Brian Doherty (1) (1968–2026)

Dirty Pictures: How Nerds, Feminists, Bikers, and Potheads Revolutionized Comix by Brian Doherty is a history that will appeal to a wide range of readers, from historians of popular culture to old folk (like me) who remember some of these comix (mainly the Furry Freak Brothers) from their high school years (in California in early to mid 70s).

I admit I bumped the book rating from a four to a five specifically for the multiple flashbacks, um, I mean memories it brought back. Not just of the show more comix that were available but the publications like, in my area, the LA Free Press. It devolved into mostly sex ads but a high school student at the time didn't think of that as a step backwards. Anyway, I digress.

At times the book almost seems like it is trying to cram too much info into a small space, but most of the time we are given a more evenly paced account of each of the principal cartoonists involved in the movement. These are informative as history but also great reading as biographical accounts. The interactions between these artists as well as the paths they each took after the heyday of the 60s and 70s makes for a fascinating read. I remember when Maus was assigned in a class in college in the early 90s I saw the name Art Spiegelman and did a double take.

What made this a standout for me, aside from the nostalgic aspect, was the sheer enjoyment of reading it. Maybe part of my enjoyment was remembering the times, but I think the larger part was the writing and the care Doherty took to present a fairly balanced account of some very erratic and volatile personalities.

In addition to others like myself who have fond memories of these comix, I would recommend this to those who like to read about where high and low culture meet and inform each other. Also anyone who simply enjoys reading about a bunch of interesting, albeit at times odd, people.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley. show less

If you don't already know about the movement this is a bit hard getting into. I began with the chapter about three important American women includin Ryan and the daughter of the author of Little House on fhe Prarie, then went back to the Austrian econmists and finally selectively read about individual figures. The author not only has done research on the subject he has worked in the movement. Right as we flirt with another government shutdown these ideas are coming to the fore. Excellent. show more Finally, it was an excellent review of economics. Could I be a Libertarian ? Seems they come in all stripes. I am not convinced, but appreciate these thinkers more now. show less

Those looking for a look into the history of the modern American libertarian movement need to look no further than "Radicals for Capitalism." This fascinating book by the knowledgeable and experienced author Brian Doherty examines not only the the well-known ideological heavyweights of the modern libertarian movement; Rand, Mises, Hayek, Rothbard, etc., but lesser known libertarian writers as well, such as Rose Wilder Lane. Libertarian writers and thinkers are not the only ones to be given show more time either, the various people and organizations who provided much of the funding (and still do) such as the Koch brothers, the multitude of libertarian organizations and magazines, and the Libertarian Party are all given plenty of space in this history of the libertarian movement. What stands out most however, is how well the author is able to show just how zany some of these libertarian thinkers were and how their relationships were marked by a surprising amount of friendships, feuds and rivalries. show less

I wanted to like this book but did not. First of all, it is dated. That is not the author's fault but the book was written at a very different time in the festival's history and it is difficult to put that context aside.

The author is a bit too much of a fan-boy for me but in fairness, does a pretty even-handed job given the passions around the "good old days" vs the scale Burning Man takes place at today.

Not really a necessary read.