Mostly on the Edge: An Autobiography (Hardcover)

by Karl Hess (Author) "I have participated in most of the major cultural and political-social movements of our time, excepting only one..." (more)
Key Phrases: mile stare, exclusive employment, West Virginia, New Left, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
He left school at fifteen to work as a reporter and wound up, just a few years later, as associate editor at Newsweek. He helped William F Buckley Jr found the National Review, worked closely with Joseph McCarthy, and became chief speechwriter for Barry Goldwater. But true to a conscience that caused him to question the claims and authority of others, Hess eventually rejected conservatism and embraced the libertarian politics of the New Left. He dabbled with drugs, rode motorcycles, worked with the Black Panthers, got arrested while protesting the war in Vietnam, and published an article in Playboy that defined libertarianism and ignited a national debate. As an anti-Communist he co-operated with the FBI, but as a libertarian he fought the IRS until he was nearly destitute. Whatever his political leanings, he always despised conceit, exploded intolerance, and embraced life to the fullest. He was a man who travelled in influential circles, often close to power, but, in his own words, 'mostly on the edge'. Karl Hess participated in many of the defining events of 20th-century America, a self-taught boy who became a self-made journalist. "Mostly on the Edge" chronicles the life education of Hess, who became a defiant tester of the prevailing ideas of each decade. He lived by trial and error, and was always willing to acknowledge his mistakes. Like Franklin and Thoreau, Hess hoped to wake up America by questioning the moral majority, fighting the Kafkaesque intrusions of government, and encouraging his family, friends, and highly influential colleagues to think for themselves. Hess provides eyewitness accounts, unique personal observations, startling and valuable insights on leadership and dissent, and, in the end, leaves behind a clear path to realising the dream of freedom.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 409 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573926876
• ISBN-13: 978-1573926874
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #668,490 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A worthwhile but incomplete autobiography, September 3, 1999

By	Jay Zane (Pottsville, Pa.) - See all my reviews

In 1976 I had the opportunity to write a review for Karl Hess' "Dear America," and this new autobiography contains much of the same material covered in that first autobiography. I had hoped for a more personal glimpse into his family life but strangely only about two sentences are devoted to his first marriage which produced two sons. It was odd that Mr. Hess could not even mention his first wife's name. His relationship with his sons is also largely ignored. These omissions, together with little or no discussion of such historical figures such as Nixon, Reagan, Ford, and Carter and their respective policies, made the book less than it could have been. HOWEVER, "Dear America" is out of print! Also, one must keep in mind that this book was put together while Mr. Hess was suffering from his terminal heart disease and was basically unfinished at the date of his death. His son, Karl Hess, Jr. has performed a labor of love by getting this book out on the market. It is a treat to read about Mr. Hess' early days and I believe that portion of the book was completed while his health was fairly good. I also enjoyed his discussions about his conversion from the right to the left and how the right and left have much in common. I consider Karl Hess to be one of unsung heroes of this century's political scene - a thinking political and moral man - all at the same time! I had hoped for his observations and his comments on the Nixon regime, Watergate, Reaganomics, etc. but I am still content with this autobiography and recommend it to anyone interested in Karl Hess, a 20th century Thoreau.

5.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable book by a man ahead of his time, July 19, 1999

By A Customer

Karl Hess's journey through the 20th Century takes the reader through the intellectual development of a self-taught genius. His optimistic brand of community life is a model for the 21st century.

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars fairly mediocre..., January 24, 2003

By A Customer

I have two main gripes about this book:

1) It wasn't particularly well written -- there were reflections, within reflections, and all sorts of lengthy non-essential asides -- especially in the earlier chapters. Ironically, several of these annoying interludes occurred when the author was talking about what it takes to be a good writer!

2) The author stuck me as somewhat hypocritical. How can you be a libertarian as well as a major proponent of the bill of rights and yet be an unapologetic collaborator with the HUAC & Joe McCarthy? It seems to me pretty hypocritical to be a rabid anti-communist and participating in the ruin of people who were utilizing their 1st Amendment Rights, but expressing a view that the author just happened to disagree with.

There were hints at real humanity and a number of interesting ideas, but I had hoped for more stuff about his time in WV, his refusal to pay taxes, his interest in self-sufficiency, etc. I'll try to find "Dear America" and see if it has more of what I was looking for.