The Education of a Gearhead

I love the experience of sitting in a classroom staring at/sketching a once familiar object. The whole is no longer important and you have to be attentive to every detail. It requirers one to sort of start from scratch and forget all one's preconceived notions. Crawford speaks of the thoughtfulness that comes from crafting motorcycle parts (and drawing skeletons). When his mentor, Chas, was attentive and took his craft personally it allowed for the truth be revealed. He makes intelligent and unselfish decisions and in so doing becomes a more intellectually and morally virtuous person. He had to get outside his own head and try to fix something that was real. He was not creating it, but instead just looking at it afresh to give it new life. Crawford believes that in doing this one counters the culture of narcissism and wastefulness.  It makes sense. When one is attentive to something other than him/herself they can no longer dwell on their selfish concerns. This seems almost Biblical.

This chapter was packed with insightful thoughts. I'm still sorting through all them. I'll get back to this...