Bruce Lee Books

_Acid Dreams: The Complete Social History of LSD: The CIA, the Sixties, and Beyond_, first published in 1985 and revised in 1992, by journalist and author Martin A. Lee and author Bruce Shlain is a fascinating and wild account of the history of LSD in America. The implications of this journalistic history are startling in that they show the role of the CIA and the government of the United States in creating much of the LSD culture that grew up during the Sixties. I should add that one advantage of this book over Martin A. Lee's other book _The Beast Reawakens_ (1999) is that Lee is able to keep a cool head and write about LSD without lapsing into paroxysms of hysteria as he does when writing about Nazis. This is very fortunate for the reader because it spares us from having to sort through a lot of irrelevant nonsense. The history of LSD in the United States is a fascinating one, and the creation of a drug culture in the Sixties as well as the links between this culture and the hippies, the New Left, and the anti-war movement offers much interesting material. But, lurking behind the whole thing is the nefarious role of the CIA and the government, originally in testing out these drugs in a series of unethical experiments and later in possibly manipulating the very culture that arose from their newfound prevalence itself. This is a fascinating story and one that should be told particularly in light of the complex relationship that has always existed between the drug culture and the state.

The book begins with an Introduction entitled "Whose Worlds Are These?" by Andrei Codrescu. This Introduction lays out the use of LSD as presented in the book both through the experiments of the CIA and as promoted by such figures as Captain Al Hubbard, Aldous Huxley, Timothy Leary, Owsley, Art Kleps, Ken Kesey, and others. The book proper begins with a Prologue in which the authors explain the discovery of LSD-25 by Dr. Albert Hoffman, who was later to give an important speech to psychedelic followers in 1977. This Prologue also details the role of the CIA and through such projects as Operation MK-ULTRA engaged in unethical experimentation with LSD on unwitting participants. The first section of this book is entitled "The Roots of Psychedelia". The first chapter of this section is entitled "In the Beginning There Was Madness . . . " and details the role of the CIA in the unethical use of LSD and later in promoting the LSD subculture. This chapter includes sections entitled "The Truth Seekers", "Enter LSD", "Laboratories of the State", "Midnight Climax", and "The Hallucination Battlefield". This chapter details the role of the CIA in experimenting with LSD through projects such as Operation MK-ULTRA, mentioning such figures as William "Wild Bill" Donovan, Allen Dulles, Dr. Sidney Gottlieb, and the hijinx of George Hunter White. The authors explain how originally the model for LSD was that the drug mimicked psychosis, but that eventually this model was to change. The CIA saw the drug as potentially useful for interrogations and engaged in many experiments on unwitting participants with the drug. The second chapter is entitled "Psychedelic Pioneers" and details how the drug was moved from the CIA clandestine operations to the counter-culture. This chapter includes sections entitled "The Original Captain Trips", "Healing Acid", and "Psychosis or Gnosis?". In particular, this chapter explains how government funded psychiatrists and psychologists came to believe that LSD may have some therapeutic potential thus abandoning the original "psychotomimetic" theory of LSD. The government engaged in much research on this drug, and by taking place in government sponsored experiments as participants, many prominent counter-cultural figures became involved with the drug (as a case in point there is the case of the poet Allen Ginsberg). Some figures came to see LSD as revealing deep secrets and as having a profound effect on human nature leading to the popular perspective that LSD offered a form of "gnosis" thus replacing the government's "psychosis" perspective. The third chapter is entitled "Under the Mushroom, Over the Rainbow" and explains how prominent individuals including Harvard professors (such as Timothy Leary and investment banker R. Gordon Wasson) became involved in the drug counter-culture. This chapter includes sections entitled "Manna From Harvard", "Chemical Crusaders", and "The Crackdown" - showing how the government eventually sought to crack down on LSD use eventually leading to its illegality. The fourth chapter is entitled "Preaching LSD" and discusses for example the hijinx of Timothy Leary (who some maintained was a CIA agent). This chapter includes sections entitled "High Surrealism", "The Psychedelic Manual", and "The Hard Sell". The fifth chapter of this book is entitled "The All-American Trip", detailing the rise of the Merry Pranksters who followed Ken Kesey. This chapter includes sections entitled "The Great Freak Forward" and "Acid and the New Left" - showing the problematic relationship between the LSD counter-culture and the political New Left. The second part of this book is entitled "Acid for the Masses". This part begins with the sixth chapter of this book entitled "From Hip to Hippie" showing how the LSD counter-culture created the emerging phenomenon of the hippie. This chapter includes sections entitled "Before the Deluge", "Politics of the Bummer", and "The First Human Be-In", in particular this chapter discusses how the "bad trip" came to emerge from a cultural matrix in which LSD was regarded as harmful by the establishment but as liberating by the counter-culture, virtually assuring that many would experiment with the drug themselves to find out for themselves the effects. The seventh chapter is entitled "The Capital of Forever" and includes sections entitled "Stone Free" and "The Great Summer Dropout". The eighth chapter is entitled "Peaking in Babylon" and includes sections entitled "A Gathering Storm", "Magical Politics", and "Gotta Revolution". In particular, this chapter shows how the LSD culture emerged in Haight-Ashbury and how it interacted with such other phenomena as the political New Left and the anti-war movement emerging as opposition to the Vietnam War, mentioning such things as the Diggers and the Yippies. In particular, many on the politically reductionistic New Left saw the whole hippie phenomena as an attempt to drop out of politics entirely and thus regarded it negatively. Further, many hippies became easy prey for dangerous psychopaths such as Charles Manson. The ninth chapter is entitled "Season of the Witch" and includes sections entitled "Armed Love", "The Acid Brotherhood", and "Bad Moon Rising". This chapter explains the relationships between the New Left and the anti-war movement forming as a force of opposition to the Vietnam War as well as the continuing and complicated relationship with the hippie culture and the phenomenon of folk music. The tenth chapter is entitled "What a Field Day for the Heat" and includes sections entitled "Prisoner of LSD", "A Bitter Pill", and "The Great LSD Conspiracy", in particular, this chapter maintains that behind the scenes the CIA may have been manipulating the drug counter-culture and may even have seen the Haight-Ashbury district as a social laboratory. The book ends with a Postscript entitled "Acid and After" and an Afterword.

