The Maker Movement is really gaining steam these days. From “Make Labs” down the road 
to Arduinos in every RadioShack, the maker phenomenon is spreading like wildfire. For some this grassroots movement to create new things is hard to understand. That is where Mark Hatch’s book “The Maker Movement Manifesto” comes in to play. Published by McGraw Hill and subtitled “Rules for innovation in the new world of crafters, hackers, and tinkerers”, this book is a 40,000 foot management overview of the changing world of innovation.
Hatch is the CEO of TechShop, a maker space where inventors and innovators can go to test out ideas, use the available equipment, and create the projects of their dreams. In this book he uses the experiences he has gained at that location to follow the path of ventures such as DoDoCase, the iPad case manufacturing company, to Square and Oru Kayak.
The examples and case studies are the backbone of the book. What we are seeing here is the maker experience from the business side. In contrast to a nuts-and-bolts book like “Zero To Maker” by David Lang, The Maker Movement Manifesto is an enthusiastic relation of the maker psychology and the perks of approaching manufacturing in a new way. Whether it is shortened designed times, less need for out-side investment, or a more hands on and adaptive method of the product evolution, Hatch discusses the big picture issues. Issues like the correct software to use, the different microprocessors to consider, and the implications of the various styles of 3-D printers are beyond the scope.
If you are new to the field, if you need to know why people are excited about the maker movement and why it is being compared to the birth of the Internet, then this a great book. The style is friendly, the examples inspiring, and the read enjoyable. But if you have a grasp of why you want to be a maker are are looking for a guide on how to be on, you might be better off with “Zero To Maker”.
