The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test

Rating:
Summary: Well written but a rough read
Review: After two attempts, 4 months, and lots of time forgotten by my bedside, I have finally been able to complete Wolfe's "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Tests." This book is by no means an easy read and only after the first 250 pages was I able to get into the flow of the book. Wolfe has a notable talent for adapting his literary voice to match the subject of his work. Unfortunately in this case, the subject matter was a group of acid heads, which doesn't leave a very clear voice behind. The non-fiction novel was written in a non-stop stream of conscious writing style. Focus changes in a matter of words and paragraphs last for pages. Again, this was NOT an easy read. Going along with Wolfe's New Journalism, the piece was littered with noises and:::::::: interesting forms of punctuation.

New journalism always brings a more entertaining light to subject matter, and Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters were funny enough to begin with. While the comedy comes blink-and-you'll-miss-it, the jokes are hearty. A fan of reading about the drug culture, this was definitely an interesting book for me to read. Once a reader can get past the dense language and difficult structure, and merry read is ahead.

This book comes as a great follow up to anyone reading Kesey's "One Flew Over the Cookoo's Nest," but if a reader was looking for an interesting read on the culture of the times, I'd recommend him or her to pick up some Hunter S. Thompson first. The subject matter remains the same while the writing has much more to be enjoyed.

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read - Portrait of a Time and Place
Review:
Tom Wolfe's The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test is both a great work of research and an entertaining portrait of a time and place, following the exploits Ken Keseys' Merry Pranksters on the authentic Magical Mystery tour of discovery. The acid tests are of course LSD experiments, but the book is about much more: the hippie era, the wonder of life, the value of questioning tradition. Above all it's a colorful and entertaining depiction of a time and place. Grab a moment and read this one -- and prepared to be transported. Take this trip -- you'll love it. Also recommended: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter Thompson, The Losers' Club by Richard Perez

Rating:
Summary: Get on the bus!
Review: "You're either on the bus...or off the bus." This is the choice facing you as you begin to read Tom Wolfe's classic saga of Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters as they test the boundries of consciousness and test the limits of other human's patience. What is almost as amazing as the lengths to which the pranksters went to enjoy their existence on Earth, is the style that Wolfe has chosen to narrate the adventures. Brillliantly blending stream of consciousness writing and a journalistic sense of description, Wolfe immerses himself in Kesey's world in an attempt to understand the thoughts of a group of adults who would paint a school bus with day-glo colors and trek across the United States with pitchers full of acid and a video camera keeping an eye on it all. Who could resist a chance to find out what it was like to spend a quaint evening in the woods reaching altered states of consciousness with a group of Hell's Angels, or taking a peek inside the world of the budding hippie stars led by a youthful Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead. Whether or not you approve of massive drug use will not impact your liking of this book, and for anyone who takes an interest in the counterculture movement this book is a must-read. Also acts as a perfect companion to Kesey's "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," and Jack Kerouac's "On the Road." Now you must decide, "Can YOU pass the acid test?"

Rating:
Summary: Tour Guide to the 60's
Review: Although I bought this book when it was first out in paperback, I didn't actually get around to reading it until 1993. I wondered at the time if I would have appreciated it more as a teenager or as someone in his 40's. I'm of the opinion that it works better as a retrospective on an indulgent generation rather than a "how to" book for on-going hedonism. I'm sure that there are other opinions on this, however. I must admit that it is really an enjoyable book and one wonders about the extent of detachment or involvement of Tom Wolfe. He obviously spent a great deal of time with Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters and hung with them long enough to see a beginning as well as an end. I think that the ability of the book to bring things to a conclusion was helpful. Nonetheless, the journey Wolfe takes us through is fast paced and exciting and we meet many familiar names along the way. Perhaps the most surprizing familiar name for me was Larry McMurtry whom I did not associate as one who might have followed that crowd. It was certainly a time of awakening although often in ways that may have been better to sleep off. There is an electricity to the book (as there was to the era) and Wolfe certainly helps keep it charged up. For those who don't know much about the 60's, this book is essential to understanding those times. To those who lived it, this book is a reminder of how much fun it was as well as how lucky most of us were to survive it. Things are different now. As evidence of that, consider our recent president who "smoked but never inhaled". Tom Wolfe wrote something that many of can now read with a red-faced smile. Who knew anyone was taking notes at the time?

