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The Autobiography of Abbie Hoffman
The Autobiography of Abbie Hoffman tells the story of one of America's most influential and imaginative dissidents, a major figure in the 1960s counterculture and anti-war movement who remained a dedicated political organizer right up until his death in 1989. With his unique brand of humor, wit, and energetic narrative, Abbie Hoffman describes the history of his times and
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Paperback
,
2nd
,
328 pages
Published
November 30th 2000
by Da Capo Press
(first published 1980)
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Community Reviews
(showing
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511)
By far one of my favorite books. It helps if you also have his book 'Revolution for the Hell of it' It's like reading it with a Coles notes so you can get a more detailed idea of the protests he put on. He's truly amazing. You don't need facebook or the internet to organize a protest. You don't need to explain to every person that shows up why they should be upset and the legal bull shit. If they are there they are interested. A prankster at heart and a smart one to boot. Charisma coming out of
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Some forgot and some just don't know what happened in the 60s. According to Hoffman The Rolling Stone Magazine was the Benedict Arnold of the movements.
Runaway children needing a guide because they were lost in child abusive homes.
The CIA's dispensing of LSD and so many other atrocities.
Loaded history Hoffman provides enlightenment to a world that could have started a more perfect union.
It is this premiss that my 1st 4 novels are written.
Hear the Calliope: A sentimental journey on the EarthRide ...more
Runaway children needing a guide because they were lost in child abusive homes.
The CIA's dispensing of LSD and so many other atrocities.
Loaded history Hoffman provides enlightenment to a world that could have started a more perfect union.
It is this premiss that my 1st 4 novels are written.
Hear the Calliope: A sentimental journey on the EarthRide ...more
This is the third time I have read this amazing autobiography, and now that I am older and can see more clearly, it is obvious that, if anything, Abbie Hoffman is a true American hero of the legendary variety. A student of Herbert Marcuse ("One Dimensional Man") and the great psychologist, Abraham Maslow, Hoffman could have done anything he wanted to do. He started out like all of us do, accepting the status quo and living for a successful future of economic satisfaction, and then discovered the
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Love him or hate him, Abbie Hoffman more than just a celebrity during the late 60’s early 70’s. Without his unorthodox leadership and social contributions, the Vietnam War and other political ills of that time would never been addressed. This truly is his autobiography, and you get the feel for what his motivations were for getting politically involved and how he changed public dissent forever through mass media (remember television still was in it infancy). As this is an autobiography you have
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As an insider to a very convulsive part of US history, Abbie Hoffman's autobiography was interesting on an individual and holistic level of the era he occupied.
As a community organizer and eventual Yippie, he shares tales of growth from a proposition gambler, grad student to a wanted fugitive of the state and all sorts of interactions along the way. As a member of the Chicago 7/8 trial, the writing about the inside backroom details of the trial were very engaging and eye-opening re: the degree t ...more
As a community organizer and eventual Yippie, he shares tales of growth from a proposition gambler, grad student to a wanted fugitive of the state and all sorts of interactions along the way. As a member of the Chicago 7/8 trial, the writing about the inside backroom details of the trial were very engaging and eye-opening re: the degree t ...more
I picked this book off my shelf randomly the other night. I bought it probably 6 years ago or more from a library sale. I had just finished issue #52 of Cometbus and was looking for something to accompany me to bed early that night. I brewed some herbal tea and started reading by the glow of my lime-colored bedside light. 5 Hours later, I was halfway done with the book and panicking that soon I would need to get out of bed to go to work. The following night, I did the same, closing my eyes and t
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Jan 01, 2013
Erik Graff
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
60s fans
Recommended to Erik by:
no one
Shelves:
biography
My one outstanding memory of Abbie Hoffman is of being downtown in Chicago during the Conspiracy Trial and seeing him cross a busy, congested street by clambering over the hoods of the cars blocking the crosswalk. Usually I'd rather disdained him and Jerry Rubin for being too silly, but watching this made me laugh. I hadn't been quite so serious in high school when Rich Hyde loaned me Hoffman's Steal This Book. That also made me laugh, repeatedly.
