There are definitely some interesting ideas in this volume, but I found my mind wandering while reading and not sure I would pick it back up again.

While I might not agree with the author on everything (and I think she might actually prefer that) it certainly gave me plenty to think about. This book, the questions and thoughts therein, have really stayed with me.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read/review this book! I will recommend this to family/friends.

Unraveling  the problem


Coming from a political family, I have always been political. Moreover, I took women’s studies, and took part in many campaigns, during my time at university.  In addition, I work, as a volunteer,  with the RNIB and Oxfam, on the campaigns that matter to me. As a disabled person, those activities have recently taken on a greater urgency. So, my campaigning life has become busier and more intense.

 


Recently, therefore I have been feeling tired, disillusioned, and unfocused. I am finding it hard to know where to spend my campaigning energies; which campaigns to prioritise when they all seem so important.


We live in turbulent times; Trump in the White House, Brexit, sexual abuse scandals, police violence, the deaths of black men, hate crimes against marginalized groups, global warming, and austerity still ruining peoples lives.  The list goes on and on. This has led many campaigners, including the author of this blog, to feel tired and dispirited.

Sarah Corbett, mirroring my own concerns, speaks of the tendency of campaigners to spread themselves too thinly; to feel that they have to be everywhere, doing everything, fighting every battle.  This leads to the temptation to cut corners and to complete tasks that can be undertaken quickly.  These methods are often unsuccessful, leaving the campaigners angry and disillusioned.



Moreover, the author states that campaigners, often driven by anger, react in a knee jerk manner to situations that arise.  This, Corbet tells us, can often lead to mistakes and knee-jerk actions can often lead to negative outcomes.



Crafting a solution


Sarah instructs us, not just to react to negative situations as they arise, but rather, to think about the world we wish to craft. In my case, that world would be one in which disabled people and other marginalized groups; would feel safe, able to live a productive life,  have our voices heard, and live in a manner that respects both other people and the world in which we live.


Corbett argues that campaigners need to take a step back and think about; what campaigns they focus on, why they feel the need to campaign, where their skills can be best utilized, and what methods will get the best outcomes. We need to ensure, often in consultation with those individuals who we are seeking to help, that our campaigns will have a positive impact on the issues that we care about.


The author, also, challenges campaigners to break their addiction to quick campaign methods, i.e; the online petition and template letter. Campaigners are instructed to slow down our campaigning; to take time to craft methods that will create the best possible outcomes.  For example, she argues that we should get to know our representatives and personalize our interactions with them.


This book came at exactly the right time for me and, while I will not take her every suggestion on board, I will slow down, both my writing and campaigning. I will see my writing as part of my campaigning. I will take time to write letters that engage the reader and not simply send a template letter or sign a petition. I will take time on my reviews, and other writing. If the book is good enough to write about, I should give it the time it deserves. If the issue is important enough to raise passion, I should be able to express my passions in a manner that engages the reader.  The arguments contained within this book are too broad and too deep to express in a short post. Therefore, I have picked the bits that spoke to me and left other sections for the reader to find on their own. For example, I have left out any discussion of craft. You should really get hold of a copy and read it. I highly recommend this book.

I wish I could say I liked this book, but I can't. It might be that I'm just not the right audience for it. There were two aspects of the book that bothered me greatly.

First, as one might expect, the author has all the PC/liberal biases of the age. Although she says that craftivism can be for any kind of "injustice," she uses examples that are all from this side of the aisle and, although she tries to be unbiased her viewpoint comes through in the text. If my cause is something that isn't PC or liberal, then will this book really help me? I'm not sure it would.

Second, while I can agree with her ideas about gentle protest, thought, and slowing down, many of her recommendations for putting together meeting, workshops, and activities strike me as just plain overly fussy and precious. She spends too much time enumerating so many small things that affect the atmosphere of these things that I kept wondering what the point was.

Maybe it's that the book isn't organized in a way that creates action plans but more in a fuzzy journal style, maybe that she hasn't organized her thoughts well, but I couldn't see this book as helping me do craftivism.

In How to be a Craftivist: The Art of Gentle Protest, author Sarah Corbett offers insight on how to help improve the world in a beautiful, gentle and loving way.

Throughout the ages, we’ve always protested what we felt to be injustices or wrongs in our society. Protests have run the gamut of disapproving looks, all the way to horrible mass destruction and murder. The latter can’t be supported, and the former is insufficient.

Many people will completely shut down if you start yelling at them. I turn right off and barely even acknowledge the existence of the other person when I’m being yelled at. The fastest way to get nothing of what you’re trying to achieve is to yell at somebody. Nobody wants to help somebody who is screaming at them.

Enter the Art of Gentle Protest, Craftivism. In the spirit of you can gather more flies with honey, the author suggests a more gentle form of protest.

The book begins with a brief introduction from the author, including her backstory. Part One of the book includes definitions of Craftivism and Gentle Protest.

Part Two of the book covers the Power in the Process. With sections covering Slow Activism, Mindful Activism, Crafter Thoughts, Communal Crafting, and Inner Activism. These five sections describe the various ways of channeling your crafting process.

With Part Three, you learn the Power in the Product. Sections include The Gift, Graceful Activism, Compete with Beauty, The Message, and Catalyst not Conclusion. These sections describe various ways to use your craft to support your activism.

Part Four of the book “Power in the Public Sphere”, includes chapters on Intriguing Craftivism, Pretty Protests, Wearing your Convictions, Reaching Out, Shareability, and Measuring Success. These would be your more public demonstrations of Craftivism.

The book ends with a brief Epilogue and a few pages entitled “Wellmaking Clinic” where you’ll find information on how to alleviate some of your concerns and anxieties.

Lots Of Great Information

In all, there is a lot of really good information and ideas here, Craftivism is definitely something to look into. Given the title of the book, however, I was rather hoping for more of a how-to manual not a how I did it story.

Reviewed for LnkToMi iRead in response to a complimentary copy of the book provided by the publisher in hopes of an honest review.