beauty”
In this episode, Joshua and Mike tackle Bill Coperthwaite’s discussion of beauty. The focus of this chapter is relatively narrow, zeroing in on the intangible aspects of beauty such as the production context: Who made this? Under what circumstances was it made? Etc. Coperthwaite argues that the process of deepening your knowledge of a thing enriches your sense of its beauty (or ugliness, as the case may be). When we fill our lives with things that are truly beautiful instead of only superficially so, the stuff we use on a daily basis becomes that much more meaningful. So meaningful, that we might even find ourselves apologizing to a broken teacup.
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49:29
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49:29
76 – Coperthwaite Chapter 1 Part 2
In this episode, Joshua and Mike pick up their discussion of Bill Coperthwaite’s first chapter in A Handmade Life. The discussion meanders through questions of the value of expertise, being an apprentice who is preparing to one day be a master, and blending the best of human cultures.
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37:38
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37:38
75 – Coperthwaite, Chapter One: “Society by Design / Design by Society”
In this episode, Joshua and Mike tackle the first chapter in Bill Coperthwaite’s A Handmade Life: “Society by Design / Design by Society.” This chapter is worked through section by section, explaining and interacting with Bill’s relentless call to deliberately reorient our lives toward the best and most beautiful ends. This “democratic” call is for everyone to participate in self-reflection and purposeful action. The guys made it through the first half of the chapter, which ends with an intriguing critique of electric can openers, of which Bill said he “can’t think of anything more ridiculous.” This is technology criticism in action.
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1:03:21
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1:03:21
74 – A Handmade Life by Bill Coperthwaite
In this podcast episode, Joshua and Mike begin a new book discussion series. This time, the guys tackle Bill Coperthwaite’s inspirational work A Handmade Life: In Search of Simplicity. As is evidenced by the way Coperthwaite’s name continually resurfaces at M&T, this book has proven to be deeply foundational in the thought and vision of this publication. Just as they did with their podcast series on David Pye’s The Nature and Art of Workmanship, Joshua and Mike will be working through this book, chapter-by-chapter, summarizing his ideas and offering their own reflections (and occasional pushback) along the way. Bill Coperthwaite was a true visionary, but one who was firmly grounded in living out what he believed. The book is not to be overlooked or easily dismissed. Join the guys as they crack into this rich work.
New Zealand