Bohemian Manifesto: A Field Guide to Living on the Edge

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Bohemian Manifesto: A Field Guide to Living on the Edge

by Laren Stover (Goodreads Author), Paul Gregory Himmelein, Patrisha Robertson, Izak (Illustrator)

3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 · rating details · 421 ratings · 66 reviews

Bohemianism is a way of life, a state of mind, an atmosphere. It is not a trend, its a timeless movement. It is about living beyond convention. BOHEMIAN MANIFESTO explores and joyfully celebrates the creativity, the originality, and the splendor of a lifestyle and spirit shared by free-thinking, free-living artists, poets, writers, sculptors, musicians, and intellectuals....more

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published November 2nd 2004 by Bulfinch

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Mar 09, 2010 Lola rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

It had been an average day so far. I had forced myself to stay awake through all of my classes (which, due to my insomnia, is always a plus) but the fact that I had spilled the coffee used to facilitate this marvelous act all over the floor of my car brought the day back down to a zero – not really good, but not terrible either. So I pulled into the parking lot of Big Lots, convinced that I needed paper towel and NOTHING ELSE – and then there they were. Right inside the entrance were stacks of g...more It had been an average day so far. I had forced myself to stay awake through all of my classes (which, due to my insomnia, is always a plus) but the fact that I had spilled the coffee used to facilitate this marvelous act all over the floor of my car brought the day back down to a zero – not really good, but not terrible either. So I pulled into the parking lot of Big Lots, convinced that I needed paper towel and NOTHING ELSE – and then there they were. Right inside the entrance were stacks of gleaming books, books with three-dollar price tags, begging for love. I told myself I would only buy one book, I would be good. But what to choose, what to choose? And then, as if destined by some fanciful God, my eyes fell upon an adorable water color of a few friends sharing thoughts, drinks and smokes, of exchanging words and raw emotion. The gold lettering proudly proclaimed “Bohemian Manifesto” as if it were the most natural title in the world, as if that sort of book appeared more commonly then a weight-loss manual. However, upon reading, I found the book is a weight-loss manual, though one of a different kind.

It preaches a life lived for oneself, for art and creation, for understanding and confusion, for expression and most of all life just for life. In the bohemian world gone are the pressures of conforming to society, the struggle to maintain the status quo. The weight of the world is lifted off the shoulder of the bohemians, and as such they are free to experience it as they wish.

Stover’s “field guide” reads like a DIY or self help book. It centers around five main bohemian identities, and then delves into depth about each specific breed. She discusses how they look, what their living space looks like, how they view the world, what they eat, what they read, what they wear, how they cut their hair –every aspect you could possible want to know about a classic Dandy or Beat, for example, is within the pages of this book. Stover is a talented writer – there is no question there. Her descriptions transplant you from a dreary bedroom to a New York loft where the walls are covered with art and sketches, where the scent of patchouli is so thick you practically swim through it, where you find yourself listening to a poet express through rhyme how she always thought subways and suicide were so closely related; and as you listen, sipping your wine or, if you are lucky, absinthe, you will share a smile with the rough looking man in a hand knit cap sitting on the floor next to, only to have him approach you after the reading to ask you if you would be so kind as to pose for him, as he finds you “utterly inspiring.” However, what she doesn’t have you thinking about is that your stomach is probably twisting in knots as you haven’t really eaten anything lately, how cold your feet are considering you only own one pair of shoes at the moment and they are black ballet slippers, and how you haven’t had a full-body bath in a few weeks since the tub you share with a few roommates clogged up and no one can be bothered between rehearsals and showings to fix it. In other words, bohemian life isn’t always as unclouded and inspiring as Stover seems to paint it to be – but, then again, I believe that life to a bohemian is viewed MUCH differently then that of someone so used to the bourgeois world, and because of these difference these "sufferings" are little price to pay for inspiration, liberation, creation.

