I enjoyed this book immensely. If you do anything moderately creative, from amateur hobbyist to laser-focused builder, you'll find yourself in this book. Have dreams of doing something crafty but lack the confidence to start? This book is for you too. I love that Savage explains his processes, how they've adapted over time and experience, but doesn't say "this is the right way." In fact, I think the key point he makes is that everyone is different, and what works for some may be a creative hindrance to others. He gives you permission to try and fail and question and rework. To find the joy in the process. Motivating and inspirational! Recommended By Lesley A., Powells.com

Synopses & Reviews

“An imperative how-to for creativity.” — Nick Offerman



Adam Savage — star of Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters and one of the most beloved figures in science and tech — shares his golden rules of creativity, from finding inspiration to following through and successfully making your idea a reality.



Every Tool’s a Hammer is a chronicle of my life as a maker. It’s an exploration of making and of my own productive obsessions, but it’s also a permission slip of sorts from me to you. Permission to grab hold of the things you’re interested in, that fascinate you, and to dive deeper into them to see where they lead you.



Through stories from forty-plus years of making and molding, building and break­ing, along with the lessons I learned along the way, this book is meant to be a toolbox of problem solving, complete with a shop’s worth of notes on the tools, techniques, and materials that I use most often. Things like: In Every Tool There Is a Hammer — don’t wait until everything is perfect to begin a project, and if you don’t have the exact right tool for a task, just use whatever’s handy; Increase Your Loose Tolerance — making is messy and filled with screwups, but that’s okay, as creativity is a path with twists and turns and not a straight line to be found; Use More Cooling Fluid — it prolongs the life of blades and bits, and it prevents tool failure, but beyond that it’s a reminder to slow down and reduce the fric­tion in your work and relationships; Screw Before You Glue — mechanical fasteners allow you to change and modify a project while glue is forever but sometimes you just need the right glue, so I dig into which ones will do the job with the least harm and best effects.



This toolbox also includes lessons from many other incredible makers and creators, including: Jamie Hyneman, Nick Offerman, Pixar director Andrew Stanton, Oscar-winner Guillermo del Toro, artist Tom Sachs, and chef Traci Des Jardins. And if everything goes well, we will hopefully save you a few mistakes (and maybe fingers) as well as help you turn your curiosities into creations.



I hope this book inspires you to build, make, invent, explore, and — most of all — enjoy the thrills of being a creator.

Review

“Adam has stocked up a lot of deep thought and deeper wisdom: about how to make things large and small, how to make decisions large and small, and how to make sure you’re making the things that matter. Consider this book as a 3-D print out of Adam’s brain, and be glad you have it.” John Hodgman, New York Times bestselling author of The Areas of My Expertise and Vacationland

Review

“This book is creative rocket fuel. Adam is a master maker, and this might be his greatest creation yet - a funny, vulnerable and soulful dive into the beautiful mind of passionate artist. It’s about making stuff, but there is also philosophy, insight, and, most of all, inspiration. This book is so cool!” Ed Helms

Review

“Adam has drawn for us an imperative how-to for creativity that goes well beyond scissors, saws, and glue, to include vulnerability, self-confidence, and self-deprecating humor. I am aware of no human outside of fiction more qualified to pen this rousing paean to making. I adore this book.” Nick Offerman

About the Author

Adam Savage is a maker, designer, television host, producer, husband, and father. He was the cohost of all 278 hours of MythBusters on the Discovery Channel for fourteen years and host of its 2019 spinoff MythBusters, Jr., as well as several other TV shows. He also makes stuff and tells his stories on his website Tested.com. He lives in San Francisco with his wife, twin boys, and two amazing dogs. Every Tool’s a Hammer is his first book.