Key Takeaways
1. Making is Creation: Follow Your Obsessions
Obsession is the gravity of making.
Creation is fundamental. Making is a new name for the ancient human drive to create, encompassing diverse activities from building to cooking to writing. It's about bringing something new into the world, contributing to culture, and expressing oneself through hands, words, or actions. Everyone has the capacity to be a maker.
Follow secret thrills. Ideas often stem from deep curiosity and fascination—what the author calls "secret thrills." These interests, whether in Star Wars, architecture, or mechanical computers, pull you down rabbit holes of exploration. Nurturing these passions, even if they feel weird or vulnerable to share, is the engine of creativity and the source of great ideas.
Obsession fuels excellence. Bringing anything significant into existence requires a degree of obsession. This intense focus moves projects forward, binds ideas together, and provides structure. Managing your obsessions, rather than dismissing them, is crucial for transforming passion into tangible creations and achieving excellence.
2. Embrace Planning: Lists Are Your Friend
if lists do anything, they give rhyme and reason to any project, big or small.
Lists tame complexity. Initially seen as creativity killers, lists are actually intrinsic to any project of scale. They organize chaotic thoughts, catalog necessary components, and provide a clear overview of the work ahead. This frees up mental energy for creative problem-solving rather than trying to remember everything.
Methodical process. The author's list-making evolves from a chaotic "brain dump" to a structured, multi-level outline. This involves breaking down the project into big chunks, then medium chunks, and finally detailed itemized tasks. This process clarifies the project's scope and scale, making it feel manageable.
Lists are dynamic. Planning isn't a one-time event; lists evolve throughout the project. As new problems arise or details change, more lists are created to tackle solutions and incorporate new information. This fractal nature of lists helps navigate the ever-changing landscape of a complex build.
3. Build Momentum: Use Checkboxes and Deadlines
Deadlines are the chain saw that prunes decision trees.
Checkboxes track progress. Adding checkboxes to lists provides a visual representation of momentum. Filling in boxes for completed or partially completed tasks offers a tangible sense of forward movement, which is crucial for staying motivated, especially during tedious or challenging phases. This visual feedback acts as a personal propaganda machine for progress.
Deadlines clarify focus. Deadlines are powerful productivity tools that force decision-making and focus effort. They eliminate the paralysis of too many options and push projects toward completion. Rather than viewing them as restrictive, embrace deadlines as sieves that filter out non-essential elements, leaving only what truly matters for the project's core purpose.
Embrace the pressure. Working under pressure, like on commercial film sets, teaches you to prioritize and find solutions quickly. Understanding the ultimate goal of the project helps clarify what needs to be done. Knowing that missing a deadline isn't the end of the world can reduce anxiety and allow you to channel stress into focused productivity.
4. Slow Down to Go Faster: Address Your Work
My sin, as a builder, has always been one of impatience.
Impatience causes mistakes. A natural impulse to finish quickly often leads to errors, rework, and wasted time and materials. This "stitch in time saves nine" principle is hard-won wisdom gained through countless self-inflicted injuries and ruined parts caused by rushing. Slowing down is counterintuitive but ultimately more efficient.
Address your work properly. This means orienting yourself physically and mentally for the task, taking the time to organize your space, tools, and thoughts. It involves securing your work (like clamping) and using necessary aids (like cooling fluid when cutting metal) to ensure precision and prevent tool or material failure. Proper preparation saves significant time in the long run.
Knolling and mise en place. Organizing your workspace by grouping and aligning items ("knolling") or preparing all components before starting ("mise en place") are powerful methods for addressing your work. These practices, borrowed from artists and chefs, reduce lost time searching for things, increase working space, and allow you to take stock of what you have, leading to greater efficiency and less stress.
5. Collaboration is Key: Ask for and Give Help
having the patience and humility to ask for help is a critical element in the successful execution of any project.
Don't be a hero. Trying to do everything yourself, especially on complex projects for others, is inefficient and can lead to failure. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a necessary step for growth and successful execution. It allows you to leverage others' expertise and learn new skills.
Help is expertise. Asking for help is fundamentally about collaboration and learning. It connects you with wisdom and experience you don't possess, deepening your skill set. The smartest people are often the quickest to ask questions and seek understanding, demonstrating that humility is key to continuous improvement.
Acknowledge contributions. Giving credit and appreciation to collaborators is vital, especially as a leader. Providing feedback—from gratitude and encouragement to constructive criticism and course correction—is an investment in your team and fosters a positive collaborative environment. Recognizing others' efforts strengthens the collective and acknowledges that great things are rarely built alone.
6. Drawing is the Universal Language of Making
Drawing is, I have come to appreciate, a fundamental act of creation.
Translate ideas visually. Drawing is a powerful tool for transferring complex ideas from your mind to the physical world, bridging the gap where words fail. It allows you to flesh out concepts, work out kinks, refine details, and experiment with designs before committing to fabrication. The quality of the drawing is less important than its ability to capture intention and facilitate understanding.
Drawing builds momentum. When facing creative blocks or confusion, drawing provides a new vantage point on the project. Sketching different aspects, details, or even related components can unlock solutions and create forward movement. It keeps the project at the forefront of your mind and helps you mull over parts and pieces, fighting inertia.
Communicate and ideate. Drawing is an essential communication tool, especially when collaborating with others who may not share your mental shorthand. It ensures everyone is on the same page and facilitates discussion. Additionally, drawing completed projects or variations can spark new ideas and deepen your understanding of what you've built, serving as a fertile ground for future creations.
7. Iteration, Not Failure: Increase Your Mistake Tolerance
Screwing up IS learning.
Creation is iterative. Making is a process of experimentation and iteration, not a straight line to perfection. "Wrong turns" and unexpected results are inherent to the journey. What is often called "failure" in creative contexts is simply trying things that don't work in the pursuit of finding what does.
Build mistake tolerance. It's crucial to give yourself permission and space to mess up. This "mistake tolerance" allows for experimentation without catastrophic consequences. Using inexpensive materials for prototyping or buying extra supplies provides a cushion for errors, reducing stress and encouraging exploration of new techniques.
Learn by doing (and redoing). Skills are best learned by applying them, often through repeated attempts and corrections. Embracing the process of screwing up and fixing it builds empirical knowledge and intuition. Over time, this iterative experience develops an instinct for when a project requires close precision versus when it allows for looser tolerances.
8. Choose Your Materials Wisely: Cardboard is King
In my realm, cardboard is king and the gateway drug to making.
Cardboard's versatility. Cardboard is an ideal material for early exploration and prototyping due to its low cost, accessibility, and ease of use. It's rigid yet easy to cut and join with various adhesives and fasteners, making it an excellent training ground for fundamental making skills like joining planar forms.
Risk-free prototyping. Cardboard allows you to quickly build mock-ups to test designs, sizes, shapes, and scales in the real world before committing to more expensive materials. This intermediate stage between conception and final fabrication helps identify potential problems early and refine ideas without significant investment or risk.
Gateway to other skills. Working with cardboard teaches basic principles applicable to diverse crafts like carpentry, sewing, and welding. Understanding how to manipulate and join cardboard translates directly to working with wood, fabric, or sheet metal. It provides meaningful experience and endless creative possibility, serving as a foundation for a lifetime of making.
9. Tools Are Extensions of Yourself: Learn and Diversify
in every tool, there is a hammer.
Tools facilitate creation. Tools are fundamental to human endeavor, extending our hands and minds to shape the world. Building a tool collection is a personal journey, reflecting your evolving skills, needs, and preferences. The best tool is the one you are most comfortable with and understand intimately.
Start cheap, then upgrade. When exploring new tools or techniques, begin with the cheapest version available. This allows you to learn the tool's physical properties and how it fits into your workflow without significant financial risk. If it proves indispensable, invest in a higher-quality version, knowing exactly what features matter most to you.
Diversify for specific tasks. As your experience grows, you'll discover the need for specialized tools designed for specific materials or operations. While a basic set is essential, diversifying your collection with different styles or varieties of tools allows for greater precision, efficiency, and the ability to tackle a wider range of projects effectively.
10. Organize Your Space: See and Reach Everything
A shop is a meta-level tool for telling our stories.
Shop reflects philosophy. A workshop is more than just a storage space; it's a physical manifestation of a maker's organizational beliefs, work habits, and priorities. Its layout and structure reflect how you think about projects and interact with your materials and tools. Understanding this connection helps refine your process.
Visibility and accessibility. The author's core organizational principles are "seeing everything easily" and "reaching everything easily." This involves keeping tools and materials visible rather than hidden in drawers, allowing for quick identification and retrieval. This "visual cacophony" is carefully arranged to support a fast, stream-of-consciousness working style.
First-order retrievability. This principle emphasizes arranging tools and materials so they can be accessed directly without moving other items. While challenging in limited spaces, prioritizing frequently used items and having multiple sets of essential tools placed strategically throughout the shop saves time and increases efficiency, supporting a fluid workflow.
