Product Description

Through the words of those who embraced the lifestyle and fantastic illustrations letting the whole hang out, this book immerses you in the Hippies movement of the late 60s and early 70s. It takes the reader through the fashion, philosophy, music, literature, films and politics of the Hippie ideal, tracing its growth from the Beats in the 1950s (and with a brief nod to the Bloomsbury Set of the 1920s), to the peace-demanding flower children of the Vietnam years. Portraits of the main men and women sit alongside the tales of those who hugged and those who shrugged at this culture and its preaching of colour, calm and happiness. Reminiscences and experiences are provided by (among others): Jack Kerouac, Timothy Leary, Ossie Clark, Tariq Ali, Peter and Jane Fonda, Janis Joplin, Richard Branson, Germaine Greer, Jerry Garcia, De La Soul, Ben and Jerry and Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #649500 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10-09
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 384 pages

From the Back Cover
Ladies & Gentlemen introducing the most amazing and unbelievable story you've ever heard!
Learn how from the ashes of war rose a great, multi-coloured, free-flying, mind-expanding movement that changed the world by preaching only LOVE and PEACE and dressing in olde worlde clothes.
Covering the years 1965 to 1971 in depth and with full prologue and epilogue sections that bring the story up to date, Hippie gives voice to the major figures of the scene. Illustrated using original poster and album artwork plus rare publications of the time, including International Times, Oz and early Rolling Stone magazine, Hippie includes screaming psychedelic images and rare portraits of stoned and tripping writers, musicians and the notorious and infamous scene-setters of the age. There are also photographic records of the political and musical events that came to shape and change the world in the time of the hippie.

Customer Reviews

Been there, done that...
As someone who grew up in the '60's I have vivid memories of that time to do with fashion, music, lifestyle and even politics. I always had the sense of having missed the party. This book describes the subversive counter-culture of the '60's as it evolved throughout the decade, reading like diary of the times, with current and retropsective commentaries from the leading figures, both famous and less well-known. Importantly, the book covers the hard work that went on behind the beautiful emphemera, the music, the parties, the demonstrations and the events and touches on the genuine dreams that drove people on. Beautifully illustrated, it captures some of the feel of the period and leaves a sense of nostalgia for the strong feelings of comunity, power and change that people experienced. Without offering any direct anyalysis of the impact that the 'hippie' movement had it does give a sense of how much we owe to those hedonistic and naive times and how far those dreams fell short of the realities. If you're in love with the '60's then you'll love the book, though those interested in a deeper analysis will have to find it in less accessible texts.