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Beautiful Trouble: A Toolbox for Revolution
An invaluable activist resource, Beautiful Trouble assembles the best ideas of 10 groundbreaking organization and over 70 troublemakers into a set of interlocking design principles. Use it to instigate anything from a flash mob to a revolution.
460 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2012
112 people are currently reading
2,006 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Boyd
5 books101 followersAndrew Boyd is an author, humorist, and activist. His new book, I Want a Better Catastrophe: Navigating the Climate Crisis with Grief, Hope and Gallows Humor is forthcoming from New Society Publishers in February 2023. He is currently CEO (Chief Existential Officer) of the Climate Clock, a global campaign he co-founded that melds art, science, and grassroots organizing to get the world to #ActInTime. He also co-created the grief-storytelling ritual the Climate Ribbon, and led the 2000s-era satirical campaign “Billionaires for Bush.” His previous books include Beautiful Trouble, Daily Afflictions and Life’s Little Deconstruction Book. Unable to come up with his own lifelong ambition, he’s been cribbing from Milan Kundera: “to unite the utmost seriousness of question with the utmost lightness of form.”
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 16, 2017
Note: I forgot to say that this book has a website that allows updating as well as sharing of stories and ideas http://beautifultrouble.org/
An amazing feat: a well-organized and thought-out resource book on the tactics, principles, and theories that those on the left can use to creatively and skillfully change the status quo. Even though each piece is written by a different author(s), for the most part there is a single rational, helpful, yet humorous and impassioned voice, a voice of experience that combines mature advice with prodding to get out there and do something. Everyone on the left should read it.
I haven't read the case studies section yet, but I look forward to it.
An amazing feat: a well-organized and thought-out resource book on the tactics, principles, and theories that those on the left can use to creatively and skillfully change the status quo. Even though each piece is written by a different author(s), for the most part there is a single rational, helpful, yet humorous and impassioned voice, a voice of experience that combines mature advice with prodding to get out there and do something. Everyone on the left should read it.
I haven't read the case studies section yet, but I look forward to it.
February 16, 2015
Let me start this review by saying that I am not planning on starting a violent revolution. You can call off the black helicopters.
This book is split into multiple parts, talking about Tactics, Principles, Theories and Case Studies of activism, starting as early as the '50s and ending as recently as 2010. So, there is a large timespan and a large span of different types of activism that this book is dealing with.
This book is not so much a comprehensive manual (each of the 2-3 page chapters could probably expanded into its own book) and more of an overview, with references if you are interested in further information. It features some very interesting concepts, and I'd love to see some of these ideas in modern protests.
The book deals almost exclusively with nonviolent techniques, which I like a lot (I dislike violence, no matter how justified you may feel about it in the situation).
If you are an aspiring activist (or just interested in the concepts behind activism), definitely give this book a read. I picked it up for $1 when it was on sale, but, in retrospect, it's probably worth paying full price for it. The eBook version is somewhat harder to read than the pdf (or, probably, the paper version), but it's still possible.
So, yeah, if you are interested, give this book a try.
This book is split into multiple parts, talking about Tactics, Principles, Theories and Case Studies of activism, starting as early as the '50s and ending as recently as 2010. So, there is a large timespan and a large span of different types of activism that this book is dealing with.
This book is not so much a comprehensive manual (each of the 2-3 page chapters could probably expanded into its own book) and more of an overview, with references if you are interested in further information. It features some very interesting concepts, and I'd love to see some of these ideas in modern protests.
The book deals almost exclusively with nonviolent techniques, which I like a lot (I dislike violence, no matter how justified you may feel about it in the situation).
If you are an aspiring activist (or just interested in the concepts behind activism), definitely give this book a read. I picked it up for $1 when it was on sale, but, in retrospect, it's probably worth paying full price for it. The eBook version is somewhat harder to read than the pdf (or, probably, the paper version), but it's still possible.
So, yeah, if you are interested, give this book a try.
March 2, 2015
This is a really well compiled resource of inspiration and guidance taken from activists and movements mostly in Europe and the USA.
It really is a must-read for anyone who is politically active on the streets anywhere in the world.
To reveal my slight bias, I was so taken with the book, and what it can offer that I'm now involved in developing http://beautifulrising.org that aims to do the same but with a Global South perspective. There will also hopefully be a strong community around the project that will enable collaboration over strategy and tactics to drive political change in a people powered way...
It really is a must-read for anyone who is politically active on the streets anywhere in the world.
To reveal my slight bias, I was so taken with the book, and what it can offer that I'm now involved in developing http://beautifulrising.org that aims to do the same but with a Global South perspective. There will also hopefully be a strong community around the project that will enable collaboration over strategy and tactics to drive political change in a people powered way...
