If The 60s Were The 90s: An Ode to Venice Beach

by Michael Ruark

Imagine sleeping on the streets, then becoming the king of Venice. According to Michael Ruark, that can happen with a creative, honest, positive, and fearless attitude.
This memoir is a raw documentation of Ruark's experience in Venice, California, in the early 1990s, with all the excitement and hardships of a bohemian lifestyle amid the Los Angeles riots, the Oakwood gang warfare, and the Northridge earthquake. It is the story of a young man’s rise from an abused childhood and homelessness.

170 pages, Paperback

Published May 10, 2023

Reviews

[Delanee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two weeks ago, I took a trip to Colorado and stopped by a cool little cafe that sold books, records, and comics. I was rummaging through the “Local Authors” section when this cover caught my eye, since I live in LA. I read the back and thought it seemed interesting, so I went to buy it. The guy who rung me up asked if I knew who the author was, and I said no, I just thought the book looked interesting. It turned out that the author’s son was in the cafe that day — the worker called it “kismet.” There were thousands of books in that place, and I chose that one. I got to meet the author’s son and talked to him for a bit about the book. What a cool experience! // I really enjoyed this book. I love how casual and raw it is — it really feels like he’s just sitting with you and telling you these stories. It was also really cool to learn some of the history behind the places I see out in Venice. Overall, a great read!