A Child's Garden of Grass: The Official Handbook For Marijuana Users

by Jack S. Margolis, Richard Clorfene

The all-time marijuana classic, revised and reprinted for the first time in 50 years. …and more hilarious than ever! When you finish this book, you will know all there is to know about the use of the marijuana from buying it to cleaning it to rolling it in a joint to smoking it and getting high on it and realizing that there may be, after all, a point to existence. Included are the following
Grass as an Aphrodisiac
Games Stoned People Play
Acquiring Grass
How to enhance the power of Grass
The Morality of Grass
“A wealth of off-beat tips for many readers – especially non-users – the greater value lies in the pleasant, almost grass-like aura that the authors produce. Their low key approach and refusal to take grass too seriously help support their main that grass should be no big deal.” – Time Magazine

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Reference

157 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious classic that's sure to entertain stoners and non-stoners alike. A play on the book, "A Child's Garden of Verses", this book is funny. Not wry-smile funny. Not clever-turn-of-phrase funny. Seriously, tears-coming-down-the-eyes funny. If you have ever felt the slightest twinge around stoner humor, this book will leave you breathless. It's been years and I still remember such tips as how to hide your pot by, "Throwing it really high (useful only for very short periods of time)" and not hiding it in mayonnaise/or peanut butter (as it tends to be messy to retrieve).

Mixed in with the humorous chapters are deadpan discussions of growing, harvesting, drying, and consuming your pot. It's by no means an exhaustive resource, but if you previously had no idea how pot goes from seed to joint/brownie/bowl it'll give you the gist. Not to be missed are tips on how best to enjoy the influence with music, sex, food, sex, art, sex, and did I mention the authors harp on sex while high?

Published in 1971 the book has almost a bittersweet anachronistic quality. Marijuana's popularity didn't originate in the 60s, nor has it ebbed since, but the harmless stereotypical hippy antics that fuel the book's chapters echo the bygone era- and remind you of how serious such things are taken now.

[Wendi Staib-smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, how I wish I still had this book! As a teenager in the late 1980's, I discovered my mother's early-edition copy of it; I got at least ten years' enjoyment out of it before it was permanently "borrowed" from me. Even after multiple reads, the sheer silliness of Mr. Margolis' writing style had me cracking up to the point of hiccuping. Tears streaming down my face? Too cliché... No, I SOBBED with laughter! I snorted. I occasionally humiliated myself in front of friends and family. Do not doubt for a millisecond that I literally Rolled On The Floor Laughing, more than once.

If you consider yourself a connoisseur of written humor, if you're interested in sociopolitical commentary, if you believe (as I do) that marijuana can and should be legalized, if you enjoy augmenting your knowledge with comedy, and if you can afford to spend a moderate amount of money (due to the book's vintage status), you'll be happy that you added this to your personal library. I do recommend getting a copy of your own, rather than borrowing one. Quite likely you WILL want to sift through this collection of factoids, anecdotes, philosophy, recipes (yes, recipes!) and instructional bits more than once. Yours Truly particularly enjoyed the wit and wisdom of Ernie Lundquist.

If I may indulge myself a quick tangent... Today (January 1, 2014) will go down in modern history as the first day upon which a person can purchase marijuana, legally, for recreational use in the state of Colorado. Other states have yet to follow suit; I live in Pennsylvania and I foresee no local shortage of marijuana-related arrests in the near future. Until that time comes, it fascinates me to witness the transition process. People are gradually coming around to the notion that marijuana, once an alleged deadly menace, can be enjoyed by responsible, respectable, law-abiding members of society. We are in the midst of a pivotal phase regarding personal freedom, as well as what is and what is not conventionally acceptable, and I expect no shortage of plot twists and OMG moments. Why not have a few good belly-laughs while it all plays out? This little gem gets my wholehearted endorsement! :)

[David Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Child's Garden of Grass by Jack S. Margolis (Ballantine 1978)(362.295). Every hippie's shelf held a copy of this legendary guide in the 1970's. I wonder where my copy is? My rating: 8/10, finished 1975.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is -hilarious-. I inherited it from someone or other, and really, it's brilliant. Painfully funny. Even when read sober! :P

[John Mangan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this when I lived in Australia in the early 1970s. Even though I've never smoked any substance ever (I just hate smoking) I really laughed a lot at the humorous asides. The footnote about meditating to see God was an absolute classic and still makes me laugh even now. Highly recommended for the jokes as I can't bring any personal experience to review the practices.

[kates · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want every copy of this book in existence.

[Robert Mooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A user's manual. Hilarious, even without the smoke.

[Ray A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very entertaining book; got it back in the early '70s at a small bookstore in Chicago's Old Town. Tied in beautifully with the whole "Weekend Hippie" flavor outside Lincoln Park :-)

[Susan Blackwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely hilarious. A great example of counter culture from the flower children. I bought this book for 10 cents at a yard sale and it is one of my favorites.

[Tom Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this a long time ago as a teenager and it was hilarious. One day, it just disappeared. I think my mom took it and destroyed it.

[Kurry Swigert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book while going through some books I had stored away. The authors kept it light, constantly introducing gags, comments, and asides. I imagine that much has changed in the 47 years since this copy was printed.

[Heidi Bakk-Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and funny little book made by and for hippies. My copy is trashed, because I picked it out of the trash. Also the artwork on the cover of my copy is better than the one shown, with a naked lady holding the hose of a hookah.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Groovy and a half viewing.

[Chuck Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny book and album. Read it in the 70's. Very counter culture.

[Christopher Espinoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one my grandma gave me when I was a kid...

[Yosef · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a unique kind of humor makes whatever you are drinking come out of your nose, and also, sometimes, tilt your head to one side in temporary puzzlement.

The other author besides Jack Margolis (who at one time had a TV show in LA called the Arbogast and Margolis show, that was very strange and funny at the same time*), is Richard (now Rabbi Chaim) Clorfene, a creative genius who went on to write books about the 7 Laws of Noah and the Third Temple.

Jack Margolis had a very small part in the Peter Sellers movie I Love You Alice B. Toklas. He is the fully clothed guy in the bathtub wearing vintage hippy clothing, during the party scene.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hahahahahaha! If I could give this book 6 stars I would. It's hilarious! And if you've live through it it's even more funny, because it's so true.
A MUST read if you have Hippie blood in you're veins.

[Peter Swanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still own a copy of this book, but I admit that I haven't read it since 1970, when I stopped smoking weed. I remember it as quite informative, and humorous. I better dig it out and compose a better review.

[Dayva · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? It's what we did back then.
The book is some of the best humor I've found, intended or not!

[Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was very educational and usefull. I plan on using this information very wisely

[Lenny Husen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable, a classic. Read it in 2012. Everything you've ever wanted to know about getting high.

[J. Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all-time favorites.
Based a film project (an uncompleted film project) at college on the book, I was so enamored of it.

[Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

terrible book I think,
but best cover ever

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember this as a funny book back in the day.

[Mark Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was funnier when I read it in the '70s. Wonder why....

[Katie]

I hate DNFing this one, but I obviously am not enjoying reading it since I keep grabbing other books. It's cute, funny, and definitely dated. I'll enjoy seeing it on my shelf and might read bits here and there, but that's about it. Time to shelve it.