Rating:
Summary: Tour Guide to the 60's
Review: Although I bought this book when it was first out in paperback, I didn't actually get around to reading it until 1993. I wondered at the time if I would have appreciated it more as a teenager or as someone in his 40's. I'm of the opinion that it works better as a retrospective on an indulgent generation rather than a "how to" book for on-going hedonism. I'm sure that there are other opinions on this, however. I must admit that it is really an enjoyable book and one wonders about the extent of detachment or involvement of Tom Wolfe. He obviously spent a great deal of time with Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters and hung with them long enough to see a beginning as well as an end. I think that the ability of the book to bring things to a conclusion was helpful. Nonetheless, the journey Wolfe takes us through is fast paced and exciting and we meet many familiar names along the way. Perhaps the most surprizing familiar name for me was Larry McMurtry whom I did not associate as one who might have followed that crowd. It was certainly a time of awakening although often in ways that may have been better to sleep off. There is an electricity to the book (as there was to the era) and Wolfe certainly helps keep it charged up. For those who don't know much about the 60's, this book is essential to understanding those times. To those who lived it, this book is a reminder of how much fun it was as well as how lucky most of us were to survive it. Things are different now. As evidence of that, consider our recent president who "smoked but never inhaled". Tom Wolfe wrote something that many of can now read with a red-faced smile. Who knew anyone was taking notes at the time?

Rating:
Summary: What's In Your Kool-Aid?
Review: For anyone interested in the hippie generation, the origins of public interest in LSD, the San Francisco scene of the mid to late 60's, the Psychedelic Rock music of that same era, or just an interesting story about counter-culture, here it is. Wolfe does an amazing job of writing this book as a story rather than an organization of events or facts. Once you get past the first 2 chapters, you can actually feel yourself being "on the bus," that is to say, part of the story. I personally found it quite amazing how many roots were formed by Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters. You are able to experience the origins of the Grateful Dead, Haight-Ashbury, LSD use, anti drug laws, and even "the Magical Mystery Tour." Throw in the Hell's Angels and a fugitive flight to Mexico and this makes for one great story!

Rating:
Summary: Great historical content; Wolfe's writing style is annoying
Review: Of course historical content is rich and plentiful in this book. The Watt's Riot, the Berkley anti-war rally, the Beatles, Hell's Angels and the Trip's Festival and much more are mentioned. However, the writing style of Tom Wolfe made this book a bit difficult to delve into with continued motivation. It's understood that Wolfe was attempting to create the atmosphere for the book; however it really made the book less enjoyable and a bit confusing at times. Wolfe's writing style appeared to have no rhyme or reason, as was probably the point since those in the book were usually under the influence of drugs, but it was found to be hard to follow and frankly, quite annoying. His constant use of improper grammar and reference to artists and other historical figures with no explanation as to what he's referring to. I think this book would be most enjoyed by someone who can relate to the '60s and not someone who wants a better understanding. Or perhaps you have to be stoned, I'm not sure, I mostly found it annoying.

Rating:
Summary: Can't come up with a title
Review: The Electric Kool-aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe was by far the best book that I have ever read. Tom Wolfe amazingly was able to capture a certain essance of the moment. In some cases that may not be so impressive, but have you ever seen the guy? He's a flatout dork... Anyway the book explains so many aspects of the time and the Merry Pranksters; it startled me to see how many things have since penetrated into our very culture--not just counter-culture. There are no words that I can find to explain why this book is so awesome, so just buy it, just read it and let the parallels between your life and the book surprise you. As I read the book so many things kept coming up,(I felt like I was "On the bus") I noticed strangers reading the book and discovered many alusions and found out why I dress the way that I do (I have neon orange tights with a little skirt, boots and a western style shirt on toda.) Reading this book has brought me to a new level, I love Wolfe's languange and the way the he lays it out like it is. Now when I write I write with the slang and the pase that the people I know set so that I can capture a particular sceene as did Wolfe when writing The Electric Kool-aid Acid Test.

