FREE ESSAY ON THE ELECTIC KOOL AID ACID TEST

THE ELECTIC KOOL AID ACID TEST

1) Title of Book: The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
2) Author: Tom Wolfe
3) The grounds on which Thomas Wolfe created this documentation of the Merry Pranksters
is that he attempts to re-create both the mental and physical atmosphere of their
adventure and exploration across America.
4) Specific evidence in supporting the aforementioned thesis can be found in the
"Author's Note" section of the book but also in the writing style used to develop this
masterpiece. Writing in a basic journal style, Wolfe documented the extraordinary life
style lived by the Pranksters through personal experiences with them as well as
transcribing their adventures that were captured on both film and tape.
5) Tom Wolfe, with his journalist style of transcribing the current events, seems
hard-pressed to be categorized into a specific group of historians, but he can be most
noticeably associated with the New Left. This is because The New Left dealt mainly with
the social and economic movements of the 1960'and 70's, and the Psychedelic movement
Wolfe documented so well was definitely a social movement of the infamous 1960's.
6) Tom Wolfe grew up in the land of Richmond, Virginia. He eventually graduated from
Washington and Lee University, and later received a doctorate in American Studies from
Yale. Besides being a novelist, Wolfe has worked as a reporter for the Springfield Union,
The Washington Post, and the New York Herald Tribune. Some of his writings have also
appeared in New York Magazine, Esquire, and Harper's.
7) The available information on Wolfe only affects his point of view in that the reason
for his meticulous work can be found in his outstanding academic work in American Studies
and diligent work as a journalist. This novel, which originally started out to be a novel
discussing Ken Kesey's (author of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest) life as a fugitive
wanted for drug possession living in Mexico, from there developed into this "journal" of
Kesey's band, the Merry Pranksters, and their tripped out adventures.
8) One of the most outstanding features of The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test is the
simplicity of it to read. The journal style writing Wolfe used allows the reader to be
absorbed into the LSD fantasy world the Pranksters were living in. Also, Wolfe's
meticulous attention to detail adds to this effect and carries out his thesis of
re-creating the atmosphere in which these acidheads existed.
9) Although it provides and interesting documentation through the use of journal form
writing, Wolfe probably failed English class due to the multitude of fragments and
disregarded sentences. (This may have also been a "trippy" effect, too.) Another
disappointment is in the author's note; Wolfe tells how much of the book was written
through the use of viewing film. It takes away from the first hand experience developed
and slightly challenges the authenticity of the material. But, it's only a disappointment
if you actually read the author's note.
10) The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test is a must read, but not in lieu of it being a
well-developed literary masterpiece. With extreme care, Wolfe has brought to light the
drug and hippie experience of the 60's, bringing it back for anyone who was caught up in
the movement and currently cannot remember any part of it. Wolfe's ingenious note taking
of the entire ordeal can cause a spark in the mind to recall the times and the
controversy that went with this fascinating part of American history. But, to the younger
generation, this book could be utilized as a tool against the use of drugs, and the
damage it carries. Although most likely not the intention Wolfe had, his work carries the
banner of "LSD will mess you up". All in all, it's a four star book from a personal
aspect on the often misconstrued, drugged up past of the sixties.