John Black, an anonymous figure from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, captured the harsh realities of the dying Wild West era in his writing. As a former hobo and burglar, he wrote from personal experience, aiming to warn others against crime while also critiquing the futility of prisons and the justice system. His memoir, shaped by a life on the road and in prison, profoundly influenced the Beat Generation, particularly William S. Burroughs, who mirrored his style and philosophy. Post-imprisonment, Black dedicated himself to prison reform, lecturing nationwide, his life tragically concluding in a manner foreshadowed by his own words on life's grim prospects.
A Psychoanalytic Exploration
Exploring comedy as a vital element of social interaction, this book examines its subversive nature and its role in challenging notions of political correctness. Through an innovative and multidisciplinary lens, it delves into how humor can critique societal norms and foster dialogue about cultural issues, offering fresh insights into the interplay between comedy and popular culture.
The first important scholarly consideration of Enlightenment historiography of the twentieth century, this book, originally published in 1926, critically examines the ideas of Voltaire, Hume, Robertston and Gibbon with respect to the theory and practice of historiography. The substantial introduction outlines the main differences between the ideals of these literary-philosophical schools and those which prevailed among historians in the early 20th century. The author argues that history can never be devoid of philosphical and literary interest, and that if it concerns itself merely with the stablishment of fact, will be a discipline of "contracting horizons."
(Play It Like It Is). 15 songs from the self-titled debut by the acoustic metal/comedy duo of Kyle Gass and Jack Black. Includes: Double Team * Explosivo * Kielbasa * Malibu Nights * Rock Your Socks * Tribute * and more. PARENTAL ADVISORY FOR EXPLICIT LYRICS.
You hold in your hands a true lost classic, one of the most legendary cult books every published in America. Jack Black's autobiography was a bestseller and went through five printings in the late 1920's. It has led a mostly subterranean existence since then - best known as William S. Burrough's favorite book, one he admitted lifting big chunks of from memory for his first novel, Junky. But it's time we got wise to this book, which is in itself a remarkably wise book - and a ripping true saga. It's an amazing journey into the hobo underworld: freight hopping around the still wide open West at the turn of the 20th century, becoming a member of the "yegg" (criminal) brotherhood and a highwayman, learning the outlaw philosophy from Foot-and-a-half George and the Sanctimonious Kid, getting hooked on opium, passing through hobo jungles, hop joints and penitentiaries. This is a chunk of the American story entirely left out of the history books - it's a lot richer and stranger than the official version. This new edition also includes an Afterword that tells some of what became of Black after he wore out the outlaw life and washed up in San Francisco, wrote this book and reinvented himself.