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When I Was Cool: My Life at the Jack Kerouac School Paperback – February 1, 2005
| Sam Kashner (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
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First student of the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, Sam Kashner tells with humor and grace his life with the Beats. But the best story is Kashner himself -- the coming-of-age of a young man in the chaotic world of the very idols he hoped to emulate.
This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.- Print length368 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateFebruary 1, 2005
- Dimensions5.31 x 0.83 x 8 inches
- ISBN-10006000567X
- ISBN-13978-0060005672
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Engaging [and] illuminating.” — San Francisco Chronicle
“Consistently funny … moving and always sharply observed.” — Rocky Mountain News
“Hilarious and touching.” — Newsday
“[This] headlong, infectious tales honors the author’s youthful idols by remembering them with tenderness and affection” — Time Out New York
“A memoir worth some howling.” — Entertainment Weekly
“Witty and warm grace notes to the cool history of the Beats.” — Kirkus Reviews
[Kashner’s] memoir is about enlightenment, the kind that comes from looking back with compassion but with eyes wide open — Booklist
“Fond, funny and finally heartbreaking.” — Village Voice
About the Author
Sam Kashner is the author of four nonfiction books, including the memoir When I Was Cool: My Life at the Jack Kerouac School, and one novel, Sinatraland. He has written extensively for Vanity Fair as a contributing editor.
Nancy Schoenberger is the author of Dangerous Muse: the Life of Lady Caroline Blackwood; Wayne and Ford: the Films, The Friendship, and the Forging of an American Hero; and three prize-winning books of poetry. She teaches at The College of William and Mary where she directs the Creative Writing Program.
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Product details
- Publisher : Harper Perennial; Reprint edition (February 1, 2005)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 368 pages
- ISBN-10 : 006000567X
- ISBN-13 : 978-0060005672
- Item Weight : 10.9 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.31 x 0.83 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #595,719 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #279 in Western U.S. Biographies
- #1,208 in Artist & Architect Biographies
- #2,032 in Travel Writing Reference
- Customer Reviews:
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I would have loved to give this 5 stars but there were a lot of editing mistakes that got in the way. The transitions from chapter to chapter could have been much cleaner and there were factual errors. For instance in one place Kashner writes that the Jack Kerouac School offered a two year degree and then later he says it was a four year degree. If Kashner ever comes out with an updated, polished edition, I would happily read it again.
This is a very real and sincere look into some moments beneath the radar of fame and gossip of a few of big names of the 50's & 60's....
Lots of revealing moments re Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, Diane Di Prima.
A fun read.