This book captivated me – I have always been a bohemian in spirit, and I feel as if this book gave me the bouncing off point to explore my own creativity and spontaneity. This doesn’t mean I will follow, step by step, every suggestion in this book, for that would be silly. A true bohemian follows his own path and, while he appreciates being shown a certain way he could take, in the end he makes his own decision. This book is not a “how to become a bohemian” book – I think that is where many people find their problems with it. While at first it seems like that, with its intricate descriptions of what clothes to wear and novels to read, I think it is simply for entertainment only, for ideas to try an information on classically known bohemian types. Does this mean that all bohemians will fit into these categories? Of course not – that would be like saying that all the cookies in the world are included in a cookbook titled “Top Twenty Best Known Cookies.” Instead there are endless amounts of hybrids and mixtures, or original prints and mass produced copies. None is better or worse – they just simply are. I appreciate this book for opening my eyes to a world I thought was just a dream, a world that existed, to me, only in coffee shops and New York theaters. This book helped me understand anyone can live life with their own bohemian ideals, regardless of location. Now I see the coffee stain in my car and remember not the rush I was in to get to class, but instead the night that I stayed awake just to see the pink of the sunrise so as to describe it properly for my latest short story.(less)

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Nov 28, 2010 James rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who likes this review

Recommended to James by: me

While American feminists were attempting to nail down equal pay and maternity leave, French feminists were advancing theory into the realms of psychoanalysis, linguistics, and the politics of language. For Julia Kristeva, all of signification can be located on a continuum, with the semiotic occupying one pole and the symbolic the other.

The semiotic is closely associated with the infant's babbling state, with our pre-Oedipal union with the maternal body, with our bodily drives, urges, rhythms, to...more

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May 24, 2011 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars

After reading this a thousand times, it never ceases to amaze me that there was a book written on my life. The writing style is incomparable, the quips and humor are easy and complicated at the same time and it's one hundred percent conversational. I was unsure when it was handed to me with the sentiment of, "Hey, I found a book all about you!" but was quickly put in my place by sentiments of the charming Laren Stover.

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Sep 06, 2012 Nouveaubohemian rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

On of the Best Books on my Mountainous Bookshelf! It was so hard to get! Initially I saw it online when I was 14 or 15 and just never got around to buying it until 5 years later! I love the Bohemian quiz. Guess which one I was categorized as out of: Dandy, Zen, Beat, Nouveau or Gypsy? The spirit of Bohemianism has always been in my heart and soul. The deep passion to create and express oneself no matter what others may think. I probably haven't embraced the artistic, passionate and non-conformis...more

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Nov 13, 2011 Kate rated it 1 of 5 stars

I am literally second-generation Bohemian (my father born in Czechoslovakia) and I happily recognized some of our family values in this book: creativity, humor, humorously creative thrift...

But in general, I think the book simply collects some stereotypes and finetunes them. I found this irritating.

But I will say that the chapter on "dust" is a delightful collection of wildly varied metaphors, and I purely enjoyed it. A wonderfully artful selection of excuses not to DO the dusting!

"To the Bohem...more

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Sep 26, 2009 Janet rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who has any suspicions that they might be a bit Bohemian

Shelves: non-fiction, spirituality, my-all-time-favorites

I'm thrilled that my search for "Bohemian" on Amazon led me to this book! Not only did Laren Stover confirm my recent suspicions that I have "Bohemian" leanings, but I even know exactly what kind of Bohemian I am..."Nouveau" through and through (the only type that doesn't feel a need to wallow in poverty!).

I had more than a few chuckles as I read about the many quirks of Nouveau, Beat, Zen, Gypsy, and Dandy Bohemians. Now there is no doubt in my mind why I have always felt a bit out of place in...more

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Dec 19, 2009 Cali rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow. What to say about this book; what indeed....This book very possibly saved my life, I would say. I was still wearing clothes from JCPenney and listening to Rihanna, but thinking about Jean-Paul Sartre and wearing my eyeshadow up to my eyebrows and dyeing my hair orchid-purple when I read this book in the latter half of seventh grade. I found it in a groovy discount local bookstore, no less: Half Price Books. I learned about all the rudimentary fundamentals of the original definition of Bohem...more

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May 09, 2011 Shelby rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

Honestly, if it weren't for the beautiful illustrations, this book would have only gotten 1 1/2 to 2 stars. The guide, while laid out rather well, is bogged down by endless lists disguised as prose. For example, half of a page is dedicated to the different surfaces a bohemian writes their information on. In fact, the entire book feels like a giant list of things bohemians like rather than a comprehensive guide. However, the paintings are absolutely gorgeous and some of the book and art recommend...more

