Skip Navigation
Daniel Akst

Daniel Akst - Dan Akst is a journalist, essayist and novelist who wrote three books. His novel, The Webster Chronicle, is based on the lives of Cotton and Increase Mather. More

Dan Akst is a journalist, novelist and essayist whose work has appeared frequently in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, Wilson Quarterly, and many other publications.

Even Better Advice

By Daniel Akst
May 21 2009, 10:00 AM ET Comment

If you're a new grad or unhappy in your job, or if you just like to read a satisfying extended argument about how we should live, I recommend Matthew Crawford 's brief and powerful Shop Class as Soulcraft: an Inquiry Into the Value of Work, about which you can read here.

Basically, Crawford argues for working with your hands at some craft. But an aspect of his book we shouldn't overlook is that, when he abandoned his pointless exertions at a Washington think tank in order to fix motorcycles, he went into business for himself. In fixing cycles, he does something tangible and he accommodates himself usefully to the demands of the world: customers, the laws of physics etc. But I think it matters a great deal that he's his own boss. And as I emphasized in an earlier post, there's a great deal to be said for that.


Presented by

More at The Atlantic

Our Aging Prison Population: Should Criminals Die Free? Should Aging Prisoners Die Free?
Study of the Day: bLOOD Tests Can Accurately Diagnose Depression Blood Tests Can Diagnose Depression
Beating History: Why Today's Rising Powers Can't Copy the West Why Today's Rising Economies Can't Copy the West
Greece Is on Pace for the Worst Recession in Modern History Why the Greek Recession Could Get Much Worse
How to Help the Long-Term Unemployed How to Help the Long-Term Unemployed

Join the Discussion

After you comment, click Post. If you’re not already logged in you will be asked to log in or register.
blog comments powered by Disqus
Special Report
The Next Global Economies Reuters The Next Global Economies
Lessons from the BRICs — and a look at which developing countries are on the rise. Read more ›
View All Correspondents

The Biggest Story in Photos

World Press Photo Contest 2012

Feb 15, 2012

Subscribe Now

SAVE 59%! 10 issues JUST $2.45 PER COPY

Facebook

Newsletters

Sign up to receive our free newsletters

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)