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Seeds of man: An experience lived and dreamed
Seeds of Man is based on Woody Guthrieâ s adventurous 1931 trip through Texas. Nineteen-year-old Woody, accompanied by family members, drives from Pampa in the Panhandle to the rugged Big Bend country in a wheezing Model-T Ford truck. They are searching for a silver mine that Uncle Jeff had discovered and then lost. This autobiographical novel, originally published in 1976â nearly ten years after Woody Guthrieâ s deathâ shows how his fatherâ s search for riches was a dead-end street. The characters dare and do, drink Papaâ s high-proof whiskey, eat out of cans, meet real characters, make love, and sing the lively songs composed by Woody along the way.
401 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
5 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Woody Guthrie
71 books120 followersWoodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie was an American songwriter and folk musician. Guthrie's musical legacy consists of hundreds of songs, ballads and improvised works covering topics from political themes to traditional songs to children's songs. Guthrie performed continually throughout his life with his guitar frequently displaying the slogan "This Machine Kills Fascists". Guthrie is perhaps best known for his song "This Land Is Your Land" which is regularly sung in American schools. Many of his recorded songs are archived in the Library of Congress.
Guthrie traveled with migrant workers from Oklahoma to California and learned traditional folk and blues songs. His songs are about his experiences in the Dust Bowl era during the Great Depression and are known as the "Dust Bowl Troubadour." Guthrie was associated with, but never a member of, Communist groups in the United States throughout his life.
Guthrie was married three times and fathered eight children, including American folk musician Arlo Guthrie. He is the grandfather of musician Sarah Lee Guthrie. Guthrie died from complications of the degenerative neurologic affliction known as Huntington's Disease. In spite of his illness, during his later years Guthrie served as a figurehead in the folk movement providing inspiration to a generation of new folk musicians, including mentor relationships with Ramblin' Jack Elliott and Bob Dylan.
Guthrie traveled with migrant workers from Oklahoma to California and learned traditional folk and blues songs. His songs are about his experiences in the Dust Bowl era during the Great Depression and are known as the "Dust Bowl Troubadour." Guthrie was associated with, but never a member of, Communist groups in the United States throughout his life.
Guthrie was married three times and fathered eight children, including American folk musician Arlo Guthrie. He is the grandfather of musician Sarah Lee Guthrie. Guthrie died from complications of the degenerative neurologic affliction known as Huntington's Disease. In spite of his illness, during his later years Guthrie served as a figurehead in the folk movement providing inspiration to a generation of new folk musicians, including mentor relationships with Ramblin' Jack Elliott and Bob Dylan.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 28, 2015
Pete Seeger and I once had a long conversation about Woody's writing, and agreed the novel SEEDS OF MAN beat the hell out of the semi-fictionalized autobiography BOUND FOR GLORY, which was also - of course - more than worthwhile. We further agreed SEEDS could make an excellent film. Pete looked at me and said: "You ought to write a screenplay and get a film made." I said: "That's a whole different kind of writing from what I do. Plus, I don't have a clue how to, or the power to, get a film project off the ground." Pete said: "Who would?" I said: "Call Tim Robbins." Pete said: "Yes. You're right! I'll tell Timmy. He'll be up visiting next week." Nothing ever happened, but it was a cool exchange.
March 5, 2011
This is a book I will be cherishing and reading very, very slowly. I'm not even close to finishing it, but I don't want to. I'm taking it off my currently reading, although I've a feeling I'll read it many, many times. Woody Guthrie was, after all, my hero of heroes.
July 14, 2024
Woody had such a knack for looking at the world through a lyrical, whimsical lens. His writing is unique and musical throughout. However, unlike Bound for Glory I found the book’s pacing to be slow, at times too slow to be enjoyable. By the halfway mark much of the momentum had run dry and the reader is left with little more than Woody’s stylish writing to hold on to. I get the sense that what was said in 400 pages could have been paired down to something like 200 without sacrificing any of the magic and charm.
