I had the pleasure of attending a presentation by Christopher Hall last year in which he introduced his newly published book Common Arts Education: Renewing the Classical Tradition of Training the Hands, Head, and Heart. This book covers so much, but one of the main ideas Mr. Hall emphasizes is that along with the liberal arts, the common arts are just as important to the cultivation of virtue through trades and skills that are being lost in a society that is rapidly "progressing." The practice of the common arts employs and develops the virtues of diligence, patience, hard work, responsibility (just to name a few), as well as employing and developing skills and learning from mistakes along the way. There is also wisdom that is passed from one person to another as one tries different techniques and learns from trial and error. Mr. Hall provides practical advice in how to get started in one or more of thirteen common arts featured in this book, including agriculture, cooking, leatherworking, and animal husbandry. This book is a definite must have on your Classical Education shelf.