This book offers an interesting study on the Sixties and the drug culture focusing around LSD that emerged out of this decade. In particular, after reading the book, it becomes clear that the hippie movement was easily manipulated by psychopaths such as Charles Manson and larger forces out of their control such as the CIA. Further, the naïve belief of many that LSD would lead to world peace turns out to have only been a passing phase. Another problematic raised by this book is the relationship between LSD use and New Left politics. Unfortunately, the New Left sought to reduce everything to politics so failed to appreciate any sort of development that lay outside of their own political sphere. This book offers a good examination of a troubled era and some of the hopes of people in that era that were ultimately manipulated by larger forces.

Yhis book belongs on the bookshelf of all those interested in the early days of psychedelic research and it's social ramifications. One word for it: Excellent!

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2NWFN612DXX3 My video review of Acid Dream. Really great bookAcid Dreams: The Complete Social History of LSD: The CIA, the Sixties, and Beyond. ***** 5 stars =)

Can't think of a more informative and interesting way of describing this period of time. I loved this book. Big thanks to the authors!

This book is perfect - It offered everything I was hoping for when I first purchased it. It covered from the end of the 50's and the Beat generation and how their influence lead into the hippie generation, and it ended in the early 70's tying in the beginning of rock and punk. It is a true spectrum of the 1960's counterculture generation.

It's a large book but its facinating to learn about the history and the culture. Like previous reviewers said, it really ties up everyhting and clearly shows the correalation between the drug counterculture and the govn't & society during that time period. I was born in the 80's and this book really showed me alot about the 60's counterculture and the attitudes towards drug use and young people during that time. I can see alot of correalations between that era with Vietnam as the war that they were protesting versus todays war in Iraq and the amount of US citizens that are against it.

The author also goes into government policies at the time and conspiricys and covert CIA and classified documents. I was amazed by the actions of the CIA and thetesting of LSD on unsuspecting American citizens. It is like the stuff movies are made of but it really happened! Truly and amazing and interesting book - I could not put it down. I reccomend it to everyone, regardless of your view on LSD or drug counterculture - a true wealth of information on 1960's America.

Well, you have BOTH Ha Jin AND Arthur Golden praising it on the back cover--what can you expect? (I like one and not the other). While the cover made me think that this was going to be a "wacky," irreverent account by a young, half-Chinese woman, the book is instead an extremely well-written, thought-provoking colletion of essays on ethnicity and identity. Rekdal is a poet, and it shows in her evocative descriptions, in her lyrical passages, in an effortlessly beautiful line rendered for the reader's benefit. Grappling with the vexatious issue of personal identity, Rekdal comes up with great insight and meaning into the problem without being narcisstic or excessively introspective; the book succeeds brilliantly wihtout offering any simple, pat conclusions. Though the essay's topics are somewhat disjointed--they go from America to Korea to China to childhood, etc--the disconnected structure seems to be part of the point: as the subtitle suggests, these are "observations of not fitting in." I liked her juxtaposition of the uncanny, the frustrating, the disappointing things along with the beautiful, the personal, the "mini-epiphanic" aspects.

