Book Description
This anthology presents material selected from the collection of Angel Hair magazine and books edited by Anne Waldman and Lewis Warsh between 1966 and 1978. Included are substantial sections of writing--in some cases entire books--from an impressive range of poets including Clark Coolidge, Alice Notley, Hannah Weiner, Robert Creeley, Bernadette Mayer, Kenward Elmslie, Tom Clark, Joanne Kyger, Bill Berkson, Ted Greenwald, Lorenzo Thomas, John Wieners, Joe Brainard, Ron Padgett, as well as Waldman and Warsh, among many others. From the nascent St. Mark's Poetry Project on the Lower East Side of Manhattan to Bolinas and Boulder, Angel Hair published an idiosyncratic cross-section of innovative writing in distinctive format, becoming one of the longest-lived and most influential publishers on the small press scene. The anthology of literary writings is supplemented with brief memoirs by more than twenty writers, and the book also includes an annotated checklist by Aaron Fischer and Steven Clay that comprises a citation and photograph of each of the approximately eighty books, magazines, broadsides and catalogues issued by the Press. ... Read more

Book Description
Allen Ginsberg, Anne Waldman, William Burroughs, and Diane Di Prima - is there an aspiring poet or prose writer today who would miss a chance to meet and learn with these literary mentors face-to-face, sharing the secrets of their craft? That irresistible opportunity is now available with First Thought, Best Thought, the first landmark release from Naropa University's treasured audio archives.

Selected and edited by poet Randy Roark from thousands of hours of performances and teaching sessions, First Thought, Best Thought offers listeners four rare gems of inspiration and practical wisdom, including: · Allen Ginsberg on how we "discharge the spontaneous energy of genuine experience" onto the page · Anne Waldman on living your poetic practice by melting the boundaries between poetry on the page, performance, and every act of expression you choose to commit · William Burroughs on breakthrough methods for generating fresh writing - including "the cut-up method," chance operations, and dream work · Diane Di Prima on how to survive as an artist: preserving your sensibility; creating a supportive artistic community; approaches to getting published, self-publishing, and more

"First thought, best thought" was the phrase that Allen Ginsberg used to describe the kind of spontaneous, fearless writing taught here - a way of telling the truth that arises from naked and authentic experience. In these thought-provoking sessions, anyone with a passion for words is sure to discover a wealth of insights for expressing themselves with greater immediacy and creativity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An Amazing WEALTH of Writing Advice
I've been having an ongoing flirtation with the "Beat Generation" this year, having read Diane Di Prima, Anne Waldman, William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, among others.When I stumbled across this set of audio CD's, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.To hear these giants of their generation reading their own works was a dream come true.

The title "First Thought, Best Thought" was the phrase that poet Allen Ginsberg used to describe spontaneous and fearless writing--a way of "telling the truth" that arises from naked and authentic experience.

Here's the gist of the CD's:

*William S. Burroughs teaching his breakthrough methods for generating fresh writing--including "the cut-up method," chance operations, and dreamwork.


*Diane di Prima on how to survive as an artist: preserving your sensibility, creating a supportive artistic community, getting published, self-publishing, and much more.


*Allen Ginsberg exploring every stage of poetic activity--from inspiration, to composition, to revision, to performing your poetry in public.


*Anne Waldman on the elements of the poet's craft--from the raw material of the words themselves to the many aspects of the poem in performance.

I must say that my own writing practice (after listening to these CD's a few times) has been profoundly enriched for the better.I've decided to publish my own poetry and I'm experimenting with the cut-up method suggested by Burroughs.It's a blast and funny has hell at times.

If you need a giant dose of inspiration and/or encouragement for your writing, then by all means, BUY THIS COLLECTION!

Of course, the Universe being a giant cross-reference, these authors led me to other great books:"Women of the Beat Generation" by Brenda Knight was an eye-opening read about the women of that generation.

Here's a blurb from that book:"In many ways, women of the Beat were cut from the same cloth as the men: fearless, angry, high risk, too smart, restless, highly irregular. They took chances, make mistakes, made poetry, made love, made history. Women of the Beat weren't afraid to get dirty. They were compassionate, careless, charismatic, marching to a different drummer, out of step. Muses who birthed a poetry so raw and new and full of power that it changed the world. Writers whose words weave spells, whose stories bind, whose vision blinds. Artists for whom curing the disease of art kills."

