Crafting items by hand connects to the long-standing tradition of American individualism.

In my new book, "The Year of Living Constitutionally," I discuss the lessons from the Founding Fathers and emphasize the significance of taking action. (Watch the video at the top of this article.)

While writing and researching my book, I got my hands dirty.

Literally.

Since I wrote the book with a quill pen, I ended up with black ink on my fingers.

In a previous piece in this Constitution series, I stated that I was a literal ink-stained wretch.

I tried to emulate the lifestyle of the Founding era by doing a lot of manual labor with my own hands.

I carved my quill pens with a straight razor blade.

I whittled my own walking stick from a large branch.

Crafting your own objects connects you with those objects in a concrete way.

I mixed my own ink from powder made of abandoned wasp nests.

I sewed some of my own clothes.

I baked my own bread from scratch.

This experience reinforced the notion that crafting items manually is a cherished American tradition.

Crafting your own objects connects you with those objects in a concrete way.

You will value and cherish items more when you purchase them from a small store or receive them personally delivered to your doorstep.

Research demonstrates that individuals place a higher worth on items they have constructed themselves, a phenomenon referred to as The Ikea Effect in social psychology.

The tables are named after the Swedish furniture store because customers frequently have to assemble them themselves.

In his book "Shop Class as Soulcraft," Matthew B. Crawford, a former professor who became a motorcycle mechanic, discusses the importance of work.

There’s been a "shift in our relationship with stuff" … we’ve become "more passive and more dependent."

He contends that our relationship with possessions has undergone a transformation, resulting in increased passivity and reliance.

And this, he says, is troubling.

The art of repairing is becoming increasingly lost.

We often toss out objects instead of trying to repair them.

The "right to repair" movement is growing, arguing that manufacturers should allow devices to be fixed by hand.

I’m partial to this movement.

Making stuff by hand also taps into the great tradition of American individualism.

Millions of others are also purchasing the same product when you buy it.

The message of much modern advertising is ironically, "Be unique! Choose our standardized product."

If you want to create something truly unique, embrace imperfection.

The pride you get from making your own stuff more than makes up for getting your hands dirty.

Handmade gloves will never be as symmetrical as store-bought ones.

But that’s a good thing.

In Japanese culture, there is a concept known as "Wabi-Sabi," which embraces the imperfections in handmade items, such as the uneven surface of a handmade bowl.

Rediscovering the joy of craftsmanship while researching and writing my book, despite not being naturally handy, has been a fulfilling experience.

The satisfaction of creating your own items outweighs the discomfort of getting dirty.

A.J. Jacobs' book "The Year of Living Constitutionally" (2024), which explores the original meaning of the Constitution, is published by Crown.