This is not your average "I drastically changed my career" story. Yes, Nina MacLaughlin did go from being a writer for a weekly magazine to working as a carpenter. Even though carpentry is very concrete manual work and writing very cerebral. MacLaughlin learns many spiritual life lessons while learning carpentry, and describes her much coveted writing job as "clicking in front of a screen". She dwells on the history of certain carpenter's tools and what famous writers have said about them. She quotes Ovid and Garcia Marquez to name a few.
I loved her descriptions of the people she meets: owners of the homes she works on, fellow workers and some family members, and crazy situations she lands in. Above all I really felt MacLaughlin's admiration and love for her boss and mentor, Mary.
Basic tools are the titles of the chapters, such as "Hammer", "Screwdriver" and "Level". Each tool is also a metaphor for a piece of self discovery the author experiences. ( )

nonfiction/maker memoir-career change (journalist to carpenter). ( )

This was a great read as someone going through a major career change. Not the same kind of career change, but I still found lots of similarities and comforts in hearing MacLaughlin's story. ( )

I loved the detailed descriptions of carpentry work. Not that I'm a skilled carpenter myself, though reading this book did bring up fond childhood memories of watching my dad build bookshelves, step stools, and bed frames in the garage and following him around the hardware store to pick up supplies he had forgotten during earlier visits. I remember him teaching me how to use a level, making sure the air bubble lined up with the markings just right--and him telling me to stop playing with it because he needed it to do actual work. I also remember his promise to build me a tree house, but that never happened. Oh, well.

Anyway, this memoir will appeal to those who know nothing about carpentry because really it has less to do with carpentry than it does with: that transition from leaving a so-so job for one that better satisfies, the thrill of developing new skills, and those messy mistakes and learning from them. When I picked up this book, I hadn't expected so many takeaway lessons that could be applied to work, learning, writing, life. It was a pleasure to read. ( )

This is an easy, interesting read for anyone that enjoy's those shows about home renovation or actually getting out an tackling a/any project with your own two hands. If you, like MacLaughlin, have ever contemplated leaving the 9 to 5 for an unchartered creative endevour buckle up and get ready to be inspired. It isn't always easy but Hammer Head shows exactly why you should take it on anyway.