Brew to Bikes: Portland's Artisan Economy (Openbook)

Staff Pick

Whether you're a local looking to confirm what you've always suspected about your hometown (that it's awesome) or an outsider looking to understand (and perhaps emulate) Portland's unique artisan economy, Brew to Bikes is a delightful and inspirational ode to all that Portland has to offer.
Recommended by Tove, Powell's City of Books

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kylebrittain, February 24, 2011 (view all comments by kylebrittain)
Charles Heying (prof. Urban Studies at Portland State University) has published what may be the first academic study of a functioning cultural economy.

“Brews to Bikes” (Ooligan Press) presents the artisan economy as a valid alternative to the Fordist economic model. Three key features of a Fordist economy are: the standardization of the product, the use of Special-purpose tools and/or equipment via the assembly line, and the elimination of skilled labor in direct production. Contrast this with what Heying describes as features of an artisan economy: “local self-reliant enterprise, reinvestment in social and ecological infrastructure, lower transaction costs through shorter chains of accountability, higher trust levels between producer and patron, and importantly, the commitment to the maxim ‘less is more’.”

Clearly, this is an academic book, but it is by no means dry. Heying is a great writer whose voice (which is often humorous) leaps off the page. The working examples of artisans in Portland are also compelling and well researched.

Although “Brew to Bikes” is a study of Portland, it is more importantly a clarion call for people everywhere to invest in the improvement of their communities.

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strathkinnessjb, November 11, 2010 (view all comments by strathkinnessjb)
I just finished reading this book and had to immediately say something about it. It really makes you think twice about how we go about economic development incentives, how people perceive "success", and what defines happiness. Too often, Americans think about accumulating "stuff" to make them happy. But as this book notes, there is a different perspective in Portland. Here, people are more likely to drive a 15 year old car but drink craft beers, eat high quality bread and get fresh produce from the farmers' markets. But it's also pointed out that you don't even need to make sacrifices like that to participate in the artisan economy, as the assumption that artisan=expensive is not always the case. Ok, maybe it is for the bikes featured in the book, and the brandies made by Clear Creek, but not for music, bread, arts, fashion, coffee, and many of the other aspects of the Portland scene.

If you live in Portland, this helps explain why you like living here. If you don't live in Portland, this book will inspire you.

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Product Details

ISBN:

9781932010329

Author:

Heying, Charles

Publisher:

Ooligan Press

Subject:

Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.

Subject:

Urban & Regional

Subject:

Artisans - Oregon - Portland

Subject:

Portland (Ore.) - Commerce

Subject:

Careers - Job Almanacs

Subject:

Business Writing

Edition Description:

Trade Paper

Series:

Openbook

Publication Date:

20101031

Binding:

TRADE PAPER

Language:

English

Illustrations:

36

Pages:

304

Dimensions:

10.00 x 7.00 x 0.85 in 1.15 lb