Brian's Favorite Books and Books Favored By The 1960's Counterculture.

[Dunderhead]

I've tried to make this thread once before but it failed to yield satisfying results so I thought I'd try again in the general forum. I've heard a couple of books referenced in relation to Brian Wilson before on this site, "The Act Of Creation" and a couple of books by Alan Watts on psychedelic cosmology. I've also heard him mention an interest in "metaphysics" several times, whether he was simply trying to sound smart or had a genuine interest in Hegel and Kant has always peaked my curiosity. And first and foremost I'd like this thread to give some insight as to anything Brian might have read during the 60's, especially any literary works he read. I'm hoping some other fans can recall some choice information from interviews over the years or any tidbits they may be privy to regarding this topic.

Secondly I'd like to invite any old farts out there who lived through the era to share their memories of popular and fashionable literature during the period in question, and everyone else to give me some explicit cases of literary allusions in psychedelic songs. I'm fascinated by the link between the 1960's in America and the 1790's in Germany. It seems to me the number of shared preoccupations of the two decades suggest something more than a passing coincidence. The first Renaissance Fairs started in the mid-60's in Laurel Canyon no less, if I'm not mistaken, recalling the inaugural work of German Romanticism: Outpourings Of An Art Loving Friar. A Book which began a generational obsession with the simple and unified lifestyle associated with Medieval and Renaissance cultures.

One of the more popular literary genres of the 1960's seems to have been fantasy. There's a late 60's video where Al Jardine can be seen reading Tolkien, there was a band named Gandalf, another called Silmaril, a contemporary magazine called Gandalf's Garden and multiple songs with titles taken from "The Lord Of The Rings". CS Lewis, HP Lovecraft, and Lewis Carroll are other names which have come up as the preferred authors of the 1960's counterculture. The entire genre of fantasy was first codified and it's chief influences originally collected by German authors around the turn of the 19th Century. George Macdonald, a Victorian minister has been generally acknowledged as the grandfather of modern fantasy, in his first novel "Phantastes" uses quotes from several 18th Century German writers as epigraphs. The book begins with an excerpt from the Romantic author par-excellence, Novalis, who arguably created the first modern fantasy novel by combining mystical spirituality, Medieval romance, radical Pietism, transcendental philosophy, and supernatural fairy tales into a single unified whole. George Macdonald was deeply influenced by Novalis and translated a lot of his poetry into English for the first time. Macdonald in turn was a mentor and advocate of none other than Lewis Carroll and himself served as model for CS Lewis and, to a lesser extent, JRR Tolkien. HP Lovecraft on the other hand was greatly enamored with Edgar Allan Poe, whose work owes a large debt to Romantic composer and author ETA Hoffmann, whom Lovecraft also recognizes as one of the genres forebearers in his essay on the history of supernatural literature.

Hermann Hesse is another author widely claimed by the 60's counterculture, and my current read through his novel, "The Glass Bead Game", partially inspired this thread as that book mentions Goethe numerous times as well as Novalis, whom he amusingly calls "hallucinatory" (another review of Novalis' major work used the term 'mythological consciousness expansion' to describe it, and I would argue he remains the best psychedelic author even 200+ years after his death). Hesse's blurb graces the back of my copy of Goethe's second novel, and from what I've been able to gather he spent much of his youth reading the Romantics. He also enjoys a close association with the German "life reformers", seemingly a precursor to our better known hippies, who grew out their hair, attempted communal living, and popularized ideas of ecology and health food, ideas which were developed by some of Goethe's major acolytes from the time of his death through the end of the 19th Century, and transmitted to 20th Century California by German immigrants. The very early hippies were called "Nature Boy"s thanks to eden ahbez's song of the same name, which was made famous by Nate King Cole in the late 40's. ahbez went on to record what is sometimes considered the first psychedelic album in 1960, and associated with Brian Wilson on at least one occasion during the SMiLE-era, as captured by a candid photo from one of that period's sessions.