This amounts to Hoffman's autobiography and, as s ...more
This amounts to Hoffman's autobiography and, as s ...more
Also called Soon To Be a Major Motion Picture, this is the autobiography of a true radical and all round interesting person. His life had some major bumps and he obviously made some terrible decisions, but that really serves to make the book interesting. This book is ***** for me because of its coverage of the hippy and yippie movements and the scene of the late sixties Lower East Side as well as the anti-war protests and the Chicago Seven trial. It takes some time to get to the good parts thoug
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Abbie Hoffman is funny, glib, and his words on how the Yippies used Madison Avenue techniques to spread their message, and the Chicago Seven trial, are fascinating modern history. That said, he's not the most reliable narrator. For example, he denies Pete Townsend ever kicked him off the stage at Woodstock during a political harangue with one well-placed sweep of his guitar. Swears it never happened. The problem? Yeah, Townsend did, and the audio verite moment is on the Who's Maximum R&B box
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Abbie Hoffman's life is both an inspiration and a strong discouragement. His activist years were exciting, and serve as a prime example of how social and political awareness can be applied into positive actions. His later years show the strain those years of fighting had done to him. After coping with mental illness and extreme paranoia, Hoffman committed suicide. It's a shame that human culture seems so intent on devouring the people that try and change it for the better, or even those that gli
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Abbie,
Waht can I say about you sir? I must say that I had lower expectations of you as a human being and after reading your book, I was quite impressed by the way you portrayed yourself. Modest with a hint of self criticism. Well done.
My personal favorite part of your book is when you reach your revolutionary almost "rite of passage" when you become a chapter leader for the NAACP. I appreciated your lack of remorse for the white and black people of Tennesee.
Thank You
Waht can I say about you sir? I must say that I had lower expectations of you as a human being and after reading your book, I was quite impressed by the way you portrayed yourself. Modest with a hint of self criticism. Well done.
My personal favorite part of your book is when you reach your revolutionary almost "rite of passage" when you become a chapter leader for the NAACP. I appreciated your lack of remorse for the white and black people of Tennesee.
Thank You
Aug 07, 2008
Ubie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone who cares
Recommended to Ubie by:
a girl i wish i still knew in arcata ca.
want to be inspired, looking for a change, driving to get a piece of history. Well grab your favorite reading spot and all the other necessities and cuddle up with a real ride that focuses on truth. First of all, i've never been an extreme political idealist but i do get high off listening to others speak of their passions. The writing throughiut these pages simply invites the reader to become a better person and that as simply as it is put , is all you need to know.
autobiography of abbie hoffman. wow, this guy REALLY lived the 60s. he was at all the right places at the right moments. i never realized before how politically-focused he (or the Yippies) was, or how serious an anarchist he was for that matter. very nice book! readable, funny, and deeply culturally and politically interesting.
took me back to the 60s and how we're still fighting so many of the same battles in this country - military/industrial complex, corporate threats to democracy, etc. and that Abbie was a very funny guy and an incredible activist. It's hard to believe he was only 11 years younger than my Dad.
Abbie Hoffman led a pretty amazing life. He died by suicide, succumbing to his bipolar disorder in the late 80s. This autobiography was written sometime in the early 80s, I think. It was definitely after his years in hiding. An interesting read.
If you want to understand the 1960s and American counterculture, if you want to read about a home-grown American radical revolutionary, read this book. Despite his flaws, Abbie became a personal hero of mine after I read this book.
An interesting Autobiography of the intruiging life of 60's activist Abbie Hoffman. Really gives a feeling for what was going on behind the scenes of the cultural revolution.
I loved reading Soon to Be a Major Motion Picture. Abbie Hoffman is one of a kind. The book is written in a quick, direct, and funny manner (just like Abbie).
Pretty good, pretty funny story about Abbie Hoffman and his beginnings. Even though Hoffman is a bit of a egotist, the stuff he did was pretty interesting at the time.
Abbie is a great writer and this book gives a funny, serious, and detailed account of his antics, politics, and underground life. Worth it.
Abbie Hoffman spoke at Cornell the year after I read this. He impressed me. Soon after, he killed himself.
I read this after reading his biography and I feel like he embellished quite a bit.
Self-serving with many glaring omissions, but hey, that was Abbie. Worth reading.
i love a man who challenges the authority, and the status quo.
Hilarious and inspiring.
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Abbott Howard "Abbie" Hoffman was a social and political activist in the United States who co-founded the Youth International Party ("Yippies"). Later he became a fugitive from the law, who lived under an alias following a conviction for dealing cocaine.
Hoffman was arrested and tried for conspiracy and inciting to riot as a result of his role in protests that led to violent confrontations with pol ...more
More about Abbie Hoffman...
Hoffman was arrested and tried for conspiracy and inciting to riot as a result of his role in protests that led to violent confrontations with pol ...more
