Repair Revolution: How Fixers Are Transforming Our Throwaway Culture

by John Wackman, Elizabeth Knight

Overview

Every year, millions of people throw away countless items because they don’t know how to fix them. Some products are manufactured in a way that makes it hard, if not impossible, for people to repair them themselves. This throwaway lifestyle depletes Earth’s resources and adds to overflowing landfills. Now there’s a better way. Repair Revolution chronicles the rise of Repair Cafes, Fixit Clinics, and other volunteer-run organizations devoted to helping consumers repair their beloved but broken items for free. Repair Revolution explores the philosophy and wisdom of repairing, as well as the Right to Repair movement. It provides inspiration and instructions for starting, staffing, and sustaining your own repair events. “Fixperts” share their favorite online repair resources, as well as tips and step-by-step instructions for how to make your own repairs. Ultimately, Repair Revolution is about more than fixing material objects: in an age of over-consumption and planned obsolescence, do-it-yourself repair is a way of caring for our lives, our communities, and our planet.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781608686612
Publisher:	New World Library
Publication date:	10/27/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
File size:	31 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

TV producer and writer John Wackman founded the first Repair Cafe in New York. He lives in Kingston, New York. Community sustainability activist and organizer Elizabeth Knight is the author of Welcome Home and other books. She lives in Warwick, New York.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Experiments in Repair Culture 1

Chapter 1 The Community Repair Experience 19

Chapter 2 The Road to Sustainability 45

Chapter 3 The Wisdom of Repair 75

Chapter 4 The Right to Repair 97

Chapter 5 Repairing in Place 119

Chapter 6 Repairing is Caring 143

Chapter 7 How Do I Get One of These in My Town? 161

Chapter 8 Adventures in Repair 195

Afterword Martine Postma, Director of Repair Café International Foundation 225

Appendix 1 Recommended Online Repair and Parts Resources 231

Appendix 2 Lamp/Electrical Inventory and General Repair Cafe Supply Boxes 235

Appendix 3 Sample Repair Cafe and Fixit Clinic Flyers and Forms 239

Appendix 4 Sample House Rules (Long Form) and Job Ticket 245

Appendix 5 Sample Letter to New Coaches 247

Appendix 6 List of Recommended Items for Kids Take It Apart Table 251

Acknowledgments 253

Notes 257

Bibliography 279

Illustration Sources 285

Index 289

About the Authors 309

Editorial Reviews

The impulse to repair is present in every part of our lives. This book tells the important story of the people leading the repair movement.”
— Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit

“This book delivers good news at two important levels. It chronicles the growing worldwide repair movement (sibling to the Maker movement) in abundant, inviting detail. And it inspires and instructs the actual fixing of things in your life.”
— Stewart Brand, creator of the Whole Earth Catalog and author of Maintenance (forthcoming)

“A gold mine of inspiring stories . . . If you want to kick-start the repair revolution in your community, this book is a must-read.”
— Catherine Weetman, host of the Circular Economy podcast and cofounder of Rethink Global

“Fixing something is one of life’s great pleasures. Repair Revolution is an inspirational yet practical primer on how to build and strengthen communities, one reclaimed, repaired, or restored object at a time.”
— David Malki !, author of Wondermark

“Well-researched, articulate, readable, comprehensive, and compelling, Repair Revolution is a very important contribution to the international repair movement and offers extensive resources for taking action.”
— Vita Wells, founder of the Culture of Repair Project

“It’s heartening to see the rise in popularity of Repair Cafes, to witness communities gathering to collectively build resilience, share technical skills, honor value, and celebrate creativity. I hope communities can use this book to continue building support for a repair revolution.”
— Katrina Rodabaugh, author of Mending Matters

“Presents the what, why, and how-to of bringing repair and reuse to every town in the USA.”
— Neil Seldman, president of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance

“From chapters on resource recovery processes to repair efforts in classrooms, workshops, and at home, Repair Revolution makes a strong case for recycling, reuse, and better resource management long-term.”
— Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher