Comments on: Shop Class and the Romantic Mode of Politics

By: Larry Polon

Larry Polon — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:55:55 +0000

Conor,

Which book of Lasch’s do you recommend on this theme?

By: Andrés Villanueva

Andrés Villanueva — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:05:31 +0000

Artie, D.W.,

Does the G in your 50 MPG stands for Gallons of oil/petroleum/gas? If so, it seems like Williams’ point stands. At no point did he claim that motorcycles are equivalent to semi-trucks in terms of petroleum use. I think he’s suggesting that it’s hard to celebrate Crawford’s localism simultaneously with the petro-globalism required by his love of foreign motorcycles. Their relatively lower MPG is irrelevant to Williams’ argument, if I’m reading him right.

Andrés

By: M. H. Lucero

M. H. Lucero — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 05:32:35 +0000

I myself had many similar thoughts while reading the book, especially concerning the nature of the “need for speed” craze and the necessity of industrialism for cars and motorcycles. So clearly there is an important aspect lacking in this book. However, I think that this is an extremely encouraging trend, and considering the book’s overall sanity it is probably a better book for the modern reader than almost anything out there. It’s at very least a good starting point for someone who’s tired of modern culture.

By: Lessons from a Motorcycle Mechanic | Front Porch Republic

Lessons from a Motorcycle Mechanic | Front Porch Republic — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:50:37 +0000

[...] surplus technology it has made relatively cheap in the United States, as Conor Williams notes in his FPR review of the book). For another thing, he is dubious that our psychological or philosophical or moral association [...]

By: D.W. Sabin

D.W. Sabin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:07:16 +0000

I’ll take the humming BMW with Artie. Is this review cautioning against an appropriation by the dread “cosmopolitan” or is it forcing a few cosmopolitan hot button issues into what is a very simple and clear exposition?

Not to let up on the pampered “millenials” but they were raised by my fellow Boomers, the most narcissistic and gullible pilgrims to walk God’s Green Earth since Rousseau shambled around in his peed pants, pontificating about the Noble Savage in Paris Salons.

By: Artie

Artie — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:27:19 +0000

“…but we might still wonder if his critique would be more forceful without celebrating petroleum dependence.”

I don’t hear celebration of petroleum dependence in Crawford’s book. Even old BMWs can get in the neighborhood of 50 mpg or more if well maintained, the kind of mileage associated with exotic, computer-controlled hybrid cars. If I had to choose, I believe the more responsible choice would be to descend the bumpy slope of petroleum depletion on a used motorcycle than a new computer dependent hybrid.

By: ender01

ender01 — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:04:39 +0000

This is the first discussion of Crawford’s book I’ve seen that touches upon millenials and our ineptitude in so many areas. Ugh. Your description rings close to home and describes many of my classmates.

By: An FPR Symposium: Shop Class as Soul Craft, by Matthew Crawford | Front Porch Republic

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:32:24 +0000

[...] Thursday’s Posts: Mark Mitchell and Conor Williams [...]