This Is Burning Man: The Rise of a New American Underground

by Brian Doherty

The first detailed cultural history of the Burning Man Festival, reissued on its 10th anniversary with a new 5,000 word afterword on the past decade of the event. It tells the story of how the simple burning of a wooden man came to attract now more than 60,000 thousand anarchists, Internet millionaires, ravers, academics, hippies, gearheads, punks, and suburban parents who travel to the Black Rock Desert each year to create an entirely alternate dimension. Brian Doherty captures the extraordinary spirit of the festival — its whimsy, its danger, and its absurdity — as well as the outrageous genius and folly of its artists and players. Whether you are a Burning Man veteran or couldn't imagine coping with the festival’s often brutal desert setting and mad behavior, this book is an invitation to explore the radical creativity and exhilaration of being a Black Rock citizen. Welcome to the incendiary vision that is Burning Man. Welcome home.What people said about the first "When I received a copy of THIS IS BURNING MAN, I trembled...It is amazing to follow how the art world comes together to form the Burning Man, celebrate the Burning Man, then return him to ashes."--Perry Farrell

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, History, Pop Culture, Cultural, Music

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Katie Hazard · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow. after 6 years on the playa i thought i knew a lot about burning man ~ but reading this really deepened my understanding of the history & nature of the event. i finished it right before i went this year and it definitely improved my experience. i know this sounds like a quote from the back of the book cover, but it really is a must-read for anyone who calls themselves a burner.

[Bobby · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting overview of Burning Man's history and some of the famous/infamous personalities behind the famous arts festival. The book is full of engaging stories and anecdotes but unfortunately is not able to tie them together to present any sort of a coherent "big picture" (the book is divided into sections and chapters but these don't help much).
Also, the author started out by adopting a more-or-less neutral journalist perspective but towards the end had more of a preachy tone...which was a bit annoying at times. Still, for those who are never planning on going to Burning Man, this may be a good intro to all the craziness that goes there.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my money, the best overall history of BM from when it was a Zone Event with the Cacophony Society, to the early 00's. It's a fair account to everyone involved - before the mythology and the shift to Burning Man Inc. became complete.

[Jeannette · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good solid history of the early years of Burning Man. Not gripping on every page, but illuminating nonetheless. Unfortunately, it only goes up through 2003, and a lot has happened since then.

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I designed this.

[Lawrence · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book but did not. First of all, it is dated. That is not the author's fault but the book was written at a very different time in the festival's history and it is difficult to put that context aside.

The author is a bit too much of a fan-boy for me but in fairness, does a pretty even-handed job given the passions around the "good old days" vs the scale Burning Man takes place at today.

Not really a necessary read.

[Sun Chu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book having never heard about Burning Man so I was excitedly in wonder about the subject of the book and the reading. Disclaimer, I have no comparison to other books or to the on-hand experience of Burning man. The author is very thorough in journeying the reader from the beginning creation to the present state of burning man and not missing anything of the excursion in-between. Doherty clearly expresses the passions, ideal pursuits, the highs and lows, the beautiful and the ugly factors and nostalgia that Burning Man encompasses. Well written and the book brought me to experience the wide spectrum of Burning Man without me literally being there.

[Rachel Nuwer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read "This Is Burning Man" at Burning Man, which really enhanced my experience. Knowing the stories of the people who made the event possible, and some of the more colorful characters who shaped the culture over time, was really an asset for making me better understand and appreciate my own time on the playa. The highlight was reading about Danger Ranger and then meeting Danger Ranger literally the same afternoon.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Burning Man is the arts/creativity/freedom/whatever festival held every September in the Nevada desert.

It started in 1980s San Francisco, in part as a reaction to Ronald Reagan’s America. A man named Larry Harvey and some friends gathered on a San Francisco nude beach to burn a wooden effigy of a man (for no especially good reason). The event was "adopted" by various California punk and arts groups, like the L.A. Cacophony Society, and soon grew too big for the nude beach. A home was found deep in the Nevada desert, miles from the nearest civilization.