11. Share Everything: Knowledge, Credit, and Vision
In my experience, the more you give away, the richer you will be (to paraphrase Paul McCartney).
Sharing fuels progress. Sharing knowledge, methodologies, and enthusiasm is essential for the growth of the making community and human progress. Overcoming the fear that sharing incurs a cost, the author believes generosity with information leads to greater personal and collective enrichment.
Share your work and credit. Talking about your projects and showing tangible evidence of your skills is crucial for finding opportunities, collaborators, and building a reputation. Just as important is giving credit to those who helped you, acknowledging that great achievements are almost always the result of collective effort and standing on the shoulders of others.
Share your vision. Collaborating effectively requires sharing not just ideas but the underlying vision for a project. Clearly communicating your dream scenario and defining roles allows collaborators to contribute their unique genius within a shared framework. This fosters engagement and ensures everyone is working toward a common, inspiring goal.
Last updated:
FAQ
What’s Every Tool’s a Hammer: Life Is What You Make It by Adam Savage about?
- Memoir and Maker’s Guide: The book is a blend of memoir and practical guide, chronicling Adam Savage’s journey as a maker and sharing lessons from his decades in special effects, television, and prop building.
- Philosophy of Making: Savage explores the universal nature of making, emphasizing creativity, iteration, and the importance of embracing mistakes as part of the process.
- Practical and Emotional Insights: The book covers both hands-on advice (like tool use and shop organization) and the emotional aspects of creativity, such as facing self-doubt and maintaining momentum.
- Celebration of the Maker Mindset: It’s a celebration of curiosity, experimentation, and the community of makers, encouraging readers to see themselves as creators in all aspects of life.
Why should I read Every Tool’s a Hammer by Adam Savage?
- Inspiration from a Master Maker: Adam Savage shares unique insights from his career, offering motivation and encouragement for readers to pursue their own creative passions.
- Actionable Advice: The book is filled with practical tips on creativity, workflow, tool selection, and overcoming common barriers like self-doubt and impatience.
- Mindset Shift: Savage reframes failure as iteration, helping readers embrace mistakes as essential learning steps rather than setbacks.
- Community and Collaboration: Readers gain strategies for sharing knowledge, collaborating effectively, and building supportive creative communities.
What are the key takeaways from Every Tool’s a Hammer by Adam Savage?
- Making is Universal: Creativity and making are not limited to traditional crafts—they encompass everything from cooking to activism.
- Iteration Over Perfection: The creative process is nonlinear, and mistakes are vital for growth and innovation.
- Organization Fuels Creativity: Effective workspace organization and project management (like lists and checkboxes) are crucial for sustaining creative momentum.
- Embrace Obsession and Curiosity: Following your fascinations and obsessions leads to meaningful and sustained creative work.
What are the best quotes from Every Tool’s a Hammer by Adam Savage and what do they mean?
- “Failure is iteration.” This quote reframes failure as a necessary and productive part of creativity, encouraging makers to see mistakes as learning steps.
- “Remember, in every tool, there is a hammer.” Quoting Mark Buck, Savage highlights the importance of creative problem-solving and using tools beyond their intended purpose.
- “Travel plans gone astray are dancing lessons from God.” Borrowed from Kurt Vonnegut, this quote celebrates unexpected detours as opportunities for growth and discovery.
- Quotes as Mindset Shifts: Each quote encapsulates a core philosophy of the book—embracing flexibility, resilience, and the joy of making.
How does Adam Savage define and use “obsession” in Every Tool’s a Hammer?
- Obsession as Creative Gravity: Savage describes obsession as the driving force that moves ideas from thought to reality, providing structure and momentum for projects.
- Positive vs. Negative Obsession: He distinguishes between passion (which fuels great work) and unhealthy fixation (which can be destructive), advocating for mindful management of obsession.
- Personal Experience: Savage credits his prolific output to his serial curiosity and encourages readers to follow their own “secret thrills” for sustained creativity.
- Harnessing Obsession: Recognizing and channeling obsession is key to completing complex and meaningful creative work.
What does Adam Savage mean by “failure is iteration” and “mistake tolerance” in Every Tool’s a Hammer?
- Reframing Failure: Savage explains that creative “failures” are actually iterations—necessary steps in the process of experimentation and learning.
- Mistake Tolerance: He advocates for giving yourself room to make errors without harsh self-judgment, as this is essential for growth and innovation.
- Nonlinear Creative Process: The path to success is full of wrong turns and backtracking, which provide valuable information about what doesn’t work.
