Out Now

Unf*ck Your Anger

Unf*ck Your Anger image

Dr. Faith's newest book is all about putting your frustration and rage to work rather than letting them run your life and poison your relationships. Learn to manage your anger in the moment, listen to what it has to tell you and act wisely, and hardest of all, the fine art of forgiveness.

This is San Francisco

This is San Francisco image

In the same vein as his other two evocative love letters to cities, This Is Portland and This Is Shanghai, Alexander Barrett again plays quirky tour guide in This is San Francisco. Distilling the charm of San Francisco into colorful, illustrated pages, he reveals the city's magic in this good-humored, earnest homage. This isn't a guide book that will tell you where to stay or what to eat; rather, it's an invitation from a friend to come along on a walk down one of San Francisco’s historic streets, up one of its urban staircases, or along its many shorelines. Through thoughtful and funny anecdotes, essays, and illustrations, Barrett takes you on a journey through one of America’s most famous cities and makes you wish you were right there with him.

The Practical Witch's Almanac: 2020

The Practical Witch's Almanac: 2020 imageThis almanac has everything you need to reconnect with nature and tune into your witchy energy.† This almanac allows you to harmonize with the flow of natures energies. You will find easy notations of events, magical days and seasonal occurrences as well as calendars, trivia, incense recipes and more!

What About Tomorrow?

What About Tomorrow? image

Alexander Herbert's oral history tells the stories of punk rock in western Russia, from the Soviet era to today.

Hardcore Anxiety

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Punk rock and mental health have been intertwined since the very beginning. Nervous breakdowns, anxiety, seeking acceptance, attempting to overcome internalized demons, and reacting to harmful and oppressive systems—punk rock embodies and emboldens all our feelings and experiences, positive and negative. Hardcore Anxiety charts and tracks punk movements from the 70s till today, from small towns to stadiums, from the struggles in our heads to the people actively harming us in our communities. Told from the point of view of a young man discovering punk and working through mental illness in Evansville, Indiana, this stunning nonfiction graphic novel gives punks the most important advice of all: "You aren't alone. You're going to make it through alive."

From Chaos to Creativity

From Chaos to Creativity image

Need to find more time and energy to work on your creative projects? Jessie Kwak helps you develop a creativity system so you can complete the work that matters to you.

From Chaos to Creativity Workbook

From Chaos to Creativity Workbook image

Kick procrastination to the curb and start designing your productivity system today! This zine gives you space to start designing a productivity system and implementing it into your life. Designed to go with the book From Chaos to Creativity.

Chainbreaker Bike Book (10th Anniversary Edition)

Chainbreaker Bike Book (10th Anniversary Edition) image

An updated and expanded edition of our hand-illustrated and accessible introduction to the world of bike repair! Through working at both Plan-B Bike Project and French Quarter Bicycles in New Orleans, our co-authors have gathered a wealth of experience to share with would-be bicycle mechanics. The first half of this book is a complete repair manual to get you started on choosing the right bike for you, riding that bike, and fixing it when it breaks down. The second half reprints all four issues of the Chainbreaker zine, whose originals were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina.

Juggalo Country

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Juggalos gained the political spotlight in 2017, when thousands of fans marched on Washington, DC to protest their classification by the FBI as a violent gang. Dwarfing the pro-Trump rally at the same time and place, Juggalos proved themselves to be a growing voice of dissent for some of the most neglected parts of the United States. Rock's reporting casts a light on many contradictions and perils of Juggalodom, sensitively handling questions of gender, health, religion, and what it means to be part of something. Part festival-goer's journal, part music history, part investigative report, part social commentary, Juggalo Country takes us into the heart of a much-derided and controversial movement and shows us the redemptive power of family and community.

Unf*ck Your Intimacy Workbook

Unf*ck Your Intimacy Workbook imageDeveloped as a companion to Dr. Faith Harper's Unfuck Your Intimacy book, this workbook can be used on its own or alongside the book as you read, by yourself or with a partner. It's an extremely useful aid for understanding your history, behavior, boundaries, needs, and wants, when it comes to sexual intimacy and relationships.

