WINNER OF THE INDIE BOOK AWARD 2025 FOR NON-FICTION

A NEW YORKER BEST BOOK OF 2024

'Robinson's prose is humorous and macho, taking its lead from the gruff, sensual delivery of food writer Anthony Bourdain' FINANCIAL TIMES

‘A debut that’s both a paean to the art of woodworking and a memoir about creative endeavours’ OBSERVER

'Mesmeric' SPECTATOR

'Robinson's chiselled, elegant prose is the sound of a bright new voice in non-fiction.'
SOPHY ROBERTS, author of A Training School for Elephants and Lost Pianos of Siberia

'A beautifully cut and crafted masterpiece inlaid with insight and polished with the pure joy of nature.’
CHRIS PACKHAM, author of Fingers in the Sparkle Jar: A Memoir

'Original. Rare. As beautiful as trees... A masterpiece.'
JOHN LEWIS-STEMPEL, author of Meadowland, The Running Hare and The Wood

''What a joy this is. I love the epic quest-ness of it, the wry humour, total graft, risk-taking and downright scariness of Callum's bold adventure. Utterly life-affirming.'
MEL GIEDROYC

'A delightful book about the art of craft; a hard-carved woodworking romance written with tenderness and an almost sensual attention to detail. I can smell the resin and the soft, fresh sawdust. I can feel the bite of dense grain beneath the blade. Quite magical.'
CAL FLYN, author of Islands of Abandonment