Jack London cut a mythic figure across the American landscape of the early twentieth century. But throughout his colorful life–from his teena...
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reviews
Nov 02, 2010
Sarah
rated it: 
I always believed that Jack London kind of sucked. Like most people, I read 'To Build a Fire' and Call of the Wild in school, and was bored senseless, wishing the hero would just freeze to death faster.
John Barleycorn proved me completely wrong. In it, London is funny and sharp and angry about all the right things. Lately it's been marketed as a pro-prohibition book, which I think obscures the point. London is not concerned with alcoholism as a disease. What he's trying to pin down is More...
John Barleycorn proved me completely wrong. In it, London is funny and sharp and angry about all the right things. Lately it's been marketed as a pro-prohibition book, which I think obscures the point. London is not concerned with alcoholism as a disease. What he's trying to pin down is More...
Nov 22, 2011
Tony
rated it: 
JOHN BARLEYCORN. (1913). Jack London. ***.
I’m not sure why London felt compelled to write this book, justifying his drinking and its association with an enhanced experience of life. He is constantly maintaining that his drinking is not a subject of addiction – i.e., he is not an alcoholic. After one of his bouts and concurrent adventures, he says, “...still there arose in me no desire for alcohol, no chemical demand. In years and years of heavy drinking, drinking did not beget the d More...
I’m not sure why London felt compelled to write this book, justifying his drinking and its association with an enhanced experience of life. He is constantly maintaining that his drinking is not a subject of addiction – i.e., he is not an alcoholic. After one of his bouts and concurrent adventures, he says, “...still there arose in me no desire for alcohol, no chemical demand. In years and years of heavy drinking, drinking did not beget the d More...
Nov 19, 2011
John
rated it:
Preliminery: I am not sure which edition of this classic I read. I purchased my ancient hardback copy at an underground Socialist bookstore across the street from Charing Cross/St. Pancras station in London (Harry Potter movie fans will recognize this location by the Gothic spires). I paid an absurdly high price of 8 pounds but then the Brits have always overcharged from their books, even after Kindle came out.
This book is a classic, an undiscovered diamond in the rough by one of the grea More...
This book is a classic, an undiscovered diamond in the rough by one of the grea More...
Aug 06, 2011
Sam
rated it: 
The modern myth of the alcoholic or drug addict artist has only been with us a short while. Lord Byron the debauched poet drinking and fucking his way through his short life, Coleridge getting more and more addicted to drugs, eventually losing his talent, family, health and mind. From then we have the drink addled death of Poe, to the Victorian writers who would use opium like Wilkie Collins and who would create characters who openly used cocaine and opium like Sherlock Holmes. And then we come
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Apr 05, 2011
Megan
rated it: 
This is London's Prohibitionist tract. His main thesis is that the reason he has been drinking so much all his life is that alcohol was so readily available in society. He tells some enlightening stories of his career, his youth and early exploits, and growth into maturity that are really fascinating. Unfortunately, he basically blames his alcoholism on everyone else - he says it is the only way for men to socialize. Well, he never tried NOT drinking or drinking less than everyone else. Plu
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May 07, 2010
Matthew
rated it:
A throat-burning, adventurous tale of boozing all across this globe. Written with all the contradictory passion of the most brilliant drunkards.
London opens this book by explaining it as a cautionary tale. In fact, he opens it by telling of a recent afternoon when he voted for women's suffrage in the state of California. For London supposes if the women have the vote they will outlaw drinking at last. He cast his vote while "jingled", what some of us now call "buzz More...
London opens this book by explaining it as a cautionary tale. In fact, he opens it by telling of a recent afternoon when he voted for women's suffrage in the state of California. For London supposes if the women have the vote they will outlaw drinking at last. He cast his vote while "jingled", what some of us now call "buzz More...
Oct 19, 2009
Cynthia
rated it:
Ironic that a book read in preparation for a wine trip to Sonoma would make me understand Prohibition, but there you have it. I get it. Jack London vividly explores a world before TV, before Radio, before the Internet when the local saloon was, for the working classes, their entertainment, their Facebook, the place to network, the place to get a low interest loan, the place to stay warm in the winter, and the place to escape their dull lives. It was, in short, every Iphone application married
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Jun 12, 2011
Kate
rated it:
A brutally honest? account of John Barleycorn or Alcoholism that Jack London wishes was eliminated even before he was born. I listened to this on Librivox, paying careful attention to every word because I am afraid I may know someone who is also friends with this rather destructive chap.
Jack London's analysis is sharp but he never is canny enough to give it up. Jacks Life was one brought up in dire poverty, no money, with poverty of circumstances, not helpful and contributing to the destr More...
Jack London's analysis is sharp but he never is canny enough to give it up. Jacks Life was one brought up in dire poverty, no money, with poverty of circumstances, not helpful and contributing to the destr More...
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Aug 05, 2011
Colin N.
rated it:
Quite a strange book, this one. Part biography, part anti-drinking screed, it traces London’s history with drinking. From his first drink as a child, through his teenage years, through his life as a sailor, adventurer, and successful writer.
London was a fascinating character. Throughout this book you keep hoping he will spend more time describing his adventures, and less time pontificating repetitiously about the problems of alcoholism. But I guess he mines those areas in other works and s More...
London was a fascinating character. Throughout this book you keep hoping he will spend more time describing his adventures, and less time pontificating repetitiously about the problems of alcoholism. But I guess he mines those areas in other works and s More...
Dec 19, 2011
Kit
rated it:
Again, as a native Californian I am ashamed to admit that this is the very first Jack London book I've read. So very, very ashamed. And while he spends a good part of it declaring to one and all that he is in no way a dipso--despite the Herculean drinking bouts he often engaged in while still a teenager no less--it does all have a degree of "the lord doth protest too much, methinks." Then again, from a purely societal standpoint, it would've been downright unimaginable for a guy, least
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May 02, 2008
Raegan
rated it:
If this book doesn't make you want to lift a pint or two and get loose, well...you are a stronger human than I. This one always makes me thirsty...even though it is supposed to show the deleterious effects of alcohol.
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Sep 15, 2011
Sam
rated it:
The modern myth of the alcoholic or drug addict artist has only been with us a short while. Lord Byron the debauched poet drinking and fucking his way through his short life, Coleridge getting more and more addicted to drugs, eventually losing his talent, family, health and mind. From then we have the drink addled death of Poe, to the Victorian writers who would use opium like Wilkie Collins and who would create characters who openly used cocaine and opium like Sherlock Holmes. And then we come
More...
Aug 07, 2011
Rod
rated it:
What begins as London's argument in favor of prohibition turns into a colorful, thoughtful, sometimes boastful, often reflective memoir where the author wrestles with such questions as what distinguishes an alcoholic from a person who abuses alcohol, how alcohol is thoroughly entwined with culture (especially male culture, from London's viewpoint) and why he finds drinkers so much more interesting than non-drinkers. You don't have to agree with all of his conclusions to find this entertaining,
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Sep 02, 2011
James
rated it:
(I downloaded this book free, online, from the Gutenberg Project)
I'm not sure Jack London is the author best fit to describe the perils of alcohol! This book, intended in part to promote prohibition, is so filled with London's classic adventuresome storytelling that the world of drinking looks mighty appealing.
I'd be interested to know how much of this is factual, and how much might fall into the category of fictionalized memoir. London's noble account of voting in favor More...
I'm not sure Jack London is the author best fit to describe the perils of alcohol! This book, intended in part to promote prohibition, is so filled with London's classic adventuresome storytelling that the world of drinking looks mighty appealing.
I'd be interested to know how much of this is factual, and how much might fall into the category of fictionalized memoir. London's noble account of voting in favor More...
Dec 03, 2011
Brandy
rated it:
Reading “John Barleycorn” has given me a whole new appreciation for London and his writing style. The only other books I’ve read of Jack London’s was when I was a kid, “Call of the Wild” and “White Fang”.
John Barleycorn begins with London’s vote for women’s suffrage in the hopes that women would vote for prohibition. His thought process was that the availability of alcohol causes the desire to drink. He then goes on to explain his own experiences with alcohol and the effects it has had More...
John Barleycorn begins with London’s vote for women’s suffrage in the hopes that women would vote for prohibition. His thought process was that the availability of alcohol causes the desire to drink. He then goes on to explain his own experiences with alcohol and the effects it has had More...
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Aug 15, 2008
Justin
rated it:
John Barleycorn (known unofficially as the “alcoholic memoirs”) is Jack London’s recounting his own experiences with alcohol as well as an attempt to illustrate the dangers of drinking and the need for prohibition. Ostensibly, he voted for women’s suffrage in hopes that women, gaining the vote, would lend their political support to outlawing booze completely. This book is London’s way of explaining that vote.
As much as this is supposed to be a serious treatment (according to Pete H More...
As much as this is supposed to be a serious treatment (according to Pete H More...
Dec 28, 2010
Sergey
rated it:
Another autobiographical book by London (along with Martin Eden), concentraed this time on booze-side of London's stormy life. It's a brilliantly written tale of a perpetual "friendship" of socially approved, good-loking but dead-inside John Barleycorn (a personification of alcohol) with people of all social classes and levels - from beer-drinking preschool country boys and teen workers to wine/cocktail-soaked Bohemian writers and landowners. This book comprehensively explains why drin
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Feb 27, 2010
Pat
rated it:
Pretty good. His attitude towards alcohol is pretty similar to mine, except he tends to overdramatize things. Half of his complaints are about not being able to sack up and say no to booze he doesn't want, and he doesn't get that caving like that is a sign of weakness and not virility.
