American Hippies

by William J. Rorabaugh

In the late 1960s and early 1970s hundreds of thousands of white middle-class American youths suddenly became hippies. This short overview of the hippie social movement in the United States examines the movement's beliefs and practices, including psychedelic drugs, casual sex, and rock music, as well as the phenomena of spiritual seeking, hostility to politics, and communes. W. J. Rorabaugh synthesizes how hippies strived for authenticity, expressed individualism, and yearned for community. Viewing the tumultuous Sixties from a new angle, Rorabaugh shows how the counterculture led to subsequent social and cultural changes in the United States with legacies including casual sex, natural foods, and even the personal computer.

Genres: History

248 pages, Paperback

First published June 17, 2015

About the author

Professor at the University of Washington.

Reviews

[Katie Tillwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, interesting read on the beginnings of the Hippie movement, and it’s effects on culture during and after it ended. Hippie women were the first to wear blue jeans. Who knew?

[John Marr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still think hippies suck