November 9, 2021
This book is earthy, tangible, real, much as the author himself was. It's been accused of being meandering, slow-moving, and boring. I didn't experience these feelings as I spent the last 6 weeks reading it. It certainly is a book which would be difficult to read quickly -- so perhaps that has something to do with the slow-moving opinions out there -- but that doesn't make the book something you ought to skip. Woody is a treasure, and he set out in all of his work, both written and sung, to record real people, real events, and how those real events affect those real people; how those people are shaped by the world around them and shape others. Given that this is "an experience lived and dreamed," more of Woody's character and personality is explained in these pages, as you can read him speaking not only through himself, but through each of the characters, both real and dreamed. This is a treasure for anyone who is interested in Woody Guthrie, or adventure fiction -- if you enjoy Steinbeck, I truly think you'd enjoy this.
March 14, 2019
I can't recommend this book, and it pains me not to be able to do so, because Woody Guthrie is an icon and one of my heroes - musically and otherwise. I wonder if his ghost wishes this had never seen print. It is a composite of 2 previously unpublished manuscripts about a trip the Guthries actually did take, part of which is actual and much fictional. The dialogues are endless and inane, phoneticized into pidgin "cracker" English and pidgin Spanish-accent, in insulting ways. The tale is interesting in itself, but continuously sidetracked by juvenile adventures and the objectification of women. It is partly redeemed by self-revelation at the end that is, in essence, confessional. Despite the Editorial Note in the preface, there is little sign this book ever got near an actual editor. It is hard to read.
June 23, 2013
Seeds of Man: An Experience Lived and Dreamed is what Bound for Glory would have been if the latter hadn't been well-edited. While Bound for Glory should be considered a part of the American canon, Seeds of Man definitely feels like a work in progress. In fact, it wasn't published until after Guthrie had passed and came out in its unedited original state. It's a book worth reading to experience Guthrie's great gift of improvisation, but it's not a great book by any means.
June 4, 2022
I didn't know about this book and it was a surprise. It just is a good example of the style of the legend and the meaning of music in his life. It is quite representative of the times and what life was like at that time. All in the family and the community had to be tough and work hard in order to survive. You can see through the life experiences even at this young age that there was much to write songs about. It is great to get a glimpse of him during his younger years. Also nice to see how difficult times affect one's sense of humor. The family seems to survive because of it at times.
Want to read
January 1, 2010I have read this book about five times from 1980 and I'm just going to read it again.
A great book by a young man ready to live his life fully into the greatness it was. Songs made up by Woody as they travell all the way through the story of the lost silver mine near the Mexican boarder and their adventures and mishaps and love filled nights. I'd love to produce it on stage or screen.
A.D.Hayward
A great book by a young man ready to live his life fully into the greatness it was. Songs made up by Woody as they travell all the way through the story of the lost silver mine near the Mexican boarder and their adventures and mishaps and love filled nights. I'd love to produce it on stage or screen.
A.D.Hayward
August 23, 2013
Great adventure story of Woody, cousin Eddie, Uncle Jeff and Pa Charlie's quest for Paw Jerry's gold claim. It takes them from Pampa OK to the Big Bend of the Rio Grande. Woody is a great and many times very humorous writer, his romps with Helly Cat and Rio Rina were downright steamy! He tells a great story, right up there with "Bound for Glory" Look forward to reading "House of Earth"
February 21, 2026
I want to preface this review with my admiration and awe of Woody Guthrie. The man wrote thousands of songs, penned three novels, and created hundreds of paintings and sketches. He’s one of my all-time heroes, musically and otherwise. I’ve read his autobiography Bound for Glory five times, and it remains one of my favorite books.
That said, Seeds of Man is a deep cut for a reason.
Woody left behind three different manuscripts of this story, written at different times. Years after his death, they were compiled and edited into the novel we have today. The story follows Woody, his father, uncle, and cousin as they head to South Texas, near the Rio Grande, to search for a gold claim left behind by his Grandpa Jerry P. Guthrie.