He's all for prohibition, but I'll let that slide, since he never lived to see it.
He's all for prohibition, but I'll let that slide, since he never lived to see it.
May 30, 2008
Brie
rated it:
Basically London's autobiography (as a pirate, arctic sealer, hobo riding the rails, klondike gold miner, south seas explorer) told through all of the times that he got the most wasted. At times very entertaining, but then I also got frustrated with the fact that he never takes responsibility for his own actions. Throughout almost the entire novel he claims that he doesn't like to drink and hates the taste, but for some reason or other he is always being forced into drinking? Ha. Classic tim
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Dec 06, 2011
Georgi
rated it:
Историята на алкохолизма на Джек Лондон, в първо лице и много откровен стил. Не ми харесаха само постоянните обвинения към обществото и средата, върху които пада цялата вината за проблемите му.
Nov 18, 2009
Chadfredlott
rated it:
An interesting picture of Bay Area debauchery from a hundred years ago. I wouldn't really describe this as a cautionary tale against drinking as each time London goes on a severe bender something epic and interesting happens. What London seems to lament most is aging.
Jan 22, 2012
Kristian
rated it:
While some of London's general theories of alcoholism, might not be consistent with modern research and indeed a bit naive, the adventured of the individual Jack London with his false friend John Barleycorn (Alcohol) make for a good autobiography with an interesting premise.
Jan 12, 2012
Димитър
rated it:
Много интересен и цялостен поглед върху алкохола и начина, по който той навлиза в човешкия живот. Слагам четворка заради лирическите отклонения към края, който са прекалено отнесени и не подхождат на стила, в който започва и се развива книгата.
Препоръчвам да я прочетете, особено ако имате проблем с алкохола :) More...
Препоръчвам да я прочетете, особено ако имате проблем с алкохола :) More...
Dec 15, 2011
Holly
rated it:
By the time I finished this book, I was ready to vote for prohibition! A brilliant telling of London's life through the filter of copious amounts of alcohol. A narrative and a philosophical text in one.
Jan 29, 2012
Kotb
rated it:
Sarà che considero Martin Eden un fondamentale romanzo di formazione. Sarà che considero Jack London una delle voci più importanti del Novecento. Non so.
John Barleycorn è un urlo di rabbia. L'analisi lucida e penetrante dell'alcolismo da parte di un uomo distrutto dall'alcol, un alcolista. Il libro è una narrazione a cavallo tra La Coscienza di Zeno e un romanzo di avventura, tra una confessione e il flusso di coscienza, è un Martin Eden che non è mai riuscito ad uscire dal saloon. Un Martin Ede More...
John Barleycorn è un urlo di rabbia. L'analisi lucida e penetrante dell'alcolismo da parte di un uomo distrutto dall'alcol, un alcolista. Il libro è una narrazione a cavallo tra La Coscienza di Zeno e un romanzo di avventura, tra una confessione e il flusso di coscienza, è un Martin Eden che non è mai riuscito ad uscire dal saloon. Un Martin Ede More...
Sep 15, 2011
Brennon
rated it:
You'd think this would be fun and enlightening, like all those other "I'm a horrible drunk!" books, but well-written. Yeah, well ... nah. "John Barleycorn" is dull and plodding.
May 26, 2009
Kelly
rated it:
London effectively describes our ambivalent relationship to booze. (For example, he gets tanked on election day after voting for women's suffrage...which he did because women would force prohibition.) The confusing mix of glorification and disapproval was strangely satisfying. It's all remarkably--maybe depressingly--relevant. London's insistence that he is not an alcoholic echoes what I've heard from plenty of acquaintances.
Jul 12, 2011
Frederick
rated it:
Only for alcoholics who can appreciate the term "denial". It is like Melville's taxon of the whale, it seems in every way to be a mammal, but it swims in the sea, so I say it's a fish.
Dec 29, 2009
Joshua
rated it:
A delight! There are few topics which can compete with alcoholic memoirs in terms of entertainment and charm. Some of London's anecdotes are inspiring, others are decrepit - he certainly had an ambivalent relationship with drink.
It is a short volume, which is probably a strength. Too much more would have just felt like repetition. An excellent companion to a scotch on any afternoon - rain or shine!
It is a short volume, which is probably a strength. Too much more would have just felt like repetition. An excellent companion to a scotch on any afternoon - rain or shine!
Jan 29, 2010
Marvey
rated it:
makes me want to head down to the wharf to have a whisky at the same time that it makes me never want to drink alcohol again
