In today’s new economy—in which “good” jobs are typically knowledge or technology based—many well-educated and culturally savvy young people are instead choosing to pursue traditionally low-status manual labor occupations as careers. Masters of Craft looks at the renaissance of four such trades: bartending, distilling, barbering, and butchering. In this engaging book, Richard Ocejo takes you into the lives and workplaces of these people to examine how they are transforming once-undesirable jobs into “cool” and highly specialized upscale occupations. He shows how they find meaning in these jobs by enacting a set of “cultural repertoires,” resulting in a new form of elite taste-making. Focusing on cocktail bartenders, craft distillers, upscale men’s barbers, and whole-animal butcher shop workers in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and upstate New York, Masters of Craft provides new insights into the stratification of taste, the spread of gentrification, and the evolving labor market in today’s postindustrial city.

Advice and insights from professionals working in a variety of fields, from photojournalism and portraiture to fine-art, landscape and commercial photography Technical explanations about how photographic tools work—so you can connect knowledge to your practice and work more instinctively and creatively Key steps for improving digital workflow Innovative exercises at the end of each chapter as well as on our companion website that encourage you to experiment with and understand the photographic process—from learning how far you can push your camera’s sensor to exploring the effects of neutral vs. creative color Interviews with technical and creative experts about developing skills and making images that matter

Stop trying to beat everyone else. True success is playing by your own rules, creating work that no one can replicate. Don't be the best, be the only. You're on the conventional path, checking off accomplishments. You might be doing okay by normal standards, but you still feel restless, bored, and limited. Srinivas Rao gets it. As a new business school graduate, Srinivas's dreams were crushed by a soulless job that demanded only conformity. Sick of struggling to keep his head above water, Srinivas quit his job and took to the waves, pursuing his dream of learning to surf. He also found the freedom to chart his own course. Interviewing more than five hundred creative people on his Unmistakable Creative podcast was the ultimate education. He heard how guests including Seth Godin, Elle Luna, Tim Ferriss, Simon Sinek, and Danielle LaPorte blazed their own trails. Srinivas blends his own story with theirs to tell you: You can find that courage too. Don't be just one among many--be the only. Be unmistakable. Trying to be the best will chain you to others' definition of success. Unmistakable work, on the other hand, could only have been created by one person, so competition is irrelevant. Like Banksy's art or Tim Burton's films, unmistakable work needs no signature and has no precedent. Whether you're a business owner, an artist, or just someone who wants to leave your mark on the world, Unmistakable will inspire you to create your own path and define your own success.

This collection offers field-defining work from 43 master book artists.

A walk-through wrestling history, starting with the founding fathers such as Ed “Strangler” Lewis and the incomparable Lou Thesz, to modern-day masters such as Daniel Bryan and Kurt Angle. The Wrestlers’ Wrestlers spotlights elite performers and analyzes exactly what made them your favorite wrestler’s favorite wrestlers. Authors Dan Murphy and Brian Young interviewed more than 40 in-ring veterans, historians, referees, and promoters to get a unique insider’s look at the people who have made a lasting impact on the world of professional wrestling. It offers a special peek “behind the curtain” and a rare look into the top stars’ thoughts on their peers, their influences, and their personal favorites. The Wrestlers’ Wrestlers is a history of professional wrestling but also a tribute to the frequently misunderstood art itself. Featuring stars of the 1920s to today, this essential read deserves a prominent spot on the bookcase of every fan and historian.

"Crafts were central to daily life in early modern Japan. They were powerful carriers of knowledge, sociality, and identity, and how and from what materials they were made were matters of serious concern among all classes of society. In Craft Culture in Early Modern Japan, Christine M. E. Guth examines the network of forces--both material and immaterial--that supported Japan's rich, diverse, and aesthetically sophisticated artifactual culture between the late sixteenth and mid-nineteenth centuries. Exploring the institutions, modes of thought, and reciprocal relationships among people, materials, and tools, she draws particular attention to the role of women in crafts, embodied knowledge, and the special place of lacquer as a medium. By examining the ways and values of making that transcend specific media and practices, Guth illuminates the 'craft culture' of early modern Japan"--

A behind-the-scenes guide to the craft brewing world—with advice from the best in the business at Summit, Dogfish Head, Three Floyds, and more! Learn the finer points of craft brewing beer, ciders, and meads with eighteen world-class brewers, including Vinnie Cilurzo (Russian River), Sam Calagione (Dogfish Head), and Ken Grossman (Sierra Nevada)—as well as top brewers from Belgium, England, Scotland, France, Canada, and Germany—as they share their expertise in vivid, engaging interviews. In The Brewer’s Apprentice, you get incomparable behind-the-scenes access to the craft brewing world, along with tutorials on everything from mastering the perfect pour to designing a world-class IPA. This illustrated handbook escorts you through the steps of the brewing process and offers a unique curriculum that supports and enhances your knowledge of brewing basics. Inside, you’ll find: Advice on sourcing the best hops, barley, wheat, and more Information on farm-to-table and seasonal brewing Strategies for setting up your homebrewing workshop to master brewing chemistry 101 Methods for tinkering with nontraditional ingredients and extreme brews Techniques for brewing mead, sour ales, and cider “Maestros from Summit, Russian River, Schneider & Sohn, Dogfish Head, BrewDog, Fuller, Captain Lawrence, and Tugwell spill on mash and lautering, bittering hops, ales, Belgian style, lambic, brewing with fruit, barrel aging, ciders, meads, and evaluating beer . . . In the best possible sense, you will need a drink to get through this.” —Library Journal

All that glitters here IS gold--and it’s gorgeous! This addition to the popular Masters series focuses on a topic--gold jewelry--with mass appeal to a wide audience: jewelers, metalsmiths, collectors, museums, and just about anyone who loves beautiful workmanship. Leading jewelry expert Marthe Le Van has chosen 40 of the world’s best goldsmiths and presents their finest pieces. A short essay accompanies each eight-page section, along with choice quotes from the featured artists. The talented creators showcased here include: Eva Steinberg (Germany): Art Nouveau influences abound in her colorful earrings and pendants Namu Cho (Korea/United States): Cho employs the ancient technique of Korean damascene known as poe mok saang gum. Claude Chavent (France): He plays with the optical illusions of trompe l’oeil, bringing volume and movement to his dazzling flat pieces. Stuart Golder (United States): Golder weaves sheets and wires of gold on a loom, designing elaborate patterns based on traditional cloth weaving.

Masters of the Harmonica: 30 Master Harmonica Players Share Their Craft contains revealing interviews with Kim Wilson, Charlie McCoy, Paul Oscher, Delbert McClinton, Charlie Musselwhite, Jason Ricci, Magic Dick, Rick Estrin, Howard Levy, and nearly two dozen other consummate performers. "There have been books written about how to play harmonica, books on the history of the harmonica, techniques, and resources, but never before has there been a book in which thirty harmonica masters share their knowledge of the instrument. 'Masters of the Harmonica' is a must-have for harmonica players of every level." -Gerald Mueller, Product Manager, Hohner Harmonicas