Burning Man Live: 13 Years of Piss Clear, Black Rock City s Alternative Newspaper

If you want to 'know' Burning man, read this book. Piss Clear epitomized BRC gift culture when originally distributed and represented the raw truth in real time as the author(s) saw it. If you've never been to the Playa you should buy this book, if you have been to the Playa, you must buy this book.

This is a great book about the real stories of Burning Man. Hot. Pun intended.

Apparently I'm the only non-staff member who purchased this book so far, and that is a DAMN shame!My first year at Burning Man was 2004 and I was handed a Piss Clear issue from a prior year by one of the Greeters. I read it while waiting in line and was instantly hooked. I found the issue to be way more useful as a Burning Man survival guide then anything doled out in the 'official' welcome pack. I was a virgin mind, who knew little of the history of the Piss Clear project, or Burning Man, or anything. Piss Clear oriented me with humor and style. (an aside - I instantly thought this Adrian person, whomever he (she? wtf?!) was, was a hottie!)Since 2004, through attending, participating in the BM community at the playa and at home, I've become significantly more acquainted with the history of of the event - its watersheds, evolution and permutations. I can say with confidence that this book is quintessential Burning Man! It's a live, sometimes raunchy, always hilarious, chronicle of an event that defies simple categorization or description through some of it's earliest and most tumultuous years. Piss Clear serves as an invaluable snapshot of what Burning Man must've been like in each of it's incarnations between 1994 and 2007. But the real treat is that Piss Clear didn't tow the party line or tell you what the organizers wanted you to know. The newspaper went out of it's way to tell the (biased) truth about Burner Culture, what was happening on the ground, warts and all. You'd never get this info from the Burning Man Organization, and they probably wouldn't want you reading it!The book itself is gorgeous, printed in black and white and looks just like it did when printed on the Playa. It's laid out in sequential order with an agreeable editors note by Adrian for each year. I do wish these snippets would've been fleshed out a little to provide more insight about the mores, general impressions, and hot button issues of that particular year on the playa, but what's provided is adequate and fun to read none the less.When I got my copy I went out onto my apartment's oppressively hot and sunny deck, sprinkled a little playa dust all over myself and started reading. It was just like being back on the playa. That alone is worth the price!

Memory lane never felt so good. I loved those first years going to center camp and getting a copy to go with some coffee. Lots of great memories and I think I cried over some of those past days and nights. I'm missing the good ol daze.

this book conveys the attitude of burning man better than anything else does... great to show friends who are thinking of going

Just because it is what it is, this book defies "review" (its original intended audience left Black Rock City years ago); and just for that I give it 5 stars, for being one of a kind, an original, an anomaly. I've been to Black Rock every year since 2003, and the only gift worth the trouble of taking home to enjoy with friends was Piss Clear (okay, and maybe a few bumper stickers). Thanks to Adrian and the contributors for filling a crying need, namely, a rag to share and give voice to the collective thoughts of all the Burners continually wondering, "WTF am I doing out here?" That being said, reading through 13 years of Piss Clears can get really tedious. "Moby Dick" it ain't! But it can't be critically held to account for that because it's JOURNALISM; it's old news. Reading wise, It's worth the cover price if only because of the odd article that's spot on (a tip of the "Hat" to Malderor) or that puts you in stitches (thanks, Cap'n Shady, now put some pants on, dammit). I would hold on to it, and any original copies you might have in your possession (clean 'em up and put 'em in plastic) because some years from now, long after the Man has burned his last, dying ember, Piss Clear may just well fetch a tidy penny. (Wish I'd bought Crumb's "Heros of the Blues" cards back in 1980 when I had the chance).

Ok, Ok, OK.....So I'm a 'little' biased.I wrote 2 articles, contributed a Fake Ad, and contributed to various and many lists found within the issues of Piss Clear for at least 10 years (1997-2007)I also helped to distribute issues on the Playa along with Piss Clear's rival publication Black Rock Gazette.....I can tell you that many Burners when faced with a choice of this on-the-playa reading material, usually asked for a copy of Black Rock City's Snarky Reality Check called Piss Clear.Now for the first time in all it's sordid and sundry glory, is a Omnibus of 13 years of the Collected Wit & Wisdom (and Snark) that is Piss Clear.Although it doesn't have the faint & familiar scent of newsprint, ink, and Playa Dust.....this brings back fond memories of The Playa & Burning Man.For the First-Time Burner, this is would be a great way to get a bit of a handle on the vibe that is the whole Black Rock City Experience.You might not like some or parts of it, but that's Black Rock City is all about.....If you don't see one of your Sacred Cows being made into Hamburger on the grill.....then you haven't really really seen all that Burning Man & Black Rock City has to offer.Even for the non-Burner, this book is good for some interesting & amusing reading.Yahoos need not apply.

Un libro divertentissimo e molto stimolante anche per chi al Burning Man non è mai stato.Per chi c'è stato, troverà sicuramente la giusta lettura per sentirsi a casa!

I've only been going to the Burn for a couple years now but am always delighted by the writings in Piss Clear. I love how critical they are of the BMorg. When I had the opportunity to buy this book and get all the great back issues of Piss Clear I jumped on it! Highly recommend.

Anyone who is familiar with the mag from Burning Man will love this collection. Great to see this work all collected together.