Unfuck Your Intimacy

Unfuck Your Intimacy imageExplore your relationships and sexuality, with yourself and with others, with this new book by Dr. Faith, author of bestselling Unfuck Your Brain. Written particularly for people who are in intimate relationships, but also incredibly useful if you're single or dating and trying to unpack your past or plan for your future. With science and humor, Dr. Faith demystifies topics such as kink, consent, shame, and trauma recovery. Contains many exercises and questions to think, talk, or write about, on your own or with a partner. Read this book to learn vital life skills like listening to your body and your gut, setting boundaries, and communicating your needs. If you're looking to heal from past wounds, make better choices, or improve an existing relationship, this book is for you. Better sex and relationships are totally possible! You've got this.

In The News

Call for Submissions for Neurodiversity zine series

Neurodiversity now occupies a similar place in the public consciousness at this moment as gay rights did in the 1970s: no one understands it and The Borg demand our assimilation! 
Proud to Be Retarded offers exposition on neurotypicals' neurophobia and the frequent claim that they are supportive of #ActuallyAutistic people...as long as we act like they do. One reviewer for my book Good Trouble mentioned that she couldn't believe that I wasn't part of a radical zine community on the forefront of Autistic theory...so I decided to start one! The inspiration for the title lies in the homocore roots of punk and Don't Be Gay in the 1980s. Queer punks were told that they would be accepted as soon as they acted like straight people.  The deadline for issue #4 is September 1, 2019 the theme is anxiety. Submissions should be 500-2,000 words! 
Your Neurodiverse Friend features advice and explanatory narrative about the neurodiverse experience for the less divergent so we can be seen as real, whole people. If you are neurodiverse, you should contribute to the next issues! The theme for issue #4 is Co-occuring conditions, with a deadline of December 1, 2019. We want your personal narrative, origin story, misconceptions you've faced, how people could better interact/collaborate/interface with you, and aspirations of how you would like the movement to grow that can serve as a narrative for NTs understanding our people's experiences. 500-2,000 words.
email submissions/questions to joe at microcosmpublishing daht com

Good Life BFF

Good Life BFF imageYour sustainable living toolkit! Subscribe to all of our most popular books, as they come out: Cookbooks, DIY project books, books about healthy relationships, bicycling, fermenting, building, mending, growing, and generally living the life you want in every way.

Microcosm In Your Town!

Want to meet us in person, check out one of our sales tables, or see an author speak? Below are the events happening through the rest of 2019.
First is Author Events, like readings, workshops, discussions, and talks, then Tabling Events, including public events like fairs, festivals, exhibitions and conventions. There's also a full calendar at the bottom of the page.

Author Events

Dr Faith Harper poses over a shelf of her books at Powell's City of BooksHere are the author events happening through the rest of 2019. Readings, workshops, discussions, talks, and more.

  • October
  • November
    • 10th: Lisa Loving reads at the Book Pub at 7pm (Portland, OR)
    • 13: Gina Handley Schmitt (Friending) at Third Place Books
    • 17th: Lisa Loving reads at Bird and Beckett at 2pm (San Francisco, CA)
  • December

Microcosm books are made by writers, artists, and creators around the world. If you’re interested in having an author at your store or event, reach out!!

Tabling Events

Here are the public events we'll be participating in for the rest of 2019. These are tabling events, where we'll be selling books, zines, and merch!

  • November
    • 9: We're always stoked to be part of the exhibitor's hall at Portland Book Festival, Portland, OR
    • 9: Find our cookbooks and more at Atlanta Veg Fest
    • 16-17: We can't wait to return to the most heartwarming event ever, Geek Girl Con, Seattle
    • 30-Dec 1: Come celebrate bikey gifts, crafts, and community at BikeCraft, at the Doubletree Hotel in Portland
  • December

a customer browsing a table full of books

If you’re planning an event and want us to be part of it (speaking, author readings, movie screenings, setting up a book and zine pop-up shop, etc.) let us know!!

In the Portland area? We can set up a book fair at your workplace like the ones your school used to have.

Calling for submissions for the Scene History series!