These are only some of the interesting associations I've come across, and the various subconscious relations and hidden connections interest me greatly. Hence this thread. Unfortunately information is scant when it comes to what books 60's musicians, particularly Brian Wilson, actually enjoyed. Just a few hints, the Arthur C Clarke reference on the final track of "Notorious Byrd Brothers", a couple of James Joyce allusions on Jefferson Airplane and Dr. Strangely Strange LPs, and a few mentions by other fans to the popularity of "Stranger In A Strange Land", not to mention the obvious influence of Beat poets in some circles. Beyond that I don't know much, but have found if very illuminating to hear what little I have. So Please, share if you're able!  

[stack-o-tracks]

I dunno if he was reading it or if he was holding it for effect.



"A New Way To Get More Living Out Of Life"

You can find pdfs via Google search if you are interested in reading.

[Andrew G. Doe]

All I can contribute is that Asher referred to the books Brian took a liking to, or was introduced to - among them The Little Prince and The Prophet - as "the marshmallow mystics".

And I'm sorry, but Alan reading The Hobbit just makes me break out into a broad grin. 

[Dunderhead]

All I can contribute is that Asher referred to the books Brian took a liking to, or was introduced to - among them The Little Prince and The Prophet - as "the marshmallow mystics".

And I'm sorry, but Alan reading The Hobbit just makes me break out into a broad grin. 

I think it was Fellowship actually, it's in a video of them on European tour sometime in '68 or '69 I think. Al really does make a good dwarf though doesn't he?

[Andrew G. Doe]

All I can contribute is that Asher referred to the books Brian took a liking to, or was introduced to - among them The Little Prince and The Prophet - as "the marshmallow mystics".

And I'm sorry, but Alan reading The Hobbit just makes me break out into a broad grin.  

I think it was Fellowship actually, it's in a video of them on European tour sometime in '68 or '69 I think. Al really does make a good dwarf though doesn't he?

BRI watchers, please note that I didn't say that.  

[Dunderhead]

I refuse to believe I stumped Smiley Smile

[bgas]

I refuse to believe I stumped Smiley Smile

You're saying Al is a stump on Smiley Smile?

[rab2591]

Okay, I'm not certain that 'On The Road' (Kerouac) was favored by the 60s counterculture, but I do know it helped spark the counterculture.

I've just gotten into Jack Kerouac and I am greatly impressed by his writing. I just finished the book 'The Town and the City' (his first published novel) and it was incredible. On The Road, Dharma Bums, Big Sur, Desolation Angels are all great insights into the mind of someone who just wants to GO and live in excess....and they're also about the terrifying consequences of living such a life.

Ginsberg's poetry also helped spark the hippie culture. Bob Dylan was greatly inspired by the Beat generation, incorporating that 'stream of consciousness' style to his own work (Subterranean Homesick Blues, Like A Rolling Stone, etc).
_____

And PLEASE. Fellow members please contribute to this thread. I too would love to know about popular 60s literature, as well as books Brian was reading at the time. Thanks for starting the thread Fishmonk. Apologies for not contributing much, but I too am looking for answers!

[Bill Tobelman]

Brian's bogus bio has that sentence that appeals to me as it includes, "...hallucinations are comparable to Zen riddles....".

In Arthur Koestler's The Act Of Creation there is a footnote that actually infers that there is truth to be had from the above quoted phrase. The footnote reference cites an earlier Koestler title, 1960's The Lotus And The Robot. In short, The Lotus And The Robot moves from India & Yoga to Japan & Zen.

When checking out the Zen part of the book some of Brian's dealings with Derek Taylor during the SMiLE period came to mind.

If you recall one episode Brian is eating a burger while espousing the virtues of health. Koestler might point to such deliberate irrationality as being much like Zen's koans.

