The Beat Book: Writings from the Beat Generation

by Anne Waldman (Editor), Allen Ginsberg (Foreword)

The Beat movement exploded into American culture in the early 1950s with the force of prophecy. Not just another literary school, it was an artistic and social revolution. William S. Burroughs proclaimed that the Beat writers were “real architects of change. There is no doubt that we’re living in a freer America as a result of the Beat literary movement, which is an important part of the larger picture of cultural and political change in this country during the last forty years, when a four-letter word couldn’t appear on the printed page and minority rights were ridiculous.”

Anne Waldman, a renowned poet and longtime friend of many of these writers, has gathered in this volume a range of the best and most exemplary writings of the Beat poets and novelists. Selections from the Beat classics appear, as well as more recent prose and poetry demonstrating the continued vitality of the Beat experiment. Included are short biographies of the contributors, an extensive bibliography of Beat literature, and a unique guide to “Beat places” around the world—from Kerouac’s hometown of Lowell, Massachusetts, where his novel Dr. Sax takes place, to Tangier, where Burroughs wrote parts of Naked Lunch.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Anthologies, Essays, Biography Memoir, Literature, Short Stories

401 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Anne Waldman was part of the late Sixties poetry scene in the East Village. She ran the St. Mark's Church Poetry Project, and gave exuberant, highly physical readings of her own work.

She became a Buddhist, worshipping with the Tibetan Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, who would also become Allen Ginsberg's guru. She and Ginsberg worked together to create a poetry school, the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, at Trungpa's Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colorado.

Anne Waldman is one of the most interesting, vibrant and unpredictable members of the post-Beat poetry community. Her confluence of Buddhist concerns and thought-paths with sources of physicality and anger is particularly impressive (did you get all that?).

She was featured in Bob Dylan's experimental film 'Renaldo and Clara.'

Reviews

[Andie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction and overview of the poets and writers of the Beat Generation.

[Allan MacDonell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poet Anne Waldman’s The Beat Book collects poems and fiction segments from the established pantheon of beat prophet bros—Kerouac, Ginsberg, Burroughs, Snyder, Cassady, McClure, Jones, etc. etc.—which is a great palate cleanser, especially if you haven’t dipped into any of those gung-ho legacies in the past few decades. The real revelatory tastes in The Beat Book, however, are the servings included from three women integral to the beat mix. Basically, mercilessly, Diane DiPrima, Joanne Kyger, and Lenore Kandel have remained fresher than nine out of ten founders of the beat fraternity. Who knows what the future holds, but the past it seems was female all along.

[ThymeOperator · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good collection / introduction, with writer biographies. But as it turns out, I just really love Jack Kerouac. And I loved the extract from Neal Cassidy's autobiography.

There were some other gems here and there...and I appreciate what they were doing within their historical context...but on the whole, I couldn't help but think that for a group of people aiming to be mystical and enlightened, they were extremely materialistic and downright lost. Judging by how many of them killed themselves, or died young from drugs/alcoholism or related problems, they were definitely not 'free spirits'. It often made for a bleak read.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsessed with the beat writers in high school too. Kerouac made me want to go into journalism as a matter of fact and I wished I could have attended Columbia like Gingsberg back than. Oh well, Cal. State Fullerton turned out to be a great journalism school just the same.

[Sere · Rating 5 out of 5]

An anthology of authors from the Beat Generation tracing their influences, travels, beliefs and relationships. An extremely intermingled cluster of hobos, poets and philosophers born in the USA in the 20s and 30s.
So cool to find out who knew who, who lived with whom, who dated who, and who helped who. My life long passion for the Beats is still alive and kicking!
"Craft is valuable insofar as it serves as a brilliant midwife for clarity, beauty, vision; when it becomes enamoured of itself it produces word masturbation", Lenore Kandel.

