THE HANDMADE MIND

We are at a crossroads in human existence. Are we going to be more like our machines or more like our ancestors? THE HANDMADE MIND argues that being human is a gift and the best way to connect with ourselves, our work, our contemporaries and our predecessors is to slow our minds and bring a sense of craftsmanship to the way we think.

We are constantly bombarded with new information about the benefits of taking breaks devoted to meditation, yoga, and other stress-relieving practices. But, more often than not, these moments of Zen are exactly that—fleeting periods that interrupt the grind of life. We relax, unwind, decompress, and then we get right back to work. Work motivated by efficiency and incentivized by speed. Jobs where we are praised for being “quick-witted,” for “accelerating” a deal or for “reaching the finish line” in record time. In nearly every arena speed is king. Rather than encourage us to take time away from our day to slow down and breathe deeply, Maggie Jackson’s THE HANDMADE MIND will inspire readers to integrate slow thinking and reflection into all of our daily activities. Combining extensive research with historical perspective and narrative examples that highlight various professions, this book will explore the ways in which we can craft our waking (and sleeping) hours to maximize awareness. THE HANDMADE MIND is not a manifesto about the dangers of technology, but rather a way forward that recognizes the limits of automation. Instead of trying to train our minds to be more machine-like, Jackson urges us to hone the skills that are uniquely, and irreplaceably, human. Any machine can work fast, but only humans can care and craft. Each chapter will include questions and exercises designed to help us harness the power of slow thought. Maggie Jackson is the award-winning author of Distracted and What’s Happening to Home?, and former Boston Globe columnist known for her coverage of social issues, especially technology’s impact on humanity. Her essays and articles have appeared in The New York Times, Business Week, The Utne Reader, and on National Public Radio. Jackson is a vice president and senior fellow at the New York-based think tank The Center for Talent Innovation, a past affiliate of the Institute for the Future in Palo Alto, and a former journalism fellow at the University of Maryland. She is also a graduate of Yale University and the London School of Economics.