The second and third chapters drag considerably. Much of the dialogue is written in thick dialect, with Woody purposefully stretching and drawling the words to capture an Oklahoma accent. On top of that, everyone seems to have five nicknames. Woody’s girlfriend Helen, for example, is also called Hell Cat, Hell Kitten, Helly Gal, Mrs. Hellacious, and more. It can be hard to keep track of who’s who. There are also two long, back-to-back sex scenes that I skimmed. There are only so many times I can read lines like “slipping my greasy pole in yer barn door.” Woody clearly had a wild, and very unfiltered, imagination.
Once they hit the road, though, the book improves. The writing tightens, and Woody’s poetic mind really starts to shine. There are passages that are beautifully written, along with musical moments that feel lively, funny, and authentic, with witty lyrics. Woody brilliantly describes the scenes and the songs. His uncle, a champion fiddle player, brings energy to the journey, and the musical interludes are some of the most enjoyable parts of the novel.
The search for the mine ultimately anchors the story and gives it direction. What moved me most, though, was Woody’s deep compassion. His admiration and care for people of all races and backgrounds shine through clearly. In those moments, the novel becomes heartfelt and genuinely powerful. They meet a whole cast of crazy characters, from an old shaman named Rio to a bandito named Red sun down, who helps folks cross the border, to some beautiful Mexican maidens that help Cousin Eddie with his PTSD he got in WW1.
In the end, I’m glad I read it. I’d give it three stars. It’s not on the level of Bound for Glory, but for die-hard Woody fans like myself, it’s still worth the trip. It feels like a pieced-together, incomplete novel, but it’s still Woody all the way through.
That said, Seeds of Man is a deep cut for a reason.
Woody left behind three different manuscripts of this story, written at different times. Years after his death, they were compiled and edited into the novel we have today. The story follows Woody, his father, uncle, and cousin as they head to South Texas, near the Rio Grande, to search for a gold claim left behind by his Grandpa Jerry P. Guthrie.
The second and third chapters drag considerably. Much of the dialogue is written in thick dialect, with Woody purposefully stretching and drawling the words to capture an Oklahoma accent. On top of that, everyone seems to have five nicknames. Woody’s girlfriend Helen, for example, is also called Hell Cat, Hell Kitten, Helly Gal, Mrs. Hellacious, and more. It can be hard to keep track of who’s who. There are also two long, back-to-back sex scenes that I skimmed. There are only so many times I can read lines like “slipping my greasy pole in yer barn door.” Woody clearly had a wild, and very unfiltered, imagination.
Once they hit the road, though, the book improves. The writing tightens, and Woody’s poetic mind really starts to shine. There are passages that are beautifully written, along with musical moments that feel lively, funny, and authentic, with witty lyrics. Woody brilliantly describes the scenes and the songs. His uncle, a champion fiddle player, brings energy to the journey, and the musical interludes are some of the most enjoyable parts of the novel.
The search for the mine ultimately anchors the story and gives it direction. What moved me most, though, was Woody’s deep compassion. His admiration and care for people of all races and backgrounds shine through clearly. In those moments, the novel becomes heartfelt and genuinely powerful. They meet a whole cast of crazy characters, from an old shaman named Rio to a bandito named Red sun down, who helps folks cross the border, to some beautiful Mexican maidens that help Cousin Eddie with his PTSD he got in WW1.
In the end, I’m glad I read it. I’d give it three stars. It’s not on the level of Bound for Glory, but for die-hard Woody fans like myself, it’s still worth the trip. It feels like a pieced-together, incomplete novel, but it’s still Woody all the way through.
January 30, 2022
Fun little treasure from the old books store. Woody’s writing is as pretty and witty as in Bound for Glory. I really believe he is one of the cleverest writers I’ve ever read. Every sentence is ingeniously written and could incite a good song. The end of the book got a bit tiring but overall the story was entrancing.
