The Living Theatre was and continues to be a radical theatre collective who approaches their art as a medium for social change and commentary. The Life of the Theare is a collection of Julian Beck's journals in the 1960s and early 70s. The book chronicles Beck's thoughts on theatre and social change as they intersect and diverge and as he struggles to make a theatre of meaning--theatre worthy of its participants and spectators.

Contemporary readers will find some of the rhetoric a bit dated, but there is no doubt that the goals of Julian Beck and the Living Theatre remain as vital today as at the group's founding over 40 years ago. This book is a must read for all artists and activists alike.

Julian was such an awesome writer! I'm an avid admirer of his work. This is a great book! Beautiful poems!! :) Nobody could've writen 'em better!

I think this book is awesome (I am currently reading it), it has tons of stuff included in it. Everything from his background to his discography, and the discography is not only a list, it tells all about his songs and albums. The only reason I did not give it a 5 was because it did not have too many pictures, and the few it had, I did not think they were that good. So if you are looking for a book with lots of pictures, this is not it. But if you just want to learn more about him and his work's affect on people, get it! I think it was worth the price.

This book is probbaly the most worthy of all the Beck books out there, it is VERY insightful and full of wonderfull analisies of concerts and preformances. They actually went to the source for information... unlike some of the other books. I also recommend Beck and AL Hansen Playing with Matches... very inspriational!!! and almost a thesis for life and art. and also Beck on a Backwords river. cute interviews and stories from his childhood!