The Fool's Gambit
a Psychedelic Memoir by
Patrick Brumm
Trips through the 1980's
drug counter-culture
The Book
Channeling the restless spirit of the Beats into the psychedelic counterculture of the late 20th century, this coming-of-age memoir traces the true story of a seeker living on the edges of the ordinary. From hitchhiking the highways of America to drug-fueled vision quests, from the South American Andes to a federal prison sentence, it is a chaotic journey toward meaning and transformation. Inspired by Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha and Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, the author moves from a family life rocked by enmity to reckless freedom and adventure, guided by strange teachers and chance encounters of the road. From Grateful Dead concerts and Rainbow Gatherings to a cold iron bed, this is a process of self-discovery shaped by Life itself. Every mile of the road and every day in a prison cell bring lessons of survival, patience, impermanence, and rebirth in the search for a savage grace. A raw, unflinching chronicle of adventure, rebellion, and the Family found along the way—where even bad trips, breakdowns, and bureaucracy yield wisdom worth carrying home.
Road Stories
Snapshots from a psychedelic journey through 1980s America.
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