Source: LibraryThing
Date: September 29, 2009

Few books manage to be both magical and humourous, but this is one of the few. Having been on my bookshelves for a few years now, the Bohemian Manifesto is one of those books that I cannot help but return to again and again. Laren Stover observes the bohemian landscape with an artist's eye, generally skipping over the less salubrious aspects of the bohemian lifestyle, and creating an intriguing and enchanting picture of a life of artistic and creative freedom, but the book only benefits from this treatment.

Stover's book is not, however, a lifestyle manual or self-help guide. Instead, it is an almost hypnotically beautifully written homage to the bohemian, both past and present. That is not to say that the reader, bohemian or not, cannot pick up a lot from the book; as well as providing a history of bohemian development through the centuries, Stover also provides 'suggested reading' lists that introduced some new authors to me, along with alternative brands of household products that I had not heard of, but am keen to explore.

What truly elevates this book from the norm, however, is the impeccable production. A work of art in every sense, the book is gold underneath the beautiful dust-jacket, as well as being filled with the most exquisite watercolours. Truly an object of beauty.
felicityann86 | Sep 29, 2009 | LibraryThing

Source: Amazon
Date: Feb 12, 2009

I had heard about this book for a few years and had been wanting to read it, but, just never got around to it. Since I am myself a type of Bohemian and was very interested in what it had to say. Well, to my delight, it was a wonderful read. I saw myself on some of the pages and discovered that there are quite a few different types of bohemians out there.
The author made it fun to where you just can't put it down. She has a part where you take this test to see if you're a bohemian type or not and if so, what kind.
I think that this book is great and everyone should read it and discover what fun and knowledge you can get from reading this fascinating book.

Source: Amazon
Date: Dec. 30, 2008

This is one of those books that you can read over and over again. It's not only humorous in its descriptions of Bohemian living, but it's a wonderful escape from the rampant materialism that drives our everyday world. The Bohemian doesn't worry about cleaning or working or any of those things that we think about constantly. Instead, Bohemian life centers on sensual and intellectual pleasures. Instead of "playing the game", they do what they really want to do, whatever that may be, despite the consequences. It's an incredibly seductive image to those like me who are scared of being trapped in the corporate box, which seems to lie in wait for everyone at some point in their lives.

Laren Stover obviously has knowledge of her subject, unlike some other writers who treat Bohemianism academically. Instead of presenting us with a romanticized image of care-free Bohemians, she presents us with the human side of the Bohemians. Although she does not dwell on the downside to to Bohemianism, the picture she paints is no less real. This book does not inspire me with the urge to abandon my home, family, and friends and hit the road with some traveling band of street performers. But it does inspire me to look at my life in a new way, and to adopt ways to live more naturally, outside the confines of the narrowly-defined norms that dictate our behavior, and sometimes even out thoughts. Bohemian Manifesto indeed provides us with a way out. I recommend that everyone read and take from this book something that will rescue them from the trappings of modern society.

Source: Amazon
Date: November 5, 2005

Terrific! If this book had come out when I was 18 (drinking green chartreuse while reading Anais Nin in my dorm room ) I could have spared myself an identity crisis and found a reassuring and wonderful roadmap of lifestyle possibilities.

Instead I had to do it the intuitive way, calling myself a "medieval hippy" when I was, in fact,an emerging part of the Great and Venerable Bohemian Tribe! Give this book to your young artistic friends so they don't just give up and become Goths! Read it with joy if you want to celebrate the magical and often hilarious ways (without means) of the true Bohemians, eternal rebels and stardust children.

Now, as a practicing "BoBomb" (Bohemian Bombshell of course) I bought this book and loved every charming and wry page, especially those with illustrations.(The best books are illustrated, n'est ce pas?) It's refreshing to find a book which puts its values in the right place- measuring one's life by the next trip,creative meal,painting,performance,costume made or poetry read rather than the witless bottom line.

For if you ARE a true Bohemian there is no cure. "Abandon all hope Ye who enter here!" You might never come back, but in the Bohemian Manifesto we have Ms. Stover, Bohemian Scribe, to charmingly navigate the scene of the "divinely seductive" and the "deviant".

I can't help imagining her living in her Greenwich Village walk-up, surrounded by taxidermy, alabaster busts, and maybe a weasel or two. What does she drink? Chartreuse? Absinthe? Or perhaps Champagne....

The Bohemian Manifesto is about living large in a palace of your mind. After reading it you might even be surprised to find yourself, as I did, singing "Vissi D'Arte, Vissi D'Amore" !

Source: LibraryThing
Date: Feb 19 2008

This is a sort of how-to book for Bohemians or wannabees of all walks of life. Laren Stover divides Bohemians into categories, such as gypsies, dandies, beats, etc. and describes the common characteristics and lifestyles of each. Quite tongue in cheek, and fun to read. There's even a quiz to determine which kind of Bohemian you might be.

Source: LibraryThing
Date: March 9, 2008

This is one of those books that you can read over and over again. It’s not only humorous in its descriptions of Bohemian living, but it’s a wonderful escape from the rampant materialism that drives our everyday world. The Bohemian doesn’t worry about cleaning or working or any of those things that we think about constantly. Instead, Bohemian life centers on sensual and intellectual pleasures. Instead of “playing the game”, they do what they really want to do, whatever that may be, despite the consequences. It’s an incredibly seductive image to those like me who are scared of being trapped in the corporate box, which seems to lie in wait for everyone at some point in their lives.

Laren Stover obviously has knowledge of her subject, unlike some other writers who treat Bohemianism academically. Instead of presenting us with a romanticized image of care-free Bohemians, she presents us with the human side of the Bohemians. Although she does not dwell on the downside to to Bohemianism, the picture she paints is no less real. This book does not inspire me with the urge to abandon my home, family, and friends and hit the road with some traveling band of street performers. But it does inspire me to look at my life in a new way, and to adopt ways to live more naturally, outside the confines of the narrowly-defined norms that dictate our behavior, and sometimes even out thoughts. Bohemian Manifesto indeed provides us with a way out. I recommend that everyone read and take from this book something that will rescue them from the trappings of modern society.