- Cultural Critique: Savage critiques the fetishization of failure, emphasizing instead the importance of resilience and learning from mistakes.
How does Adam Savage recommend getting started on creative projects in Every Tool’s a Hammer?
- Overcoming Inertia: Savage likens starting a project to overcoming inertia, urging readers to become the force that gets things moving.
- Follow Your Secret Thrills: He suggests paying attention to small, personal fascinations as seeds for creative ideas.
- Active Engagement: Immersing yourself in your interests and environment can spark inspiration and lead to spontaneous ideas.
- Start Small, Iterate: Taking the first step, no matter how small, is crucial for building momentum and confidence.
What role do lists, checkboxes, and organization play in Adam Savage’s creative process in Every Tool’s a Hammer?
- Lists Tame Complexity: Savage uses lists to break down projects into manageable tasks, reducing overwhelm and clarifying next steps.
- Checkboxes Build Momentum: Checking off completed tasks provides a visual and psychological boost, reinforcing progress and motivation.
- Iterative List-Making: He adapts lists as projects evolve, using them for brain dumps, task breakdowns, and prioritizing difficult problems.
- Organization Supports Creativity: A well-organized workspace and workflow free up mental space for creative problem-solving.
How does Adam Savage address impatience and “addressing your work” in Every Tool’s a Hammer?
- Impatience as a Pitfall: Savage admits that impatience often leads to mistakes and rework, emphasizing the value of slowing down.
- “Use More Cooling Fluid”: This metaphor encourages taking time and care, both literally in metalworking and figuratively in all creative tasks.
- Addressing Your Work: Proper preparation—organizing tools, workspace, and thoughts—saves time and improves craftsmanship.
- Quality Over Haste: Slowing down and preparing thoroughly leads to better, safer, and more satisfying results.
What is Adam Savage’s advice on learning new skills in Every Tool’s a Hammer?
- Learn by Doing: Savage stresses that skills are best acquired through hands-on projects, not just isolated practice.
- Embrace Multiple Attempts: He encourages making several versions and learning from each iteration, as mastery comes from repeated effort.
- Use Cheap Materials: Practicing with inexpensive materials reduces fear of mistakes and encourages experimentation.
- Iterative Learning: Each attempt builds intuition and confidence, making the learning process more effective and enjoyable.
How does Adam Savage suggest organizing a maker’s shop in Every Tool’s a Hammer?
- Visual Cacophony: Savage prefers having tools and materials visible and accessible, supporting fast and intuitive work.
- First-Order Retrievability: Frequently used tools are kept near their points of use, minimizing wasted time and maintaining creative flow.
- Customized Organization: He tailors his shop layout to his personal workflow, balancing visibility with order.
- Organization as Creative Support: An organized shop reduces friction and supports sustained creativity.
What are Adam Savage’s views on glue, mechanical fasteners, and tool use in Every Tool’s a Hammer?
- Mechanical Fasteners Preferred: Savage favors screws, bolts, and rivets for their flexibility, repairability, and longevity.
- Glue as a Compromise: While glue can be faster, it’s less reversible and requires careful selection and surface preparation.
- Matching Tools to Tasks: He emphasizes understanding the properties of adhesives and fasteners to choose the right one for each project.
- Creative Tool Use: Savage encourages seeing every tool as a potential “hammer,” fostering creative problem-solving and adaptability.
How does Adam Savage recommend sharing knowledge and collaborating in Every Tool’s a Hammer?
- Sharing Enriches the Community: Savage believes that openly sharing knowledge and work benefits both the individual and the maker community.
- Express Your Passions: Being open about your interests leads to learning opportunities and skill development.
- Share Credit and Vision: Recognizing collaborators and clearly communicating your vision fosters a healthy, innovative team environment.
- Collaboration Over Scarcity: Savage contrasts a collaborative mindset with scarcity thinking, advocating for generosity and collective progress.
Review Summary
Every Tool's a Hammer receives mostly positive reviews, with readers praising Savage's enthusiasm, practical advice, and insights into the creative process. Many find it inspiring for makers and creatives of all types. The book blends memoir, philosophy, and practical tips, though some wished for more Mythbusters stories. Readers appreciate Savage's down-to-earth approach and permission to embrace one's interests. Critical reviews mention repetition, privilege, and sections that may not appeal to all readers. Overall, it's seen as motivational for makers and fans of Savage's work.
Similar Books
Download PDF
Download EPUB
.epub digital book format is ideal for reading ebooks on phones, tablets, and e-readers.
