The Hippie Trip: A Firsthand Account of the Beliefs and Behaviors of Hippies in America By A Noted Sociologist

by Lewis Yablonsky

A new, colorful, and fascinating drama has emerged on the American scene. The action involves love, spiritually free sex, dope as a religious sacrament, and a new work ethic. And so sociologist Yablonsky begins his novel, giving the reader an opportunity to join him on his hippie trip. Yablonsky delves into the hippie movement as a sociologist, a hip interviewer/reporter, and as an involved person. This book includes experiences and perceptions from all three of these integral facets of Yablonskys personality. Yablonsky combines an extensive, coherent report on hippie life with a thorough look at the movement in relation to the wider societal issues of the time. The book begins with a Preview, an introduction into the scene, and then moves onto The Trip, Yablonskys actual journey. Part III, Analysis, examines the hippie movement in its own right and within the framework of American society. Part IV, The Appendix, is a presentation of data from questionnaires filled out by over seven hundred hippies. And there is, of course, a Glossary for all of you readers who may not be familiar with the terminology of the psychedelic movement.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sociology, History, Philosophy

372 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 1973

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a "sociological perspective" on the hip society. Includes interviews of those in that scene.

I found my copy in a box of free books in a hallway at Shippensburg University while at a summer program there. Lucky find for me!

This was just amazing, especially if you are interested in understanding the reasoning behind the generation. What they saw that they wanted to change and how they chose to fix that with their own community.

[Tracey Madeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beauty of this book lies in the fact that it has first hand accounts with people who lived through this period. It gives an idea of how they thought, their opinions and how they spoke. It also gives some definitions of terms - what the hippies thought about education,government, how they defined love and the movement itself. This is a great resource for anyone wanting to know what actually went on during this period.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 1968, The Hippie Trip is an account of the hippie movement through the eyes of a sociology professor, Lewis Yablonsky. Not only did he investigate what went on in communes, rallies and "hippie pads" on both coasts, but he tried to fully participate in all of their activities (including smoking pot, trying acid). He explains their intentions for changing America (mostly based upon Leary's theories), what was good about them, but why they ultimately did not work out.