The Hippies and American Values 1st Edition by Timothy S. Miller (University of Tennessee Press)

This book is very well researched. I think one of the best things Miller did is in his research phase, he hung out and talked with a lot of people who were (still are?) hippies; he went there, he listened. He returned and developed relationships with the people he wanted to understand. This book also provides good distinction between two of the many civil rights movements going on simultaneously in the 60s: the New Left--political activists, and the counter-culture hippies. Two wings on the same bird, but both having ideological differences that kept the two camps from becoming a united force. This is where the nickname "Fists" and "Heads" came from. Fists being the political activists, and Heads clearly wanted to drop out and disengage from mainstream culture. Clarifications like this are very helpful to understanding the era and all the divergent activity that ultimately had the same goals: human rights, freedom, peace. Thing is, reading this book brings me to realize things have not really changed for all the effort that the Fists and the Heads spent their youth on. Americans are still repressed, stressed, consumers--and it's magnified since the Sixties. In the 60s, though, seems like people may have had time to stop and realize their life had no meaning besides work, bills, keeping up with Jones. Today, so many people don't even have time to stop and realize how insane our great American lifestyle has become.

I grew up as a hippie kid. Miller's book has helped me to understand better what my parents and their friends were trying to do, and why. Today, as an adult, having for many years shared my zany childhood stories, it's clear that mine was not a mainstream childhood. I have long sought to understand my parents motivations. I am aware of everything Miller writes about, so what I appreciate is how he he has put it all into perspective. He shows clearly how the different aspects of the Sixties movements all worked together and defines the weaknesses where these movements fell apart.

If you're interested in this era in American History, I highly recommend this book. It's got the crediblity and standing of good scholarship, but is written in a way that anyone can enjoy reading this fascinating book. Thank you, Timothy Miller.