Another Derek Taylor memory from the time has something to do with Brian saying "have some tea, there isn't any tea" which Taylor compares to a Mad Hatter's tea party. Koestler cites a Zen master's quote, "my tea is no tea" which is similar to Taylor's in meaning & subject matter. Koestler also compares Zen to Alice In Wonderland just as Derek Taylor compared Brian's tea comments to the Lewis Carroll's work.

Here's a Koestler passage: "...but his (Christmas Humphreys') greatest satori (enlightenment) he had in a Turkish bath - which conjures up the image of Archimedes jumping out of the tub to shout Eureka."

This passage reminds one of The Act Of Creation which traces the creative act across the spectrum of humour, science ("discovery") and art. The passage is comparing Zen's satori to science's 'eureka moment' ---and those familiar with The Act Of Creation will know that such 'eureka moments' very often occur with the aid of the unconscious (dreams, hallucinations, psychoses).

Frank Holes' essay in the SMiLE box's book brings up the similarities and intersection of art & science & Mr. Holmes sometimes references 'enlightenment' in his SMiLE work (see the "Surf's Up" article in Goldmine). The key to everything during SMiLE for Brian Wilson (according to David Anderle) was 'humour' and Arthur Koestler's The Act Of Creation & The Lotus And The Robot help merge these topics together and make all about the same phenomenon.

"He (Brian) felt that the moment somebody laughed, that while they're laughing, that all control was gone. They cannot control themselves. And at that moment they can have a spiritual experience." - Michael Vosse

[Lowbacca]

a) Regarding Al: look at his physique. He would make a better Hobbit than a Dwarf. Obviously.  Does anyone know if he has hairy feet?
b) When I was around 17 I read "The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are" (Alan Watts) after reading somewhere that Brian was into it. It's real good, as is most of Watts's stuff. I've re-read it 3 times since then, and it inspired me to read more about Zen buddhism. Glad I found out about that book back then.
c) LotR. 

[Bill Tobelman]

Brian Wilson flat out stated that Arthur Koestler's book The Act Of Creation connected humor to ego as far as Brian was concerned.

SMiLE was to be Brian's humor album, the whole thing was based on humor. Koestler's theory is that humor is only arrived at when someone picks up on another level of understanding, when someone gets the joke. Riddles are based on the idea that solver must solve the riddle. Similarly scientists work at solving the riddle of nature and consumers of works of art must solve, or recreate, the artist's state of mind to transcend their self and gain insight. In any & all of these situations the answer or solution is not obviously apparent. The consumer or participant must find the answer for themselves.

Koestler champions the use of the unconscious as it connects that which cannot be connected by rational thought.

Franks Holmes does the same when his 2 incompatible points of view coexist in his "Surf's Up" drawing. These two things cannot exist rationally but can indeed exist in the dream state. The dreamlike state of mind enables these things to be accessible.

http://www.goldminemag.com/tag/frank-holmes

[DonnyL]

Thanks for the tip re: The Act of Creation.  I just bought a copy.

I too am interested in any info re: the books BW was into in '66-'67.

[Dunderhead]

It just seems to be a mystery, there are only a couple of books we know for sure that Brian read. The two Andrew posted were new to me, but I'm absolutely not surprised that Brian liked The Little Prince. I think there was something in the box liner notes of one of his friends recalling he read a lot, but it's something interviewers never really bother to ask him.

I guess that's how music is a lot of the time, Roger Mcguinn seemingly really liked science fiction but I haven't read anything about what books he actually read. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress? Philip K Dick? Any clue as to what Arthur Lee was reading? He mention anything in his biography?

[UK_Surf]

A good point of entry on this might be to have a look at what VDP was into. He's stated that he was involved in the San Francisco coffee house circuit, which would include a good sampling of the Ferlinghetti/city lights beats crew, and perhaps (this would almost certainly be VDP rather than BW) a smattering of later modernists (Rexroth, Levertov, even Williams).

