[spacehead333]

So i just watched a video where J-Darks talks about a bunch of Dead books. He says the best one is A Long Strange Trip, which i am reading right now. I was just wondering what you guys think are some other good ones to pick up.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=t0aaEVJiEiI[/youtube]

[Rev_Roach]

Thanks for the post! A good review from a guy who is obviously quite knowledgable. I've only read Phil's book, I definitely should get to reading more but it's tough for me to read for pleasure during the school year. When I get a chance, its definitely Long Strange Trip.

[Rev_Roach]

Right, you asked for some suggestion. I enjoyed Phil's book a lot. It definitely has some gaps, is extremely focused on the early years (halfway point of the book is probably 1971, some cool acid test material in there), and on the whole is probably more focused on the activities of the band and its members than the songs they played. Many staple songs are entirely unmentioned, if I had the book with me I'd give some examples. Covers the major events of the band including deaths, lineup changes, management problems, album recordings etc and it is the only view you are gonna get from inside the band unless Bobby Mickey or Bill write something in the future which I dont foresee. Like JDarks, said, probably shouldn't be your first read but I'm still quite glad I've read it.

[frankielee]

I just saw the video I was going to suggest "Garcia" by Blair Jackson as well as Long strange trip By Dennis McNally...i'm in total agreement with the guy on the video about these two books

[alcorelectric]

The Grateful Dead encyclopedia
Loaded with info
T

[Pete B.]

I can't reccomend "Sweet Chaos: The Grateful Dead's American Adventure". fwiw, I read it and found it to be more about the authors take on the the 60's in general, than a book about the Grateful Dead.
The Rolling Stone interviews... I was able to read the first half of the book, but the second half was more like the interviewer talking a whole lot and Jerry saying "right, right" a whole lot. I found it pretty much unreadable.
I liked the Phil Lesh, Steve Parish, Rock Scully, and Blair Jackson, book(s).
I'll probably try the Dennis McNally book next.
I have found reading to be the best way to kill time on the recumbant bike at the gym.

[BuddhaG]

haven't read Garcia... but there are excerpts/scraps posted on blair jackson's website.

the rolling stone interview i found to be highly enjoyable. as you pointed out, Pete, the interviewer is trying a little too hard to be far out but you can really feel Jerry having fun talking to him and there are some good things about psychedelic experiences and how recently Jerry decided he's going down with the ship (in it for the long haul). the thing i really like about it is that you can feel Jerry's voice and personality really come through, can hear him saying the words almost.

anyyyway, phil's book is definitley next on my list.
and the illustrated trip is hopefully for the holidays.

[tigerstrat]

1. Phil Lesh Searching For The Sound
2. David Gans & Peter Simon Playing In The Band: An Oral and Visual Portrait of the Grateful Dead (especially, for us musicians, the chapters "Crazy Fingers" and "Dark Star")
3. Blair Jackson Garcia: An American Life
4. Dennis McNally WALST
also 4. Rock Scully w/ David Dalton Living With The Dead much maligned, but imo a very entertaining read from one who was with them at the very beginning even if a few facts may get trampled and it occaissionally depicts bandmembers & crew at their worst behavior.

[amyjared]

I would agree with tigerstrat, but I would add two things: I always liked Blair Jackson's first book on the dead, The Music Never Stopped and I LOVE his magazine, The Golden Road. If you want to read about the boys, check out issues of Golden Road. Oh, and avoid anything by Hank Harrison!

[mttourpro]

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Tests by Tom Wolfe should be mandatory reading BEFORE other GD book are read.

[FairTheeWell]

"Seaching For A Sound" I give it two thumbs up!!!

This is great reading material and I often found myself laughing at loud. Phil is a great story teller. I don't mean to ruin the book but there is a great story in there where the boys where playing and Phil was "not in a state of mind to play" and he totally stoped playing. During the set break or after the show.... I can't remember....Phil said Jerry "punched this shit out of him" and told him to never stop playing again. For some reason I find this really funny, not that vilence is funny but just imagining Jerry showing that much emotion and giving Phil and good old fashion

[BlobWeird]

Searchin was great. If Jdarks is recommending Illustrated trip then eh thats not really like a book you pick up to read through so much as just a book to browse through here and there. The best one ive read thus far is Garcia: An American Life by Blair Jackson. Excelllent excellent excellent book. Also check out Tiger in a Trance. Its a fictional book about a deadhead touring. Messed up story to say the least.

[krzykat]

Parishes book is definently the best folowed by:
long strange trip
searching for the sound
living with the dead
Illustrated Dead as a table book is great but hard to just sit down and read same goes for the Family Album
Annotated dead lyrics
Box of rain
there were acouple of books written by Sandy Troy Captain trips, and Playin in the band which are worth a look as well

[Tennessee Jedi]

>>Amyjared....whats wrong with Hank Harrison?Hes the father of Courtney love,I know that.Hung w/the Dead back in the day.Got his book, autographed and everything.Never read it mind you.Whats the deal-eo?

[amyjared]

whats wrong with Hank Harrison?

I have both his books, and they are signed also. The problem is that they are widely regarded as complete fabrications. All the dead members have said as much and most heads I know who are closer to the band than I also concur. Hank was one of the few people who were in the band's camp and then fell way out of favor with them. At least this is what I've been told.