Hip: The History

This book. Oh god this book. It is a rambling, painful bundle of dictionary vomit. I am being forced to read this book for a college class, and being an avid reader I thought “hey! Maybe this’ll be interesting.” Oh my was I wrong. This is perhaps the most dull, headache inducing book I have ever read. It is like the author needed an excuse to exert his education and mental prowess on the world and out of that came this book. It hurts me to read. It makes little sense and is written in such a complicated roundabout way that it is almost intelligible. It is little more than a book of rambles by one who thinks himself very VERY smarts didn’t think it was possible to hate a book this much, but it is. If you have the option to not read this monstrosity, take it. It is already too late for me.Save yourself

This book has a great mix of photos, commentary, interviews and context to provide a valuable and easy to read cultural history of the hipster movement and the cultural relevance of the music on the world view.

I needed this book for a class and did not have the time to wait to have it shipped. I was able to order it in class and have it in my kindle app on my ipad close enough to instantly and now I don't have to worry about the book taking up space in my already small and clutter college apartment.

Leland knows how to craft a history that is both edifyingand eminently entertaining. This is definitely a re-read book, maybe thrice - it's just that there are so many suggested avenues to follow hip artists, movements, and players. This could be an entire college course. LOVE IT!

it was as advertised

It's very informative and well written. Great book.

John Leland's history of hip provides a fascinating and informative analysis of hip in our nation. A very detailed and interesting read that explores many facets of American literary, musical, social, and cultural history.

S***ty book