Book Description

HANDS AT WORK: Portraits and Profiles of People Who Work with Their Hands portrays, through stories and black-and-white photographs, forty-two people who are passionate about laboring with their hands. Through biography, geography, and technical description, author Iris Graville weaves vivid narratives of a boat-builder, potter, physical therapist, painter, baker, midwife, chef, sign language interpreter, blacksmith, and others as they describe how and why they do what they do. They talk of living in their hands and needing to get them dirty, cold, or wet. For them, the materials they use are alive and responsive; through their hands, they learn things they didn't know and are connected to different times, places, and people.Much of the story of these individuals and their work is portrayed in Summer Moon Scriver's striking photographs of their hands, tools, materials, and work spaces. The images convey a passion for work that has become rare for many Americans and suggest that these people are not only willing to labor with their hands but are also nourished by that labor. Stories and photographs combined produce a rich tapestry that will kindle readers' inspiration and provide insight into their own endeavors.