Are you stoked about the history of your town? Do you find out interesting nuggets by talking to those who came before you or by scouting out details on Google and Wikipedia? Do you want a reason to hunt out some people you respect and fill in the gaps? Well, the Scene History series is an opportunity to do just that. Like our Simple History Series, we will publish a paperback each year of the Scene History series that tell the story of a particular city's scene. (the series does not profile individuals, albums, or bands, but really must be framed around a real scene, no fiction!) Suggested length is 15,000-30,000 words. Get as creative as you find gratifying. Learn about your favorite places and how things developed. Check out the existing Scene Histories here! To pitch, just send a general summary of the scene that you are profiling, the years profiled, and your qualifications/interest to profile it! Will it be prose or comics? Do you have access to photos and images? Why are you excited to do this? Submit or ask questions to joe at microcosmpublishing daht com

BFF Book Subscription

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Be our Best Friend Forever (BFF)! For 6 months you'll receive every new title we publish. The subscription is sliding scale price $10-30/month, and you can either pay in one sum upfront here or pay-as-you-go here. Thanks for your support!  Google+

Blogifesto!

Cover Reveal: Find Radical Joy with Microcosm’s Spring Books

The world is pretty toxic right now, but we know we can all do better.

To help in the journey, this season’s books cover detoxing your home, making your own self-care magic, and dealing with trauma at all ages; Ditching body-shame for colorful art, and the “cult of positivity” for radical joy; Workbooks to deal with boundaries and finances, and an “unplanner” to keep track of your life while managing your mental health. 

A bit about the season’s designs, from publisher Joe Biel:
Our average cover sees about 50 revisions between conception and the time that the book goes to print—often even changing after the first printing—so we try very hard to nail it on the first impression. 
In most of these cases the concepts were immediate and straightforward but several had the initial drafts completely scrapped in favor of a clearer idea. It’s easy to get stuck in the myopic tunnel of tweaking something endlessly when you need to start over.
The number one consideration of cover design is the book’s value proposition. But what if that book’s emotional payoff is a bit silly? You have to embrace that in some way or you risk misleading the reader.

Bright, bold, and brave, our Spring 2020 books are all about making your own joy through planning, understanding, and practical change, and we think the covers reflect that.
We went a little more playful even than usual this season, comments Joe. Each cover makes me smile a bit more than usual.

Unfuck Your Boundaries Workbook: Build Better Relationships through Consent, Communication, and Expressing Your Needs

by Faith G. Harper, PhD, LPC-S, ACS, ACN

Are people constantly intruding on your personal space, using your stuff, disrespecting you, or otherwise violating your boundaries? You can’t control what they do, but you can control how you understand and communicate your own needs,  and make choices about how you behave and respond to the people around you. Dive deep into self-work with this interactive guide that can be used alone or as a companion to Dr. Faith’s book Unfuck Your Boundaries. 

ISBN: 9781621061762
Release Date: March 10th 2020

Unf*ck Your Boundaries Workbook cover, a green background with purple accents, featuring doodles of brains reading and working through problems.

The Courage Party: Helping Our Resilient Children Understand and Survive Sexual Assault

by Joyce Brabner and Gerta Oparaku

Courage Party, written by Joyce Brabner (of American Splendor) with the help of her daughter Danielle, is a story based on a real-life situation Danielle experienced in her youth. To help her get over the trauma of her harrowing situation, Danielle’s mother throws her a “courage party” to celebrate her bravery and ability to work through her feelings and bounce back after being assaulted by a stranger. Written in an easy-to-follow, relatable way, this beautifully illustrated story is meant for kids and grown-ups to read together. 

ISBN: 9781621067856
Release Date: May 12th 2020

Book cover for The Courage Party, featuring a full color illustration of a group of kids playing at a party.

Fuck Happiness: How Women are Ditching the Cult of Positivity and Choosing Radical Joy 

by Ariel Gore

Happiness is big business. Books, consultants, psychologists, organizations, and even governments tout happiness secrets that are backed by scientific findings. The problem is that all of this science is done by and for cis white men. And some of the most vocal of these happiness experts were announcing that women could become happier by espousing “traditional” values and eschewing feminism. 

Skeptical of this hypothesis, Ariel Gore took a deep dive into the optimism industrial complex, reading the history, combing the research, attending the conferences, interviewing the thought leaders, and exploring her own and her friends’ personal experiences and desires.

ISBN: 9781621067856
Release Date: May 12, 2020

Bright yellow-orange book cover featuring red text, with the title F♡CK HAPPINESS and a line drawing of someone holding up their smile with their middle fingers.

My Vag: A Rhyming Coloring Book

by Margalit Cutler

Playful rhymes and whimsical art celebrate the many faces of the vulva in this mesmerizing coloring book. Some of the rhymes uplift this oft-misunderstood body part: My vag is a martini / sometimes dry, sometimes dirty / but always delightful & a little bit flirty. And others keep it wonderfully real: Slobbering on a bush / my vag is a giraffe / majestic in person / but goofy in photograph. These pages provide a wonderful antidote to body shame. 

ISBN: 9781621068907
Release Date: June 9, 2020

Book cover for My Vag, featuring a pink body silhouette surrounded by yellow and peach sea creatures and a conveniently-placed tailfin.

Unfuck Your Year: A Weekly Unplanner and Self-Care Activity Book to Manage Your Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Triggers, and Freak-Outs 

by Faith G. Harper, PhD, LPC-S, ACS, ACN

Unfucking your year doesn’t have to start in January. Take control of your life with this “unplanner” at any point in the year, and fill in the months and days as you plan your weeks and work through the exercises month by month. Unfuck Your Year is a perpetual planner with themed months to help you unfuck your life. Features weekly activities in Dr. Faith Harper’s frank style with help from River, the gender-flexible kitty, to guide you along your way. Also includes mood and period trackers, and space for you to set monthly goals along with plenty of achievable suggestions to get you on the right track.

ISBN: 9781621061816
Release Date: August 11, 2020

Detox Your Place: Room by Room Remedies for Nontoxic Living

by Meadow Shadowhawk

Looking to detox your home without the use of harsh chemicals, overly processed cleaning products, or by any other questionable means? Meadow Shadowhawk will help you through the process, with well-researched advice about topics like making your own cleaning products, selecting paint, choosing a vacuum cleaner, and even replacing furniture and insulation. Includes recipes for creating your own versions of everyday items, tips on what to buy (and what to avoid!), and what the facts are about various household items.

ISBN: 9781621061496
Release Date: July 14, 2020

Pink book cover with black title, Detox Your Place, flanked by illustrated tall green plants and household items.

Unfuck Your Worth: Overcome Your Money Emotions, Value Your Own Labor, and Manage Financial Freak-outs in a Capitalist Hellscape

by Faith G. Harper, PhD, LPC-S, ACS, ACN

Dr. Faith, author of the bestselling Unf*ck Your Brain and Unf*ck Your Intimacy, tackles one of the toughest emotional topics there is with her trademark mix of neuroscience, gentle encouragement, and no-nonsense language. This book isn’t about getting rich quick (or necessarily at all)—it’s about figuring out your own economic values and baggage, and learning to be the person in the world you know you have it in you to be. 

ISBN: 9781621064565
Release Date: July 14, 2020

a pale green book cover with an orange dollar sign made out of puzzle pieces and the title UnF*ck Your Worth


Unfuck Your Worth Workbook: Manage Your Money, Value Your Own Labor, and Stop Financial Freakouts in a Capitalist Hellscape

by Faith G. Harper, PhD, LPC-S, ACS, ACN

Without fear and shame holding you back, it’s easier to move past social barriers to actualizing whatever your money aspirations are, whether that’s getting a raise, getting out of debt, having honest conversations about money with your family, raising your kids to be savers, or wherever your aspirations lead you. This workbook can be used alongside the book Unf*ck Your Worth or on its own to help you plot out your values, dreams, and cold, hard numbers. 

ISBN: 9781621061786
Release Date: July 14, 2020

A green background and large puzzle-piece dollar sign, surrounded by puzzle patterns and the title UnFuck Your Worth Workbook

You Are a Great and Powerful Wizard: Self-Care Magic for Modern Mortals

by Sage Liskey and Barbara Counsil 

Contemporary life is confusing and it’s easy to feel out of control. Learn how to harness the power of your words and actions to change your life and make the world a better place with this modern spellbook—regardless of your religion or spiritual leanings. Sage Liskey shows you how to get in touch with the mental, emotional, and physical aspects needed for spell casting. 

ISBN: 9781621064831
Release Date: July 14, 2020

A black book cover with tan filigree patterns around the edge and a the title You Are A Great & Powerful Wizard

See our full catalog HERE any time.

Do you have a book or idea you want to see in this list one day? Pitch us here.