It is a huge, empty, desolate place, described by one person as living inside an ashtray. The wind blows constantly, sometimes up to 100 miles an hour, and within seconds, everything and everyone is coated with the same gray dust. Permits are required from the Bureau of Land Management, the official owner of the land, and from the local county governments, not always an easy process. As the attendance at Burning Man has grown over the years, from a few hundred people to, presently, 30,000 people, changes have been needed in the organizational structure of the festival. An LLC was formed to take care of the financial recordkeeping, which, for several years in the 1990s, was loose, to say the least. An unofficial police force was formed, to peacefully resolve disputes and to supplement the actual police force, there to keep things from getting too out of hand. Actual zoning has taken place, including the laying out of streets.

At Burning Man, self-reliance is expected by all participants, which includes bringing your own water. Everyone is expected to participate in some sort of art project; spectators are discouraged. "Art" does not mean a painting that is hung on a wall, but some sort of large, interactive creation that people can touch and feel, usually involving fire.

For those with any sort of familiarity about Burning Man, this book does a fine job at getting behind the scenes. For those who have never heard of it, read this story of a truly unique American arts festival. Either way, this is very much recommended.

[Curtis Seven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written if somewhat Haigistic biography of an event if such a thing is possible. I'll weigh in after I absorb a bit more of it. One oddity I'd point out having covered the first 50-100 pages is not one mention of hallucinogens or such. Another point is that while Doherty is a past attendee and promoter of the festival, in writing the book about his time there he does break a code of sorts. That being the rules against profiteering (freeconomy). Of course he'd have had to open source the book he wrote to conform to that and where is the fun in that?

It's a reporters perspective relying on the authors on experiences at Burning Man and on research of the years prior where he did not attend. He chronicles the rise of an event from a few people on a beach to the annual building of a small temporary city in the desert.

This is not a Burning Man for Dummies. It's more concerned with the history of the event with some of the shenanigans thrown in for good measure. Like the time it rained and he observed a car spinning through the mud pulling a dwarf on skis and wearing an all leather S&M outfit complete with face mask.

I've not been to Burning Man so it was an interesting read and it's an interesting event.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me want to go even more! I have heard so many opinions of what Burning Man is. I have been told you don't want to go there. I have been told it's a place of drugs, sex and rock and roll in the worst way. Whatever; I usually hear this from people who think they are experts who have never been there and some of the best experiences of my life are in situations so described.

I think Doherty summed it up in quoting TS Eliot, Choruses from the Rock:

The desert is not remote in southern tropics
The desert is not only around the corner,
The desert is squeezed in the tube - train next to you,
The desert is in the heart of your brother.

You don't know the desert by being told about the desert, especially by someone who has not been to the desert. You know the desert by being there. And even then, what it is differs from person to person.

I think Doherty captured that essence in his book. My desert is not your desert. And finally, as I approach 60, I want to be in this desert.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've never been to Burning Man, you can't really know what it is, or what it means to Burners. Even if you do go, if you don't get bitten by the bug, you'll just think the rest of us are crazy. But for some of us, it's a wonderful, transformative experience that's beyond the ability of words to express.

Since 1996 I have considered myself a proud citizen of Black Rock City, although it's been more than a few years since I've been able to afford the tickets. "This is Burning Man" brought it all back, with more detail than I knew at the time. Oh, sure, I knew some of the highlights. But this book pulls it all together, and makes sense of all those names I'd heard along the way.

This is a book for Burners. If you've never been there, this is not the best introductory book. There are lots of pretty picture books which will show you what it looks like, if that's what you want. That will not tell you what it's all about, though. You really do have to experience it.

[Rebecca Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, in depth look at a hard-to-describe phenomenon and event. The book interviews the original people involved and follows the changes and progressions of Burning Man from the 90's up until 2003, as well as the author's nearly decade of experience at Burning Man. Ticket price has definitely changed, though I'm not sure how much else has since 2003, which could make this book rather dated. However, this is extremely thoughtful and well written look especially at the origin and first few years of Burning Man. The author really prods at the depth and heart of what Burning Man is without drawing too many definitive conclusions. Having not attended myself yet, but wanting to, I am torn whether I would have preferred to hold off reading this and just gone into it completely blind. But given the unpredictable, experiential nature of Burning Man I'm sure will be just as hard-hitting no matter what.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an in depth telling of the history of Burning Man, in all its humor, insanity, tragedy, magic, love, horror, and awe. I could easily identify with the roller coaster of emotions and enigmas of experience. The only place I have ever been in the world that I could simultaneously despise and adore on that level was Bangkok, and in many ways, going to Burning Man was like that trip. Except that rather than a foreigh country, I ended up on another planet. Doherty connects in a very visceral way to how that feels, in a way that any reader who has ever been there can smile and nod along with. If you read this book as a glimpse into Burning Man having never visited, you may run away in terror and disgust. If however you read it as a retrospective, you may just find yourself hooked.

