Multi-leveled meditation on what a build is and what it takes to build one. An amalgamation of architectural history, design, anthropology, sociology, and DIY guide, Pollan takes us through his process of constructing a "writing hut" on his New England property. Starting from the planting of the idea and concluding as his sits down at his recently sanded desk, not a detail is spared as we learn together about siting, framing, shingling and sanding. There are also digressions into modern architecture, sourcing lumber and wood, joints, window, and the tension between builder and designer. While not a guide for building your own Primative Hut, this is a deep dive into what it means to build and what a building means to us.