Rating:
Summary: Electric Kool-Aid for a gnome
Review: The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test

This is a documentary by a fabulous journalist and author Tom Wolfe. Wolfe got into the world of hippies from the sixties. In this documentary about Ken Kesey, the author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, it describes the actions and tribulations that these "merry Pranksters" endured and enjoyed. In the book, a small band of "free thinkers" soon become united into an everlasting bond, which is created by one thing, DRUGS. In the novel it tells the whole story of how acid got started amongst California and the United States and it pretty much started with the pranksters. And they soon learn that the law is a very difficult source to bypass. They suffer through the jail, the raids, and being on the run; all to come back together and hallucinate. For the pranksters it was all about the experience which all came from inside their heads and the acid that was fed to them. They go on many adventures, including trips across the country in the stereotypical hippie bus. It tells of their insane journeys through bad experiences while bending their mind with hallucinogenic drugs. And the parties in which are invited many different kind of people including the Hell's Angels. The pranksters also held what they liked to call "Acid Tests" in which they could spread the experience of LSD to all that were interested. It is an amazing story, especially how it is describing these young psyche expanders. The author Tom Wolfe did a great job describing the lives of these young hippies in their experience through the drug movement of America. He told the story from an almost documentary point of view in which he could partially become part of the pranksters. Wolfe could make you believe in their movement with the click of his typewriter. He got inside the mind of each of the prankster's in-order to properly explicate their lives correctly. He could use the proper language and communication to securely tell the story of these merry pranksters. His communication of the matter gave it a feeling that the book was alive, that this isn't only a documentary but pure vitality in form. Wolfe accomplished this book by a process in which he used past experiences of his own self and past experiences of others. He interviewed pranksters; and he spent much time interviewing people who were part of the prankster's lives' even if it was only for a night. And during the end of the Prankster career days he even spent time living with them. He took time out of his life to become part of this Day-Glo essence of life. This Day-Glo world full of colors, patterns, and mind trips; that's what Wolfe got himself into. Even if you disagree with the thoughts and views of the pranksters this is still a tale full of excitement, not to mention how well written it is. I do not know if Wolfe took part in the entertainment that enthralled the Pranksters; he could have stayed sober, I am unaware. This is a great book for any reader who enjoys hearing about something new. Because after you read this you will understand the hippies. -gnome

Rating:
Summary: Still a great book despite the foolishness of the characters
Review: There is something so sweet and so innocent about the myth of the 60s that you almost forget that these people were just as prone to infighting, backstabbing, selfishness, jealousy, and all the other sins that shows like Survivor capitalize upon.

Tom Wolfe takes a rare journalistic travel with some of the original hippies - Ken Kesey's merry pranksters who travel the country on a bus driven by Neal Cassidy in his post-On the Road, pre-dead on a railroad tracks glory while dropping acid and having lots of sex. There are gang bangs, acid laced koolaid, arrests, faked deaths, and the beginning of one of the greatest novels in America.

Written with less journalistic objectivity than most book, you can tell that Tom Wolfe is a fan of these guys even as he doesn't directly participate in their lifestyle as you imagine Hunter S. Thompson would do. Wolfe compiles thousands of interviews and experiences in order to bring people into the heads of these tripped out losers and in the process makes them into legends. The only problem is that sometimes WOlfe goes a little too far off the deep end and in creating dialogue and internal monologues for these characters he's more projecting his own biases. A later book of his (The Right Stuff) takes this method to extremes as he spends a good deal of time writing his narrative from a test monkey's perspective. While there is nothng so extreme in this book, it is more pervasive here.

This is both a classic of the 60s counterculture and a great example of gonzo journalism (which is to real journalism like Herodotus is to history). At very least it is a great insight into the mind and work of Ken Kesey who wrote One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (partially on acid) and who became a celebrity in his own right.

By the way, if you are going to buy this book you might as well buy One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. You won't be able to resist that book if you read this one.