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Woodstock Nation: A Talk-rock Album
Woodstock WAR PEACE POLITICS excellent read
153 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
6 people are currently reading
398 people want to read
About the author
Abbie Hoffman
30 books218 followersAbbott Howard "Abbie" Hoffman was a social and political activist in the United States who co-founded the Youth International Party ("Yippies"). Later he became a fugitive from the law, who lived under an alias following a conviction for dealing cocaine.
Hoffman was arrested and tried for conspiracy and inciting to riot as a result of his role in protests that led to violent confrontations with police during the 1968 Democratic National Convention, along with Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, John Froines, Lee Weiner and Bobby Seale. The group was known collectively as the "Chicago Eight"; when Seale's prosecution was separated from the others, they became known as the Chicago Seven.
Hoffman came to prominence in the 1960s, and continued practicing his activism in the 1970s, and has remained a symbol of the youth rebellion and radical activism of that era. In his 1980 autobiography, Soon to Be a Major Motion Picture, he described himself as an anarchist.
Hoffman was arrested and tried for conspiracy and inciting to riot as a result of his role in protests that led to violent confrontations with police during the 1968 Democratic National Convention, along with Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, John Froines, Lee Weiner and Bobby Seale. The group was known collectively as the "Chicago Eight"; when Seale's prosecution was separated from the others, they became known as the Chicago Seven.
Hoffman came to prominence in the 1960s, and continued practicing his activism in the 1970s, and has remained a symbol of the youth rebellion and radical activism of that era. In his 1980 autobiography, Soon to Be a Major Motion Picture, he described himself as an anarchist.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 12, 2014
I bought an original, first-print, fingerprint-autographed signed copy by Abbie Hoffman in a bookstore in Chicago. Oswald owned if first and I have no idea why he parted with it. But for the regal sum of $15.00, it was mine. I shall never part with it unless someone makes me a ludicrous offer that I deem worthy enough.
It was written by Hoffman after he returned from Woodstock, during the time he was preparing for his trial as a member of the Chicago 7. He supposedly wrote this in "longhand, while lying upside down, stoned, on the floor of an unused office of the publisher..."
Hoffman at his angriest. I liked this book.
It was written by Hoffman after he returned from Woodstock, during the time he was preparing for his trial as a member of the Chicago 7. He supposedly wrote this in "longhand, while lying upside down, stoned, on the floor of an unused office of the publisher..."
Hoffman at his angriest. I liked this book.
November 6, 2022
“None of us are shedding any tears about our upcoming trial. In a sense the indictments are like receiving an academy award for our work. Many of us have already done time in jail, we have been arrested and beaten numerous times, we have lived with the FBI following us and monitoring our phone calls. For us personally, the trial is just a part of our activity in the movement. When you get down to it, we are guilty of being members of a vast conspiracy. A conspiracy pitted against the war in Vietnam and the government that still perpetuates that war, against the oppression of black communities, against the harassment of our cultural revolution, against an educational system that seeks only to channel us into a society we see as corrupt and impersonal. Against the growing police state, and finally against the dehumanizing work roles that a capitalist economic system demand. What we are for, quite simply, is a total revolution.”
“After the rains came, the hog farm went right on serving their free food and enjoying themselves. And the lefties, not all of them but enough to say it, packed up their leaflets or abandoned them and headed out of Woodstock nation still thinking it was a festival, or worse, a concentration camp. Those that stayed are better for it, including me. When you learn to survive in a hostile environment, be it the tear gas parks of Chicago or the mud slopes of Woodstock nation, you learn a little bit more of the universal puzzle, you learn a little more about yourself, you learn about the absurdity of any analysis at all. It’s only when you get to the end of reason can you begin to enter Woodstock nation. It’s only when you cease to have any motives at all can you begin to comprehend the magnitude of the event”
Woodstock Nation, a talk rock album by famed activist Abbie Hoffman. This book is brutally honest- it’s nonsensical streams of consciousness at times that help add to the authenticity of the storytelling. Abbie is between Woodstock and awaiting trial for Chicago, which is why most of us (including myself) would pick up this book, and what we would know Abbie from. You can sense his legitimate fear about the trial, about facing jail time. He is almost defeated in the literal sense, but he’s not angry. He is committed to his revolution and he is sharing that he learned more about what this thing he’s been working towards for years might actually look like in a physical manifestation. This book is about Woodstock, but mostly it’s about what Woodstock proved, what it meant to him, what scared him, and what he experienced strung out with hundred of thousands of others.