November 2, 2012
This title is best approached as The Big Bathroom Book of Leftist Pranks. It's a collection of two-to-four page case studies of various tactics and concepts behind social action.
Taken one or two vignettes at a time -- say, by opening to a random page, reading for five minutes, and setting it back down without using a bookmark -- "Trouble" is entertaining and informative, provided your politics align with the authors'. It is not, however, a book that one "finishes" in any conventional sense.
Taken one or two vignettes at a time -- say, by opening to a random page, reading for five minutes, and setting it back down without using a bookmark -- "Trouble" is entertaining and informative, provided your politics align with the authors'. It is not, however, a book that one "finishes" in any conventional sense.
May 6, 2022
A very distilled down playbook for starting some sh!t, philosophy and tactics frameworks for organizing events and movements.
Nothing especially novel, but I liked the portable format, colloquial language and leaders in practice authors for each topic.
I may read the larger original text if I can find a library copy down the road, it sounds like there are more anecdotal examples...which were the most instrumental aspects of this pocket edition.
Nothing especially novel, but I liked the portable format, colloquial language and leaders in practice authors for each topic.
I may read the larger original text if I can find a library copy down the road, it sounds like there are more anecdotal examples...which were the most instrumental aspects of this pocket edition.
April 26, 2017
I've paged through this book before, but it was definitely worth taking the time to sit down and read it cover to cover. New ideas, and new sparks bursting, in a much needed time.
April 15, 2023
Beautiful Trouble est un livre dirigé par Andrew Boyd et Dave Oswald Mitchell et publié en 2012 par OR Books.
Beautiful Trouble brings together dozens of seasoned artists and activists from around the world to distill their best practices into a toolbox for creative action. Sophisticated enough for veteran activists, accessible enough for newbies, this compendium of troublemaking wisdom is a must-have for aspiring changemakers. Showcasing the synergies between artistic imagination and shrewd political strategy, Beautiful Trouble is for everyone who longs for a more beautiful, more just, more livable world - and wants to know how to get there.
Le livre est présenté comme une boîte à outils pour la révolution et je dois dire que le résultat est plutôt convaincant. Au programme :
- Des tactiques d’activisme créatif
- Des principes concrets sur lesquels peuvent s’appuyer les actions
- Des théories, comme autant de concepts pour ou contre il est possible de lutter
- Des états de cas, soit une trentaine d’actions plus ou moins réussies
Ces quatre parties constituent le coeur de l’ouvrage, qui s’achève une présentation sommaire de quelques organisations activistes, des ressources documentaires, et la biographie succincte des auteurs des différents articles.
Tout au long du livre, on est à mi-chemin entre l’encyclopédie et le guide pratique et j’ai bien aimé cet équilibre. Cela rend la lecture plaisante et enrichissante.
Si je devais exprimer un bémol, ce serait sur l’aspect très américano-centré du texte. On sent que les articles ont été écrit par des activistes qui oeuvrent aux Etats-Unis, et ils ont parfois tendance à s’exprimer comme si c’était également le cas de tous leurs lecteurs.
Ce n’est toutefois qu’un petit bémol pour un ouvrage à la fois agréable à lire et inspirant quand on a envie de s’engager.
Beautiful Trouble brings together dozens of seasoned artists and activists from around the world to distill their best practices into a toolbox for creative action. Sophisticated enough for veteran activists, accessible enough for newbies, this compendium of troublemaking wisdom is a must-have for aspiring changemakers. Showcasing the synergies between artistic imagination and shrewd political strategy, Beautiful Trouble is for everyone who longs for a more beautiful, more just, more livable world - and wants to know how to get there.
Le livre est présenté comme une boîte à outils pour la révolution et je dois dire que le résultat est plutôt convaincant. Au programme :
- Des tactiques d’activisme créatif
- Des principes concrets sur lesquels peuvent s’appuyer les actions
- Des théories, comme autant de concepts pour ou contre il est possible de lutter
- Des états de cas, soit une trentaine d’actions plus ou moins réussies
Ces quatre parties constituent le coeur de l’ouvrage, qui s’achève une présentation sommaire de quelques organisations activistes, des ressources documentaires, et la biographie succincte des auteurs des différents articles.
Tout au long du livre, on est à mi-chemin entre l’encyclopédie et le guide pratique et j’ai bien aimé cet équilibre. Cela rend la lecture plaisante et enrichissante.
Si je devais exprimer un bémol, ce serait sur l’aspect très américano-centré du texte. On sent que les articles ont été écrit par des activistes qui oeuvrent aux Etats-Unis, et ils ont parfois tendance à s’exprimer comme si c’était également le cas de tous leurs lecteurs.
