From the Beat poetry of the '50s to the spoken word of today, The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry brings readers the words, visions, and extravagan...
read full description
reviews
Oct 29, 2007
Allen
rated it: 
This is a fabulous book of poetry. Not the kind of poetry you're going to read in your high school English Lit class. This is real straight-from-the-gut poetry. But you'll recognize some of the names here - Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and other famous poets. But most of the poets here are real wild and not your straight-laced academics. My only criticism is that it is heavily weighted toward Beat poetry, probably a little too much, but the poetry it includes (most of it) is well worth the read. Hu
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 10, 2009
Lamar
rated it:
so far so good. This is a good collection of poets that are kings and queens of the underground press. There is a good selection of slam poetry that is not always presented in anthology form, which is a worthy enterprise in itself. Blessedly, some of the big names of the post beats are missing, and I mean 'blessedly' because the representation for academic and for decidedly non-academic academic narrative fills the shelves of every bookseller in the world.
It's good to read what you don't More...
It's good to read what you don't More...
Dec 24, 2010
Matthew
rated it: 
I hate this book because the editor's intent seems to be to turn off aspiring literates from poetry forever. The selection is mixed, Mike Topp, Frank O'Hara, Harold Norse, Tom Waits and other left-of-center artists representing the good side, and a pastiche of Ani DiFranco ripoffs and shitty Z-list beat poets champing the other. Some other questionable inclusions: Why, of all Ginsberg poems, would you put motherfucking Homage to Hersch in there? At least have Please Master so the kids can de
More...
Mar 10, 2008
Tosh
rated it:
Now this is a fun little (well actually big) anthology of poetry by bad asses of all sorts. You are pissed. Angry even. This is the book that will add the salt to the open wound. Poor it on baby because you are going to eat this book like it's the last meal.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Oct 07, 2007
Dennis
rated it: 
Marvelous anthology of the poetry of some of America's most renegade poets...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Dec 17, 2009
Seven
rated it:
you're not a poet if it's not on your shelf!!!
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Dec 12, 2011
CJRoberts_DMM
rated it: 
I don't normally attribute much personality or merit to the fixture of stars in these reviews. All too often a star becomes a soap box for someone's personal agenda. I am just as guilty of this kind of rigmarole as the worst I've seen so I try not to judge. All the same stars are a grouping of tripe. Really I only aspire to punctuate a review with stars as a way to adjust the base average of a book. So the truly exceptional or horrible are really the ones in which I am being the most honest, the
More...
Jan 16, 2009
Eric
rated it:
OK...though this is one of my favorite books of poetry, I am selective about which poets I've really enjoyed from it. I do credit this book, however, with introducing me to slam poetry, the likes of which I'd never read or heard onstage before. At the time, I was in college, and The Outlaw Bible helped me discover such poetic "outlaws" as Tupac Shakur, Patricia Smith, Taylor Mali, Pedro Pietri, Mike Mollett, and Bob Flanagan (of Sick fame).
The major difference, as I see i More...
The major difference, as I see i More...
Oct 30, 2009
Bill
rated it: 
I liked the concept of the anthology, for these last several decades so much of “establishment poetry” seems indiscriminate.
But this book, excluding maybe a half-dozen poems, was utterly bogus. It featured the same circle-jerk as “the establishment”, only these poems lacked any sort of craft or refinement.
One especially memorable stanza said: “I want people to hear my poetry and vomit.”
Mission accomplished.
But this book, excluding maybe a half-dozen poems, was utterly bogus. It featured the same circle-jerk as “the establishment”, only these poems lacked any sort of craft or refinement.
One especially memorable stanza said: “I want people to hear my poetry and vomit.”
Mission accomplished.
Aug 27, 2011
Anna
rated it:
I really like poetry, and most of the best literature was at one time considered distasteful or blacklisted (in my opinion), so this anthology was a pretty good match. Although it didn't have Bukowski (which surprised me), the poetry in it was unique and most of it really resonated with me. I found a lot of poets I hadn't otherwise known about, and read a lot of poems I enjoyed. I'd recommend it.
