The Fine Wisdom and Perfect Teachings of the Kings of Rock and Roll - Softcover

Edmundson, Mark

Softcover

ISBN 10: 006171349X ISBN 13: 9780061713491

Publisher: Harper Perennial, 2011

Synopsis

Paperback. Pub the Date: May. 2011 Pages: 240 in Publisher by: Harper Perennial After graduating from college in. 1974. Mark Edmundson leaves Vermont to seek his destiny-a quest he knows involves rock and roll and America's high . of raise the mischief and Ambition Our ambition. New York City. Shepherded by a carousing. Marx-quoting friend. he moves into a grungy apartment and embarks on a dream career lugging amps for rock's biggest stars: the Grateful Dead. Pink Floyd. and the Allman others.But as time wears on. Edmundson finds himself at odds with life in his adopted city and drifts through a regimen of late-night cab driving and radical politics. increasingly detached from the hopes he nursed back in school. Prodded and enlightened along the way by a cast of rogue mentors- his Kings (and Queens) of Rock and Roll-Edmundson checks out of New York and careens across the cou...

About this title

Review:

"A compelling and accomplished memoir recounting the dissolution of the sixties and the beginning of the modern, more cynical era that followed. . . Candidly describes Mark Edmundson's journey as a lost twenty-something seeking meaning through sex, drugs, Marxism, rock & roll, and ultimately, teaching."--Philipp Meyer, author of American Rust

"A near-perfect memoir.... In this erudite, coming-of-age riot, the author deftly navigates the purgatorial rites of passage between university and professional life, developing insightful social critiques and candid self-evaluations along the way.... [Edmundson is] an honest, poetic and hilariously entertaining narrator."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Everything you want a coming-of-age book to be: hilarious, harrowing, and ultimately inspiring. . . . Brims with sparkling observations about everything from drugs, sex and rock and roll to movies, career, and friendship. Truly, there is something arresting and wonderful on every page."--Michael Pollan, author of Food Rules: An Eater's Manual and The Omnivore's Dilemma

"Edmundson doesn't just chronicle, he channels, the epoch of rock.... He makes us feel its hopes; its confusions; its genuine revelations.... Concert security dude, cabbie, bouncer: these jobs provide him critical lenses on a succession of cultural moments, and on the never-ending task of becoming an adult."--Matthew Crawford, author of Shop Class as Soulcraft

Not your typical rock tell-all. . . . An entertaining coming-of-age story that cloaks a social critique of post-Sixties USA. --Rolling Stone (3 ? stars)"

A near-perfect memoir.... In this erudite, coming-of-age riot, the author deftly navigates the purgatorial rites of passage between university and professional life, developing insightful social critiques and candid self-evaluations along the way.... [Edmundson is] an honest, poetic and hilariously entertaining narrator. --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"

Everything you want a coming-of-age book to be: hilarious, harrowing, and ultimately inspiring. . . . Brims with sparkling observations about everything from drugs, sex and rock and roll to movies, career, and friendship. Truly, there is something arresting and wonderful on every page. --Michael Pollan, author of Food Rules: An Eater's Manual and The Omnivore's Dilemma"

A compelling and accomplished memoir recounting the dissolution of the sixties and the beginning of the modern, more cynical era that followed. . . Candidly describes Mark Edmundson s journey as a lost twenty-something seeking meaning through sex, drugs, Marxism, rock & roll, and ultimately, teaching. --Philipp Meyer, author of American Rust"

Edmundson doesn t just chronicle, he channels, the epoch of rock.... He makes us feel its hopes; its confusions; its genuine revelations . Concert security dude, cabbie, bouncer: these jobs provide him critical lenses on a succession of cultural moments, and on the never-ending task of becoming an adult. --Matthew Crawford, author of Shop Class as Soulcraft"

"Not your typical rock tell-all. . . . An entertaining coming-of-age story that cloaks a social critique of post-Sixties USA."--Rolling Stone (3 1/2 stars)

From the Back Cover:

After graduating from college in 1974, Mark Edmundson leaves Vermont to seek his destiny--a quest he knows involves rock and roll and America's high court of mischief and ambition, New York City. Shepherded by a carousing, Marx-quoting friend, he moves into a grungy apartment and embarks on a dream career lugging amps for rock's biggest stars: the Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd, and the Allman Brothers.

But as time wears on, Edmundson finds himself at odds with life in his adopted city and drifts through a regimen of late-night cab driving and radical politics, increasingly detached from the hopes he nursed back in school. Prodded and enlightened along the way by a cast of rogue mentors--his "Kings (and Queens) of Rock and Roll"--Edmundson checks out of New York and careens across the country in search of the elusive "it": the perfect vocation, his slightly crazy, ideal way of life.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 006171349X
• ISBN 13: 9780061713491
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240