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Nov 04, 2011 Ray rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was cleaning off a few book shelves recently when I found my copy of Bohemian Manifesto. I guess I read it last year... and the year before... and the year before that... and just a little while ago. I dawned on me that every year this book finds it's way into the box of books that is bound to be donated to the library, and. somehow or another, it finds it's way back onto my book shelf. So this year I'm doing something different. It will not be placed in the donation box. In fact, having survi...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Ian Drew Forsyth rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book was not what I expected. Maybe I should have expected so, I'd read that it was defining five types of bohemians (like so many brands): Nouveau, Beat, Zen, Gypsy, and Dandy. The large middle section on lifestyle reads like some sort of campy advertisement for each of these personas.
Nouveaus are the bohemians who have money and want more, corollary: yuppies who think they have style, the rich who think they know art and buy Bankskys for hundreds of thousands of dollars but don't have an...more This book was not what I expected. Maybe I should have expected so, I'd read that it was defining five types of bohemians (like so many brands): Nouveau, Beat, Zen, Gypsy, and Dandy. The large middle section on lifestyle reads like some sort of campy advertisement for each of these personas.
Nouveaus are the bohemians who have money and want more, corollary: yuppies who think they have style, the rich who think they know art and buy Bankskys for hundreds of thousands of dollars but don't have an idea what revolt or rebellion really means because that would threaten their grip on money. To call this group a bohemian (even though it is heavily mentioned at the start of the book that bohemians are always poor and learn much from being poor and are seen as hip for being poor) is to undermine the whole idea of bohemian lifestyle.
And to clarify the lifestyle section doesn't really touch much but the fashion and material possessions of its hip clientèle.
Beats are just like Jack Kerouac in On the Road to a cliche maximum. It might be said hipsters are failing to live up to this persona because they don't travel outside of the city enough and aren't workingman enough but because of the open-endedness of this new milieu (to sound like a pompous Noveau) perhaps it fits the beat persona somehow.
Zen are new agers who're health obsessed, eastern inspired, and shop at co-ops, talk about astral projection, and meditate. We've all seen this group, a lot of them have money, some of them are detached from the world, they're not very debaucherous unless it comes to ecstatic dance.
Gypsy are the hippies who travel and take drugs and live on organic farm communes.
Dandy it's said are the Nouveaus without money, which I'm not certain how that works, and want the finer things of life with a ruffled edge. They sound metrosexual and inclined to emulate old fashion trends. It sounds sort of classy hipster with a little gypsy eccentric flair. This Dandy supposedly modeled after Oscar Wilde and his other decadent dandies is still a thing that happens. I'm not sure it really does that much, but seeing as I haven't lived in New York City I will give her the benefit of the doubt. I would just assume Dandies are Nouveaus trying to disguise their true persona.
The best part about the book is the reading list, because there were many books I hadn't heard about which might be interesting. The second best thing was the intro because I thought it was going somewhere different than a style manual to each brand of hipness.
I'm likely a mix of beat and gypsy who never wants to be nouveau and doesn't think Dandy fits either. There's a smidgen of zen, more when I feel like I need to be healthier, but I'm too easy going to be that dedicated.
I was going to file this under the counterculture shelf, but then realized it would sort of be a disgrace to countercultures.
And that said there was truth in it of course, but taken to this glamor obsessed, fanboy/girl edge. And there is a certain hypocrisy that it brings to light about all these 'hip' personas but I always find them entertaining enough to be doing something different than your everyday normie (said like a true bohemian snob). Though this book could've been much more entertaining if it explored all the bohemians of history in depth rather than listing them or making a majority of brief mentions. (less)

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Jun 22, 2010 Michael Baylosis rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This book may seem ironic. Bohemians owning a copy of a guide on how to live their lives? Doesn't that defeat the point? But I guess the reason this book was written was not only because it aims to guide already practicing Bohemians, but to also spark the inner Bohemian in all of us.