This is a great read, and also a great insight into how your brain might talk to you if you find yourself on a bad acid trip.
“After the rains came, the hog farm went right on serving their free food and enjoying themselves. And the lefties, not all of them but enough to say it, packed up their leaflets or abandoned them and headed out of Woodstock nation still thinking it was a festival, or worse, a concentration camp. Those that stayed are better for it, including me. When you learn to survive in a hostile environment, be it the tear gas parks of Chicago or the mud slopes of Woodstock nation, you learn a little bit more of the universal puzzle, you learn a little more about yourself, you learn about the absurdity of any analysis at all. It’s only when you get to the end of reason can you begin to enter Woodstock nation. It’s only when you cease to have any motives at all can you begin to comprehend the magnitude of the event”
Woodstock Nation, a talk rock album by famed activist Abbie Hoffman. This book is brutally honest- it’s nonsensical streams of consciousness at times that help add to the authenticity of the storytelling. Abbie is between Woodstock and awaiting trial for Chicago, which is why most of us (including myself) would pick up this book, and what we would know Abbie from. You can sense his legitimate fear about the trial, about facing jail time. He is almost defeated in the literal sense, but he’s not angry. He is committed to his revolution and he is sharing that he learned more about what this thing he’s been working towards for years might actually look like in a physical manifestation. This book is about Woodstock, but mostly it’s about what Woodstock proved, what it meant to him, what scared him, and what he experienced strung out with hundred of thousands of others.
This is a great read, and also a great insight into how your brain might talk to you if you find yourself on a bad acid trip.
January 14, 2025
Well, I guess I should try and say something meaningful or important about this book.
This is the first book of Abbie Hoffman's I've read. I really respect the man. I want to read more of his stuff. I have a copy of "Steal This Book," and I'm debating on whether or not it should be my next read.
One of the primary reasons I respect Abbie is because of how he died. Well, seeing as I almost went the same way this past weekend I figured I'd better get to reading. And I did. Here are some takeaways from the book, because that seems important.
1. You have to actually do stuff if you want stuff to happen (shocker!!!).
2. Sometimes you'll hate the people you're doing it all for.
3. Loneliness will find you, wherever you are, and you'll just have to wait it out.
4. You'll find a way to survive anything.
5. Idiots will find a way to mess things up, always.
6. Sex is awesome.
7. Take it all in, once in a while.
8. I've got to find some way to put my education to good use, I guess. Better get on that.
9. Sometimes it really is up to you. Like, sometimes you'll have to lock in and get shit done and be the guy or gal who the buck gets passed to.
10. Pretend there's a cool tenth thing. Joan Baez is awesome, that can be the tenth thing.
After reading the book I am permeated with the feeling that life is going to really suck sometimes but that I still pretty much have to do it. Maybe that's just how Abbie wanted it. Thanks, Mr. Hoffman.
This is the first book of Abbie Hoffman's I've read. I really respect the man. I want to read more of his stuff. I have a copy of "Steal This Book," and I'm debating on whether or not it should be my next read.
One of the primary reasons I respect Abbie is because of how he died. Well, seeing as I almost went the same way this past weekend I figured I'd better get to reading. And I did. Here are some takeaways from the book, because that seems important.
1. You have to actually do stuff if you want stuff to happen (shocker!!!).
2. Sometimes you'll hate the people you're doing it all for.
3. Loneliness will find you, wherever you are, and you'll just have to wait it out.
4. You'll find a way to survive anything.
5. Idiots will find a way to mess things up, always.
6. Sex is awesome.
7. Take it all in, once in a while.
8. I've got to find some way to put my education to good use, I guess. Better get on that.
9. Sometimes it really is up to you. Like, sometimes you'll have to lock in and get shit done and be the guy or gal who the buck gets passed to.
10. Pretend there's a cool tenth thing. Joan Baez is awesome, that can be the tenth thing.
After reading the book I am permeated with the feeling that life is going to really suck sometimes but that I still pretty much have to do it. Maybe that's just how Abbie wanted it. Thanks, Mr. Hoffman.
