A Long Strange Trip

The Inside History of the Grateful Dead

By: Dennis McNally

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

From 1965 to 1995, the Grateful Dead flourished as one of the most beloved, unusual, and accomplished musical entities to ever grace American culture. The creative synchronicity among Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart, and Ron "Pigpen" McKernan exploded out of the early 60s roots and folk scene, providing the soundtrack for the Dionysian revels of the counterculture.

Dennis McNally, the band's historian and publicist for more than 20 years, takes listeners back through the Dead's history in A Long Strange Trip. McNally not only chronicles their experiences in a fascinatingly detailed fashion, but veers off into side trips on the band's intricate stage setup, or the magic of the Grateful Dead concert experience. McNally carries the Dead's saga through the 70s and into the more recent years of constant touring and incessant musical exploration. Written with the same zeal and spirit that the Grateful Dead brought to its music, the book takes listeners on a personal tour through the band's inner circle, highlighting its frenetic and very human faces. A Long Strange Trip is not only a wide-ranging cultural history, it is a definitive musical biography.

©2002 Dennis McNally (P)2017 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Wonderful telling of an extraordinary story.

A perfect balance of historical accounts and storytelling written in a way that any psychonaut can appreciate.

Awesome

I really enjoyed this book reminded me of my days in college and following the Dead

Inspiration move me brightly

A fantastic listen full of high times and low spells…only saw the dead twice in 1993 but I am as described in the book a “dead head” for life. No one did or will ever do again what the Grateful Dead were able to do.

long for sure

loved it. it's long but worth it if you like reading about bands that formed in the 60s and the whole hallucinogenic drug scene. never did hard drugs but that culture is fascinating to me for some reason.

Long strange trip

This was my first Grateful Dead book. It was a very good history of the band. It was a fine example of how even the most flawed individuals can really make a difference in this world.

Excellent narrator and book

The best narrator I have listened to. Engrossing book. It started slow for me but after about 5 hours it really takes off. I’m sad I’m finished with it

Righteous

Listen to this and learn a million miles more than just Dead history. Especially fitting reader

A Trip Down Memory Lane with Jehovah‘s Greatest Choir ❣️

Only a man like Mr. Dennis McNally could have the Memory & Craftsmanship to capture the Magical Journeys we Dead Heads experienced over the Decades while celebrating the Music & Friendships that were weaved by The Good Old Grateful Dead. Thank You Eileen and All of the Kind people who kept their Big Wheels turning for 50 years 🙏🏽 There will Never be be anything like a Grateful Dead Show Ever Again 🌹 I am forever Thankful to special folks like Lloyd Bove,Cassidy, Joanne Wishnoff, Francine Accardi, Steve Marcus and of course ALL the members of the Band & Crew who treated me so well formal they yard combined ❣️❣️❣️

unabashed honesty

Brent Mydland seemed to pop up all throughout the book from the early chapter to outside of all the timelines (?)

McNally nails the Dead!

In all my years of listening to the Dead and the few occasions I had to see them live, I never had a complete understanding of what made the band tick and never knew the great stories that preceded my 80s experience with the band. I have a much better understanding of what I've loved for the last 35+ years. I am so Grateful for having listened to nearly 30 hours of Grateful Dead stories and history. Well done all around. I give this production my highest marks. The only drawback is the fast as lightning finish. The last decade or so is read in just a few hours. But that will not effect how I rate this gem. Excellent!