After reading this delightful read, I realized that there is indeed that inner Bohemian in me - one that is desperate to get out and be known, expressed, and delivered. Fact is, there is that certain Bohemianism in...more

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Aug 15, 2009 Jafar rated it 2 of 5 stars

Let’s face it: not every “bohemian” is an iconoclastic maverick. Not everyone can be Baudelaire, or Picasso, or Omar Khayyam, or David Bowie. Not everyone has the courage, audacity, intellect, and creativity to challenge their time’s mores and present new ways of looking at life and living it. But there are some people (actually, there a lot of them) who deep down want to be that maverick, who just don’t want to be put in the same scale as the rest of society. They find “mainstream” to be too ca...more Let’s face it: not every “bohemian” is an iconoclastic maverick. Not everyone can be Baudelaire, or Picasso, or Omar Khayyam, or David Bowie. Not everyone has the courage, audacity, intellect, and creativity to challenge their time’s mores and present new ways of looking at life and living it. But there are some people (actually, there a lot of them) who deep down want to be that maverick, who just don’t want to be put in the same scale as the rest of society. They find “mainstream” to be too canonical, stifling, and just plain boring. They’re consumed by the need to differentiate themselves from others. They’re round and they don’t want to get mixed up with the squares. They’re certain that they’re above the masses and have a better taste in just about everything, and they’re eager to prove it. And yet, they can’t quite pull it off. The poor souls just don’t have much to show to separate themselves from the herds. Oh no, what should they do?

They need not despair. There is this book: a bohemian manifesto and a field guide to living on the edge. Never mind the contradiction of writing down the rules of how to be cultural/social/intellectual outlaws and radicals and deviants and subversives. It’s not about any of that. It’s much simpler than that, and it’s really doable. You just need to look the look. Really. This book tells you exactly what to wear, how to decorate your home, what to eat and drink, what to read and watch, what pets to own, and how to love and fuck. Everything is laid out for you. It’s very, very detailed, and it has some cool illustrations as well. You’ll feel so chic and hip and rugged if you follow its instructions.

This book is highbrow and well researched. It’s not for the crude and vulgar Venice Beach variety of bohemians. It’s for those who want to show that, when it comes to expressing their individuality, they have more imagination than dreadlocks or a tattoo right above the crack of their ass. I haven’t lived in New York and Paris, but in London this book would be a great read for the hipsters who hang out in Shoreditch. They’re easy to spot: boys who spend an hour in front of mirror trying to make their hair look like they haven’t spent any time on it, and girls who go to pain deciding on wearing something that shows that they don’t care about what they wear. They’re artists and poets and intellectuals; they’re creative; they’re “interesting people” by definition – who can deny any of that? – but still, they could use some of the advice here.

I could not believe how unabashedly shallow and superficial this book was. Stover has no intention of disguising her advice and presenting it in way to make the reader think that she wants to say something more than it’s-all-about-the-image. This book is an instruction manual for pretention. Those who want to prove that they’re “different” by looking different and then putting it on display can read and follow this book. I’ve seen plenty of them. I wish them good luck. It’s not an easy task. Hard as they try, in the end they end up looking the same. They constitute another mainstream – only smaller in size.
(less)

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Jun 28, 2012 El rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: artsy-fartsy, cultural-studies-and-other, permanent-collection, wanderlust

I can see people being offended by this book for illustrating perceived stereotypes, but to that all I have to say is: OMG STOP TAKING YOURSELF SO SERIOUSLY. And also: YOU'RE MISSING THE POINT.

I loved this book, it was a lot of fun, there's great information here, wonderful illustrations by Izak, and it turned out to be a perfect birthday present to top off a pretty perfect birthday weekend.

This is a keeper.

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Dec 16, 2010 Esther Marie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, unowned

Entertaining, to say the least! This book begs the question, "What kind of bohemian are you?". Very detailed and quite flush with artistic and cultural references, this book is fun and informative, and yet somehow still takes itself quite seriously. I thought the "Bohemian Case Studies" were a bit much, however, and really not as interesting as I'm sure the author thought they were. A good read, all things considered, but there is no need to bother with the last sixty pages.

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Feb 20, 2011 Ana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

Another book filled with inspiring ideas about style but this time focused on Bohemian style -- carefree, whimsical and doing-your-own-thing. It was a bit more toungue-in-cheek than The Bombshell Manual of Style, I still quite enjoyed it for thinking about style and fashion outside of contemporary trends and the whims of newsstand fashion magazines.

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Dec 04, 2009 Link rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bohemian

Laren Stover is a dazzling writer. At the outset she tells us she is a Bohemian, but this doesn't deter her from seeing the humor in Bohemians and their sometimes wildly unsuccessful experiments in living. In the end though, the allure of the Bohemian world and its alternative perspective is opened for readers, possibly to sample themselves. The illustrations also enrich the book.

