need help picking a 60's book...

Vampyre611

Vampyre611

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I have to pick an influencial book from the 60's and annalyze it's historical significance. i've narrowed the list down to four that sound interesting and i was wondering if any CAG's have read any of them. Moreover, if any CAG's remember the 60's and remember on of these books as THE book to read, that would help me out. Thanks all.

Books are:

The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
Fear and Loathing in Los Vegas by Hunter S. Tompson
 
On the Road and Cat's Cradle are both great. Haven't read the other two.

Cat's Cradle is my favorite Vonnegut novel, in fact.
 
I've read them all and while Fear and Loathing is probably the most fun to read, I would think Cat's Cradle would be easiest to do the report on. It is still a great book so you won't be bored.

On the Road is ok, but a little slow and my least favorite Keroac, I would suggest Dharma Bums for a better read (don't know if it's 60's as well).

Feminine Mystique was kinda boring for me and I enjoy reading stuff on this topic so it's not just a masculine bias.
 
[quote name='senorwoohoo']Fear and Loathing is excellent and completely fucked up. It's also a quick read, so I'd go for that.[/quote]
Let me point out that Fear and Loathing is a 70's book- it was written in 1971!

'On the Road' was published in 1957.

If you want to read a Hunter S. Thompson book- I suggest 'Hells Angels'. That is definately a '60s book.

Also for a good 60's book, try Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Its written in the Chief's point of view (Unlike the movie which is presented in Jack Nicholson's POV)
 
A book wouldn't have to be first published in the 60s to be an influential book of the 60s. (Unless that is one of the reqs of the assignment.)

Of course, a book published after '69 would probably have to be eliminated.

Stranger in a Strange Land (Heinlein) would also be a good choice IMO.
 
I recommend Stranger in a Strange Land by Heinlein.

edit: Wubb beat me to it, I see.
 
I was going to mention One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest but somebody beat me to it.

Others to consider:

To Kill a Mockingbird - 1960
Catch 22 - 1961
A Clockwork Orange - 1962
V - 1963
Dune - 1965

There are plenty of other great 60s books as well. Kerouac and Vonnegut are good (although I would pick Slaughterhouse Five) but Hunter Thompson is overrated IMO.
 
[quote name='wubb']A book wouldn't have to be first published in the 60s to be an influential book of the 60s. (Unless that is one of the reqs of the assignment.)

Of course, a book published after '69 would probably have to be eliminated.

Stranger in a Strange Land (Heinlein) would also be a good choice IMO.[/quote]
I disagree. I read "Fear and Loathing" and I thought it was a distinctly 70's book. Thats just my opinion though and you are welcome to disagree.

Also, Jack Kerouac is part of the Beat Poet generation and I have always thought of them as a distinctly late 50's era literature. Sure they influenced the 60s but they were not of the 60's way of life....

Another book recommendation that comes to mind for the 60s isThe Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test

I never read that book but lots of people have told me about it. Its is considered a classic of 60's Literature. I think Tom Wolfe is the author but my memory is hazy..
 
[quote name='Machine']
There are plenty of other great 60s books as well. Kerouac and Vonnegut are good (although I would pick Slaughterhouse Five) but Hunter Thompson is overrated IMO.[/quote]

'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' will only appeal to people who are into the drug culture. If you are clean (like me), you are not going to enjoy that book. I thought 'Hells Angels' was a better read.
 
Thanks for all the replies and advice! the books i had narrowed it down to were from a list my prof gave out so if they aren't strictly 60's they deal with the issues he wants to hit. Some of these look really good, keep them coming please!
 
[quote name='Xevious']'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' will only appeal to people who are into the drug culture. If you are clean (like me), you are not going to enjoy that book. I thought 'Hells Angels' was a better read.[/QUOTE]
I'm clean as can be and enjoyed the hell out it.
 
The Lorax... published in '71, written I believe in the late sixties.

you can burn through this in a few nights. Not too many big words. A little scary in a few parts.

seussthl.gif
 
I say Cat's Cradle. I've read Slaughterhouse Five by Vonnegut and it was pretty good, very strange, but good. Since this is for school, settle for the easiest book. Doesn't matter if it's long IMO, as long as you can understand it well.
 
[quote name='coltyhuxx']The Lorax... published in '71, written I believe in the late sixties.

you can burn through this in a few nights. Not too many big words. A little scary in a few parts.

seussthl.gif
[/QUOTE]

I loved that book as a kid.
 
The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test or One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest. Oh and if you can find it haha The Anarchist's Cookbook.
 
[quote name='b0bx13']I'm clean as can be and enjoyed the hell out it.[/quote]

Fair enough. I hated it but again..thats just my opinion. Opinions are like assholes; Every one has one.
 
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