Poet, critic, and counterculture icon John Sinclair’s new book is a great introduction to his oeuvre as well as a compilation of writings that illustrate his themes and concerns. The book alternates between his poetry and essays; it includes some of his better-known work, some more obscure, and one new poem. The poetry consists of his jazz and blues-oriented work including “Spiritual” and “Consequences,” which present jazz as a spiritual, mystical power. His more political and socially-directed pieces include the hilarious “Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do” and “Fat Boy,” but Sinclair is not always ranting and raving. His poem about the death of John Lennon is tender and poignant with its plea at the end to “let us die / at the end of our own time / & not before.”

The essays here are particularly strong. His history of the philosopher/big-band leader Sun Ra gives both an objective view of Sun Ra’s career and details of Sinclair’s personal experiences with the band. His article about Mardi Gras Indians does the same. Sinclair mixes analysis and his own viewpoint to make his subjects more fascinating as he suggests the connections between their art and their lives. In another article about North Alabama bluesman Willie King, Sinclair illuminates the subtlety and poetry of blues music that have been over-analyzed and turned into clichés.

The highlight of the book is the last poem, “It’s All Good.” Here Sinclair contrasts the relaxed attitudes towards marijuana at Amsterdam’s Cannabis Cup with the restrictive policies of the United States. At times both hilarious and harsh, Sinclair throws down the gauntlet on how he sees the recent times in the U.S. And for the most part, he is absolutely correct. His no-nonsense attitude in this area and others makes the writings of Sinclair valuable to our culture at large and to old fans and new acolytes.