Confessions of a Raving, Unconfined Nut: Misadventures in Counter-Culture by Paul Krassner

Confessions of a Raving, Unconfined Nut: Misadventures in Counter-Culture Reviews

• 
  Sheela Word

  The author is a standup comic, a long-time writer and editor of a provocative periodical called "The Realist," and an associate of Lenny Bruce, Abby Hoffman, Allen Ginsberg, Timothy Leary, Ken Kesey, Charles Manson, Squeaky Fromme, Larry Flynt, and other famous fringe folk from the sixties and beyond. He uses drugs A LOT, and they color his perceptions and his recollections, but he tries to maintain a sense of objectivity about himself.
  
  "Confessions" is complicated, funny, and sometimes horrifying. Nothing is sacred to Krassner. It's a point of honor with him to push boundaries as far as possible, and question accepted verities as much as possible, so he comes across simultaneously as bumptious and self-doubting. He's a moralist who's morally opposed to moralism. Interesting read.
• 
  Niki

  I like memoirs as much as the next person. A curiosity initially, and if written well, I can justify hanging on, but after awhile I tired of this self-adoring rant. I guess I am just a more humble person and get uncomfortable by people who gloat. Especially if the writing is tinged in outdated sexist ideals.
  
  I did not grow up with Mr. Krassner: his life through many of America's major political and controversial in the 1960's or his hard-fought rebelliousness is not relatable to me at all. I think he had some interesting jobs in the alternative/adult industries, and I doubt I would have been any less reckless or casual if approached with free sex, drugs and rock concerts. I doubt many people wouldn't want to delve as deep as they possibly could.
  
  But with the addition of the daughter, the paranoid chapter involving LSD/Kennedy/Manson/FBI/Mae Brussell/conspiracy should have been enough of a scare for him to wisen up and straighten out. Some people never learn.
  
  It was cringe-worthy to read of his casual approach to sex and sharing that life with his teenage daughter in her own sexual discoveries. His writing was boorish and felt insensitive at times. He came across as an ass, but then the point of this memoir is to shed the stifling oppression of being so politically correct in the sixties- trying to please everyone. That I get. But still, I felt the writing was rushed and lacked empathy. His ego towards women is astounding in this book.
  
  I was more interested in reading and learning about Lenny Bruce after this book. I remembered the line in R.E.M.'s song 'It's the End of the World As We Know It': "Lenny Bruce is not afraid," so I want to learn what the context for that was.
  
  Overall, the book is not an easy read. It's chock full of the frightening stuff of the sixties. But told in from the perspective of an egomaniac constantly on acid, and tries to weave in meaning because HE was there. But some of the stories featured non sequiturs that felt like the truth was stretched, or maybe an acid flashback was happening just as it was written.
  
  Nonetheless, written in 1992, the book feels dated compared to the progress we've made. It has been interesting to read this during an election year, as there are some parallels. But overall, I am just glad to say I finished a book.
• 
  Paul

  Entertaining autobiography from one of the major players in the counter-culture. It isn't a chronological account as such, and is organised around topics rather than the linear progress of his life. The writing is very funny, and the first chapter that deals with Krassner's childhood is hilarious in places.
• 
  Joshua

  This guy is an icon among certain crowds. He started out writing for Mad magazine and then made his own in 'The Realist'. I'm not sure if 'The Realist' is still being published. If it is, it's worth a look see. As for this book, I don't know, I didn't read more than the first ten pages.
• 
  Erin

  Talk about an interesting life...Krassner's done it all. This was really one of the most entertaining pieces of non-fiction I've ever picked up. This book is great for anyone interested in the counterculture of the sixties, political satire and lots of humor. Great read.
• 
  Andrea Paul Amboyer

  I read this book in high school- it was very influential as it was my first exposure to the hippie/yippie movement. Paul Krassner has continued to be a counter-cultural influence on my life...and his name is Paul, so of course I liked him immediately.
• 
  Aaron

  Loved this one. Anyone who tries to get the phone company to list him as "Rumpleforeskin" but settles for "Foreskin, Rumple" is alright...
• 
  Ram

  Jesus, what a self-indulgent butthole this guy is.
• 
  Sophie

  I first picked this up when I was a teenager, and I remember that it really spoke to me. Now on this second read, I'm not sure what the big draw was. Hm.
• 
  Zack

  
  http://www.examiner.com/books-in-denv...
• 
  Lysergius

  Wonderfully irreverent stuff. Sphincters anyone?
• 
  Marsmannix

  a true account of acid conciousness. Irreverant, funny, crazy.
• 
  Queen

  Read with David Huntley. He referred me to "Sleeping Where I fall" by Peter Coyote.
• 
  StevenF

  Yippie!
• 
  Jesse

  As reliably thoughtful, funny, and entertaining as Krassner always was at his best, this seems all the more impressive because of the hideousness of the Soft Skull edition’s cover, a riot of blaring comic sans.
• 
  John

  read the 1993 Hardback Edition