Nov

Steal This Book

Filed Under Election

A driving force behind the social revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, Hoffman inspired a generation to challenge the status quo. Meant as a practical guide for the aspiring hippie, Steal This Book captures Hoffman’s puckish tone and became a cult classic with over 200,000 copies sold. Outrageously illustrated by R. Crumb, it nevertheless conveys a serious message to all would-be revolutionaries: You don’t have to take it anymore. “All Power to the Imagination was his credo. Abbie was the best.” — Studs Terkel

User Ratings and Reviews

1 Star And today his followers are our politicians, teachers, professors, lawyers and corporate leaders.
Most people might not realize, but from the perspective of a new immigrant student, “Steal This Book” was a major catalyst for the downward trend evolution of what I saw as a honest, decent society to an ever growing corrupt society.

I came as a student from Europe in 1960 and was enthralled with the honesty, decency and total trust in other people’s honesty and decency by the vast majority of Americans. It was amazing to see that people could leave their purses, wallets, cameras and other valuables on picnic tables while off to swim or hike, unlocked doors, keys in cars etc. Then, in the mid 60s, about the time Abbie Hoffman taught and published this book in which he encourages the hippy generation to start ripping off not only corporations and the government (which really is the people)but also take from regular citizens. And oh boy, did the hippy types take to that invitation. Suddenly campers and others found their trust stolen along with their valuables. It truly was the end of an era.

And today his followers are our politicians, teachers, professors, lawyers and corporate leaders.

Should we be surprised of the downhill trend that has been accelerating at dizzying speeds?

As I got ready to post this review I checked on what Amazon meant by “TAG” and with a chuckle I discovered their objection to “Tags which promote illegal or immoral conduct”. I’d say Hoffman’s book falls neatly into that category.

5 Stars A Lesson Still Unlearned
This book is even more relevant today than it was in the time of Nixon when it was written. The fact that too few people read it explains how this country was able to be suckered by con-servative artists like Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and Bush, along with their cronies in Saudi Arabia, Capitalist China, Silverado, Enron, Halliburton, etc.

5 Stars Nice Little Book
Steal This Book is a nice, interesting book to read. There are some interesting items in the book that if followed today, would easily land you in jail. Whether or not the author got away with the majority of these items to steal is questionable. The book was written decades ago and some of the items mentioned will not mean anything to todays generations. But for those of us who came of age in the 1960’s, it will bring a laugh or two and good memories. I would not spend the money on a new or a hard copy, but if you come across it in paperback and used, go for it.

4 Stars very good book
this book is a very good book to read and i enjoyed it from start to end. i mainly used it for the little handbook on making explosives which do work. The only thing i don’t like is that some of the tricks and ways of getting money there are in the book are written to be used in the 70s and not in modern times. it is still a good book and every anarchist should have this one in their library

1 Star Nastalgia and little else
I checked this book out of the library instead of stealing it. Because of the provacative title, it was kept behind the library front desk!

I read the book for laughs then because in the late 70’s, the book already was tremendously out of date. I does give you a good idea what the Yippies (not the hippies, they were non-violent)were about.

As far as Hoffman’s preaching of violence against the system, well I side with John Lennon’s sentiment, “You can count me out”.

Buy/More Info

Share and Enjoy: