Goat Brothers

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Summary: White males of the 60s live despite the 60s!
Review: As a white female who matriculated in the'60s,I wondered what the white males of the 60s were up to. I found it astonishing that Larry Colton found the key to get his goat brothers to talk about their motivations (or lack thereof). I was fascinated by his drive to succeed as a writer when previously he was more physically- than artistically-driven. I could not wait to finish this book. I want to know how Larry continued his life. Why hasn't every Kerouac fan read this book?

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Summary: awesome book
Review: buy this book. forever in the bonds of pi phi kappa alpha, singleton

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Summary: Great character study on 5 fraternity bro from Cal (60's).
Review: Colton chronicles the lives of 5 Pike fraternity brothers through their time at CAL during the mid sixties to the nineties. I found some of Colton's descriptions to be belly laughers as he probes his brothers disfunctional love lives and the many ups and downs of their lives. It brought back memories of college life, and rugby life after college. The story caused me to ponder how life deals you a mixed bag, and it particullarly caused me to think about relationships. I highly recommend the book.

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Summary: Frat Life In The Sixties
Review: I first blitzed through this book when it initially came out and thoroughly enjoyed it as I too was a member of the same Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity .... only on another campus at the same time the author was at Berkeley. I found the experiences of fraternity life frighteningly very similar. More remarkable, however, is the candor and honesty the author exhibited in disclosing with his readers the results of his choices made in early adulthood that manifest themselves with a vengence in later life. This book paralells the five lives of both more responsible and lesser responsible young men and the consequences that inevitably take place. The Author lets us in to his inner most circle of friends and family including his famous mother-in-law Hedy Lamarr who died this week. Having just read her obituary I was provoked to reread "Goat Brothers" again after 8 years. Now, with sons and daughters of my own in college, and like Larry having a precious daughter with an eating disorder, I can't think of a better book to have them read to show them the criticality of their young adult decisions and the impact those decisions will have on the rest of their lives. I only wish there was some way to contact the author Larry Colton, to inquire about any other books he's finished or working on, to wish him well, slip him the secret phi phi grip and salute him with a sincere "ppka Brother!".

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Summary: Excellent story of 60s Campus Life
Review: I first read this book when it came out about 7 years ago & am just now getting around to reviewing it. I remember the story as if I'd just read it last week-5 frat boys who became Big Men On Campus, their stories are true and there's never a dull moment. It's all here, the keg parties, the football games, the protests, etc. The book would've made a great tv mini-series, providing they let Larry Colton write the screenplay. Anyway, if this ever comes back in print you should make it a point to buy it. Highly recommended.

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Summary: WHAT A WAKE UP!
Review: I GUESS I MUST HAVE SLEPT THROUGH MOST OT THE TURBULENT 60'S BECAUSE AS I READ LARRY COLTONS BOOK I AM SUDDENLY AWAKENED TO WHAT I HAD EITHER IGNORED OR MISSED DURING THAT TIME. WHILE I WAS MARCHING STRAIGHT AHEAD LARRY APPARENTLY WAS ALLOWING HIMSELF TO SOAK IT ALL IN, THE WAR. DISCRIMINATION, REAGAN, WOMEN, MALE COMORADORIE, AND IN GOAT BROTHERS HE MANAGES TO POIGENTLY REFLECT THE EFFECTS OF THE 60'S SOCIETY ON EACH CHARACTER. HIS SENSITIVITY AND CANDOR MAKE THE BOOK A "CAN'T PUT DOWN, SORRY IT'S OVER" KIND OF READ.

Rating:
Summary: WHAT A WAKE UP!
Review: I GUESS I MUST HAVE SLEPT THROUGH MOST OT THE TURBULENT 60'S BECAUSE AS I READ LARRY COLTONS BOOK I AM SUDDENLY AWAKENED TO WHAT I HAD EITHER IGNORED OR MISSED DURING THAT TIME. WHILE I WAS MARCHING STRAIGHT AHEAD LARRY APPARENTLY WAS ALLOWING HIMSELF TO SOAK IT ALL IN, THE WAR. DISCRIMINATION, REAGAN, WOMEN, MALE COMORADORIE, AND IN GOAT BROTHERS HE MANAGES TO POIGENTLY REFLECT THE EFFECTS OF THE 60'S SOCIETY ON EACH CHARACTER. HIS SENSITIVITY AND CANDOR MAKE THE BOOK A "CAN'T PUT DOWN, SORRY IT'S OVER" KIND OF READ.

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Summary: Becoming Middle Aged is not just a 60's Experience
Review: The experience of approaching middle age and assesing the years from College until hitting 40 are really timeless. The 60s provide an interesting backdrop, but the compelling essence of Larry Colton's story is the paths that lives took, not the period in which they travled

Rating:
Summary: Why care about these people?
Review: The men are jerks. The women who put up with them lack even a shred of self-respect. The description of events in the 60s is interesting, but hardly interesting enough to make up for the sad characters.

Rating:
Summary: Why care about these people?
Review: The men are jerks. The women who put up with them lack even a shred of self-respect. The description of events in the 60s is interesting, but hardly interesting enough to make up for the sad characters.