Spike Carlsen

In a world without wood, we might not be here at all. Without wood, we wouldn't have had the fire, heat, and shelter that allowed us to expand into the colder regions of the planet. If civilization somehow did develop, our daily lives still would be vastly different: there would be no violins, baseball bats, chopsticks, or wine corks. The book you are now holding wouldn't exist. At the same time, many of us are removed from the world where wood...

Whether you're a beginner building your first shelf or an experienced craftsman designing a new gazebo, Spike Carlson has the answers to all of your woodworking questions. You'll find expert advice on setting up your work area, choosing appropriate tools, working with different types of wood, and building furniture, as well as tips on joinery techniques, custom finishes, and much more. Presenting comprehensive information in a friendly question-and-answer...

Give your child a unique gift of a lifetime—without breaking your checkbook—and you and your kid will have fun making it! Building Unique and Useful Kids' Furniture: 24 Great Do-It-Yourself Projects gives complete step-by-step instructions for building 24 professionally designed one-of-a-kind children's furniture projects that are easy to build and your kids will love. You don't need advanced skills. You don't need specialized tools. You don't...

The bestselling author of A Splintered History of Wood uses a walk around his hometown to explore how every part of our urban landscape—from manhole covers and recycling bins to pedestrian crossings and bike lanes—impact and shape our lives in this fascinating work of popular science. A simple walk around the block set Spike Carlsen off on an investigative journey to discover everything he could about every thing we take for granted in our...

"On his regular walk one morning, Spike Carlsen realized there was an entire world outside his front door that he knew nothing about. How does that fire hydrant work, he wondered? Why are street lights shining more brightly than ever before? And, on a more personal level, why does an easy stroll around the neighborhood always leave him feeling more creative and spry, better able to take on the day? A simple walk around the block set Carlsen off on...