Customer Reviews

The Scavengers' Manifesto

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Rufus and Lawson go into exhaustive detail over the history and sociological biases against scavenging, as well as the economic implications of it. More time is spent on anecdotal reminiscing about the authors' own scavenging experiences. Very little space is given to practical information. Further, while a lot of lip service was paid to repurposing, there was very little in the way of advice in that area. Worse, there was no mention of Make magazine or the Instructables site, both of which dovetail nicely into the repurposing theme.

The authors advise this may be the last book you ever buy. When libraries may well carry it, why bother buying it? (At least I got it used.)

It seems like the obvious joke, right? How do you sell a book about getting things for free?

Hopefully in large numbers, as fear of economic downturn prods folks into a bit of frugality!

The book takes on a lot of different topics, all related to scavenging. I found the histories of scavengers across the world and how this related to ethnicity, social standing and portrayals in religion and literature to be the most interesting part of the book. In many places the history of social outsiders and the history of scavengers are one in the same, for reasons that are oftentimes obvious (the poorer classes doing it to survive) but at other times surprising.

The parts on being a modern day scavenger weren't exactly ground breaking for me, but I've been a cheap sort since a young age and have never balked at the idea of getting something used or from the garbage. I can see how it would be useful for scavenger-curious types but I'm having trouble imagining that sort.

Not what I'd call groundbreaking (the idea that we manufacture new things we don't need is addressed on a near daily basis in any anti-consumerism blogs/magazines/books/journals) but still a fun read on a quiet afternoon.

This book had a very good exhaustive information and history of scavanging. But it did not, until the end, have practical ways to scavange and how to's. I was rather disappointed in it at that. I wanted more practical ideas on scavanging, repurposing and such.

It is a great history lesson though.

This book is an awful waste of money.

Don't waste your money on it.

Scavenge it if you can, but even then... it will be a waste of TIME to read it.

It was not anything like I thought it would be.

It's more like a book to show support for scavengers rather than helpful hints about scavenging.

I guess I was looking for information, not support.

The ideas behind scavenging, as well as the social implications are interesting, but they left out some obvious reasons why scavengers, particularly human scavengers have been traditionally shunned: disease, stench, and dirt. As to the rest, the book lists a lot of things most of the people I know are involved in already: yard sales, thrifting, etc. In the small town Midwest, yard sales and the like are ways of life, as are hand-me-downs - I somehow get the idea that the authors grew up in relatively affluent situations, which would make the idea of wearing second-hand clothes while watching a second hand television while sitting on a second-hand couch somewhat radical.

Still, an interesting, light read.

When people hear the term "scavenging," they may think of dumpster diving in a dark alley. Authors Anneli Rufus and Kristan Lawson have a broader view of this thrifty pastime: Scavenging is any activity where you can legally acquire things for free or cheap, either outdoors or in a standard retail environment. These activities run all the way from thrift shopping to coupon clipping and recycling to more adventurous enterprises such as freecycling, beachcombing and urban foraging (that's where you harvest fruit from trees that grow on or overhang public property). Everything old is new again in The Scavengers' Manifesto, which makes you think critically about your consumer lifestyle. Clothing and furniture aren't just objects -- they've become a part of the life and death cycle of the earth's landfills. You resurrect these used items when you pick them up again at garage sales, creating a second life in a new home. It makes sense spiritually and ecologically to be a savvy scavenger.

-- Vicky Thompson, New Connexion