Fewer, better things: the hidden wisdom of objects

Introduction: Engaging with the objects around us --

Life on Pumpkin Creek --

A few words on craft --

The paper challenge --

Being "hands on" --

Tricks of the trade --

Tooling up --

Learning by doing --

Prototyping --

One thing for another --

Face to face --

Communities of respect --

Finding our way --

The contact zone --

The paradise of touch --

The view from the hardware store --

Time to pay attention --

The myth of the dumb object --

Going deep --

The way of tea --

All that is left --

Small worlds --

Fewer, better things --

To have and to hold --

Thinking things through --

Material science --

Handle ... with care --

Anchor points --

The view from Tucumcari --

Thinking inside the box --

Material histories --

The itinerary of plastic --

A book of secrets --

Facts, not opinions --

Two castes, one people? --

Epilogue: The virtues of things.