February 6, 2024
Abbie Hoffman's multi-coloured and bright vision of the 'alternative' world he observed scattered about the US after Woodstock. The text may get a bit... well, fractured and loose.... but the sentiments and the thoughts are as true and as strong as ever, most of them.
Anarchic. Fun, but deadly serious too.
An essential for your freak/music section.
Anarchic. Fun, but deadly serious too.
An essential for your freak/music section.
April 29, 2021
I love Abbie Hoffman, love any and all stories of Woodstock and counter cultural revolution but this was nearly incomprehensible. Still, some great pictures and a few funny pages.
November 7, 2009
I was at Woodstock, considered myself a citizen of Woodstock Nation (the counter-culture) and loved Abbie Hoffman, so of course I loved this book. I read everything Abbie wrote - he altered my politics, was an apologist for extended adolescence, and was right up there with Paul Krassner as a knock-out funny critic of "the system." Abbie was defining a community he was trying to create and organize, and having a public good time of it. Again, probably an artifact of its times, but really important to me at the time.
April 30, 2011
Woodstock Nation is darker and more angry than Abbie Hoffman's earlier Revolution for the Hell of It, which probably reflects the changing time as the 60s turned to the 70s:
"I was tired of getting arrested and had even considered cutting my hair and leaving New York. It was a depressing summer of sitting in courtrooms and waiting for the Big Trial to begin in Chicago. I found I spent a lot of time discussing my arrests and began wondering if I would end up like Lenny Bruce. The picture of him lying naked on the bathroom floor that I had seen flashed through my mind each day."
"I was tired of getting arrested and had even considered cutting my hair and leaving New York. It was a depressing summer of sitting in courtrooms and waiting for the Big Trial to begin in Chicago. I found I spent a lot of time discussing my arrests and began wondering if I would end up like Lenny Bruce. The picture of him lying naked on the bathroom floor that I had seen flashed through my mind each day."
November 5, 2012
As an impressionable teenager, I bought this book in its first edition and cannot part with it, even though I haven't opened it in decades. It made Abbie Hoffman one of my heroes.
The world changed in ways that Abbie could not foresee (like: a huge number of his ardent fans died of AIDS during those Reagan-Bush years. I buried 78 of them.), leaving to his heartbreaking suicide.
Now, I'm determined not to recycle this book. It's frozen in time, and when I eventually reopen it, I'm sure I'll confront a very different Me in the process. Thank you Abbie. Glad to have you along for the ride!
The world changed in ways that Abbie could not foresee (like: a huge number of his ardent fans died of AIDS during those Reagan-Bush years. I buried 78 of them.), leaving to his heartbreaking suicide.
Now, I'm determined not to recycle this book. It's frozen in time, and when I eventually reopen it, I'm sure I'll confront a very different Me in the process. Thank you Abbie. Glad to have you along for the ride!
June 7, 2020
I love Abbie! I've always identified with what the Yippie ideal represented, the political radicalization of the hippie. I think this work should continue. When I go to Transformational Festivals they are politically neutered, couched in New Age and Eastern Philosophy, which I'm not opposed to, but without class consciousness and political awareness become a form of petite bourgeois indulgence.
March 21, 2007
Completely dated obviously, but contains some fairly entertaining rants about 'pigs', getting sconed over the head by Pete Townshend, and how a nation can't sustain itself on the processed foam we call bread. Pretty interesting guy though - managed to have the CIA banned from recruiting at the University of Massachusetts on account of their history of illegal activities!
January 4, 2008
This book gets four stars for the life-impact factor. I found it at the very top corner of my parents' bookshelf when I was ten. Drugs! Counterculture! Revolution! Crazy Writing! This was way better than any conjugal soft-porn I could have hoped to come across in Dick Francis or in those Reader's Digest Condensed Novels of theirs.
February 13, 2008
hilarious!!
November 3, 2009
this is so great...Abbie Hoffman is one of my heroes...
March 26, 2015
Abbe Hoffman always had a dry sense of humor... His greatest talent was his ability to see the humor in the worse situations and his ability to laugh at himself.
November 18, 2008
i have an original edition
April 10, 2017
A revolutionary lives with one foot in a vision of the future. This book rages against a dystopian reality and lusts after a utopia while it keeps swerving into a kind of mutant speculative fiction. Where are the Yippies now that we need them?
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews