Republic of Outsidersis a deeply reported book about the growing number of Americans who disrupt the status quo: outsiders who seek to redefine a wide variety of fields, from film and mental health to diplomacy, banking, and merchandising, from how we see gender to what we eat. From communities of professional and amateur filmmakers crowd-sourcing their work to transgender and "neurodiverse" activists, from cult rock stars who raise money directly from their fans and micro music labels to Occupy Wall Street's "alternative bankers," these cultural and social entrepreneurs create and package new identities. It's a practice cultural critic Alissa Quart dubs "identity innovation," where people push the boundaries of who they can be and what they can do, even trying to turn the forces of co-optation to their benefit. In a brilliant and far-reaching analysis, Quart introduces us to a wide spectrum of individuals who have created new structures to keep themselves sane, fulfilled, and, on occasion, paid. The book shows how and why these groups now gather, organize, and create new communities and economies. Without a middleman, freed of established media, and highly mobile, unusual ideas are able to spread more quickly. Those on the so-called fringes are able to find audiences and allies. Republic of Outsidersis a critical examination of people whose rebellious, marginal, or DIY positions are sources of strength rather than weakness.