Intelligent Hands: Why Making is a Skill for Life, Charlotte Abrahams and Katy Bevan

Intelligent Hands: Why Making is a Skill for Life is a compelling manifesto for the power of craft in education, creativity, and personal well‑being. Drawing on historical precedents and modern research, the book exposes how hands‑on making—whether in wood, metal, clay or textiles—teaches dexterity, problem‑solving and cognitive connection. Co‑written by Charlotte Abrahams and publisher‑editor Katy Bevan, it counters the dismissive notion that crafting is merely a hobby and argues instead that hand‑skills shape human intelligence and deserve a central place in learning and daily life.

The volume is part handbook, part social critique. It features personal testimonies of ten makers whose lives have been transformed through making, alongside Kate Fletcher’s endorsement of its call for a reinstatement of craft in national curricula. Tackling societal divides—between blue‑ and white‑collar, theory and practice—it speaks to anyone curious or concerned about the erosion of practical skills. Engaging, the book is also timely, aligning with growing evidence on the mental‑health benefits of making and the role of craft in grounding us in an increasingly digital world.

Review of this book: read here

About the Author
Charlotte Abrahams is a writer and materials advocate who champions creative practice as essential to education and emotional resilience. Drawing on interviews and evidence, she brings clarity and passion to the argument that our hands can cultivate intelligence.

Katy Bevan, founder and publisher of Quickthorn Books, is driven by her deep commitment to sustainability and the wellbeing found in making and mending. Alongside Abrahams, she has shaped Intelligent Hands into both an elegantly crafted book and a call to action—underscoring craft as a cultural treasure, not just pastime.

Publication date: 2024
Publisher: Quickthorn Press
Pages: 112
ISBN: 9781739316020