And yes, she is also very witty. The humor is very sharp. I found myself laughing hysterically at an Elvis reference and I normally don't find him amusing. Finally, as someone who also spent a year teaching high school students in a small city in Korea, I was delighted and amazed to read about experiences that I related to. I'm grateful for that alone, but it's a great book in all other aspect as well.

There are always stereotypes to be stripped down, aren't there?

Rekdal's themes (race, how Americans are perceived overseas, how Americans perceive each other) make you think, but her writing won't make you struggle. Her essays, built around episodes of her life, are sad, funny, entertaining and insightful.

An excellent book. Highly recommended. I wish I could teach a course called "Race in America" just so I could get more people to read this book.

Well, you have BOTH Ha Jin AND Arthur Golden praising it on the back cover--what can you expect? (I like one and not the other). While the cover made me think that this was going to be a "wacky," irreverent account by a young, half-Chinese woman, the book is instead an extremely well-written, thought-provoking colletion of essays. Rekdal is a poet, and it shows in her evocative descriptions, in her lyrical passages, in an effortlessly beautiful line. Rekdal pulls it off without being narcisstic or excessively introspective; the book succeeds brilliantly. Though the essay's topics are somewhat disjointed--they go from America to Korea to China to childhood, etc--the disconnected structure seems to be part of the point: as the subtitle suggests, these are "observations on not fitting in." I liked her juxtaposition of the uncanny, the frustrating, the disappointing things along with the beautiful, the personal, the "mini-epiphanic" aspects.

And yes, she is also very witty. The humor is very sharp. I found myself laughing hysterically at an Elvis reference and I normally don't find him amusing. Finally, as someone who also spent a year in a small city in Korea, I was delighted that she related experiences that I shared myself when I taught high school students in South Korea.

Ms. Rekdal's numerous observations are personal and touching. Many Americans have struggled with an identity crisis. I understand fully the crushing power of long and brutal silences mentioned in the text. I am so glad that Ms. Rekdal is not silent at all.

i am so happy to have stumbled upon this book. This author is so intelligent, observant, witty and creative. This book was charming and relatable. i laughed aloud as some of my own personal experiences were so similar, it was amazing. Rekdal is able to put into words feelings that i hadn't been able to describe. Even if one hasn't had cultural identity questions about him/herself this book is enjoyable and some sentences read almost like poetry. Her stories are very insightful and she captures the essence of how people think and react.

There are no limitations , save those that we create for ourselves... Bruce Lee

This is a great book if you are looking for a compilation of rare photos and facts.. Unlike most books out there that beat around the bush , This book showcases the man as he wanted to project himself to the world .The perspectives are variable throughout the book , giving the reader a vast panoramic view of the life and times of the much hyped martial arts superstar..

Frankly, if you're looking for a detailed description of his persona , you will find exactly that and more.. Full of great photos that give a realistic insight on the master , this book is a good buy if you are interested in the glam..

If you are a martial artist however , I would strongly suggest that you do not buy this book . There are various other books that will serve your purpose, books like 'The Tao of JKD'.

This book is a great addition to my collection of Bruce Lee books of pictures, filmography, philosopy and techniques. It has one of the best picture collections of all the books I've seen. The content isn't bad either. Talking about the life of the Little Dragon and some of the deep thoughts he had in his short life in this world. My fan-ography of the Jeet Kune Do Sifu is just starting, even if I have been a follower for years. This book is not a dissapointment. It will be a great addition to any collection.

What an intimate look at the man behind the image! The book is highly visual--the text is very limited--but the photos are like none that I've ever seen in other books on Lee. I'm talking about the baby pictures of Bruce and Brandon, photos of Lee from behind the scenes in his movies (a kind of spooky one of him and Sharon Tate from what must have been just before she was killed), and pictures of he and his wife just sitting on the couch at home. It makes you realize that there's a man and father behind the superhero that appears in his films. I loved it.

