avg_rating: 3.75
name: John Curl
about: John Curl is the author of two novels, a memoir, history, poetry, and translations of ancient Maya, Aztec, and Quechua poets. He grew up in New York City, his family a mix of Irish Catholic, English Protestant, and Romanian Jew. On Thanksgiving they all got together and actually had a good time. He has a degree in literature from New York City College, is a member of PEN Oakland and the San Francisco Revolutionary Poets Brigade, and has been a professional woodworker. He resides in the Bay Area. John’s books:NOVELS: The Outlaws of Maroon (2019); The Co-op Conspiracy (2014)HISTORY: Indigenous Peoples Day (2017); For All The People: Uncovering the Hidden History of Cooperation, Cooperative Movements, and Communalism in America (2009, 2012); H John Curl is the author of two novels, a memoir, history, poetry, and translations of ancient Maya, Aztec, and Quechua poets. He grew up in New York City, his family a mix of Irish Catholic, English Protestant, and Romanian Jew. On Thanksgiving they all got together and actually had a good time. He has a degree in literature from New York City College, is a member of PEN Oakland and the San Francisco Revolutionary Poets Brigade, and has been a professional woodworker. He resides in the Bay Area. John’s books:NOVELS: The Outlaws of Maroon (2019); The Co-op Conspiracy (2014)HISTORY: Indigenous Peoples Day (2017); For All The People: Uncovering the Hidden History of Cooperation, Cooperative Movements, and Communalism in America (2009, 2012); History of Collectivity in the San Francisco Bay Area (1982); History of Work Cooperation in America (1980). MEMOIR: Memories of Drop City: The First Hippie Commune and the Summer of Love (2007). POETRY: Yoga Sutras of Fidel Castro (2013, 2014), Revolutionary Alchemy (2012), Scorched Birth (2004), Columbus in the Bay of Pigs (1991); Decade (1987); Tidal News (1982); Cosmic Athletics (1980); Ride the Wind, (1979); The San Francisco General Strike (1978); Insurrection/Resurrection (1975); Commu 1 (1971); Change/Tears (1967).TRANSLATION: Ancient American Poets (2006): Flower Songs of Nezahualcoyotl, Songs of Dzitbalche by Ah Bam, and The Sacred Hymns of Pachacuti. A radical vision of the indigenous world before the European invasion.DRAMA: The Trial of Columbus (2009).Reviews of John's books:About The Co-op Conspiracy.: "Rating: 5 Stars. The Co-op Conspiracy is a fast-paced read, one that is quite empowering and inspiring. Readers will shake their fist at a shade of corruption that is all too believable. And the novel’s intimate closing of two lovers will make readers raise their clenched fists in solidarity." Tony R. Rodriguez, Examiner.comAbout Memories of Drop City:“Highly crafted and brilliant… This might be the most balanced book yet published about the sixties.” Ishmael Reed“With this compelling evocation and portrayal of breathing people… John Curl unpacks the boxed lunch myth of America’s alternative lifestyle Sixties..” Al YoungAbout Indigenous Peoples Day: "This book is a treasure." Roxanne Dunbar-OrtizAbout Revolutionary Alchemy: “John Curl has earned a place—with this book of poems—among the foremost revolutionary American poets since the end of WW2.” Jack HirschmanAbout Yoga Sutras of Fidel Castro:“An absolutely remarkable, wonderful amazing book… I'd never quite experienced anything like it.” Sarah Menafee“This little book of poems is marvelous…It is a short vacation to where all the planetary mess and contradictions are resolved and there is just the infinite cosmos of your mind...heavenly and inspiring.” Nina SerranoAbout Columbus in the Bay of Pigs"It will be hard for me to live each day without quoting from this book." Dennis BanksAbout Scorched Birth: “A Master Poet who uses language in a remarkable, innovative way, he gives us information on contradictions in the evolving state of human consciousness.” Mary Rudge“John Curl is easily my favorite political poet in the country. He packs rhetoric, metaphor and oracular insight into surreal cocktails thrown -- not in revolutionary anger but in the epiphanal arc of love.” Art GoodtimesAbout For All The People"It is indeed inspiring, in the face of all the misguided praise of 'the market', to be reminded by John Curl's book of the noble history of cooperative work in the United States." Howard Zinn“John Curl has done it again with a vital look at America's great history of communalism and coops.” Harvey Wasserman“The self-destroying machine of industrial consumer capitalism lurches toward its collapse, and those who come after will need the information and inspiration in this marvelously detailed book.” Ernest Callenbach ...more