The Adding Machine: Selected Essays [Hardcover]

William S. Burroughs (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This collection, containing both fiction and nonfiction, is representative of Burroughs's work. The style and tone are vintage Burroughs; the themes of addiction, mind control, and homosexuality central to the novels are explored here more succinctly. The most original material consists of comments on writing and writers: perceptive remarks on Hemingway and Fitzgerald, an interesting comparison of Proust and Beckett, and an acknowledgment of Conrad's influence on a portion of Naked Lunch. Although occasionally marred by repetition, these pieces provide useful insight into the writer's philosophical and artistic concerns. Recommended for serious collections in contemporary literature. William Gargan, Brooklyn Coll. Lib., CUNY
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 205 pages
• Publisher: Seaver Books; 1st edition (1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805000003
• ISBN-13: 978-0805000009
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #246,722 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I disagree with the canned review I encountered., December 20, 2002

By 

Mark Laskowski (Langhorne, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Adding Machine: Selected Essays (Hardcover)

I am not sure how this is "representative of Burroughs work" if that is the way the glib untruths of the canned review were couched. Most of the writing in this book is Burroughs using a more direct voice, reminiscent of the style he used for "Junky" and which I believe he referred to as "factualism". Most of the attempts in this book don't engage in the edgy "cut-up" style of a lot of Burroughs other works. I find those efforts to be intriguing art, but many readers find it distracting or suspect some sort of literary charlatanism. My point is not to enter into that argument here, but to clearly communicate that readers who DON'T like Burrough's more well known works, like "Naked Lunch", might actually find this book a better fit for their reading. The book is brilliant. Reading this is all it takes to prove that he didn't write in the more adventurous and experimental style because that's all he could manage to do. It was deliberate. He could have written deadly crisp, linear prose had he chosen to do so (and in this book he often does). Bottom line: even if you didn't like the other Burroughs books you've read before this one, you still might like this one. Get it?

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a good collection, December 16, 1999

By 

Carlos J. C. Ferrao (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Adding Machine: Selected Essays (Paperback)

The Adding Machine by William Burroughs is a collection of essays on a variety of subjects. Ranging from autobiographical descriptions and stories to his own views on art, literature, writing and reading. Some of them are downright essential (like his tips on how to write "creatively") while others are mildly boring (like the piece on cut-ups which nowadays seems fairly dated). Overall I'd recommend this book to anyone who is fairly familiar with Burroughs' work and would like to know what's behind his genius and the roots of his universe. For people who have never read Burroughs this book might leave curious to his other work, but, in general, is not the best place to start.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, August 5, 2006

By 

mono "cl0ckw0rkeleven" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Adding Machine: Selected Essays (Paperback)

I enjoy this collection of essays for one reason: it is the most direct Burroughs has ever been. He delves into his beliefs on the occult and magic, on coincidence, and on literary and audio cut-ups. Dream premonition... the use of cut-ups to reveal future events... etc. It's all here, with the classic Burroughs wit and sense of humor as an added bonus.