Sebastopol, CA—When David Lang was laid off from a failing startup, he didn't know how to do a single thing that didn't involve sitting in front of a computer. He decided to do something about it.
Having attended the Maker Faire Bay Area, a massive celebration of makers held annually near Silicon Valley, CA, Lang had an epiphany. The inventors, tinkerers, machinists, welders, artists, and scientists who gather at Maker Faire to display their talents had something he didn't: skills. And so Lang set out to learn something new. Within two years, he had co-founded OpenROV, an underwater robotics company.
Zero to Maker: Learn (just enough) to Make (just about) Anything is Lang’s story—and so much more. Initially started as a series of posts for MAKE Magazine, Zero to Maker is the chronicle of one man's journey from unskilled observer to maker, one that teaches several important lessons about the power of community along the way.
The experience showed Lang many things, but perhaps the paramount experience was that if he could do it, anyone can. With the advent of 3D printing and new leaps in consumer-facing technology, it's never been easier to fabricate your own equipment, modify household items, or as Lang did, build an underwater ocean rover.
The maker movement is at a tipping point," Lang says. "We're at a really interesting spot where everyone can be included. The tools are more accessible, the software is easier to use. You don't need to be an engineer from MIT to be a maker. For those looking for new skills and new careers, there's never been a better time to get involved."
With Zero to Maker, you'll learn to:
"The maker movement is actually having an impact and the barriers are dropping,” Lang says. “There are no excuses not to get involved."
"ZERO
TO MAKER is an irresistible guide for anyone who has ever dreamed of the
alchemy of turning ordinary objects into a creation of great personal value.
This is the one book you need to build your confidence, community, and really
dig in!"
—LISA
GANSKY, author of The Mesh
"David
Lang is an inspiration to anyone who has dreamed of making, but has been hesitant
to start because they feel they don't have the necessary skills. As David will
show you, all it takes is curiosity, passion, and a willingness to learn from
your mistakes."
—MARK
FRAUENFELDER, Editor-in-Chief of MAKE Magazine
For more information or to request an interview, please contact Gretchen Giles, giles.gretchen@gmail.com.
For more information about the book, including table of contents, author bios, and cover graphic, seehttp://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920028284.do
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David Lang is the Co-Founder of OpenROV, a DIY community centered around open source ocean exploration. He is also the writer of the popular Zero to Maker column on Makezine.com, which is a public diary of his headfirst dive into the maker world. As a pioneer in the new hardware startup scene, he organized and facilitated the first-ever Maker Startup Weekend, a weekend-long event that used the rapid prototyping tool chain to prove the immense possibility of the next Industrial Revolution. He lives on a sailboat in the San Francisco bay.
Maker Media is a global platform for connecting makers with each other, with products and services, and with our partners. Through media, events and ecommerce, Maker Media serves a growing community of makers who bring a DIY mindset to technology. Whether as hobbyists or professionals, makers are creative, resourceful and curious, developing projects that demonstrate how they can interact with the world around them. The launch of MAKE Magazine in 2005, followed by Maker Faire in 2006, jumpstarted a worldwide Maker Movement, which is transforming innovation, culture and education. Located in Sebastopol, CA, Maker Media is the publisher of MAKE Magazine and the producer of Maker Faire. It also develops "getting started" kits and books that are sold in its Maker Shed store as well as in retail channels.
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