Free Beer: Kicks and Truth with Jack Kerouac & other strong drinks

by Cliff Anderson, Jack Kerouac

Over four thousand books have been written about Jack Kerouac, mostly by people who never knew him. I met him in a honky-tonk and became his friend and pool partner. Jack encouraged me to write, suggesting a title for my first story, Free Beer. Kerouac didn't know that it would be about him, although I feel he wanted the world to read about our adventures. I wrote Free Beer to stand up for him against the unfair critics who surfaced after his death and to show his comedic genius. What Happened to Kerouac? No one could express Kerouac's road kicks and foibles better than he did in his novels, but during the last part of his life he realized a true satori. Jack Kerouac found the peace that he was looking for and Free Beer is about this enlightment.
Free Beer features a vignette, Kicks and Truth, Kerouac and I wrote in 1968 and Dare to Be Kind, an in depth interview with Canadian scholar Rod Anstee, will satisfy the most inveterate Kerouac fan.
The other strong drinks show something of real life. Free Beer - Drink up!

164 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2005

Reviews

[Taylor Church · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had quite mixed feelings about this whirlwind of unrelated vignettes. The chapter or rather section on the friendship the author had with the famous Jack Kerouac was very interesting and well written. The interview was also insightful and page-turning. The other sections of the book seemed like a sad attempt to milk out a book. Maybe I am an obtuse reader, but I felt little connection with the short stories that served as the "Other strong drinks" of the book. The writing however was always strong and full of good imagery despite the disconnect of topics and lack of themes. Also, there was an inordinate amount of typos and formatting errors in this e-book.

[Stetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had many personal discussions with Cliff Anderson and his relationship with Kerouac during the latter years of his life. Cliff's book is full of great stories about Kerouac and his own life as a Dharma Bum of sorts. If you enjoy Kerouac's work, give Free Beer a read, you won't be disappointed.