Craftland: A Journey Through Britain's Lost Arts and Vanishing Trades
(James Fox, The Bodley Head, £25)
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A book that offers a glimpse into the way traditional crafts were practised before the Industrial Revolution, in a manner rarely found in economic history books. Each chapter draws the reader in by focusing on the people still engaged in these trades today, and their often unassuming workplaces. In many cases it's a tiny group, or even just one person keeping the tradition alive.
Why does this matter? Because these are stories of determination, resilience and of working with nature, rather than against it.
Students searching for alternative career pathways instead of the traditional academic routes will surely find within these pages a fascinating and well-drawn explanation of a craft or tradition that will serve to inspire them
This review was first published in Teach Secondary magazine.