what kind of work is a manifesto?

[defyalllogic]

if it's either your personal, your organization, or some thing someone made up for a person or organization that doesn't exist.

(my guess is memoir...)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifesto

[Bufty]

Sorry, but I don't follow the observations below the question. And a dictionary or google seems to answer the question.

Originally Posted by defyalllogic

if it's either your personal, your organization, or some thing someone made up for a person or organization that doesn't exist.

(my guess is memoir...)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifesto

[defyalllogic]

if i had to guess, I would guess a manifesto is a memoir. or it would be in that section of the store...

[BenPanced]

A manifesto is a statement of purpose, being, and belief.

The Art of Noises

Martin Luther's known for his manifesto.

The Communist Manifesto

So while a manifesto is personal, it can be artistic, religious, or political in nature. It's not about memoir, which is personal history.

[quicklime]

Originally Posted by BenPanced

A manifesto is a statement of purpose, being, and belief.

The Art of Noises

Martin Luther's known for his manifesto.

The Communist Manifesto

So while a manifesto is personal, it can be artistic, religious, or political in nature. It's not about memoir, which is personal history.

+1; although they aren't synonyms either, manifesto would be closer to words like "diatribe", "rant", "essay", etc. than "memoir"......generally a manifesto is someone stating their own system of belief, rather than their history or life story.

[defyalllogic]

I understand what it is and what it contains, but if it was published, what would it be sold as? self help, reference, something else?

[Kateness]

I highly doubt it would be under memoir. General nonfiction, maybe....it would depend what kind of manifesto it was, too - a philosophical manifesto would be filed under philosophy.

[quicklime]

and a political manifesto would go in poli, and a global warming mani would go in environmentalism/science section...unless it was a best seller adn got some front-shelf time

[Jamesaritchie]

Memoir and manifesto have nothing in common. A manifesto, as most dictionaries say in one way or another, is just a statement of belief, purpose and intent.

[defyalllogic]

Thanks for the responses. I guess it's just a nonfiction book about (Subject)

I seem to be throwing people off about what i'm asking by not including the intent of the question. so, just in case:

I was just curious after that discovery channel guy. they say he had a manifesto like other high-profile terrorists.

With society being the way it is, if it was found in his house, someone would likely try to make money by publishing it. if it was short it would go in a magazine, if it was long, maybe it would be a book.

But how would that be marketed? where would they file it? are delusions fiction? what if i wrote the manifesto of captain underpants? where would that go?

It's a personal reflection, that's why i though maybe memoir was the closest genre.

just curiosity...

[Kateness]

That guy's manifesto is very short, and is already all over the interwebs. There would be little to no point in publishing it.

[BenPanced]

Originally Posted by Kateness

That guy's manifesto is very short, and is already all over the interwebs. There would be little to no point in publishing it.

And considering he owns the copyright, there's a whole 'nother can of worms to be opened.

[Polenth]

As no one's mentioned this part of your question yet... a manifesto about something made up would be sold in the relevant fiction section. Though it may be written in a non-fiction style, it's still fiction.