Archie's Way: A Memoir of Friendship and Craftsmanship

by Richard Ezra Probert

Overview

Archie's Way is an inspiring tale about a very special friendship and the redemptive powers of a shared passion.
After a hurricane and flood leads Richard Probert and his young family to northern Wisconsin, he meets Archie Raasch, and together they begin a remarkable voyage of self-discovery centered on the art of working with metal and wood. In Archie, he finds an eccentric and brilliant older man who not only can take a piece of cherry or steel and turn it into something beautiful and useful, but a person who has developed over the years a deep understanding of craft, creativity, and the essentials of life. With wit, candor, and eloquence, Probert paints an illuminating and touching portrait of the bonds that develop, of the trials and frustrations of craftsmanship, and of the special life lessons and the insights that both men—young and old—gain from this unique relationship. The result is an affecting and poignant tale that makes Archie's Way a book to be treasured.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940013554825
Publisher:	Antenna Books, Inc.
Publication date:	11/01/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	166 KB

About the Author

Richard Ezra Probert teaches entrepreneurship at the Syracuse University business school, conducts both amateur and professional music organizations, sails solo on the North Atlantic from Maine to Canada and designs and makes furniture in addition to writing. He lives in Sackets Harbor, NY with his wife Carmelita and dog Aggie.

Editorial Reviews

“This is a small gem of a book, honest and insightful, particularly about the complicated nature of friendships between men--but not sentimental. Like a well-constructed cabinet or concerto, each of its components contributes to the whole. If this is typical of his work, Probert is both a master craftsman and musician.”

Bill Campbell

“Beautifully written, an utterly charming story of homespun genius. From the rich smells of machine oil to the thick dampness of the Wisconsin forest, I was swept along by Probert’s passionate storytelling. This is a must read for every man who is fortunate enough to have a hero.”

Jeff Shaara

“Probert’s homage to tools, materials, and the canny and irascible Archie Raasch will strike the right chords in anyone who appreciates the sound of a sharp blade cutting steel of the tactile pleasure of running his hand over a piece of cherry wood. More, it reminds us that real friendship is a delicate, human thing with the power to transform.”

Daniel Spurr

“This wonderful memoir mixes autobiography, character study, appreciation of nature, and meditations on craftsmanship…Probert’s writing is accessible and well wrought, the literary equivalent of a plane sliding a long, smooth shaving from a beautiful piece of wood. Readers…will be…enchanted by this combination of craft and art.”

Booklist Review

“This is a book about tools and making and fixing things, but ultimately it's about living life to its fullest. It is also about creativity, resourcefulness, respect, and the deeper meaning of friendship and the Human spirit. Archie’s Way is one of the most purely enjoyable book Mr. HP has read in many years.”

Mark Hetts (Mr. Handyperson)