The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe
The book follows the psychedelic adventures of Ken Kesey and his band of Merry Pranksters as they traverse the United States in a painted bus, hosting "Acid Test" parties where attendees are given LSD. The narrative is a vivid exploration of the burgeoning counterculture of the 1960s, capturing the spirit of the era through the lens of this eccentric group and their hallucinogenic experiences. It's a seminal work of New Journalism, blending reportage with literary techniques to create a highly subjective, immersive account of the Pranksters' journey.
The 540th greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 670
This book was first published in 1968
12 Lists
- score: 154 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 180)
- score: 145 -- 50 Best Cult Books - 2016 (Weight: 142)
- score: 141 -- The 100 Best Non-Fiction Books of the Century - 2005 (Weight: 178)
- score: 107 -- 100 Life-Changing Books - 2006 (Weight: 126)
- score: 94 -- Best Books (Fiction, Prose) : Experts Choose Their Favourites - 1996 (Weight: 137)
- score: 10 -- T. C. Boyle's Book Choices from "The Writer's Library" - 2020 (Weight: 10)
- score: 9 -- The 100 Greatest Non-Fiction Books - 2011 (Weight: 10)
- score: 2 -- An Expert's 200-Book List - 1973 (Weight: 10)
- score: 1 -- Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 100 Major Works of Modern Creative Nonfiction - 2018 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Time Magazine's All-TIME 100 Best Non-Fiction Books - 2011 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Booklist Century: 100 Books, 100 Years - 2005 (Weight: 1)