March 30, 2024
A fun Depression-era story that had a slow start, but fun middle and end.
June 9, 2025
A little tough getting used to the slang used but once you do, Woody takes you on an incredible journey. seeing the roots of a well intentioned man where many more could follow his lead
May 24, 2012
Great book. I liked this even more than Bound for Glory although I know that Woody worked on this book in fits and starts, keeping certain parts, revising others and interestingly enough, it is based on a true story. Woody and his family actually did set out and tried to find that stake.
Stylistically throughout the book, you can kind of tell which parts he struggled with and in which parts the typewriter was just buzzin' as the diamonds in his mind were transferred onto the page.
I love his descriptions of the Chisos Mountains - an area which sounds filled with great beauty and danger.
A few other things I really learned about Woody from reading this book was that he was a very sexual person - a philanderer in fact, and he does not even try to hide it and I wonder if that came across as quite 'sensational' in his own time. I always felt that Woody was very eastern/oriental in how he looked at sex (i.e. more liberal and none of that christian clap-trap about it being a 'sin').
Although I have never liked Woody's singing voice all that much, I have always admired his songwriting and general writing ability. I read in Cray's excellent biography on Woody, Rambling Man, that at one stage he even thought about becoming a professional writer, instead of becoming the legendary travelling ministrel/musician and an inspiration to a new dawn of folk artists including Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Sammy Walker and Billy Bragg, just to name a few.
In the end he was a great writer of songs, articles and books.
I love the style of the dialogue in Seeds of Man which is written out in exaggerated Okie-style transcription. Woody had a very quirky sense of humor, full of dry and laconic wit which certainly seems missing in the modern world these days.
Finally, assuming Woody's portrait is accurate, Woody's father came across as a wonderful man in the book - intelligent, kind, gentle, patient, forgiving and most importantly a very good father. While Woody has been one of my artistic role-models, I really came to admire Woody's father as a day-to-day human being, parent and father through this book.
I highly recommend this, even if you are not a fan of Woody's music.
Stylistically throughout the book, you can kind of tell which parts he struggled with and in which parts the typewriter was just buzzin' as the diamonds in his mind were transferred onto the page.
I love his descriptions of the Chisos Mountains - an area which sounds filled with great beauty and danger.
A few other things I really learned about Woody from reading this book was that he was a very sexual person - a philanderer in fact, and he does not even try to hide it and I wonder if that came across as quite 'sensational' in his own time. I always felt that Woody was very eastern/oriental in how he looked at sex (i.e. more liberal and none of that christian clap-trap about it being a 'sin').
Although I have never liked Woody's singing voice all that much, I have always admired his songwriting and general writing ability. I read in Cray's excellent biography on Woody, Rambling Man, that at one stage he even thought about becoming a professional writer, instead of becoming the legendary travelling ministrel/musician and an inspiration to a new dawn of folk artists including Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Sammy Walker and Billy Bragg, just to name a few.
In the end he was a great writer of songs, articles and books.
I love the style of the dialogue in Seeds of Man which is written out in exaggerated Okie-style transcription. Woody had a very quirky sense of humor, full of dry and laconic wit which certainly seems missing in the modern world these days.
Finally, assuming Woody's portrait is accurate, Woody's father came across as a wonderful man in the book - intelligent, kind, gentle, patient, forgiving and most importantly a very good father. While Woody has been one of my artistic role-models, I really came to admire Woody's father as a day-to-day human being, parent and father through this book.
I highly recommend this, even if you are not a fan of Woody's music.
June 25, 2024
I read this book because it is set in the Big Bend country of Texas along the Rio Grande. My family and I made a visit to Big Bend National Park last fall, an isolated and spectacular place! I was hoping I would learn more about the area and the people who lived there in the past, and I did. Reading the book was slow going, though, as it is written in the often hard-to-interpret vernacular of the region. A nice bonus was that I learned about the author and songwriter Woody Guthrie's life and his poetic way with words.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews