Grateful Dead Book:

Editorial Review:
"Deadhead Social Science is a collection of papers examining various aspects of the complex subculture surrounding the rock band, the Grateful Dead. Deadheads, as Grateful Dead fans are called, followed the band from venue to venue until the band announced their dissolution in December of 1995. Deadhead Social Science addresses the questions: What is a Deadhead? How does a Deadhead identity evolve? Why would a person choose an identity that would be viewed negatively by a larger society? Why are Deadheads viewed negatively by the larger society? Is the Deadhead community a popular religion? How did a rock band develop a religious following? The book also examines the music, the role of vendors, and the reaction by host" communities to the Grateful Dead and its following. One key theme in Deadhead Social Science is the interconnections among teaching, research, and personal interests written from a variety of social science disciplinary traditions."

Deadhead Social Science: You Ain't Gonna Learn What You Don't Want to Know Reviews:
useless!!
2006-02-25 - being a deadhead for many years i find this book to be useless and borderline silly. who cares what one lady who became a deadhead in 86' has to say and tries to figure out.
if you want to learn about deadheads then read A LONG STRANGE TRIP or the many others available!!

Brilliant!
2005-02-17 - Why didn't I think of a way to go on tour and get paid for the ride? Lot better than "sp-ang-in'"

The Truth Be Told
2000-06-27 - Everyone who has attended a number of Grateful Dead shows has become aware that something "magical" is going on. Those who "get it" are changed for a lifetime. This book is a compliation of social science research - usually as part of a Masters or Doctorate project - into that phenomena. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an academic approach to this magical and mystical experience. Be aware that the format is not in traditional narrative, but more the way scientific papers are presented - nevertheless, anyone who has been "on the bus" should put this in their library and those who are not on the bus, might finally get some understanding of why the Grateful Dead experience is truly transforming.

Reasons we followed the band...
2000-06-26 - As a Deadhead, this is one of the things I've been waiting for. This is a wonderful collection of papers concerning one of the most influential "bands" in American culture. I recommend this to any Deadhead, and I recommend it to anyone who has ever wondered why we saw as many shows as we did, why we traveled across the country every season, and why we still continue to listen to their music. This should be read by anyone who never understood their sister's, brother's, or child's (make that parent's as well) need to see the shows and be among other Deadheads. This book covers so many facets of the Dead and their fanbase, and each paper is a scholarly piece of academia. Rebecca had such forsight to begin when she did, and I am thankful that she has found so many dedicated Deadheads who have written University thesis papers on the band. Joseph campbell and Jerry Garcia would both be very happy with this work, and I am again very pleased that a book covering this "long, strange trip" has been so wonderfully put together. A true sociological work, this should be considered by any sociology class in every University across the country. Thank you for a real good time.