Many of the documentaries and biographies out there about Bruce Lee were unauthorized and created by shysters trying to cash in on his sudden death. This book, based on the recent video documentary "Bruce Lee: In His Own Words" is not only superior because it really is based on the master's own words, but the book and video are also endorsed by Bruce's widow and daughter. Here we get plenty of great photographs from Bruce's films, training, and family life. Meanwhile, Bruce's thoughts on acting, family, and his martial arts style (or, according to him, its dismissal of style) are true revelations for any fan of Bruce's classic movies. His thoughts on being a serious actor, rather than a martial arts "superstar," are quite a surprise; while his personal philosophy and attitudes toward martial arts mastery are both fascinatingly Eastern but surprisingly down-to-Earth and accessible for Western enthusiasts. So instead of fighting your way through all the frauds and fakes out there, get it from the master himself. [~doomsdayer520~]

Bruce Lee was his own man.he had so much style&smoothness about him.this book highlights his world in front of the public&behind it.very detailed&very upfront.you get a very insightful look into his world&vision.a man who forever changed the world with his talent&craft.a man who was trying to make sense of his surroudings&the things that were in placed around him.He will never be forgotten.

It was so interesting to see how each of them had a different view of daily survival and combat.

This book has two stories. Each one is based on journals kept by soldiers of the 26th Infantry Division. Although the two authors vaguely knew each other neither knew the other was keepng a diary. They are very descriptive especially of the 26th's role in the Lorraine campaign which tend to get overlooked too often in the corpus of works on the ETO. This is a very interesting book.

When I first got this book through the mail I said UGH! It is the ugliest Pepto Bismol color you have ever seen...but luckily the cover is not why you read the book. Inside are the combined memoirs of two members of the yankee division(26th) during the fight across France and Germany. The book is not always exciting but does offer a very good glimpse into the mind and life of a frontline infantry soldier. The combination of the two is good in that it offers a Lt and a pfc\sgt's perspective on the war. That combination can also get a bit confusing because you have to keep two separate stories in your head as you are reading. The editor does try and keep you up to date with a daily comment as to what the company was doing overall, but a vague mention of a random french or german town does not always help develop a picture in your head of what is going on. That is why I deducted a star. But the book is very good and worth adding to your collection if you are interested in the ETO during WW2.

Among the mind numbing number of books on world war two, this book is in my top ten. Written from two perspectives within the same company, it is a lucid, real and above all believable account of what it was like on the sharp edge of combat. A real gem!

Chinatown Jeet Kune Do is a fantastic book well done. The WNG are the best when it comes to JKD. I am fortunate to have trained with Tim Tackett many times. He really knows his JKD and all his books and vids are great. Steve S. From NJ

Tim Tackett has done it again!
For more than 20 years, we have been able to depend on him to "tell it like it is".
Now with his newest book, he and co-author Bob Bremer have not let us down.
Bruce Lee's art is based on simplicity, directness and effectiveness, and Tim and Bob's book is the epitome of this.
All meat,no fluff or filler!

This is easily one of the best books on Jeet Kune Do that I have ever owned! I have all of Tim Tackett's books, and once again, he has not let me down! He and co-author Bob Bremer have presented in this volume some of the most valuable information on Bruce Lee's martial art ever put into print! The book is very well done, with precise, in-depth text and clear, well sequenced photographs. As a Full Instructor of Jeet Kune Do, I will be referring to this book as a teaching aid for years to come, and it is already required reading for all of my students! My suggestion to you is ... BUY IT NOW!

Absorb what is useful is about finding out what works for you as an individual and absorbing it into your whole being. Bruce believed that absorbing what is useful is paramount to succeeding in the martial arts and life. This book is excellent.

this superb book explains the phylosophy of bruce-lee as well as the diffrents of movie's spectacular techniques compare to the real useful and practical techniques of jeet kune do techniques that work on the street fighting.the photos shows the diffrents in movements,tactics and strategy of jeet kune do.a self defence against an armed attacker,and how to defend from a very awkward positions.the main purpose of this book is to show you the main diffrence between a real strategy -tactic skills in fighting compare to the not effective fighting skills. the very skillful student of bruce-lee (daniel inosanto) is also very skillful in explaining the book,with also many tips on bruce-lee. the most practical book on martial art that is whole,pro,and easy to follow. highly recommanded!

Written by the best student of the legend Bruce Lee, Dan Inosanto, this book touches the most in-deapth JKD phylosophy as well as tactics. This book is best for advanced level martial artists.