[hypehat]

rab, for some beat/counterculture curio you can't miss And The Hippos Were Boiled In Their Tanks by Kerouac and William Burroughs. It's not the greatest work by either of them, but it's really enjoyable.

[Jaco]

A year ago I tried to compile a list of books Brian Wilson might have read.
Most of the info comes from this Smiley forum.

Maxwell Maltz - Psycho-Cybernetics (1960) (hey, that's in the photo also!)
Alan Watts - The Joyous Cosmology (1962)
Jeffrey Swann - Toehold On Zen (1962)
Arthur Koestler - The Act Of Creation (1964) (most often mentioned)
Edgar Allan Poe - any?/maybe The Pit And The Pendulum story? (1842)

Some more *speculation:
*Jane Roberts - How To Develop Your ESP Power (1966)?
*Timothy Leary - The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead (1964 book, 1966 lp)?
*Timothy Leary - Psychedelic Prayers after the Tao Te Ching 1966?
*books by Sartre, Camus, Kant?
*religious books: Bible, the Bhagavad Gita, the I Ching?
*general books like from Robert Frost, Ralph Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Mark Twain, Sherwood Anderson etc?

& Peter Reum's guesses in a msg from 2005:
Secrets of the I Ching
The Bhaghavad Gita
Tibetan Book of the Dead
Darkness at Noon
The Sleepwalkers
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
several Alan Watts books
The Last Temptation of Christ

[rab2591]

rab, for some beat/counterculture curio you can't miss And The Hippos Were Boiled In Their Tanks by Kerouac and William Burroughs. It's not the greatest work by either of them, but it's really enjoyable.

Thanks Hypehat! I actually own the book but I've yet to read it - I think it will be my next book!
______

And thanks Jaco! I just bought a book of Poe's work yesterday, really glad I did now!

[Dunderhead]

Excellent excellent post! Thanks for that great info.
And I totally forgot about the I Ching. I think Goodbye Surfing Hello God mentions him consulting the I Ching during a dinner party. Brian was pretty well read.

Keep 'em coming guys!

[18thofMay]

great thread Fishmonk! Really enjoying some of the contributions!!!

[Myk Luhv]

Even the mere speculation that Brian might've read Kant is hilarious to me. Novalis on the other hand...

[Dunderhead]

Even the mere speculation that Brian might've read Kant is hilarious to me. Novalis on the other hand...

I'm surprised Novalis wasn't popular in the 60s, I guess he was a little too obscure.

[Jason Penick]

This is  just a guess of course, but I'd bet good money Brian was at least familiar with the book "Games People Play" by Dr. Eric Berne.  Seems like pop psych would have been his bag back then, but that's just a hunch.

Clearly at some point Bri must have thumbed through "Science of Being and the Art of Living" and "Meditations of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi".  Maharishi also has his own translation of the Bagavad-Gita available back then.

I reckon he probably happened upon Castaneda's "The Teachings of Don Juan" as well at some point.

Did Del Close write any books?  Seems like Brian would have been one with The Harold, if it even existed back then. 

We actually have confirmation that Thomas Pynchon was at Brian's house courtesy of Jules Siegal!

If he was into fiction, I'm betting he loved him some Norman Mailer.  I feel like everyone was reading Mailer back in the sixties.

And of course, everything everyone else mentioned: Psycho-cybernetics, The Prophet, i Ching, Watts, Tibetian Book of the Dead, Woody Allen, Joan Didion...  This stuff was all de riguer in the sixties.

[Amanda Hart]

Did Del Close write any books?  Seems like Brian would have been one with The Harold, if it even existed back then. 

Del did write a book on The Harold, Truth in Comedy came out in 1994, so I doubt Brian's ever read it. It's a very good guide on the form and improv in general, but I don't think it would have been Brian's thing even in the 60s. The Harold as we know it today really took form around 1967, so it would have just been in its infancy. Del Close is such an interesting character though. Anyone interested in 60s culture or improv comedy look into him.