Dale Dougherty, creator of MAKE- Magazine and the Maker Faire, takes readers on a guided international tour of the spectacular phenomenon known as the Maker Movement, a social revolution that is changing what gets made, how things are made, where things are made, and who gets to make them. Unlike other books about contemporary making, which have detailed the implications for business and industry, Free to Make explores how making impacts our personal and social development–our ability to learn, to thrive, and to work with purpose and dignity. Dougherty explains how we are moving away from one-size-fits-all, passive consumption and command-and-control models of education and business, and instead embracing our freedom to participate. With full-color illustrations that capture the inventors and craftspeople of all ages, this book invites readers to see themselves as creators, builders, and shapers of the world around them.