Laren StoverBohemian Manifesto: A Field Guide to Living on the Edge

Wildly entertaining, informative, and well-written. Highly recommend.

I love this book. I actually have two copies because I love it that much. It is fun and lively...and covers everything from the different types of bohemians, to how they dress, to their work ethic, their interiors, and of course their creativity. Read this book and unleash your inner bohemian!!

I was a little hesitant to buy this book, thinking, "This is just going to be about lazy artists who have too much money."I was very wrong.Upon flipping through the pages and gorgeous illustrations, not only did I realize that I knew what a Bohemian was (just never noticed it), but to some degree I am a Bohemian! Everyone is going around with some sort of name for themselves these days, a group they identify with, and I spent the last few years wondering who exactly I was. The answer was in this book. Bohemians are not lazy artists; they are vagabonds, wanderers, always on the lookout for odd jobs and artistic opportunities, and all while throwing extravagant parties for their friends and decorating everything in sight. They defy, resist, remodel, transform things. As stated by Stover, "Bohemians change the world."If you are looking for an analysis of lazy whiners who call themselves artists, I suggest looking at a Hipster Manifesto, if there is one. I don't recommend this if you are a person who wears Ugg boots or sports jerseys, has an array of Apple products, or is stressing over being "cool" and "accepted"; go ahead and be a conformist, that's fine by me, no one is stopping you. But this book is very entertaining for both Bohemians-in-the-making and people who are outright curious in learning about their culture. This book is definitely worth the money!

I ordered this book because I saw it at a rummage sale and it peaked my interest, but I didn't get it there and later wished I had.It's a pretty interesting read. The Bohemian Manifesto records the lifestyle and attitudes of your stereotypical and generalized bohemian. How they dress, eat, love, what they read and even smoke is all in here. You'll probably read this and find your inner bohemian wanting to come out. I've heard a lot of people call me a bohemian, and certainly I know that I found a lot of references to myself in here, making this a very amusing book for me.By-the-by, the watercolor illustrations are really nice and add a colorful touch. I rather enjoyed the one of the bohemians skinny dipping in a lake.I would recommend this to someone who will take it with a grain of salt. Real bohemians might feel offended, people just reading for amusement will enjoy it, maybe even be inspired. I know that the music and book suggestions really appealed to me and I now have my new winter reading list.

Very interesting and detailedLots of neat ideas and explains clearly

Love this little book! I bought this because I got a copy somewhere when my first marriage ended in divorce. I was living in a tiny apartment on my own for the first time and drew a lot of inspiration from this book! I remarried after a few years and lost track of that copy. I saw it on here recently and ordered it and it is still just a cool little book!

A fun book and fast read. If you enjoyed Ms. Stover's Bombshell Manual of Style you will also love this book. I would not classify either book as self-help or do it yourself guides. Instead, they transport you into world's that you can fantasize about or possibly realize in your own way. I found it fun to find elements of myself in several of the bohemian types. Well researched and written.

I rescued this book from the Remainder pile at a Big Lots store...loved it: fun, entertaining, light reading. Inspiring and funny for those of us who prefer to "color outside the lines". I enjoyed it so much I gave my first copy to someone to enjoy also and later purchased another for one of my graduating seniors who possesses the "artistic" bent. (I'm a high school gifted teacher).

This is such a magical book! I highly recommend this fulsome field guide to all types of artistic or creative types, from beatnik beauties to fashion faeries, there’s so much to appeal! The chapters on what bohemians wear and decorate their dwellings, although always tongue in cheek, are particularly inspiring. Pop one copy in your back pack (mirrored, sequinned or otherwise) to take on adventures, and another on your bureau to peruse whilst painting your pout. Well worth the expenditure.

Loved the book, and it was in better condition than I expected.

Took ages to arrive but worth the wait. Very tongue in cheek but hugely calming and quite entertaining. Not bad condition.

If you are looking for a serious book about the life of various famous, infamous or unknown Bohemians, then this is *not* the book for you. As the author says in the forward, she does not dwell or even touch upon the darker side of the Bohemian lifestyle (poverty, addictions, mental illness) but presents a light-hearted and sometimes humorously ironic view of the lives of those of us who call ourselves Bohemians. I enjoyed it very much.

Absolutely love this book 😍