At Naropa University's Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, there has long been an illuminating, dynamic, ongoing exchange of ideas about the history and legacy of the Beat Generation--an exchange fortunately that has been carefully archived and preserved. This valuable anthology does not further embalm the 'legend' of the Beats. Instead it allows its readers to hear authentic voices --Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, John Clellon Holmes, Diane di Prima, Philip Whalen, etc.--as well as introducing the thoughtful and responsible work of leading Beat scholars.--Joyce Johnson Amassed from the riches of the Naropa University audio archives, this collection offers an exciting new look at the Beats--whose influence lives on in the art and politics of our time. In this often spontaneous, conversational book, readers are introduced to the hard truths behind being a Beat woman, the haunting accuracy of William Burroughs's world-view, the passion and energy of Allen Ginsberg and Anne Waldman, Jack Kerouac's unexpected musicality, Diane DiPrima's foray into small press publishing, Michael McClure's account of the famous first reading of Howl, and, most of all, the inspirations behind America's most provocative and prescient thinkers. Contributors include:

David Amram Amiri Baraka Ted Berrigan Junior Burke William S. Burroughs Lorna Dee Cervantes Ann Charters Clark Coolidge Gregory Corso Diane di Prima Lawrence Ferlinghetti Rick Fields Allen Ginsberg David Henderson Abbie Hoffman John Clellon Holmes Joyce Johnson Hettie Jones Edie Parker Kerouac Joanne Kyger Michael McClure William S. Merwin John Oughton Marjorie Perloff David Rome Edward Sanders Gary Snyder Janine Pommy Vega Steven Taylor Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche Anne Waldman Philip Whalen Laura Wright Joshua Zim

Poets Waldman and Wright have trawled the Naropa University audio archives to bring readers a clutch of previously uncollected essays, talks, and interviews that cast a new light on the Beats. From Michael McClure's account of the first time Allen Ginsberg read "Howl" in public to Diane di Prima's musings on the problem of "getting the stuff out", this collection shows how the works and concerns of the Beats continue to inform our contemporary world. Jack Kerouac aficionados will enjoy the stories of how Ginsberg and four others first met the man who coined the phrase "Beat Generation," and many who came of age in the late 1960s will be interested in the (surprising) inclusion of some of Abbie Hoffman's thinking about the art and science of organizing. The collection is an excellent introduction to the Beats for the uninitiated, and a welcome visit with old friends for everyone else. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Amassed from the riches of the Naropa University audio files, this collection offers an exciting new look at the Beats—whose influence lives on in the arts and politics of our time. In this often spontaneous, in-their-own-words oral history of America’s most provocative and prescient thinkers, readers are introduced to the hard truths behind being a Beat woman, the haunting accuracy of William Burroughs’ worldview, the passion and energy of Allen Ginsberg and Anne Waldman, the unexpected influence of Jack Kerouac’s musicality, Michael McClure’s account of the famous first reading of “Howl,” and, most of all, the incredible inspiration that the lives and work of these cultural icons continues to provide.