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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
A trippy account of the time between the beatniks and the hippies with Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters at the helm. Loved every zonked out moment!
I picked up this book since it is on so many to be read lists (like 1001 books to read before you die) AND when I moved to California I decided to read California and Beatnik literature to gain a better understanding and appreciation of the state.
This is the fourth Beatnik book I have read and I must say that in general I am not into or appreciative of this type of literature. I am long past the age and maturity level where getting wasted is cool and I found other beatnick literature painful to read (Catch 22) or stupid and offensive (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"... a book about being wasted and stupid and often driving at high speeds on massive quantities of drugs.
Electric Koolaid acid test is different though... yes it is about drugs... but the Book is non fiction and which makes it quite interesting and follows the author Ken Kensey (who wrote "one who flew over the cuckoo's nest" - a book I kinda liked) and his group on a brightly colored bus around the US and doing mass parties of electric Kool-aid (LSD lased Kool-aid). As out there as the group is you kinda gotta like them. Tom Wolfe also uses this groups own words (collected from the 40 hour movie the group made on the bus trips this book is about), letters and conversations. You really can hear and feel the people so the book gives you an amazing insight into this time and the groups mission.
The book also really describes and acid trip and has a lot of energy. It was also fun when famous people or groups come in and out of the story. It is also an interesting way to get to know these people and this time. I was actually sad when the book was finished... I wanted more. When you read it make sure you read the part at the end of the story....very interesting.
This is the fourth Beatnik book I have read and I must say that in general I am not into or appreciative of this type of literature. I am long past the age and maturity level where getting wasted is cool and I found other beatnick literature painful to read (Catch 22) or stupid and offensive (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"... a book about being wasted and stupid and often driving at high speeds on massive quantities of drugs.
Electric Koolaid acid test is different though... yes it is about drugs... but the Book is non fiction and which makes it quite interesting and follows the author Ken Kensey (who wrote "one who flew over the cuckoo's nest" - a book I kinda liked) and his group on a brightly colored bus around the US and doing mass parties of electric Kool-aid (LSD lased Kool-aid). As out there as the group is you kinda gotta like them. Tom Wolfe also uses this groups own words (collected from the 40 hour movie the group made on the bus trips this book is about), letters and conversations. You really can hear and feel the people so the book gives you an amazing insight into this time and the groups mission.
The book also really describes and acid trip and has a lot of energy. It was also fun when famous people or groups come in and out of the story. It is also an interesting way to get to know these people and this time. I was actually sad when the book was finished... I wanted more. When you read it make sure you read the part at the end of the story....very interesting.
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
If you’ve ever taken LSD, you know there are various stages of the trip. I experienced all those stages while reading this book. The time loops, the going back to where you started, and the getting to the final stage of the trip when all you want is for the trip to end and you have to force yourself to go to sleep. -that being said, this is the first book I’ve read in this style of writing and it definitely took me a while to get through it. I loved seeing Kesey from a different perspective since I’ve only ever known him for writing “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and getting arrested for possession; gotta love weed laws in the 1960s. Beyond Kesey, seeing the Pranksters, Hunter Thompson, Cassady, the Grateful Dead, and all of the original beatniks provided so many layers to everything that was happening at that point in time.
I was always fascinated with the counter culture movement and to read how what we know that movement as today unfold was beautiful. Just remember- never trust a prankster.
I was always fascinated with the counter culture movement and to read how what we know that movement as today unfold was beautiful. Just remember- never trust a prankster.
It's kind of hard playing cello on a hypodermic needle and using a petrified bat as a bow.
I could have gone without reading this book.
I'm not sure if I thought it would be better, or I just didn't like it.
In my opinion it was much longer than it had to be.
I could have gone without reading this book.
I'm not sure if I thought it would be better, or I just didn't like it.
In my opinion it was much longer than it had to be.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Very interesting perspective on a subculture of the counter-culture in America, but I'm definitely not cool enough to fully appreciate it.
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced