On the Bus: The Complete Guide to the Legendary Trip of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters and the Birth of Counterculture

by Paul Perry

The fabled 1964 cross-country bus trip of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters - on a psychedelically painted school bus crammed with amplifiers, cameras, costumes, and assorted contraband as cargo and Beat legend Neal Cassady at the wheelmarked the irreversible end of the "Eisenhower Era, " and set an American cultural revolution in motion. On the Bus is a celebration of the unforgettable exploits of the Merry Pranksters, immortalized in Tom Wolfe's bestselling book. In this engrossing popular history, the spirit of the era is captured in a remarkable living chronicle, combining analysis and history with colorful additional narrative by Kesey sidekick Ken Babbs. It features over 100 never-before-seen photos by Prankster photographer Ron Bevirt, Allen Ginsberg, and others, alongside candid and insightful interviews with participants and leading countercultural figures.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Drugs, Biography, Sociology, American History, Counter Culture

205 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Paul Perry is an author of a wide variety of subjects from near-death experiences to biographies of authors including Hunter S. Thompson. He is also a documentary film maker. Perry's writing and film making earned him a knighthood in the Royal Family of Portugal.

There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only thought I knew about the Bus and the Merry Pranksters. This was eye opening and oddly invigorating. As Lou Reed said, "Those were different times."

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read about the psychedelic years of the mid-60s. Ken Kesey, The Merry Pranksters, The Acid Tests, Grateful Dead all figure into this account of history. It certainly was a different time and way of living and thinking.

[Mdye · Rating 5 out of 5]

All stuff about Kesey is facinating to me!

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just good clean all amerikan fun

[Endira77]

Special gift from a "journey" professor, signed by Ken Kesey right before he died!

[Nick Black]

Argh, I bought this while working at Media Play back in 1997, and Justin Danner took it from me, the bastud. Now it's out of print. Aieeeeeeeeee....

[Gena · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who wants to know what really happened on this infamous bus trip

[Lysergius · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I want to see the film.

[MaryAlice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not remember when I read On The Bus: The Complete Guide to the Legendary Trip of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters and the Birth of Counterculture, but it was many, many years ago.

[Robert J Kinsloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great history. Loved it.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's some stuff you don't get in The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test and a lot of pictures so it's a fun read

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing lasts.

[Remo Schweiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I apologize wholeheartedly to everyone who has to talk talk to me during or after my read of this for copying the style of talking. I can't heeaaalp it.

[Karen]

Saw this book at a booth during Dead and Company June 26, 2016

[Sarah]

not on overdrive