I'd also recommend, "Fast Speaking Woman" by Anne Waldman and "Memoirs of a Beatnik" by Diane Di Prima.Ms. Waldman got her inspiration for the title poem from the Shaman, Maria Sabina.So, you MUST read about Maria Sabina in this amazing book, "Maria Sabina:Her Life and Chants" by Alvaro Estrada.Here's a taste of one of her chants:

Because I can swim in the immense
Because I can swim in all forms
Because I am the launch woman
Because I am the sacred opposum
Because I am the Lord opposum

I am the woman Book that is beneath the water, says
I am the woman of the populous town, says
I am the shepherdess who is beneath the water, says
I am the woman who shepherds the immense, says
I am a shepherdess and I come with my shepherd, says

Because everything has its origin
And I come going from place to place from the origin . . .

(Alvaro Estrada, "Maria Sabina: her Life and Chants")


... Read more

Amazon.com
A selection of the most exemplary poetry and prose of the Beat writers and writers influenced by theBeat Generation, and visits to high-points "on the Beaten path," such as Kerouac's hometown, and Tangiers, whereWilliam S. Burroughs wrote portions ofNaked Lunch. Book Description
Here is an unusually diverse collection of Beat voices, including not only Kerouac, Burroughs, and Ginsberg, but Amiri Baraka, Gregory Corso, Diane di Prima, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Joanne Kyger, Michael McClure, Peter Orlovsky, Gary Snyder, and Philip Whalen. Also included are short biographies of the writers and a "Literary Guide to Beat Places" around the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

It's a mix bag, but overall, its a good try.
The introductions were a little sparse and a lot of the homosexuality was considerably downplayed, Ann's book does give language poetry and female Beats like Diane DiPrima much more space than they get in other Beat anthologies.In fact, much of the "man's world" that is Beat literature is balanced in this anthology.I admit, sometimes, when it comes to overviews of the American avant-garde, one is trading one whitewash for another.

Anyway, this anthology devotes time to writers other than the big three of the Beats.Selections from Joanne Kyger, John Wieners, Diane Di Prima, and Lenore Kandel make this anthology well-worth its price despite its flaws.

homophobia unleashed
Did you know that Burroughs was straight?Or Ginsburg?Yep -- not a word about their homoerotic interests, either in the poems selected (or oddly slashed up) or in the intros.We do find out that Orlovsky was Ginsburg's "companion" -- is this the year 1928? The editor evidently thinksso. Instead of providing an honest introduction to Beat work, she inflictssalacious, incredibly obscure pieces upon us, like a 6-page rant fromMichael McClure about (and I quote) "woman woman woman woman womanwoman woman." This anthology tells us a lot about the editor'spersonal idiosyncracies, but it is not a balanced portrayal of the Beats.

This is still #1
Ann,# 1 biographer-with Gerald Nicosia, did the basics, then cam Rolling Stones' "Book of the Beat'..'99..both-are inseparable pieces to the "Beat" heart..a distillation that cannot be surpassed..in thisCentury"Lowell Celebrates Keoauc, 12th events...

Add Rolling Stones' Beat Book--
Ann is top..as is Gerald Nicosia (Memory Babe) see collection...by Stones' Magazine..pages 70-75- Gerry is rated Top JK bio...& is hosted at Lowell Celebrates Kerouac,... ... Read more

Book Description
Poetry and polemics have typically gone in opposite directions—the fine flame of the sonnet, blue cone in orange, versus the raging blazes of oratory. But opposites are alike in every way but one, and when poets have bcome politically aroused, Areopagiticas of language have been ignited (look it up!). Now three poets long associated with the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa in Boulder have joined their linguistic bonfires in a volume of polemical poems. Put a dark glass over your mind’s eye and read! ... Read more

Book Description
A gorgeous suite of drawings by San Francisco artist Will Yackulic with POEMS by JOHN ASHBERY, ANNE WALDMAN, ALICE NOTLEY, RON PADGETT, and many others. ... Read more