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mschlat's review
4.0
Why I picked this up: I recently watched Aaron Sorkin's The Trial of the Chicago 7, thoroughly enjoyed it, and realized I knew about Abbie Hoffman, but had never read any of his work.
What's in the collection: As the subtitle states, you get pieces of [b:Revolution for the Hell of It|290562|Revolution for the Hell of It|Abbie Hoffman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348604427l/290562._SY75_.jpg|2459689] (focusing on the 1968 demonstrations at the Democratic National Convention), [b:Woodstock Nation|1112850|Woodstock Nation A Talk-rock Album|Abbie Hoffman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1316655045l/1112850._SY75_.jpg|1099833] (focusing on the aftermath of Chicago with some excellent pieces on Woodstock), and - according to the editor - most of [b:Steal This Book|184085|Steal This Book|Abbie Hoffman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389482655l/184085._SY75_.jpg|374939]. There's also a collection of essays and transcribed speeches and interviews from 1980 on.
What I thought: I almost gave up during the first chapter, an extremely addled stream of consciousness piece that screams LSD. But I didn't, and I'm very glad I didn't. The first two books are dense with 60's thought and atmosphere, sometimes to the point of obscuring the saliency of anything else. But Hoffman's pragmatism, organizing skills, and love of theatre regularly shine through, and you get a strong sense of Hoffman's ethos: work hard and joyfully at the revolution, avoid (or better yet confound) the academic navel gazing tendencies of the Left, and think like an ad executive to communicate your message. I would especially recommend the chapter "The Sinclair Hospital" on Hoffman's time staffing the emergency clinic at Woodstock, his good and bad trips while doing so, and his continuing struggles to make the festival pay attention to something besides just the music.
[b:Steal This Book|184085|Steal This Book|Abbie Hoffman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389482655l/184085._SY75_.jpg|374939] is a different beast, written in a much more matter of fact style and absent the personal touches. You can read it as a time capsule (many of the scams using credit cards and tickets are impossible now), a prediction (Hoffman details the personal protection you needed in protests then and are still helpful in protests now), a paean to living free (lots on communes, but strangely little on squatting), or a frightening inventory of how to carry out violence (nothing pacifist here). It's straightforward prose connected to alternative purposes that spans everything from a breakfast cereal recipe to theright way to make and throw a Molotov cocktail.
The essays at the end probably had the most impact on me. The theatricality is mostly gone, but Hoffman's skill at organizing and his vision of effective communication still illuminate the pieces. It's clear that he sees the 60's not as a missed opportunity, but as a confluence of particular historical forces, and that he believe the same level of activism is possible at the time of his writing (the mid-eighties) if the appropriate tools for the context are used. Hoffman still denigrates the Left as slaves to vocabulary and avoids oppressive ideology. It's not local versus global; it's acknowledging that effective protest and action starts at the local level and always benefits from larger organizations. It's a clear eyed look at organizing and not a long suffering nostalgic look at '68 and '69 (which is what I expected).
If you have any interest in Hoffman, I found this a strong collection that showcases his best qualities in the midst of very different writing styles.
What's in the collection: As the subtitle states, you get pieces of [b:Revolution for the Hell of It|290562|Revolution for the Hell of It|Abbie Hoffman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348604427l/290562._SY75_.jpg|2459689] (focusing on the 1968 demonstrations at the Democratic National Convention), [b:Woodstock Nation|1112850|Woodstock Nation A Talk-rock Album|Abbie Hoffman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1316655045l/1112850._SY75_.jpg|1099833] (focusing on the aftermath of Chicago with some excellent pieces on Woodstock), and - according to the editor - most of [b:Steal This Book|184085|Steal This Book|Abbie Hoffman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389482655l/184085._SY75_.jpg|374939]. There's also a collection of essays and transcribed speeches and interviews from 1980 on.
What I thought: I almost gave up during the first chapter, an extremely addled stream of consciousness piece that screams LSD. But I didn't, and I'm very glad I didn't. The first two books are dense with 60's thought and atmosphere, sometimes to the point of obscuring the saliency of anything else. But Hoffman's pragmatism, organizing skills, and love of theatre regularly shine through, and you get a strong sense of Hoffman's ethos: work hard and joyfully at the revolution, avoid (or better yet confound) the academic navel gazing tendencies of the Left, and think like an ad executive to communicate your message. I would especially recommend the chapter "The Sinclair Hospital" on Hoffman's time staffing the emergency clinic at Woodstock, his good and bad trips while doing so, and his continuing struggles to make the festival pay attention to something besides just the music.
[b:Steal This Book|184085|Steal This Book|Abbie Hoffman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389482655l/184085._SY75_.jpg|374939] is a different beast, written in a much more matter of fact style and absent the personal touches. You can read it as a time capsule (many of the scams using credit cards and tickets are impossible now), a prediction (Hoffman details the personal protection you needed in protests then and are still helpful in protests now), a paean to living free (lots on communes, but strangely little on squatting), or a frightening inventory of how to carry out violence (nothing pacifist here). It's straightforward prose connected to alternative purposes that spans everything from a breakfast cereal recipe to the
The essays at the end probably had the most impact on me. The theatricality is mostly gone, but Hoffman's skill at organizing and his vision of effective communication still illuminate the pieces. It's clear that he sees the 60's not as a missed opportunity, but as a confluence of particular historical forces, and that he believe the same level of activism is possible at the time of his writing (the mid-eighties) if the appropriate tools for the context are used. Hoffman still denigrates the Left as slaves to vocabulary and avoids oppressive ideology. It's not local versus global; it's acknowledging that effective protest and action starts at the local level and always benefits from larger organizations. It's a clear eyed look at organizing and not a long suffering nostalgic look at '68 and '69 (which is what I expected).
If you have any interest in Hoffman, I found this a strong collection that showcases his best qualities in the midst of very different writing styles.
lilias's review
5.0
I had never heard of this collection until one day I opened my door to find it in a pile with 2 other books. I like to think that Abbie would have approved of my means of acquisition.
stevenf's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
ABBIE LIVES! YIPPIE!
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