What?
This is a blogged book on Cognitive Anchoring—what happens to our brains when we knit or crochet or doodle. A blogged book is like getting a sneak peek at the book while it’s under construction.
Information on the Internet is immediate and easy to access and this book takes advantage of all that. As it grows it will link out to and provide you with important information on the good things knitting, crochet, and doodling does for you at work, at play, and just swatting around during your day.
I gave a talk on this to the Common Cod Fiber Guild at MIT in May 2013 but found it impossible to find the time to expand my talk into a book. But the information was too important and immediate deadlines work for me so this seemed a good way to get the word out to you sooner rather than later.
I hope you enjoy learning about this as much as I have!
Introduction 1.1—Blogging a Book
Welcome to my grand experiment!
My book on Cognitive Anchoring will be built like a blog but it will read like a book. I’ll be posting twice a week until the thing is done. Each post will be a piece of a whole chapter so it should be easy to read—short chunks.
Because, honestly, who among us has tons of time for reading these days? (more…)
Introduction 1.2—Where It All Began
From 1996 to 2003 I taught high school English at a marvelous little school in lower Manhattan. The staff was extraordinary. The students were (mostly) motivated, interested, and—best of all—interesting.
It was the perfect place to work and teach and marvel at how wonderful kids are.
Until a few guys tried to drop a building on us. (more…)
Introduction 1.3—How it Grew
So.
The three girls asked to be taught how to knit. As I recall at least one if not all knew how to crochet. All were motivated and bright and sweet… and we were all in the throes of our own versions of PTSD.
I told the girls to give me a couple of days to gather supplies and then I’d have them meet me at lunch and I could teach them. Shortly there were 45 girls and boys learning to knit and crochet. Our counselor—a better knitter than I—helped teach, too. In desperate need of yarn and needles I wrote to anyone I could think of for help. We received boxes from SoHo Publishing (Vogue Knitting’s parent company), Patternworks, Elizabeth Eakins, local shops, and I’m sure my memory is failing now because I know other companies sent us yarn (Time Warner sent the teacher’s roller bags FULL of supplies—I still have that bag). (more…)
In case you need these…
other books & appearances
