Someone Builds the Dream

An idea is the beginning for many things in this book, including a house, a bridge, a fountain, wind-turbines, an amusement park, and even the book itself. But creating the idea is only the beginning of all these things, and Lisa Wheeler laudits the people who bring the idea to fruition.

A glorious celebration of the work of people.

A fascinating look at how blue collar work and support staff are often how big ideas materialize into anything.

Conjuring up grand plans in our minds is a piece of the puzzle, and often requires a lot of technical skill, but we need people who work with their hands. This is how blueprints and storyboards become a real bridge people and cars can safely use, or a real book people can buy or checkout at the library.

Hands-on laborers deserve credit for their titular role and impact. These professions should never be looked down on, and in fact should be recognized a whole lot more. The author being from Detroit could not make more sense.

I like how the author included a page about clean energy, to show that trade work is not synonymous with regressive policies. I also like how it got meta at the end, paying homage to tradespeople in the publishing and book industries. The repetition and rhyming kept my attention, too (although if I am being REALLY persnickety, I did not love “someone has to build the dream” phrasing) It's like baby's first [b:Bullshit Jobs|34466958|Bullshit Jobs A Theory|David Graeber|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1523865380l/34466958.SY75.jpg|55587029].