Especially in light of the recent events at RL Winston and the decision of the Boo Boys to form Sweet Grass Rods, I found George Black's book an essential reminder that achieving harmony is not a matter of isolating oneself from the situation of society or the world. Keeping one's integrity professionally, personally, and even spiritually is done within changing limitations and the lack of complete control. Keeping one's integrity is a constant and demanding effort. To not include that struggle in one's view of the rods which our rodmakers offer is to demean their integrity and struggle, no matter where one is on the political or pedagogical spectrum. No one lives and produces in isolation. No one has the opportunity to maintain their honor of a chosen code in isolation.
George Black's book may not give as much fact/information of interest to collectors as desired, or as much detail about technique/development of certain makers and their rods as wished, or as much statistical/chronological information about the members of this craft and their rods as anticipated. But it told an essential truth about these craftsmen, how their craft survives and how it may continue to survive . . . and in so doing, an essential truth about the etiology of their rods.
Many thanks to George and everyone who helped his book come to us.
Oldstrom