The High Times Reader [Paperback]

Annie Nocenti (Editor), Ruth Baldwin (Editor), Paul Krassner (Introduction)

Book Description

Series: Nation Books | Publication Date: December 30, 2004

Since its launch in 1974 by cultural outlaw and international drug smuggler Thomas King Forçade, High Times magazine has served as a preeminent showcase of the American counterculture. Conceived to "bring a new consciousness into the media," the magazine's first issue sold 25,000 copies. Although the past 30 years have spanned three editorial reigns, High Times has remained committed to its sharp defense of free speech, constitutional rights and the freedom of the individual. The High Times Reader will chronicle the evolution of American counterculture over the past three decades, offering a unique historical perspective on the current tendencies toward suppressing American civil liberties. Contributions will include Timothy Leary's space-travel manifesto Terra II from the magazine's inaugural issue, articles by Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, Ron Rosenbaum, Legs McNeil and Paul Krassner—who wrote a column entitled "Brain Damage Report"—interviews with Johnny Rotten, Larry David, and an 8-page photo insert of the most infamous sexy High Times centerfolds, along with some of their more memorable covers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Nation Books (December 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560256249
• ISBN-13: 978-1560256243
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,021,391 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars High Times had articles?!, March 1, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The High Times Reader (Paperback)

As it turns out High Times is (or at least was) more than an assortment of budshots and hydro ads.

This book is a FASCINATING collection of articles, essays, and interviews detailing the impact and spread of pscyotropic substances upon contemporary culture and it's figures. This book is a must for anyone wanting an intimate look at how mind altering substances made their way into popular society. This book names names left and right. The most interesting article is a history of how LSD and cannabis became popular in a very micro sense. The article doesn't just talk about Albert Hoffman's bike ride, it tells the story of how LSD made it's way from Sandoz, how a guy named Owlsey became the prime producer for all of the acid consumers in the mid 60s, the celebrities he shared it with, the celebrities those celebrities shared it with, and the celebrities those celebrities shared it with. Wanna know who turned on the Beatles? Wanna read about all the coke politicians did? Wanna read about Hunter S Thompson? Abbie Hoffman? Taking acid in Golden Gate Park? Wanna read about Bob Marley talking about his acid tester and how hard it is to find good bud? Wanna read about how JFK got his weed? Wanna read about the dark side of Walt Disney? Wanna read about taking DMT in the jungle with shamans? These are just the topics my stoner brain can remember, there were many more (I lost the book months ago, but I'm buying another).

The High Times reader is a valuable book because it doesn't present drug culture in a mythical fashion. There is a very authentic quality to it. The writing was done by the counterculture, for the counterculture, during the height of the counterculture, by people who lived the counterculture.

This book provides an intimate look at drugs and the counter-culture that isn't available anywhere else. I cringe to think that most of the information contained within is already forgotten, and as a result of High Times's reputation will probably never be remembered. I thought I knew the history of drugs, but what I knew was the history of drugs as told by The Man. This totally changed my perspective of the last 50 years. I wasn't old enough to experience the countercoulter, and my attempts to understand it didn't paint the whole picture (reading the Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, PiHKAL/TiKHAL, watching The Weathermen Underground, Woodstock), but it was this unsuspecting book, the book I had no hopes for, that eventually put the finishes touches on the canvas of the past bringing it to life.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Junk, October 19, 2010

By 

Sevi - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The High Times Reader (Nation Books) (Kindle Edition)

Don't waste your money. This makes me sad for the old High Times I remeber. This is just tabloid journalism. I kept reading thinking this was a spoof but it's not. Just pathetic Inquierer "news", rubbish.