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Sweet Chaos: The Grateful Dead's American Adventure by Carol Brightman

One of my favorite Grateful Dead books. It doesn't go out of its way to glorify them or smooth over the rough spots, but its not trashy, either..."insider" enough to be interesting but not obnoxious. From Library Journal:

"Brightman...was introduced to the world of the Grateful Dead by her sister, the band's lighting director. Not interested in writing a group biography, Brightman instead explores the Grateful Dead's place in American culture, considering the influence of the beat generation, the 'acid tests' of Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters, the student protest movement, and the ever-present drug culture including provocative claims regarding the CIA's role in drug trafficking. Brightman also attempts to decode the often impenetrable language of Deadheads and insiders. At the center of this upheaval are the Grateful Dead themselves, at once a part of, but also removed from, the events swirling around them. As much a study of the counterculture as it is of the Dead, Brightman's book is recommended for both music and popular culture collections"

Great read, check it out.

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