Customer Reviews

The Adding Machine: Selected Essays

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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?

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.

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.

This is what Burroughs was trying to say in the first place. Whereas his novels, Burroughs extends a helping hand into the world of Interzone, and leads the reader on a new-age, pornographic, strung-out mental trip. In The Adding Machine, Burroughs cuts to the chase, and is brutally honest about politics, junk, sex, and his friend Jack Kerouac. But, with all this plain language, something is lost from excluding the use of his trademark style of prose. This is not essential Burroughs, but worth checking out.

A must read for anyone interested in William S. Burroughs. In 'The Adding Machine' he offers his opinions and wisdom to the reader in a much easier to understand form than he does with his fiction. Try this book before 'Naked Lunch'.

i am a huge fan of the beats, but i was dissapointed in burroughs' collection of essays. most were dull, some confusing, and none of them really stayed on topic, which would be fine, except the topic was more interesting than the side trips he took. the kerouac essay is essential for anyone who is or likes the beats. it alone makes the book worth the price. and it's good to read after you've read the better beat texts.