Author:Allen Ginsberg,Bill Morgan
A unique history of the Beats, in the words of the movement's most central member, Allen Ginsberg, based on a seminal series of his lectures
In 1977, twenty years after the publication of his landmark poem 'Howl', Allen Ginsberg decided it was time to teach a course on the literary history of the Beat Generation - partly to preserve his own memories of those years. The Best Minds of My Generation presents the best of these candid, intimate and illuminating lectures, revealing Kerouac, Burroughs and the rest of the Beats as Ginsberg knew them: friends, confidantes, literary mentors and fellow visionaries in a group who started a revolution.
'Marvellous ... spellbinding ... preserving intact the story of the literary movement Ginsberg led, promoted and never ceased to embody' The New York Times Book Review
'An awesome exhaustive feat ... fascinatingly readable' Sunday Times
'Astonishingly intimate ... Full of penetrating insight and fascinating literary gossip, the book is a major contribution to the core Beat canon ... situates the Beats in cultural history in a way that no other exploration of their work does' San Francisco Chronicle
Beautiful ... A book that will appeal to artists and children, or really anyone with a love of colour - which is everyone, isn't it?
—— Eliza Williams , Creative ReviewA joyful journey, offering a fresh and poetic take on why colour is so important to how we perceive the world
—— Viewpoint ColourA reference for anyone to understand the myriad historical and cultural interpretations of colour ... Comprehensive yet highly visually stimulating and fun
—— Jenny Brewer , It's Nice That[E]xcellent publishing [...] provokes thoughts, feelings and curiosity [...] visually very pleasing.
—— Debra Hall , Not Compulsory[C]omprehensive yet highly visually stimulating and fun.
—— Jenny Brewer , It's Nice That[A] journey through colour, showing how its language is at the centre of how we think and feel about the world. Colour is everywhere. Through this book, we can see it afresh.
—— Gransnet Summer Reads[H]ow wonderfully colourful it was! [...] I think everyone should have a copy of this book
—— Asha Carlos , Yeah Lifestyle ReviewsMcGregor distills years of meetings with high officials in China and Japan to give a vivid nuanced picture of their relations in the 21st century
—— Ezra Vogel, author of Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of ChinaAn in-depth depiction of radical changes and challenges in Japan-China relations in the post-war period, thoroughly researched and rich in storytelling. In the course of tumultuous relations with China, Japan has had to trail blaze in the face of the rise of China. Japan's naked exposure to the unfolding Realpolitik with China at its core is for the first time comprehensively reviewed.
—— Yoichi Funabashi, former Editor-in-Chief, Asahi ShimbunA must read for anyone who wants to understand our future. Asia's Reckoning provides a detailed picture of the slow military, diplomatic and economic waltz between China, Japan and the United States that determined the shape of the past half-century.
—— Nicholas Stuart , Brisbane TimesA compelling account of the post-war relationship between China, Japan and America, brings to life one of the world's most complicated love-hate triangles.
—— Clifford Coonan , Irish TimesMcGregor's brilliant book is packed with insights on the complex Sino-Japanese relationship, the gist of that being that past history should be our teacher rather than master. Will a more powerful China learn magnanimity, one wonders.
—— David Sexton , Evening Standard, Book of the YearFor journalists taking up new posts in China, the first book I always suggest is Richard McGregor's The Party. I will now add McGregor's new book, Asia's Reckoning, to my list for those headed to the Far East.
—— Melissa Chan , Los Angeles Review of BooksIn Asia's Reckoning, Richard McGregor provides a cogent and superbly researched guide to the deep forces that undergird China's geopolitical strategy and the attempts of two other great powers in the region, the United States and Japan, to deal with it.
—— Peter Tasker , The Mekong ReviewMcGregor's fascinating narrative of the three countries' relations over 50 years is filled with fresh anecdotes drawn from interviews and newly released archival documents. McGregor has a sharp eye for personalities and policy factions, as well as a firm grasp of geopolitics.
—— Andrew Nathan , Foreign AffairsRichard McGregor has followed up his masterful 2010 book on The Party by focusing on the collisions and the less frequent collusions between the three Pacific powers: China, Japan and the US. Most regional strategic writing is focused on one of the three countries, but McGregor has done immense research in each of them and sets up the story beautifully.
—— Rowan Callick , The AustralianMcGregor offers a masterful account of the complex fifty-year dance between China, Japan and the United States.
—— Graeme Dobell , The StrategistMcGregor has written a magisterial book that combines old-fashioned shoe leather reporting and extensive archival research to hart seven decades of history between the three countries.
—— Anna Fifield , Australian Foreign Affairs