Eccentric Cubicle (Make: Projects)
by Kaden Harris
|
List Price: Our Price: $15.50 You Save: $14.49 (48%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.69 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Eccentric Cubicle (Make: Projects)
Book Review: This book makes me happy
Summary: 4 Stars
I definitely don't have the chops, supplies or tools to make the projects in "Eccentric Cubicle," but I still love this book. It's a blast to read through the instructions for gems like this one:
"Fugly? Uh huh. Useful? Yeah, that, too. Recognizing the potential alternative uses for garden-variety stuff is an essential part of improvisational fabrication."
See, I'm pretty sure I'll never need a drill pattern for a rachet, but dang, it's cool to see how it *could* be done if I ever wanted to. I pick up this book the same way I flip through my baking, knitting, quilting books. To see what I'm in the mood for. To fill up the idea coffers. Or maybe to get some creative sparks going. If you know what I mean when I say that I don't have to start a new quilt project to need dozens of quilting books, then you'll know that you don't need a metal shop to enjoy reading "Eccentric Cubicle."
Plus, Kaden Harris' prose is clean, spare and danged funny (witness such section headings as "A Warning to Woodworking Purists" and "The Rites of Springs: Roll Your Own Boinginess"). It just does my heart good to know he's out there, thinking of ways to keep stuff out of the waste stream, and better yet, returning it to use. I almost wrote "good use," but didn't -- only because not everybody needs a mini guillotine on her desk. Seriously though, it warms my heart to think that somebody somewhere spent the time to make a desktop chopper and document the process so other out-of-the-box thinkers could follow along. That Harris was the one to do it is outright providential.
If you like the guerilla DIY style of Make and Create magazines, you'll like this book. 'nuf said.
Book Review: Eccentric Cubicle is entertaining, interesting and fun too...
Summary: 5 Stars
Kaden Harris is an amazingly intelligent "character". Let me start of by saying his book is great and even though I was offered a free copy I went out and bought one anyway. It is worth the money and a great read.
Kaden and I went to an elementary school, with the Makers Faire people to convince kids that making is a great thing to do. Kaden brought his wares, including the Guillotine shown on the cover of the book. I can tell you the guillotine could easily lob off the heads of dolls and a finger too.
So there we stood. Waiting to speak to the elementary school kids. I was speaking as an inventor showing my latest and greatest and Kaden had his projects (guillotine included). At this point I was curious as to how Kaden would describe what the guillotine was used for. Would he be graphic or dismissive? Even I did not know what approach I would take. What do/should you tell Elementary school children about guillotines?
The kids came in and I waited and watched... Kaden then showed them how the guillotine worked and said, "This is a great kitchen gadget. You can cut carrots with it." GENIUS! The kids were amazed! It is a very cool carrot cutter.
Then Kaden answered the questions you'd expect from elementary school kids. The top two questions were, "Can it cut a finger off?" and "Can I try it?" The top two answers were... "Yes" and "No".
We had a great time. Kaden is a great story teller and even better maker. Eccentric Cubical shows neat projects and is well written. Even if you don't make the projects the book is a fun read. Buy a copy OR take one out at the library. I think you'll enjoy it just like I did.
Book Review: Funny, Witty, Fascinating, Cool!
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this book in bookstores and initially skipped it over. I finally bought a copy after reading somewhere about Kaden's great and helpful fabrication tips in this book.
I'm almost done reading it cover-to-cover.
The writing is very clever and funny. It feels like he's sitting there talking to you or giving a really good presentation.
The subject matter is great. Even if you don't plan on building a desk-ballistae or bubble machine or anything else in the book, the tips alone are worth the price. Between each major project are "nano" projects to help you get the most from your workshop and tools - whether you have a basement lair on par with Dr. Frankenstein, or if you have a shoe box with some screwdrivers and a utility knife - and that's it.
I highly recommend this book for anybody who likes to tinker and build things.
Rob Johnson
Book Review: Crafts For Bored Cube Dwellers
Summary: 4 Stars
'Eccentric Cubicle' is a book for hobbyists who have the time to make things and want to develop fun things for/at work. Filled with 10 chapters of weird things you can make, you better have some experience or are OK with getting your hands wet fast. With over 350+ pages of content and full color the book is a nice buy but it's for a VERY niche market. One of the first projects in the book is how to build a guillotine that you can set on your table and I don't know about your regular 9 to 5 job, but I am certain that this wouldn't fly at my place of employment. Luckily all the projects aren't of a violent nature and there is no doubt some that you would be interesting in taking a look at.
If you like to play around and build stuff, this book might be right up your alley!!
****
Book Review: brilliant
Summary: 5 Stars
Brilliant. Utterly bonkers, but brilliant. Instructions on how to build a selection of fun and funky things to enhance your office life. Though I'm not sure how your boss will react to a personal guillotine, or a steampunk 'ballistamail' (for those oh-so-important intercubicle memos).
Full of amazing things to make, with detailed instructions along the way. A must for any MAKE enthusiast, though some of the projects look to require more than a passing knowledge of the toolshop! Someone referred to it as 'guerilla DIY', a tag which fits perfectly.
If you work in a cubicle, you need this book. If you don't work in a cubicle, you need this book. After all, who doesn't want a desktop bubble machine (built from an old CD spindle case and computer power fan?)