Back in the day almost everyone in the counter culture read “Stranger in a Strange Land.”
suhoward on
The Drifters by James Michener, Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion
MattAmylon on
I recently read “Nixonland’ by Rick Perlstein—it covers US politics from the years 1966-1972, and it doubles as a really comprehensive history of the counterculture stuff of that time, and the conservative counter-counterculture that grew up alongside it. I learned a lot, and Perlstein’s a really good storyteller.
In terms of fiction: Pynchon’s “Inherent Vice” is a great novel from a guy who seems to have really, *really* been there and done that.
unlovelyladybartleby on
Kent State was an enlightening read, particularly the bit where the soldiers claimed that the shock from hearing young ladies chanting profanity contributed to the shooting.
Beshelar on
There’s a Riot Going on: Revolutionaries, Rock Stars and the Rise and Fall of ’60s Counter-Culture by Peter Doggett can get into the weeds a bit at times, but is fascinating and covers a lot of great elements, particularly in music.
If you don’t mind the more scholarly side of things, An American Ordeal: The Antiwar Movement of the Vietnam Era by Charles DeBenedetti is probably the best comprehensive book about the antiwar movement.
neonjewel on
Valley of the Dolls to a certain extent
tim_to_tourach on
Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon
Dazzling-Ad4701 on
the Eden express by Mark Vonnegut. expatriate, but still American.
the knife in my hands, and cutting through, by Keith Maillard.
most of the Tom Robbins books of that era.
sharpiemontblanc on
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. About the war in Vietnam. Memorable.
11 Comments
Electrick Kool Aid Acid Test is a great book!
Back in the day almost everyone in the counter culture read “Stranger in a Strange Land.”
The Drifters by James Michener, Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion
I recently read “Nixonland’ by Rick Perlstein—it covers US politics from the years 1966-1972, and it doubles as a really comprehensive history of the counterculture stuff of that time, and the conservative counter-counterculture that grew up alongside it. I learned a lot, and Perlstein’s a really good storyteller.
In terms of fiction: Pynchon’s “Inherent Vice” is a great novel from a guy who seems to have really, *really* been there and done that.
Kent State was an enlightening read, particularly the bit where the soldiers claimed that the shock from hearing young ladies chanting profanity contributed to the shooting.
There’s a Riot Going on: Revolutionaries, Rock Stars and the Rise and Fall of ’60s Counter-Culture by Peter Doggett can get into the weeds a bit at times, but is fascinating and covers a lot of great elements, particularly in music.
If you don’t mind the more scholarly side of things, An American Ordeal: The Antiwar Movement of the Vietnam Era by Charles DeBenedetti is probably the best comprehensive book about the antiwar movement.
Valley of the Dolls to a certain extent
Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon
the Eden express by Mark Vonnegut. expatriate, but still American.
the knife in my hands, and cutting through, by Keith Maillard.
most of the Tom Robbins books of that era.
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. About the war in Vietnam. Memorable.
Days of Rage, by Brian Burroughs