Making Makers: Kids, Tools, and the Future of Innovation

A very entertaining collection of stories shared by some modern makers reflecting on experiences from their childhood. These experiences are organized by the author into themes that represent a solid list of dispositions typically associated with the "maker mindset".Many of these modern makers also share stories about how they are raising their own children. Through shared experiences, along with healthy doses of freedom and independence, using things like tools, materials, and readily available resources, these parents are guiding their kids to become their own kinds of maker - not duplicates of their maker moms or dads.This book is a great read with lots of stories to laugh at, and deep summarizing takeaways offered by the author to consider. As both a parent and an educator trying to make makers, this book offers lots of valuable insights. Don't expect a cookbook set of recipes to follow - you'll get a list of ingredients (ie themes), but how you mix and make 'em is up to you!

What - and who - makes a maker?That is what AnnMarie Thomas asks in her book, "Making Makers." She takes a look at innovative adults, successful engineers, and leaders in their field and asks them what their childhood looked like. They discuss the path their lives took, what their parents' actions (or inactions) did to help them on their maker journey. Inspiring pictures are sprinkled throughout.Some of the makers profiled in the book called their parents and said "what were you thinking?!" after talking over their childhood memories with Ms. Thomas. She outlines what the parents *were* thinking and what this generation of parents need to look at if they want to raise innovative makers ourselves.Acceptable risk, letting failure occur, providing materials and finding mentors are just a few of the subjects discussed here. I think it's a must read for all parents, especially parents who have children that have interests that do not mirror their own.

It was a pleasure to read Making Makers, a book full of compelling stories and photographs. It was also a reminder of how important it is for me to relax and embrace some of the "messes" my young makers create--all part of working, playing and learning about the world. This is a fantastic book for parents with kids of all ages as well as teachers.

A very interesting book, plentiful of anecdotes from makers, moms and dads of makers, sons of makers. It also contain valuable thoughts and practical ideas to help your kids in their creative endeavors. The general idea is to not directly interfere or impose but rather create a fostering environment where they creativity (and identity) can thrive. The concept 'maker' though is treated here in a very culturally narrow way, basically represented by the very idiosyncratic population of subscribers of the Maker magazine and the Maker fairs attendees. It doesn't even cover the complete 'maker movement', already a very american phenomena. It feels like the author interviewed just her small circle of friends at MIT and Caltech. That said, most of the finds, lessons and ideas are universal and could be applied for any creative endeavors.Not all though. I can't help but mention something I found completely unjustified in this book, even antithetical. One of the chapters focuses on risks, and how important is to allow kids explore the limits of what's safe. So far so good. One of the featured cases is a very young girl, that being only 4 was allowed to use fire guns and shoot animals. There's even a picture of the little girl holding a bunch of dead ducks. No further mention of any constructive or creative activity done by her or her parents. Just another friend that wanted to be part of the book?

This is an interesting and useful read about the stories of "Makers". The Maker movement is one that celebrates innovation and engagement in a hands-on way. The book weaves together the stories of several individuals who have been successful in building and making things, and understanding how their interests were nurtured as children as a way to understand how others might encourage their children to do so. As a father of two and a higher-ed educator and scientist, I found a great number of the ideas in the book to resonate either with my own experiences or as great ideas for how to more fully encourage my own children to get their hands dirty and explore.

I am not an objective reviewer, since I am the father of three of the makers interviewed in the book, yet it seemed to me that AnnMarie Thomas did a great job of explaining what made my kids tick. I only wish my wife and I had gotten to read this book while we were still raising our family. It is full of ideas of how to encourage and inspire young makers. This is a manual that I wish we could have read.

I really enjoyed this book. It's easy to read and filled with insights into both the importance of making as children and how to encourage the maker mindset in children. It's constructed as a series of vignettes interspersed with the author's commentary. I'd recommend it to any parent or educator who would like to instill a love of making in children.

This book was very enlightening. It allowed me to see myself at several turns and also why I tend to surround myself with certain people (other makers). The book also reminded me of some of the freedoms that I need to allow my youngest to have so that he too can unleash the maker within if that's what he wants to do.