[Yousseif Abdellatif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straight up, I fell for the first half of The Beat Book and then felt cheated by the second. Anne Waldman builds this gorgeous, uneasy small-town mood, with the diner scene where everybody goes quiet at once, and then a late twist yanks the rug out in a way that feels cheap instead of clever. I'd still say read it, but go in knowing the landing's wobbly. For fans of slow, eerie mysteries. Skip if a letdown ending ruins a book for you.

[Jason Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeah. A collection of writers including Kerouac, Cassidy, Welch, Ginsberg and many others. A group of writers that make you instantly uncool and obtuse to criticize and instantly a wannabe and a pretentious ass to praise. There’s no way to recommend or not recommend this book that will have weight with anyone.

You dig?

For what it’s worth, I got into Diane Di Prima’s poetry and some of Amiri Baraka. But little of what the others had included made much of an impression on me. All seem motivated to move language and storytelling beyond the confines of tradition. But most of the time I was left wondering if it was moved anywhere meaningful. If you find value in simply moving, it may be enough. Journey is all that matters and all that.

I personally like getting places… or at least stopping at a scenic overlook from time to time. Keep in mind I’m uncool and obtuse. And probably a wannabe and a pretentious ass regardless.

[hannah ✧˚ · . · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always had a love for the Beat Generation & their deep sense of spirituality, depictions of nature, openness about sexuality, strong companionships, and stunning poetry. This book had such a variety of all types of writers - some I loved and some less so. My favorites were Jack Kerouac & Allen Ginsberg (of course), Diane Di Prima, Lew Welch, Lenore Kandel, and Gary Snyder. Some I had read before, some I have not, but I definitely plan on exploring further :)

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compendium of poems, essays, etc. by "Beat" writers... something I normally would not pick up. But the work was compiled by Anne Waldman, with a foreword by Allen Ginsberg, and that probably makes all the difference. There are some stunning selections of work by Gregory Corso, Allen Ginsberg, Peter Orlovsky, Diane Di Prima and others. Less-known writers who shouldn't be less-known like Lenore Kandel and Bob Kaufman are also included.

[Anne, Unfinished Woman · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Edition, 1996, Shambhala Publications, Inc., cloth
Tsunami: 5/13/2016, 24.00 (8.00/6.40), Very Fine
editor: Anne Waldman; fore: Allen Ginsberg; authors: Gregory Corson/Jack Kerouac/Neal Cassady/Allen Ginsberg/Peter Orlovsky/Diane di Prima/John Wieners/William S. Burroughs/Amiri Baraka/Lawrence Ferlinghetti/Joanne Kyger/Lew Welch/Lenore Kandel/Philip Shalen/Bob Kaufman/Michael McClure/Gary Snyder
beat generation, 1980s, guide to "beat places"

[Jonathan Holleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty excellent compilation of beat poets and novelists...Some of the best Ginsberg poems, Synder poems, and many, perhaps, lesser known beats are included in this collection...Lenore Kandel's "First They Slaudered The Angels" is both disturbing and impactful...Ginsberg's "Wales Visitation" has always been one of my favorites of his...Many of the Michael McClure poems stood out to me as well...Plenty of Kerouac & Burroughs...An overall great collection.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

La Beat Generation raccontata dagli scritti dei diretti interessati, un mondo che parla di innovazioni, di cultura, di amore, di passione per la letteratura e del bisogno di essere capito come uomini e scrittori.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

KSSK

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicely put-together book of beat writings by writers who were popular both at the height of the movement and today.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought it at a library sale for 50 cents and it sat on my shelf for quite a while. I was disappointed that it didn’t have “Howl” in it, but it has much more to offer.
One of my favorites.

[Genevieve C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the blend of the different authors. Reading too much of any of their particular styles can get old after a while. Here we had contrast and context.

[Lori108 · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best part about this book is it introduced me to the writings of Lenore Kandel. The rest of the book is forgettable.

[Massimiliano Scordamaglia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recensione completa qui:
http://ultimavisione.wordpress.com/20...

[Bud · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Great Overview of an interesting period in the evolution of American Lit. Great Stuff.