[Jeremy Keeshin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book on Burning Man. I read it before going, and while it is an event that is really hard to characterize, I thought the author did a good job portraying the event and the ideas surrounding it. Additionally, I thought another impressive part of the book was that it was balanced--it was clearly written by a Burning Man fan and a guy that had been going for a while, but it presented both praise and criticism of the event in a very reasonable way. I thought as a historical reference on the event it was fascinating as well. I'd recommend it.

[mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great chronological perspective of the event and culture surrounding Burningman, written by a participant. It ties together much of the what happened in San Francisco and in the life of Larry Harvey & other organizers to create the event that continues to this day. An interesting read even for people that have not attended the event, but are intereted in San Francisco and the movements of this city.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning went through every detail of how burning man began- a little boring- but the part where they talked about the art was pretty inspiring. I just love thinking and reading about really big participatory art. Also the "temporary autonomous zone" idea is exciting- it takes me back to reading Hakim Bey in the High school cafeteria, and is still inspiring. The writing is not anything special, but the content makes it worth it.

[Steve Garriott · Rating 5 out of 5]

For someone who has been intrigued for year by the phenomenon known as Burning Man, this is an excellent way to at least gain a little understanding of what it could be all about. The full experience of playa with its atmosphere of otherwordliness could never be emulated in book form. But for someone who probably will never go, at least I get a chance to listen in on the conversations of the people who have been changed by this amazing event.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Is Burning Man: the Rise of a New American Underground by Brian Doherty (Little, Brown, & Co. 2004) (394.25). This is a book about the annual week-long new-age / new-wave festival in the Nevada desert. Mind-blowing art installations, music, and the latest editions of chemical inebriants are all on hand to weave into an unforgettable experience. Join “the Burners” for their one-of-a-kind celebration! My rating: 7/10, finished 1/21/15.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting look into a ritual that I hadn't really heard about. I was familiar with the image of The Burning Man but didn't realize just what the event was about. It was a bit difficult to get through at times due to the detailed explanations of the relationships of the originators.

I would recommend it to someone interested in the festival.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great glimpse at the event's early years and growth over time. first-hand accounts from integral characters who helped shape the event from the beginning. covers many POVs towards the event, from evangelists to ultra-cynics. f-in hysterical to anyone who has been or wants to go to that thing in the desert.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confirms that Burning Man is different things to different people, and even the founders disagree on what it should mean, or whether it should and does mean anything at all. This frees me to feel as unchanged by it as I felt, except for the radical change that must have occurred given that I would consider going again.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know Brian, and like his work. He's a very dedicated writer, and is also a Burning Man participant and has been for years. He's also very supportive of other events, is a lover of art and absurd revelry, and knowing those things made this read extra fun for me.

[Trey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed it, it does a good job at going over the contentious history and describing the elusive nature of the event. Learned a lot of stuff about the earlier days I didn't know, and it gave me a warm feeling when my personal memories intersected the book's narrative. Recommended.

[jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

great look into the 10 day adventure, and the sinple exsistence that is the burn..

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is there a sexier image than two people, having sex while driving an old convertible, squealing across miles and miles of open, dark, barren desert while shooting firearms? I don't think so.

[Jeani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Required reading for all us old hippies

[Suzie Sims-Fletcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

sort of interesting - but you have to really care.

[Christina Lenon · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE THIS BOOK! Probably best to read AFTER you attend the "event" cause it'll make more sense... just finished it, and now I've got an after-burn:(

[Erin]

I've been fascinated by Burning Man since I first heard about it...