Customer Reviews

The Hippie Handbook: How to Tie-Dye a T-Shirt, Flash a Peace Sign, and Other Essential Skills for the Carefree Life

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Chelsea is way cool....grew up in a commune and all. She takes me back to my Berkeley days hanging out on Telegraph! She covers alot with such a great sense of humor and love. Chelsea shows you lots of fun things to do and tells you why they are so important to the hippie lifestyle. Like taking time to smell the roses and getting in touch with your inner being. Also the illustrations are fun. Stick it to the Man....Thanks Chelsea for making this book!
Peace

I think if you're an old hippie (like me) you know everything in this book already..Now if you can justttt remember it!!! LOL I think it is written for young people who want to discover the art of being a hippie, and adopt that lifestyle, more than for old heads or the people who have "been there, done that" For the old heads, I would recommend a book I've had since it first came out in the 60's (i think) Living on the Earth by Alicia Bay Laurel. Or Carla Emery's book The Encyclopedia of Country Lore, these people lived the life and walked the walk, and the information is 'right on'. Namaste.

I don't usually like novelty books but this one was quite entertaining and informative. I keep going back to it. Find out how to tie-dye, macrame, make "oregano brownies", (I think I'd use mint instead of oregano), wear proper attire and don't bathe too often.

I love learning about name origins so my favorite section was on naming babies. I passed with flying colors--giving my daughter a proper hippie name--even before reading this book.

It all adds up--I'm a hippie! Hey, man, I'm going to split, light some incense, listen to some Joplin, and--later I'm going to meditate. Namaste.

I bought this book when I was 14, now that I'm 21, I still find it informative and exciting to re-read. It's a great book to have around the house for a little amusement because there's a child aspect to this book that I find great to revisit (because I like to revisit my childhood.)

Before I bought The Hippie Handbook, I read a few harsh reviews but bought it anyway. I'm glad I did.

This book is for hippies by a hippie. It in no way is a heavy handed comprehensive scholastic guide to all of hippiedom... but how stupid would that be, right? This is a little book of hippie culture that addresses the basic tenets of how to co-exist and appropriately communicate with fellow hippies. I have, in my days, moved to more than one "communal household" that could have definitely benefited from a few of the basic fundamental lessons taught in this little gem. i.e.- what "communal" means, what co-existing looks like, what a basic hippie philosophy might be (like, these folks had NO idea)

Moving on.

Also, if you're more of a seasoned hippie sort this book has some really great snickers and smiles waiting for ya. Be prepared to laugh at yourself. How many hippie folks have you known who have no idea what a full stop at a stop sign is? How many hippies have you known who have no idea where their last drivers license is? ...that sorta stuff. It gave me a few smiles and opportunities to remember some of those amazing people that I've met throughout the hippie world. Ya gotta love 'em. :)

But don't let me under estimate the loads of quick and simple instructions provided. If you want to go play in tie dye for the first time next week? This'll give ya the basic goods for that. Ya wanna hippiefy your car next weekend? This book has some cool ideas. Lotsa good how-to stuff.

This is a book that has been lovingly crafted by a light soul who has clearly seen it from the inside for many a year. Two thumbs and ten toes up.

I am just 19 but everyone I've ever met said I was a "left-behind hippie" so when I seen this book on Amazon I just thought to myself "if I really am a "left-behind hippie" then I should probably have the Hippie Handbook." That only made perfect since to me, so I bought it and I LOVE IT!!! Now I really can be a "left-behind hippie"! Ha! Ha! Thank you!

This book was not only fun to laugh at (because it's all very true and much of the advice I follow myself)but also informative and a great read.

I have kind of mixed feelings about this book.
The author who grew up on a commune wrote a humorous and sweet book with some little snippets of autobiographical anecdotes and a lot of overviews of hippie type crafts and recipes. I laughed out loud at some parts remembering my own upbringing and seeing how my current lifestyle does reflect growing up the daughter of a hippie.
The projects include a macramé belt, how to tie dye, how to organize a political protest as well as several "How to cook like a hippie" recipes such as how to make tempeh and a recipe for a vegan chocolate cake. I was a little disappointed that the sprouting jars and homemade yogurt of my youth weren't in the book.
It's very basic, the illustrations are lovely and fun, and it is kind of funny. It's more a book for "daytrippers" than for people who really want to try living a hippie lifestyle, but she does include a good bibliography if you are really interested in the philosophy and lifestyle.

Every time she mentioned Native Americans I flinched though. I know that influence was strong in the hippie counterculture and with people who consider themselves hippies now but at the same time, the stereotypical images, like on the page giving ideas for murals "blissfully content Native Americans" just made cringe.

This is such an enjoyable book and I know I will be going back to it occasionally when I want to once again reminisce about those happy, groovy days of my younger years. I never lived on a commune but have always been curious about the experience. Chelsea's memories of this, told with a touch of humor, were fun to read about.
For those who are younger, read this book and find out what you missed. Those were some of the best years of my life. Peace.

This book is really a good introduction for anyone who wants to life this lifestyle. It not only covers the basics, but also shows many neat projects and things to do. This is a great book to have.