Post by Panther on Jul 6, 2008 16:15:44 GMT -5
There's A Riot Going On: Revolutionaries, Rock Stars and the Rise and Fall of the '60s Counter-culture by Peter Doggett (2007):
Just thought I'd mention this book since it goes into some detail about John Lennon and his flirtations with radicalism in the late 60s and (especially) the early 70s.
Doggett is the author of Are You Ready For the Country (about the rise of the country-rock movement) and (perhaps more pertinent to this site) The Art and Music of John Lennon (which I haven't read).
There's A Riot Going On is hefty tome at 525 pages. It carries the reader through the beginnings of the 60s' political counter-culture circa 1965 through the 1972 Presidential election and the abrupt fallout of the counter-culture. While I am well-versed in this period and the author's chosen subject, I was still quite amazed by the accuracy and depth of his research and in how he revealed small details within a fast-paced and exciting narrative. Doggett is a good writer and the book is extremely well researched and edited.
John Lennon (and of course Yoko Ono) feature prominently; the author says in the Forward that Sometime In New York City was his introduction to the revolutionary spirit (he was 15 in 1972). The finer details of Lennon's donations to progressive (often corrupt or fanciful) social and politial movements in the UK and in the USA around 1969--1972 are detailed herein, and the stories told are very interesting and from a fairly unique perspective. In general, and although Doggett is at times highly critical of Lennon's (and others') misguided aims during this dynamic period, the author seems sympathetic to Lennon's sincerity -- he quotes John's cynical comments like, "We kept all the royalties of course" (referring to the "Power To The People" single), but then points out that John's 1980 cynicism about the early 70s prevented him from pointing out to interviewers how much time and money he had donated to causes during that period.
My criticism of this book is that its overall story is too obvious -- that revolutionaries and rock stars have nothing substantial in common, and that rock and student-led revolution were never going to tear down the walls of the Kingdom. That is, we all already knew that, and the book simply points it out. But what's enjoyable is the style of writing and the detail (and passion) that goes into the highly engaging text. It was also very good that Doggett focused on the downfall of the counter-culture, something that writers haven't focused on enough. Coming away from the book, however, one is left a bit confused by the author's perspective on the loose aims of the period -- is he ultimately sympathetic or scornful? It's really hard to tell. At least you can say he's objective.
So, I'd recommend this (highly readable) book for Lennon fans and for people interested in the topic and the period, but it's not overly insightful and would not be greatly useful for any academic purpose (except perhaps as a reference book).
Just thought I'd mention this book since it goes into some detail about John Lennon and his flirtations with radicalism in the late 60s and (especially) the early 70s.
Doggett is the author of Are You Ready For the Country (about the rise of the country-rock movement) and (perhaps more pertinent to this site) The Art and Music of John Lennon (which I haven't read).
There's A Riot Going On is hefty tome at 525 pages. It carries the reader through the beginnings of the 60s' political counter-culture circa 1965 through the 1972 Presidential election and the abrupt fallout of the counter-culture. While I am well-versed in this period and the author's chosen subject, I was still quite amazed by the accuracy and depth of his research and in how he revealed small details within a fast-paced and exciting narrative. Doggett is a good writer and the book is extremely well researched and edited.
John Lennon (and of course Yoko Ono) feature prominently; the author says in the Forward that Sometime In New York City was his introduction to the revolutionary spirit (he was 15 in 1972). The finer details of Lennon's donations to progressive (often corrupt or fanciful) social and politial movements in the UK and in the USA around 1969--1972 are detailed herein, and the stories told are very interesting and from a fairly unique perspective. In general, and although Doggett is at times highly critical of Lennon's (and others') misguided aims during this dynamic period, the author seems sympathetic to Lennon's sincerity -- he quotes John's cynical comments like, "We kept all the royalties of course" (referring to the "Power To The People" single), but then points out that John's 1980 cynicism about the early 70s prevented him from pointing out to interviewers how much time and money he had donated to causes during that period.
My criticism of this book is that its overall story is too obvious -- that revolutionaries and rock stars have nothing substantial in common, and that rock and student-led revolution were never going to tear down the walls of the Kingdom. That is, we all already knew that, and the book simply points it out. But what's enjoyable is the style of writing and the detail (and passion) that goes into the highly engaging text. It was also very good that Doggett focused on the downfall of the counter-culture, something that writers haven't focused on enough. Coming away from the book, however, one is left a bit confused by the author's perspective on the loose aims of the period -- is he ultimately sympathetic or scornful? It's really hard to tell. At least you can say he's objective.
So, I'd recommend this (highly readable) book for Lennon fans and for people interested in the topic and the period, but it's not overly insightful and would not be greatly useful for any academic purpose (except perhaps as a reference book).