This Is Burning Man: The Rise of a New American Underground by Brian Doherty

This Is Burning Man: The Rise of a New American Underground Reviews

• 
  Katie Hazard

  wow. after 6 years on the playa i thought i knew a lot about burning man ~ but reading this really deepened my understanding of the history & nature of the event. i finished it right before i went this year and it definitely improved my experience. i know this sounds like a quote from the back of the book cover, but it really is a must-read for anyone who calls themselves a burner.
• 
  Bobby

  An interesting overview of Burning Man's history and some of the famous/infamous personalities behind the famous arts festival. The book is full of engaging stories and anecdotes but unfortunately is not able to tie them together to present any sort of a coherent "big picture" (the book is divided into sections and chapters but these don't help much).
  Also, the author started out by adopting a more-or-less neutral journalist perspective but towards the end had more of a preachy tone...which was a bit annoying at times. Still, for those who are never planning on going to Burning Man, this may be a good intro to all the craziness that goes there.
• 
  Robert

  For my money, the best overall history of BM from when it was a Zone Event with the Cacophony Society, to the early 00's. It's a fair account to everyone involved - before the mythology and the shift to Burning Man Inc. became complete.
• 
  Jeannette

  A good solid history of the early years of Burning Man. Not gripping on every page, but illuminating nonetheless. Unfortunately, it only goes up through 2003, and a lot has happened since then.
• 
  Lawrence

  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.
• 
  Curtis Seven

  Well written if somewhat Haigistic biography of an event if such a thing is possible. I'll weigh in after I absorb a bit more of it. One oddity I'd point out having covered the first 50-100 pages is not one mention of hallucinogens or such. Another point is that while Doherty is a past attendee and promoter of the festival, in writing the book about his time there he does break a code of sorts. That being the rules against profiteering (freeconomy). Of course he'd have had to open source the book he wrote to conform to that and where is the fun in that?
  
  It's a reporters perspective relying on the authors on experiences at Burning Man and on research of the years prior where he did not attend. He chronicles the rise of an event from a few people on a beach to the annual building of a small temporary city in the desert.
  
  This is not a Burning Man for Dummies. It's more concerned with the history of the event with some of the shenanigans thrown in for good measure. Like the time it rained and he observed a car spinning through the mud pulling a dwarf on skis and wearing an all leather S&M outfit complete with face mask.
  
  I've not been to Burning Man so it was an interesting read and it's an interesting event.
• 
  Steve

  This book made me want to go even more! I have heard so many opinions of what Burning Man is. I have been told you don't want to go there. I have been told it's a place of drugs, sex and rock and roll in the worst way. Whatever; I usually hear this from people who think they are experts who have never been there and some of the best experiences of my life are in situations so described.
  
  I think Doherty summed it up in quoting TS Eliot, Choruses from the Rock:
  
  The desert is not remote in southern tropics
  The desert is not only around the corner,
  The desert is squeezed in the tube - train next to you,
  The desert is in the heart of your brother.
  
  You don't know the desert by being told about the desert, especially by someone who has not been to the desert. You know the desert by being there. And even then, what it is differs from person to person.
  
  I think Doherty captured that essence in his book. My desert is not your desert. And finally, as I approach 60, I want to be in this desert.
• 
  Julie

  If you've never been to Burning Man, you can't really know what it is, or what it means to Burners. Even if you do go, if you don't get bitten by the bug, you'll just think the rest of us are crazy. But for some of us, it's a wonderful, transformative experience that's beyond the ability of words to express.
  
  Since 1996 I have considered myself a proud citizen of Black Rock City, although it's been more than a few years since I've been able to afford the tickets. "This is Burning Man" brought it all back, with more detail than I knew at the time. Oh, sure, I knew some of the highlights. But this book pulls it all together, and makes sense of all those names I'd heard along the way.
  
  This is a book for Burners. If you've never been there, this is not the best introductory book. There are lots of pretty picture books which will show you what it looks like, if that's what you want. That will not tell you what it's all about, though. You really do have to experience it.
• 
  Kevin

  This book is an in depth telling of the history of Burning Man, in all its humor, insanity, tragedy, magic, love, horror, and awe. I could easily identify with the roller coaster of emotions and enigmas of experience. The only place I have ever been in the world that I could simultaneously despise and adore on that level was Bangkok, and in many ways, going to Burning Man was like that trip. Except that rather than a foreigh country, I ended up on another planet. Doherty connects in a very visceral way to how that feels, in a way that any reader who has ever been there can smile and nod along with. If you read this book as a glimpse into Burning Man having never visited, you may run away in terror and disgust. If however you read it as a retrospective, you may just find yourself hooked.
• 
  Jeremy Keeshin

  I really enjoyed this book on Burning Man. I read it before going, and while it is an event that is really hard to characterize, I thought the author did a good job portraying the event and the ideas surrounding it. Additionally, I thought another impressive part of the book was that it was balanced--it was clearly written by a Burning Man fan and a guy that had been going for a while, but it presented both praise and criticism of the event in a very reasonable way. I thought as a historical reference on the event it was fascinating as well. I'd recommend it.
• 
  mac

  This is a great chronological perspective of the event and culture surrounding Burningman, written by a participant. It ties together much of the what happened in San Francisco and in the life of Larry Harvey & other organizers to create the event that continues to this day. An interesting read even for people that have not attended the event, but are intereted in San Francisco and the movements of this city.
• 
  Ruth

  The beginning went through every detail of how burning man began- a little boring- but the part where they talked about the art was pretty inspiring. I just love thinking and reading about really big participatory art. Also the "temporary autonomous zone" idea is exciting- it takes me back to reading Hakim Bey in the High school cafeteria, and is still inspiring. The writing is not anything special, but the content makes it worth it.
• 
  Steve Garriott

  For someone who has been intrigued for year by the phenomenon known as Burning Man, this is an excellent way to at least gain a little understanding of what it could be all about. The full experience of playa with its atmosphere of otherwordliness could never be emulated in book form. But for someone who probably will never go, at least I get a chance to listen in on the conversations of the people who have been changed by this amazing event.
• 
  Sarah

  Confirms that Burning Man is different things to different people, and even the founders disagree on what it should mean, or whether it should and does mean anything at all. This frees me to feel as unchanged by it as I felt, except for the radical change that must have occurred given that I would consider going again.
• 
  Susan

  I know Brian, and like his work. He's a very dedicated writer, and is also a Burning Man participant and has been for years. He's also very supportive of other events, is a lover of art and absurd revelry, and knowing those things made this read extra fun for me.
• 
  Erica

  Is there a sexier image than two people, having sex while driving an old convertible, squealing across miles and miles of open, dark, barren desert while shooting firearms? I don't think so.
• 
  Jeani

  Required reading for all us old hippies
• 
  Suzie Sims-Fletcher

  sort of interesting - but you have to really care.
• 
  Christina Lenon

  LOVE THIS BOOK! Probably best to read AFTER you attend the "event" cause it'll make more sense... just finished it, and now I've got an after-burn:(
• 
  Erin

  I've been fascinated by Burning Man since I first heard about it...
• 
  Cherie

  C Eh. Into the background of BM, how it got started, not exactly the best writing...
• 
  Bullfrog

  This book is a wonderful depiction of my favorite event! Real stories from real burners. A great chronological breakdown of BM's history as well!