Dec 29, 2010
Emily
rated it:
a librarian in my hometown recommended this. d.a. levy, amazing truth reality. ... great variety, wonderful culty bios. even some sexy poems, too. this book is like a pandora's box of dank poetry that i have barely cracked open past d.a. levy and his awesomeness, and yet, just turning to one page at random, a+. a poetry anthology i actually use. timeless.
Aug 11, 2011
Brandon
rated it:
My biggest complaint about this anthology is the inclusion of pop culture icons better known for their part in other types of art (such as musicians Patti Smith, Tupac Shakur, Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison, and so on). I was happy to see poems by d.a. levy and Bob Flanagan, and very happy to see a whole section devoted to the Unbearables.
Dec 03, 2008
Joanna
rated it:
ok, so I didn't read the entire book and now I can't find it. I am going to look at the library. I read some of these poems a couple years ago and continue to think of them on a regular basis. Some phrases have become part of my internal dialogue and still make me laugh.
Aug 17, 2011
Nick
rated it:
This collection of poems and short stories is amazing. On a car ride from Pennsylvania to key west and back i finished every single page. Amazed by every different poem in the book. From james dean to allen ginsberg this book as it all. Oh the ode to a tijuana tiolet!!
Aug 20, 2011
Bryan
rated it:
I gave this five stars because this book introduced me to so many writers that I fell in love with. I reference it frequently. The poems are not all examples of the writers' best, but rather, show some more obscure work.
Jun 13, 2011
Brenda
rated it:
Simply the BEST anthology of anti-establishment poetry available on your bookstore's shelves. Don't turn to it for cute love poems or heart-warming verses. This is an oil well pumping high-quality, in-your-face rebellion.
Oct 15, 2009
Liana
rated it:
A great collection of some of the greatest unknowns. Offbeat rhyme, slandering prose, mindless, senseless thoughts that were once jumbled up in someone's brain are transformed into beautiful sadness scrawled across pages.
Feb 03, 2008
Lisa
rated it:
What a great collection of poetry - much of it rebellious in tone (the great American virtue). It literally is the "wafer thin mint" because it truly leaves you craving more. This collection really spans our literary history. The undergrounds, the Beats, the Punks and even Walt Whitman, for good measure. And it's not just their "best known works" - for instance, Ginsburg is here but "Howl" is not. It just gives you a tiny taste of what these artists created and
More...
Jul 19, 2010
Vivisection
rated it:
A little heavy on the beat poets, of whom I am not terribly fond, but an otherwise stellar collection of poetry from the gritty underbelly of America. T.S. Eliot it ain't.
Jan 31, 2009
Audrey
rated it:
This book was given to me by Sam Orgavani for high school graduation. I read it while I was working at the BW library. It did me a world of good my freshman year.
Aug 08, 2010
Kelsey
rated it:
Suprisingly well laid out with excellent "backstories" to explain timeframes and authors.
I would suggest this to poetry anthology addicts and poetry students.
I would suggest this to poetry anthology addicts and poetry students.
Jan 10, 2011
Ophelia
rated it:
I can not put into words how this book has affected my life. The book is lined and scribbled with favorite stanzas. Everyone should read this collection.
Oct 06, 2009
Drew
rated it:
It's a compendium of all the dirty and gritty poetry that your English teacher doesn't want you to read. In a good way.
Feb 19, 2011
Michael
rated it:
Great example of the range of poetry that kids are missing out on , dirty, gritty and bleeding in the streets
Feb 01, 2009
Stephany
rated it:
This book introduced me to James Dean's "Ode to a Tijuana Toilet," and I will be forever grateful.
Dec 04, 2011
Sam
rated it:
This anthology is a great one to balance out the more formal anthologies on the shelf.
Jan 19, 2008
Bob
rated it:
This is probably the best bible you could ever read. Some amazing poets from some of the classic beat poets to some modern folks to some activist folks and a lot more! Everytime I crack that book open I find a great poem lying within. It also has a few awesome pictures! I suggest everyone go out and get a copy through whatever means it takes. I believe they have a copy at the BMK Infoshop in DC so help them out and get a really great bible of some kick ass poetry!