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Dec 12, 2009 Olivette L'amour rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: counter-culture, non-fiction

Fantastic illustrations! I often refer back to this book (yes I know how "ironic" it is - without being truly ironic - to consult a book about "how the bohemians do it"), for excellent stories, light-hearted bon mots, and enchanting new perspectives on everything from dust to asylums to second-hand treasures.

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Aug 10, 2012 Rita rated it 3 of 5 stars

Enjoyable light read that highlights the essentials of bohemian culture. True instances of humor are present, but for the real meat and bones of bohemian culture I would suggest the reader branch out and research the many references the author provides.

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Jul 04, 2012 Laurie rated it 4 of 5 stars

It was like reading about people I've known throughout my life - so much fun. Southwest bohemians are a different breed from those described in the book, but kindred all the same. Definitely lighter fare, but well written - the chapter on dust was beautiful.

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Aug 09, 2011 Alison rated it 5 of 5 stars

An in-depth breakdown of the various bohemians you may encounter. I'm still not sure which I'd be, perhaps the Zen or the Dandy bohemian. Whichever, this bohemian loves the watercolor illustrations and amusing text. A fun, fun read.

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Mar 06, 2013 Brandi Beckwith rated it 4 of 5 stars

A fun read! Slow in some parts that seem to repeat themselves, but overall I enjoyed it. Didn't take very long to finish and walked away with several new movie and music outlets to check out.

I don't think it covered the full idea of Bohemian living, but it certainly explained some fun parts. I could easily match up friends or people I know to the different types. The test at the end to figure out which type of Bohemian you are was a little silly and far-fetched but for what it was, I enjoyed it....more

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Jan 18, 2013 Ben Snider rated it 1 of 5 stars

Trite and ridiculous. I actually am embarrassed to say that I have read it. The author wants to guide you to a life as a bohemian artist, but all they do is show one how to act like a caricature of an artist.

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May 11, 2012 Sara (h Jane) Gerard rated it 4 of 5 stars

I started this back in November, borrowed it from a friend. It is funny, and a really quick-read. I normally don't read books like this, but it pokes fun at the more "cultured" of hipsters.

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Jul 28, 2011 Brendan rated it 2 of 5 stars

Don't analyze it. Just read it and enjoy it. Don't take yourself too seriously. The book is not making fun of you. Everything is not all about you. Read it, laugh, and move on.

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Jul 16, 2012 Christa Stevens rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: current-nonfiction

While one might make an honest observation that Bohemianism, by nature, defies classification, this book reminds us eccentrics that we are indeed, not alone.

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Apr 16, 2010 Russ King rated it 4 of 5 stars

A fun, frivolous and beautiful book. If you don't have bohemian urges then you won't see the point of it - but that's the whole point. ;O)

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May 10, 2010 Caren rated it 5 of 5 stars

One of my faves. There's actually a great list in there of "Bohemian" books to read...I plan on tackling that list soon.

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Aug 05, 2008 Scott rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction

I bought this book purely on a whim. It was sort of hidden in all the big tall books of the Sociology section at the store. I saw the title, liked the font on the spine. When I picked it up it was HEAVY! Very dense binding and thick, glossy pages. I thought it would be good for a giggle, but it's really one of my favorite books about people on a fringe. I could relate to an awful lot of it either through experience or having wished at one time to have those experiences. I took the quiz in it and...more

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Jun 05, 2012 Rosemary rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book outlines many of the influences and characteristics of Bohemian culture without taking itself too seriously. I really enjoyed it.

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Jun 11, 2011 Paula rated it 3 of 5 stars

The watercolors are very pretty.

But I seem to get a feeling that the writer was doing a little horn-tooting, I don't know.

Good book.

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About Laren Stover

A classically trained artist with literary DNA, Laren Stover writes fiction and nonfiction.
Laren's first style book The Bombshell Manual of Style (Hyperion), illustrated by Ruben Toledo, was pivotal in exploding Bombshell consciousness into a popular genre of its own when it was published in 2001. Laren has deconstructed the incandescence of Bohemians in Bohemian Manifesto, A Field Guide to Living...more

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