Reviews - The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test

404 reviews for:

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test

I have read a lot of beat generation books so seeing all these authors and real-life characters making their appearance in this book whilst working on books of their own is really fascinating! Amongst them are [a:Ken Kesey|7285|Ken Kesey|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1363273797p2/7285.jpg], [a:Neal Cassady|79334|Neal Cassady|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1267720258p2/79334.jpg], [a:Hunter S. Thompson|5237|Hunter S. Thompson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1206560814p2/5237.jpg], [a:Jack Kerouac|1742|Jack Kerouac|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1430512644p2/1742.jpg], [a:Allen Ginsberg|4261|Allen Ginsberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1421583811p2/4261.jpg], [a:Timothy Leary|47718|Timothy Leary|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1429657521p2/47718.jpg], [a:Larry McMurtry|1055|Larry McMurtry|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1208900166p2/1055.jpg], [a:Ken Babbs|18472|Ken Babbs|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], [a:Carolyn Garcia|5810546|Carolyn Garcia|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], [a:Lee Quarnstrom|10887464|Lee Quarnstrom|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], [a:Stewart Brand|18698|Stewart Brand|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1365489813p2/18698.jpg], [a:Paul Foster|110633|Paul Foster|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], [a:Del Close|107678|Del Close|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], [a:Wavy Gravy|773530|Wavy Gravy|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1207687861p2/773530.jpg], [a:Ed McClanahan|43853|Ed McClanahan|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png], [a:Gurney Norman|74874|Gurney Norman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1331009729p2/74874.jpg], [a:Paul Krassner|31209|Paul Krassner|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1353988782p2/31209.jpg], [a:Robert Stone|14174585|Robert Stone|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], and all the band of Merry Pranksters on and off the bus FURTHUR and experimenting with LSD in the Acid Tests during a time when it wasn't illegal in California, and Kesey in trouble with the law because marijuana was.

lillyobscure's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous funny informative reflective slow-paced

outspokenlibrarian's review against another edition

3.0

This made my brain hurt and gave me vertigo, and I'm guessing that was probably intentional. Gives an interesting insight into the time, and Kesey kind of sounds like a cult leader.

robbydeshazer's review against another edition

3.0

This book could've been half the length and still covered everything that Wolfe wanted to convey to the audience.

Ken Kesey and The Merry Pranksters are one of those fun pieces of Americana that are better admired from afar with the shimmery gloss of nostalgia. The reality of the situation is chaotic and unhealthy for everyone involved.

I don't think that Wolfe sets out to expose the pranksters or to warn against the use of psychedelics, but rather the practices of the pranksters just don't hold up under a modern lens (especially their treatment of young women and girls).

That said, I would've killed to go to one of the tests and see some prime-era Grateful Dead.

caribouffant's review against another edition

3.0

Tripping on the bus, through the door, in the movie.

sandra_goodson's review against another edition

4.0

This was a fun book. An informative and interesting snap shot of a specific time in American history when the zeitgeist was all about expanding the mind while getting to the real heart of humanity and the meaning of life. Unfortunately, personalities came before principles and the whole thing fell apart in a bacchanalia of sex drugs and rock and roll rather than the evolution of humanity.

Still, an excellent expose on the main characters (mainly Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters) who wanted to explore new horizons, to boldly go where no man has gone before, (um,...further, yo) to delve into the psyche of mankind and come back with the map to guide the way in AND out again. Too bad once the acid trip was over, as explosive and mind altering as it proved to be, most people had little idea how to bring those revelations into the "real world" and live in that deeper understanding of the "connectedness of it all." Once acid became so widely available to everyday people and teenagers who were just interested in "blowing their minds" the whole thing kind of fell apart and became almost passé. Like Jerry Garcia once said, (to paraphrase) "The door opened for a minute and a few people got a glimpse inside then the door slammed shut and was locked again".

intrainanis's review against another edition

Couldn't finish this one. Super interesting topic written in a confusing and stream of consciousness type of way. I made myself read up to page 40 and gave up.