This book details the story of Ken Kesey (author of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest) and his gang-like following "The Merry Pranksters". Through interviews and recordings and videos, Wolfe was able to reconstruct their journey across the USA in a painted bus named "Furthur", not only just the story itself but the subjective reality of those involved which would have been rather difficult considering the chemical combinations involved in their activities. Kesey was a member of a group experimented on with LSD, mescaline and cocaine among other things in a Veteran's hospital. After transforming his entire street into members of the psychedelic movement; the Merry Pranksters were born.
The book is written confusedly it seems although maybe if I had been on acid when I read it, it would have been less confusing. It details the ups and downs as well as the almost cult-like ethic of the Pranksters led by Kesey. It also contains recollections of their "Acid experiments" involving giving people acid without informing them. The psychedelic movement was just beginning, Kesey was being watched by the police and the delightful way in which this story is told makes you think Wolfe was right there amongst it. It truly is a unique journalistic story which is purposefully confusing but as is said "you're either on the bus or off the bus."
In a similar way to a psychedelic experience it rambles on and off topic and on again, back and forth between states of being, up and down through paranoia and enjoyment. It sort of makes you, at times, want to be right there in the bus, bouncing along with the bearded hippies thinking the world is a beautiful place.
This book is truly a classic, never read anything quite like it with the possible exception of Hunter S. Thompson. I highly recommend it.
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