Beautifully and Honestly, Written and Performed

If you are after a book that simply and only glorifies the Counter Culture of the 1960s, this may not be for you. It appears to be written from the heart and with all the honesty that one person can own up to when putting pen to paper, about a life that is so far more than the man who acts on our screens. He talks with a lot of love but total honesty about the people he met and weaved in and out of his life. That is not in any way to say he rubbishes these people, he doesn't, he speaks honestly about himself and those people.

Peter Coyote is one of my favourite actors and it is why I sought out this book when I learned he had written and narrates his own memoir. While I was aware of some of the groups that he talks about in his life story (The San Francisco Mime Troop, The Diggers) I was not aware of his membership within the groups, nor of his communal life choices or in fact the Free Family.

He honestly describes in full detail, the lifestyle of the members of the Free Family, and their concepts and beliefs. All we are fed in this day and age are the historical documentaries of the time. Which is to say, we get the same very conservative point of view (as was fed to the public back in the day) and none of the reasons why the Counter Culture existed or what was being attempted to do. It was most certainly not simply about getting stoned 24/7 and listening to the Grateful Dead (although he does talk about both, knowing them and everyone else in the Haight Ashbury area where he lived).

It is apparent that the much of the values and choices that the Free Lifestyle tried to establish is whitewashed in political dogma of the likes of Jerry Rubin and Abbie Hoffman, who in later years all but admitted to using the Counter Culture movement to make their own points and the media back then (and now) ignore the reality of what most of the Counter Culture was trying to achieve. But it is all presented in this book in quite a bit of detail.

This is not written in hindsight with rose tinted glasses about life in the 60s. This is written so well you can all but feel the occasional chaos that resulted in some of Coyote's life choices but you can also feel and breathe the simplicity of other areas of his life.

Its a great book.

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Great insight to the counterculture

This memoir weaves together a series of reflections, insights and narratives stemming from Coyote's memories and experiences of life during the counterculture revolution in America. Coyote's experiences are recalled with vigour and sentimentality as he reflects upon experiments with commune living, family life, the arts movement and his own personal journey are woven together artfully, producing a thoughtful and well considered narrative. This beautifully compiled memoir reflects upon many of the ideologies that were at the fore of the counterculture revolution.

While it can seem long-winded at times, and naivety seemingly presents itself with a startling air, it is worthwhile to stick these sections out, as Coyote's reflections of these past attitudes and ideologies are an integral part of his story.

A worthwhile read for anyone seeking to learn more about this era.

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