"A rich life's worth of journeys both at the workbench and upon the trail, Handmade can show us the way out of the woods, sure, but even better, it teaches us that maybe in the woods is the place to be. Gary Rogowski leads us gently but surely upon the path to a type of success we may not have previously considered. (Hint: it involves blisters)." —Nick Offerman, woodworker and author of Paddle Your Own Canoe, Gumption, and Good Clean Fun
"Gary Rogowski loves to rock climb and also has a deep love for woodworking. Both disciplines require courage, concentration and a developed sense of method; one wrong step, one wrong cut. Gary's book delves into this synchronicity with enjoyable anecdotes of climbing and woodworking interlaced with serious discussion of the importance of focus, practice, patience and how we become masters of craft." —Roland Johnson, contributing editor, Fine Woodworking, and author of Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Bandsaws
"'Do good work. There will be evidence.' We would all do well to heed the advice of Gary Rogowski. He is one of those rare individuals who has come to peace with excellence. In this charming tale, he reveals a few of his secrets and plenty of his mistakes, so the rest of us might listen and learn. From tales 'of wood' to tales 'in the woods,' Rogowski's aim is true." —Joyce Cherry Cresswell, author of A Great Length of Time, 2017 Oregon Book Awards winner in fiction
"Gary Rogowski has written an engaging biography that traces his development from a youthful student searching for a meaningful path in life to a highly respected and accomplished furniture maker and teacher. Alternating chapters describe his experiences as a woodworker and as a hiker and mountaineer in his native Pacific Northwest, illustrating his view that the lessons learned in each endeavor are the same. They are lessons in the quality of thinking that allows one to overcome internal barriers to internal goals. While furniture makers will recognize many of the lessons learned as their own, this book will appeal to anyone who has worked hard to identify and develop their own gifts." —Miguel Gomez-Ibanez, President, North Bennet Street School
"Exceptionally well written, thoughtful and thought-provoking, Handmade is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended." —MBR Bookwatch
"This is a book to inspire anyone who wants to do work that has meaning and purpose. It is also about becoming a creative, compassionate, and forgiving person through the pursuit of excellence in one's chosen vocation; the journey to craft mastery becomes a journey of self-realization." —Philip Koomen, furniture designer and maker, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Chartered Society of Designers
"We need more books like this — more books about why-to instead of just how-to. Gary Rogowski does an excellent job of giving us a memoir of his own development as a craftsman, combined with a thoughtful exploration of the mindset that allows, or even compels, a person to have the discipline it takes to reach mastery step by step by step. In a world full of overnight Instagram woodworking stars, and YouTube 'masters,' Gary shows us how he has really walked the walk. I read it straight through, but repeatedly come back to Gary's book for another vicarious taste of a real master's life. Having been a professional woodworker for almost two decades, I find Gary's meditative memoir rings true to my own experience. Thanks, Gary, and I hope we can walk the trail together sometime!" —Jim Dillon, Woodworking Instructor, Highland Woodworking, Atlanta
