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laconsstorynook's review against another edition
2.0
I have always known about Woodstock (Honestly who doesn't ) But I had never known the in depth information about this iconic festival.
This book was very informative and very very in depth.
I enjoyed it but it defiantly read like a documentary and I think I would had preferred watching it over reading it.
This book was very informative and very very in depth.
I enjoyed it but it defiantly read like a documentary and I think I would had preferred watching it over reading it.
shumska's review against another edition
3.0
okej - ni manje ni više od toga. možda malo prenatrpano imenima, sudionicima.. nisam uspjela pohvatati sve te likove koji se spominju u smislu "tko je što bio i koju je ulogu odigrao" - navikla sam upoznavati likove preko karakternih osobina i kroz priču, a ovdje se uglavnom predstavljaju kao akteri bez neke dublje podloge. očekivala sam knjigu koja bi mi uspješnije prenijela duh woodstocka, a dobila sam pregled organizacije - od ideje do konačne realizacije. izbor fotografija mogao je biti bolji, sitne su i nekvalitetne, pa sam dodatno tražila po internetu, a za vrijeme čitanja čak sam i slušala muziku izvođača s woodstocka ( joan baez, janis joplin), ali ni to mi nije pomoglo u približavanju atmosfere.
ovu knjigu napisao je michael lang, idejni začetnik i organizator woodstocka i nisam dobila dojam da je nepristran. voljela bih pročitati neku knjigu na temu woodstocka, ali s pogledom "iznutra" - što se doista događalo i kako je doista bilo.
ovu knjigu napisao je michael lang, idejni začetnik i organizator woodstocka i nisam dobila dojam da je nepristran. voljela bih pročitati neku knjigu na temu woodstocka, ali s pogledom "iznutra" - što se doista događalo i kako je doista bilo.
cabinhermit's review against another edition
4.0
from the producer's POV - I was hoping for more backstory for the actual days of the festival.
courtjester's review against another edition
Boring. It seemed much more about Lang's personal life rather than the actual festival
kkprettypretty23's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
marycokelette's review against another edition
5.0
For anybody that wanted to know the behind the scenes of one of the biggest festival to ever occur, this is your book. Michael Lang writes beautifully regarding his uprising and the many details that put together the best event that concluded one of the best decades of our time.
deearr's review against another edition
3.0
"If You Remember the Sixties, You Weren’t Really There."
In regard to the above headline: Forty years after Woodstock, author Michael Lang admitted that “…doing the early interviews for this book convinced me that I was” and that “…my memories of those times remained vague.” For those not aware, author Michael Lang was one of the four principals who conceived the idea of a music festival back in 1969. Mr. Lang was the originator of this idea, and while he was a positive factor in achieving his main assignment (signing the entertainment), the rest of the author’s ramblings appear to be a mixture of whimsy and cannabis smoke.
Much of the beginning allows the reader access to the author’s thoughts, a world where drugs are supreme. In his own words: “I loved listening to jazz while stoned” and a few pages later “I loved listening to music on acid.” This is not my personal comment on drug use. Rather, it is a huge reveal as to the driving force behind many of Mr. Lang’s actions. These are not remote comments. Throughout the entire book, the author continues to indulge, and many of his quotes from others mention getting high.
Although Mr. Lang glosses over his early failures, his business acumen concerning musical events is revealed, again in his own words: “Joint Productions owed a lot of people money that we didn’t have…we weren’t going to be able to pay…” In fact, his first three festivals (including Woodstock) were losing propositions. In reading this book and others, one finds that the monetary aspect is not what the author considers important (feel free to refer back to the drugs and music quotes above).
This book feels like a narcissistic effort by Mr. Lang to enlarge his efforts from what they actually were. He downplays the bands he couldn’t get as if their absence from Woodstock was his choice. Inserting carefully worded quotes to support this view might sway some people, unless they have done some additional research. For those looking for a balanced view of how the Woodstock festival came together, I would recommend Bob Spitz’s “Barefoot in Babylon,” a book that is extensively researched and offers a balanced view of all the great efforts and unforeseen errors by the many people involved.
Personally, I can understand why people are swayed by Mr. Lang. He is convincing as a writer, and must be even more powerful in person. Some of his recounting of events match what others say, others march in a different direction (and these usually paint the author in a positive light). If you are searching for info about Woodstock, I suggest not making this book your only source. Read this book and take what the author says with a grain of salt…and maybe have the entire container available. You might need it. Three stars.
In regard to the above headline: Forty years after Woodstock, author Michael Lang admitted that “…doing the early interviews for this book convinced me that I was” and that “…my memories of those times remained vague.” For those not aware, author Michael Lang was one of the four principals who conceived the idea of a music festival back in 1969. Mr. Lang was the originator of this idea, and while he was a positive factor in achieving his main assignment (signing the entertainment), the rest of the author’s ramblings appear to be a mixture of whimsy and cannabis smoke.
Much of the beginning allows the reader access to the author’s thoughts, a world where drugs are supreme. In his own words: “I loved listening to jazz while stoned” and a few pages later “I loved listening to music on acid.” This is not my personal comment on drug use. Rather, it is a huge reveal as to the driving force behind many of Mr. Lang’s actions. These are not remote comments. Throughout the entire book, the author continues to indulge, and many of his quotes from others mention getting high.
Although Mr. Lang glosses over his early failures, his business acumen concerning musical events is revealed, again in his own words: “Joint Productions owed a lot of people money that we didn’t have…we weren’t going to be able to pay…” In fact, his first three festivals (including Woodstock) were losing propositions. In reading this book and others, one finds that the monetary aspect is not what the author considers important (feel free to refer back to the drugs and music quotes above).
This book feels like a narcissistic effort by Mr. Lang to enlarge his efforts from what they actually were. He downplays the bands he couldn’t get as if their absence from Woodstock was his choice. Inserting carefully worded quotes to support this view might sway some people, unless they have done some additional research. For those looking for a balanced view of how the Woodstock festival came together, I would recommend Bob Spitz’s “Barefoot in Babylon,” a book that is extensively researched and offers a balanced view of all the great efforts and unforeseen errors by the many people involved.
Personally, I can understand why people are swayed by Mr. Lang. He is convincing as a writer, and must be even more powerful in person. Some of his recounting of events match what others say, others march in a different direction (and these usually paint the author in a positive light). If you are searching for info about Woodstock, I suggest not making this book your only source. Read this book and take what the author says with a grain of salt…and maybe have the entire container available. You might need it. Three stars.
shakesfear's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Wonderful, behind the scene story of how Woodstock came about. Amazing it happened at all, based on the revelations in this book.
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