The book written by Dan Inosato, the best student of Bruce Lee, reaches the deapth of JKD philosophies. I believe only the experienced martial artists can barly understand this book. The concepts are very sophisticated. Very good book.

A true work of art. Dan takes the reader through the reform and changes jkd under went following Bruce Lee's passing as well as showing many techniques of jkd. At this point in time the book being almost 20 years old it is just as informative and enjoyable to page through today. Unfortunatly I borrowed my copy to a friend almost 15 years ago and haven't seen it since. I truly hope the book is put into re-print so I may buy another copy. Not only does Dan take the reader through the history and comcepts of jkd he also loads the book with pictures of the(now)old Filipino Kali Academy. Truly a collectors item.

IN MEMORY OF MARIO PONTILLO
Since the late 1970's, I have studied Mr. Lee's "Way of the Intercepting fist." I have the 1st editions of all the "best" books on Bruce's work.
Dan published this in 1976, I have the original in my possession. It use to belong to Mario, whom was a great fighter that followed Bruces teachings from afar. Mario has passed on to better things, just as Bruce has. Get this book if you can.

My favorite quote: "Knowing is not enough, you must apply; willing is not enough, you must do." -Bruce Lee

Please do not hesitate to check out my Poetry book that I published while in the U.S. Navy in 2003; "Under the Rose: Poetry of Tragedy, Essence, and Romance"

Lee's masterful account draws you in like a spy novel, even though you already know the ending! His book provides the clear reasoning behind why allied leadership made decisions that, until this book was written, looked like blunders. As the reader learns how Marshall and his generals applied the information gained from the routine interception and decryption of high-level enemy communication, his understanding of the grand strategy of WWII will be greatly enhanced. A stunning achievement, this book will become a "must read" for WWII historians and buffs alike. Everyone who has read this book on my recommendation has been equally impressed.

It further provides clear information which soundly debunks the convoluted rationalizations of those "politically correct" Smithsonian historians and their fellow travelers who have been so eager to portray the allied side (or at least America) as the "bad guys" in the war.

Read it. It takes away the schroud of politics into the reality of a very difficult world situation, with life and death decisions, troubling potential alliances, and knowledge available to only those who could be counted on by the fingers of one hand. A must read.

Marching Orders reveals for the first time what the Allies knew about Axis plans and strategies during WW II . The combined information revealed to them by Ultra and Japanese codes is staggering. Throw everything you know about WW II out the window, for this book will teach why events unfolded as they did. Direct quotes from Axis leaders read by the Allies in real time. An amazing fountain of information that must be savored! You will never view Allied generals in the same light again!

Super book by Linda Lee about Bruce Lee's Life! I gave a book report in my grammer class in 1973 and then shortly after that I began my own Martial arts training. Buying books and magazines and learning everything about his martial art called called Jeet Kune Do: The Way of the Intercepting Fist!

This is the best biography I've read about Lee. Bruce Lee's wife captures the intensity of this very gifted man. He was truly incredible. I thought this might be a "gloss over" because she is writing about her husband, but she chose to tell the good, the bad, and the ugly. After finishing this very fast read, you will have a much better, balanced picture of an extraordinarly talented martial artist. Lee was a perfectionist bordering on fanaticism. He was born with several gifts that enhanced his performance: superior reflexes, extended reach, etc. He took the best from many different fighting styles and combined them into a martial philosophy that was ahead of it's time. Lee hated the "style trap" so many martial artists fall into. "Use what works, discard the rest." So said Bruce Lee.

This book teaches one how to kick freaking ass if neccessary.
Of course Dan Inosanto includes the philosophical aspects of JKD in this book, so it's not all about 'ass-whoppin' but the ass kicking part is great.
Keep in mind that Dan Inosanto is considered pretty much the co-creator of JKD. He helped Bruce Lee all along the way so he deserves credit as being co-creator (almost).
Also, keep in mind that JKD is not so much a rigid system as much as it is a way of staying flexible and being efficient in your fighting skills. Understanding the Tao (way,system,flow)of fighting, not so much really a 'style' per se. Bruce Lee in his later years was very clear on that. He didn't want it to be seen as yet another style as much as a whole philosphical/spiritual system to bring into your fighting that can bring one closer to spiritual enlightenment.
So, get this book, learn to get to enlightenment through physical action and kick freakin ass (in self-defense).

All of Guro Dan's books are excellent. It is a great shame that they are out of print. Beg, borrow and search them out. This one is no exception, shows many facets of Guro Dan's relationship with the founder of JKD as well as the physical aspects of training.