The Encyclopedia of Sixties Cool: A Celebration of the Grooviest People, Events, and Artifacts of the 1960s

No other decade in modern history was as influential, eclectic and packed with passion as the 1960s. From politics to pop culture, the 60s offered an incredible array of sights, sounds and swingin' sensations. It was the decade of Batman, Bond, the Beatles, bongs, Barbarella, beatniks, beach bunnies and Bob Dylan. From the Rat Pack at the dawn of the decade to the Rolling Stones at its zenith, from Motown to monster movie magazines, from drive-ins to dope, the 60s offered something for jet setters, hippies, suburban kids, surfers, radicals and fun lovin' freaks alike. There were also the tragedies, like JFK, Bobby, MLK and Viet Nam, that still resonate and affect our world today. And let's not forget the sexual revolution underlying this tumultuous explosion of art and war. Chris Strodder has already given us an essential chronicle of this era's sexual icons with his colorful tome "Swingin Chicks of the 60s." Now he broadens his lens to give us a widescreen view of the entire decade, spotlighting all the major figures who had such a powerful impact on all of us born before, during and since, from Hugh Hefner to Abby Hoffman to Andy Warhol and everyone in between and beyond, encompassing an amazing array of styles and attitudes, all of which are still very much evident in today's kaleidoscope, retro-obsessed but identity-challenged culture. Get Smart and Ride this Wild Surf, kids. It's groooooovy.

I found this to be a fun and entertainig return to a decade that defined the Baby Boomers. Just thumbing through the "Encyclopedia" quicky brings back names and faces that I haven't thought about in 30 years. Peter Max, Anita Ekberg, and Olivia Hussey are three. Did you khow that Candy Johnson was considered to be the greatest go-go dancer of the '60s? Neither did I. Do you remember the TV show "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."? Ok, but I bet you don't remember what U.N.C.L.E. stood for. And how about T.H.R.U.S.H.? It's all here and more. This is a must-have for any self-respecting triva player.

Chris Strodder has come up with another winner! It's full of stardust ! What a wonderful book to go down memory lane and reminisce with. A fun read ...It's like going to a birthday party with all the stars. What a great gift for those who are nostalgic for the sixties! And if you're not...you will be after reading this book. Soooo much information. It's great!

This encyclopedia is a colorfully thorough and well-researched collection of facts and interesting details over-flowing from the pages. Not only that but a healthy sprinkling of wit and a nice conglomeration of eye-catching vintage photos make this book an attractive read. The versatility of the writing style make it exciting to read through one article at a time or to flip through aimlessly discovering hidden gems of Sixties trivia. It's a great way to locate classic movies, famous athletes, or inspirational music. Don't try to play a Sixties version of Trivial Pursuit with Chris Strodder, but if you have this source of Sixties knowledge on hand, you'll surely be able to impress your friends.

Chris Strodder has written another fantastic book on the 1960s, but while his previous book "Swingin Chicks of the 60s" focused on 101 of the decade-defining women his current book focuses on the people, events, and just about everything that is memorable about this decade. The book has a "day in history" feature on every page that tells of births, marriages, movie openings and such for that specific date. Strodder writes about the big names of the 60s but always slips in the little-known, offbeat facts. He also writes about others that you might not have known or that might have slipped your mind and it's always clear why they are included. Strodder has side-bar information on astronauts, cars, movies, games, television shows, even Playboy Playmates. The book is fun and fact-filled. and if that isn't enough, the foreword is written by Michelle Phillips (of the Mamas and the Papas and Knot's Landing fame). This book is recommended to those that remember the 60s and those that want to.