Customer Reviews

Burning Man Live: 13 Years of Piss Clear, Black Rock City's Alternative Newspaper

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Forget all the hype from those arty documentary films and the pretty picture books that feature naked titties a little too often; this is the real story of the Burning Man Festival. Piss Clear was never afraid to speak the truth, never cowed down to King Larry Harvey, and always wrote about what you wanted to learn: will I hook up on the playa? will I get busted? will my cats respect me when I get home? In its quest for legitimacy (and cash) The Burning Man Festival has towed the straight line for far too long. Piss Clear never saw that line, couldn't tow it if they could, and furthermore would have snorted it before breakfast!!! This book is entertaining enough to let you skip the whole messy event that takes place way out in the Nevada desert every August. Just stay home in comfort and laugh your butt off in your Lazy Boy.

Apparently I'm the only non-staff member who purchased this book so far, and that is a DAMN shame!

My first year at Burning Man was 2004 and I was handed a Piss Clear issue from a prior year by one of the Greeters. I read it while waiting in line and was instantly hooked. I found the issue to be way more useful as a Burning Man survival guide then anything doled out in the 'official' welcome pack. I was a virgin mind, who knew little of the history of the Piss Clear project, or Burning Man, or anything. Piss Clear oriented me with humor and style. (an aside - I instantly thought this Adrian person, whomever he (she? wtf?!) was, was a hottie!)

Since 2004, through attending, participating in the BM community at the playa and at home, I've become significantly more acquainted with the history of of the event - its watersheds, evolution and permutations. I can say with confidence that this book is quintessential Burning Man! It's a live, sometimes raunchy, always hilarious, chronicle of an event that defies simple categorization or description through some of it's earliest and most tumultuous years. Piss Clear serves as an invaluable snapshot of what Burning Man must've been like in each of it's incarnations between 1994 and 2007. But the real treat is that Piss Clear didn't tow the party line or tell you what the organizers wanted you to know. The newspaper went out of it's way to tell the (biased) truth about Burner Culture, what was happening on the ground, warts and all. You'd never get this info from the Burning Man Organization, and they probably wouldn't want you reading it!

The book itself is gorgeous, printed in black and white and looks just like it did when printed on the Playa. It's laid out in sequential order with an agreeable editors note by Adrian for each year. I do wish these snippets would've been fleshed out a little to provide more insight about the mores, general impressions, and hot button issues of that particular year on the playa, but what's provided is adequate and fun to read none the less.

When I got my copy I went out onto my apartment's oppressively hot and sunny deck, sprinkled a little playa dust all over myself and started reading. It was just like being back on the playa. That alone is worth the price!

Snarky, sexy, and always *spot on*, Piss Clear was the only thing at Burning Man worth reading - if you were in any state to read, that is! Nobody told the real behind-the-scenes stories like they did (the real cost of art on the playa? ahem), and no other publication - well, wait? Were there any other publications? The Black Rock Gazette doesn't count (that's like reading your church bulletin) and neither does the What/Where/When guide... so, I guess that means that Piss Clear can really be said to be the ONLY publication on the playa! Too bad they're kaput! Boo hooooooooo. But no crying yet, because this book has ALL the sex, drugs, and rock & roll (er, thumping techno beats) that 13 years of Piss Clear produced. Plus, more! Articles that never made it to the playa are included! Censored bars over naked girl parts are included! Adrian and the rest of the Piss Clear crew did a stellar job producing this year after year after year.

Long live Piss Clear!!

Maybe I will go back and up my rating once all the other contributors calm down and some outsiders start reviewing it. It really is full of great inside jokes but that limits the audience. I have mixed feelings. I wrote a lot of things for the paper Piss Clear never with the understanding or consent that it would be put in the commercially available book Piss Clear. I feel like my gift is now being sold. That said, I applaud Adrian for all the work he put into it over the years.

Full disclosure: Yes, I am biased, as I wrote for Piss Clear most years and have been a close friend of Adrian's for over 16 years. That said, seeing this book laid out with all the Piss Clear articles in chronological order is definitely a more-than-the-sum-of-its-parts experience.

Well, okay, it IS more, because of Adrian's insightful introductions and the bonus inclusion of his pre-Piss Clear zine, Dreaming Burning Man. I applaud this bold move since, as his disclaimer/commentary for that chapter makes clear, it is a product of wide-eyed wonder, before the cynicism set in -- before there was any reason for that to happen. This alone makes me wistful for the first few trips we made to the desert in '93 and '94, before you had to worry about anyone stealing from you, selling you bad drugs, or running you over.

If you remember reading Piss Clear, this book will bring very specific memories back for you. If you never did, it is still worth reading, to understand what was once good about the event, and where it went terribly wrong, but still continued to offer something. If you thought you knew everything about Burning Man, this book will prove you wrong.

Ok, Ok, OK.....So I'm a 'little' biased.
I wrote 2 articles, contributed a Fake Ad, and contributed to various and many lists found within the issues of Piss Clear for at least 10 years (1997-2007)
I also helped to distribute issues on the Playa along with Piss Clear's rival publication Black Rock Gazette.....I can tell you that many Burners when faced with a choice of this on-the-playa reading material, usually asked for a copy of Black Rock City's Snarky Reality Check called Piss Clear.
Now for the first time in all it's sordid and sundry glory, is a Omnibus of 13 years of the Collected Wit & Wisdom that is Piss Clear.
Although it doesn't have the faint & familiar scent of newsprint, ink, and Playa Dust.....this brings back fond memories of The Playa & Burning Man.
For the First-Time Burner, this is would be a great way to get a bit of a handle on the vibe that is the whole Black Rock City Experience.
You might not like some or parts of it, but that's Black Rock City is all about.....If you don't see one of your Sacred Cows being made into Hamburger on the grill.....then you haven't really really seen all that Burning Man & Black Rock City has to offer.
Even for the non-Burner, this book is good for some interesting & amusing reading.
Yahoos need not apply.

I am so excited that this has been released! I have every playa piss clear i personally collect from 1999 to 2007 in a box in the garage but this book is a lot nicer than dragging out the playa filled papers to show friends and relatives. I know it's expensive but i wish Adrian could release a hardback. It would go great on the coffee table. This book is a must for fans of piss clear.

Piss Clear was always my favorite Burn publication and I was saddened to see it gone. Packed full of everything you could have ever thought to ask and a million ideas that never would have occurred to you in five lifetimes, this book brings home the chaotic, joyful, crazy, hot, dusty realities that make up Burning Man. If you don't buy nay other book about Burning Man, get this one. Piss Clear says it all!

I'm sure old-school Burners probably *hate* that there is published (oh my!) book out there to purchase (oh my!) about Burning Man. ;) However, I love this book. My husband went to Burning Man for the 1st time this year and he was floating two feet about the Earth for about 2 weeks upon his return. He had such an amazing time and thought the whole thing was just incredible.
This book is very high quality. The pictures are amazing. There is just enough of the weirdness mixed with the freedom and beauty of burning man. It has more pictures of the people of burning man that the art and sculptures.
Very nice book.

This book is a MUST READ for anyone who really wants to sense the true spirit and passion of BM. Adrian Roberts is my hero, who created a forum for those who had the courage to speak truth to power. I miss Piss Clear terribly.
There is more juice, humor, and wisdom in this compilation than can be absorbed quickly. It's like a rich dessert, best eaten in small bites.