Synopses & Reviews
A strange and salacious memoir of life at the ultimate hippie college during the height of Reaganomics Opening its doors in 1970, Hampshire College was once known as a land of eternal partying, where countercultures thrived and jocks were nowhere to be found. Self- proclaimed nerd Richard Rushfield knew this progressive Massachusetts campus was the place for him, offering a chance to shed his squeaky-clean California upbringing. He was part of the freshman class of 1986, hiding out from Reagan-era excess in a liberal haven where overachievement and preppy clothes were banned.
By turns hilarious, ironic, and steeped in history, Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost takes readers to a campus populated by Deadheads, club kids, poets, and insomniac filmmakers, at a time when America saw the rise of punk and grunge alongside neo-conservatism, earnest calls for political correctness, and Take Back the Night vigils. Shunned by all of the school's reigning subcultures, Rushfield joins the most hated clique on campus, the Supreme Dicks, navigates a dating scene where to express interest in anything is social suicide, and mostly avoids class where hippie professors blather on about post-structuralism. Culminating in a mad clash of slackers and yuppies, Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost captures a watershed moment for American youth in one hilarious and unforgettable trip.
Review
ôHad Dorothy Parker been a teenage boy in the Eighties, sheÆd have been Richard Rushfield, whose bon mots fly from a roundtable set in dank stairwell parties around kegs of flat beer."
ûStacey Grenrock Woods, author of I, California ôRichard Rushfield has provided a worms eye view of one of Americas kookiest education experiments: Hampshire College. It was here that the idealism of the Sixties curdled into the nihilism of the Eighties. And Dont Follow Me, Im Lost isnt merely about a troubled liberal arts school, but an entire generations nervous breakdown. It is by turns rueful, angry, touching and, above all, very, very funny.ö û Toby Young, author of How to Lose Friends and Alienate People
ôRichard Rushfield was a dick in college, just ask him. DFMIL is a hilarious recanting of a unique, and often absurd higher education experience. Rushfield is a completely lovable neer-do-well bumbling through a do it yourself education. Required reading for anyone who went to college, lives near a college or owns a hacky sack..ö --Greg Behrendt, Comedian, Sex and the City writer and author of Hes Just Not That Into You
Richard Rushfield has written a smart, funny, fish-out-of-water love letter to the 80s. Vivid settings plus memorable characters and wry humor equals one totally awesome memoir. ûMoon Zappa
ôI canÆt imagine a more unique or uproarious depiction of the post- Reagan, pre-grunge era.ö û Anna David, author of Bought, host of ôAttack of the Show!ö
Synopsis
A strange and salacious memoir of life at Hampshire College, the ultimate hippie college during the height of Reaganomics, "Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost" captures a watershed moment for American youth in one hilarious and unforgettable trip.
Synopsis
Richard Rushfield takes us on an unforgettable and hilarious trip through higher alternative education in the eighties. Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost is a strange and salacious memoir about life at the ultimate New England hippie college at the height of Reaganomics. Opening its doors in 1970, Hampshire College was an experiment in progressive education that went hilariously awry. Self- proclaimed nerd Richard Rushfield enrolled with the freshman class of 1986, hoping to shed his wholesome California upbringing in this liberal hideout, where overachievement and preppy clothes were banned.
By turns hilarious, ironic, and steeped in history, Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost takes readers to a campus populated by Deadheads, club kids, poets, and insomniac filmmakers, at a time when America saw the rise of punk and grunge alongside neoconservatism, earnest calls for political correctness, and Take Back the Night vigils. Imagine Lord of the Flies set on a college campus and you have Richard Rushfield's alma mater experience.
About the Author
Journalist Richard Rushfield is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and the author of On Spec: A Novel of Young Hollywood. His writing has also appeared in many other publications, including The New York Times, Variety, and LA Weekly. He lives in Venice, California.