Broken Manual

Broken Manual represents photographer Alec Soth's four-year project documenting men who live off the grid in remote areas across America. The book combines photographs and texts that examine the lives of monks, survivalists, hermits and others who have chosen to withdraw from society. The large-format photographs capture makeshift dwellings, underground bunkers, wilderness landscapes, and portraits of men living in isolation. Text elements include handwritten notes, diagrams, and instructions that take the form of a manual for those seeking to disappear from conventional life. Soth collaborated with writer Lester B. Morrison to create a work that exists between documentary photography and fictional narrative. The physical book itself was designed to be hidden - it comes concealed within a larger book with a hollowed-out center. The project explores themes of masculine identity, the desire for solitude, and the tension between society's expectations and individual freedom. Through its unconventional format and subject matter, the work questions traditional ideas about belonging and escape in contemporary America.

Readers describe Broken Manual as a raw exploration of men seeking to escape society. The photographic narrative resonates with those interested in isolation, survival, and off-grid living. Readers appreciated: - The intimate portrayal of reclusive subjects - Integration of handwritten notes and found materials - Quality of printing and paper - Connection between photographs and accompanying text Common criticisms: - Limited availability makes the book difficult to find - High price point ($200+ used) - Some found the subject matter repetitive Online ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (26 ratings) PhotoBookStore: 5/5 (4 reviews) From reader reviews: "The book itself becomes part of the escape fantasy it documents" - PhotoBook Journal "Shows a lifestyle most of us think about but few dare to pursue" - PhotoBookStore review "More questions than answers, which fits the subject perfectly" - Goodreads reviewer

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📚 The project began when Alec Soth became fascinated by monks, hermits, and men who lived "off the grid," leading him to explore the lives of those who seek to disappear from society. 🏠 Soth collaborated with a man who went by "Lester B. Morrison," a pseudonymous character who provided advice on how to disappear from society, adding an enigmatic layer to the work. 📸 The book was designed to be hidden inside another book, with instructions to cut out the middle pages of a larger book to conceal the "Broken Manual" within it. 🌲 Many photographs in the book were taken in remote locations across America, including caves, wilderness areas, and isolated compounds where people sought refuge from mainstream society. 🎨 The project took four years to complete (2006-2010) and represents a dramatic shift from Soth's previous work, moving away from his typical portrait-based photography to a darker, more mysterious narrative style.