Ce n’est toutefois qu’un petit bémol pour un ouvrage à la fois agréable à lire et inspirant quand on a envie de s’engager.
July 24, 2020
„Veľké myšlienky nepotrebujú len krídla, ale aj pristávací podvozok.“ Citát je z asi najkomlexnejšej príručky nenásilnej revolúcie, ktorá nedávno dorazila k nám do kancelárie od našich partnerov z BeautifulTrouble https://beautifultrouble.org/. Klimatické hnutia, skupiny bojujúce za rovnoprávnosť akýchkoľvek menšín, ochrancovia zvierat, či bojovníci proti rôznym nespravodlivostiam – tí všetci tu nájdu inšpiráciu, metódy a návody na to, ako robiť „krásne ťažkosti“ tým, ktorí majú možnosti a moc zmeniť usporiadanie vecí veľkého či malého sveta. Spoločné dielo niekoľkých desiatok autorov a viacerých prispievajúcich organizácií odzrkadľuje skúsenosti protestných hnutí nielen z posledných desaťročí, ale siaha aj do legiend zo 60-tych rokov, či občas aj ďalej do histórie. My v PDCS nie sme úplne revolucionári, a tak nás zo všetkých kapitol zaujali najmä Princípy a Teórie. Kapitoly s názvami Taktiky, Prípadové štúdie, či Praktici by sme zas odporučili našim kamarátom z advokačných organizácií. A čo sme sa dočítali? Veci, ktoré trénujeme v rámci kurzov novodobého líderstva, facilitácie, či bezodpadového prístupu k životu, ale aj prezentovania či kreatívneho písania – oblečené v novom šate a zdôvodnené skúsenosťami ľudí snažiacich sa o systémové zmeny. Umožňuj – nerozkazuj. Deleguj. Posúvaj spektrum spojencov. Rozmýšľaj príbehovo. Zosobni problém. Zviditeľni neviditeľné. Ako keď v máji protestujúci vo Washingtone DC obložili chodníky pred Bielym Domom čiernymi igelitovými vrecami s menami a fotkami obetí „neexistujúcej“ epidémie. https://bit.ly/3hz0p8X „Veľa nespravodlivostí je pre mainstream neviditeľných. Ak tieto neprávosti prinesieme na svetlo, zmeníme pravidlá hry, a potreba konať sa stane nástojčivou.“ V diskusii o kreatívnych metódach protestu z celého sveta sme sa o tom rozprávali s Nadine Bloch a ľuďmi z BeautifulTrouble v rámci nášho nového programu Dialóg v rozvoji. Jeho absolventom sme kúpili túto fascinujúcu „učebnicu“ plnú živých príkladov a analýz úspešných aj neúspešných akcií, pri ktorej nevadí, že je na náš stredoeurópsky vkus miestami trochu príliš ľavicová a americká. Európa z nej však „trčí“ nielen citátmi, ako ten z Orwella, pri ktorom sa nedá ubrániť myšlienke na Jána Kuciaka, ale aj na naše parlamentné letné zábavky: „V časoch všeobjímajúceho klamstva sa hovorenie pravdy stáva revolučným činom.“
February 8, 2017
Wonderfully composed. A must-have for any organizer, activist, or social justice scholar. A great reference resource.
Want to read
April 2, 2021Book recommendation from Balaji Srinivasan: he says - It’s an Awsome window to another world
The Tim Ferris Show: #506
@46:30
The Tim Ferris Show: #506
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January 25, 2021While I didn't exactly like the emphasis on non-violence, I found this book an interesting compilation of activism principles, tactics and theories. It is not and is not intended to be a comprehensive activist guide but rather an extended list of links to different approaches that have been used in different countries at different times. I especially enjoyed the "cases" section at the end. Thanks!
November 12, 2023
It's not this book's fault that it was written in 2011 and aged poorly. But WOW did it age poorly! So much optimism about so many movements (Occupy Wall Street, the Arab Spring, the anti-globalization movement, lefty environmental protests, etc.) that basically all failed utterly at achieving their goals in the time since the book was written.
September 27, 2017
Helpful toolbox in this time of political upheaval and dissent
January 9, 2018
Were there parts that annoyed me? Yes. Was it fascinating and even somewhat inspiring anyway? Yes.
March 17, 2021
Brilliant, entertaining and edgy: a fountain of inspiring resources.
Shelved as 'to-read-later'
July 24, 2021Recommended at https://twitter.com/thatdawnperson/st...
October 28, 2021
Probably the most insightful book I read on social movements. Bless.
November 10, 2021
respectability politics
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2021
probably the most efficient and helpful textbook I've ever had to read
November 20, 2022
A very useful toolbox for any social justice worker / activist.
September 3, 2016
У мене ця книга була за замовчуванням завантажена на читалку. Лише через це її прочитала. + згадала, що хтось із знайомих екоактивістів постив її обкладинку. Отак я іноді вибираю книги :)
Книга ділиться на декілька логічних розділів:
- тактики;
- принципи;
- теорії;
- кейси.
З того всього найцікавіші теорії та принципи. Хоча для загального розвитку цікаво прочитати все. Я розумію, що всі революції, тривалі протести, пікети і будь-яке вираження соціальної позиції має бути чітко сплановане, щоб не заглохнути на самому початку. Розумію, що і Майдан, і всі перевороти стратегічно планувалися. Хоча це зовсім не книга з політології, не лякайтеся (на тему повстань читаю книгу "Тотальний опір" Ганса фон Даха).
Так от, для розумного створення та керування будь-якою громадською організацією лідерам ДУЖЕ варто читати такі книги. Щоб не наступати на вічні граблі і не плакати згодом над уламками.
Читаючи цю книгу, вам буде над чим подумати...
http://ptashkabook.blogspot.com/2016/...
Книга ділиться на декілька логічних розділів:
- тактики;
- принципи;
- теорії;
- кейси.
З того всього найцікавіші теорії та принципи. Хоча для загального розвитку цікаво прочитати все. Я розумію, що всі революції, тривалі протести, пікети і будь-яке вираження соціальної позиції має бути чітко сплановане, щоб не заглохнути на самому початку. Розумію, що і Майдан, і всі перевороти стратегічно планувалися. Хоча це зовсім не книга з політології, не лякайтеся (на тему повстань читаю книгу "Тотальний опір" Ганса фон Даха).
Так от, для розумного створення та керування будь-якою громадською організацією лідерам ДУЖЕ варто читати такі книги. Щоб не наступати на вічні граблі і не плакати згодом над уламками.
Читаючи цю книгу, вам буде над чим подумати...
http://ptashkabook.blogspot.com/2016/...
January 4, 2022
In its simplicity dwells the strength of its teaching.
Too biased to the left for my liking, to the point that the reader could infer that the evil one is the right wing of the political spectrum and the capitalist system itself.
Many of the proposals presented in the book and most of the examples are viable from democracies, which makes them difficult, although not impossible, to apply in military regimes such as the Castro dictatorship in Cuba.
The appeal to creativity from pacifism is to admire page by page.
En su simpleza habita la fortaleza de su enseñanza.
Demasiado parcializado a la izquierda para mi gusto, al punto tal de que el lector podría inferir que el malvado es la derecha del espectro político y el sistema capitalista en sí mismo.
Muchas de las propuestas expuestas en el libro y la mayoría de los ejemplos son viables desde las democracias lo que las hace difíciles, aunque no imposibles, de aplicar en regímenes militares como la dictadura castrista en Cuba.
El llamamiento a la creatividad desde el pacifismo es de admirar página por página.
Too biased to the left for my liking, to the point that the reader could infer that the evil one is the right wing of the political spectrum and the capitalist system itself.
Many of the proposals presented in the book and most of the examples are viable from democracies, which makes them difficult, although not impossible, to apply in military regimes such as the Castro dictatorship in Cuba.
The appeal to creativity from pacifism is to admire page by page.
En su simpleza habita la fortaleza de su enseñanza.
Demasiado parcializado a la izquierda para mi gusto, al punto tal de que el lector podría inferir que el malvado es la derecha del espectro político y el sistema capitalista en sí mismo.
Muchas de las propuestas expuestas en el libro y la mayoría de los ejemplos son viables desde las democracias lo que las hace difíciles, aunque no imposibles, de aplicar en regímenes militares como la dictadura castrista en Cuba.
El llamamiento a la creatividad desde el pacifismo es de admirar página por página.
Want to read
September 7, 2012I'm super excited to get this book. It was sold to me by a Briarpatch rep, which happens to be one of my favourite independent magazines ever. I usually don't buy what people are selling me during welcome week at my uni (I don't need another cellphone or credit card, thanks), but in this case: AWWW YIS.
Unlike many books of this sort, it is completely enjoyable, funny and concise. I've only read a few sections now (A feature on the Harry Potter Alliance and an article by Starhawk), but I think it's gonna be golden.
Unlike many books of this sort, it is completely enjoyable, funny and concise. I've only read a few sections now (A feature on the Harry Potter Alliance and an article by Starhawk), but I think it's gonna be golden.
January 1, 2017
A "toolbox" of theories, practices, strategies, examples, and resources for non-violent civil disobedience. A great source of ideas and inspiration for those working for social justice and other causes.
January 11, 2014
Beautiful and useful choice
June 17, 2022
Informative, insightful, and accessible!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews