Revolution for the Hell of It
by Abbie Hoffman
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Description
While the supremely popular Steal This Book is a guide to living outside the establishment, Revolution for the Hell of It is a chronicle of Abbie Hoffman's radical escapades that doubles as a guidebook for today's social and political activist. Hoffman pioneered the use of humour, theatre, and shock value to drive home his points, and in Revolution for the Hell of It he gives firsthand accounts of his legendary adventures, from the activism that led to the founding of the Youth International show more Party,or "Yippies!,to the 1968 Democratic National Convention protests ("a Perfect Mess") that resulted in his conviction as part of the Chicago Seven. Also chronicled are the mass demonstrations he led in which over fifty thousand people attempted to levitate the Pentagon using psychic energy, and the time he threw fistfuls of dollar bills onto the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and watched the traders scramble. With antiwar sentiment once again in a furor and an incendiary political climate not seen since the book's original printing, Abbie Hoffman's voice is more essential than ever. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
I wasn't born when Abbie Hoffman strode the international media stage, coming up with inspired ideas for upsetting the status quo. Lots of "Revolution for the Hell of it" made me wish that I was around to witness, and take part in, the stunts that made him and the Yippies so famous.
Hoffman gives the low down on the 1968 Democratic National Convention, the resulting Chicago Seven trial, the attempt to levitate the Pentagon and other escapades.
The thought that Hoffman later committed suicide puts a sad tint on the book but otherwise I'd wholly recommend a read of "revolution for the Hell of it", whether you're a revolutionary or not.
Hoffman gives the low down on the 1968 Democratic National Convention, the resulting Chicago Seven trial, the attempt to levitate the Pentagon and other escapades.
The thought that Hoffman later committed suicide puts a sad tint on the book but otherwise I'd wholly recommend a read of "revolution for the Hell of it", whether you're a revolutionary or not.
Very funny, great energy, surprisingly poetic at times. Hoffman's self-promotion is sometimes a bit much but really it's a very engaging book. I'd go so far as to say it's inspirational.
As a teenager, I believed the USA was in the midst of a revolution. This book is why. Worthwhile, though dated today, this was an important book, and more influential than it gets credit for. Long live Yippie!!
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1960s
281 works; 16 members
LT picks: Blue Books
197 works; 44 members
Author Information
16+ Works 2,168 Members
Abbie Hoffman (1936-1989) was an American activist and revolutionary political organizer in the civil rights and antiwar movements who cofounded the Youth International Party ("Yippies"). He was arrested and tried for his role in protests that were confronted violently by police during the 1968 Democratic National Convention and began to write show more Steal This Book in jail while awaiting what became known as the Trial of the Chicago Seven. Hoffman continued his activism through the 1980s and remains an icon of counter-cultural movements today. show less
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Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Revolution for the Hell of It
- Original publication date
- 1968
- People/Characters
- Abbie Hoffman
- Important places
- New York, New York, USA
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, History, Biography & Memoir
- DDC/MDS
- 323.2 — Society, government, & culture Political science Civil Rights & Liberties/ Human Rights Rebellion
- LCC
- HQ799.7 .H6 — Social sciences The family. Marriage, Women and Sexuality The Family. Marriage. Women The family. Marriage. Home Young men and women
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 309
- Popularity
- 103,086
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.85)
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 5
- ASINs
- 14
