The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test

Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 1968

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Download PDF

Access Full Guide

Before You Read Beta

Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-6

Chapters 7-9

Chapters 10-12

Chapters 13-15

Chapters 16-19

Chapters 20-23

Chapter 24-Epilogue

Key Figures

Themes

Index of Terms

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

In what ways are the Beat Generation and the Merry Pranksters similar and in what ways do they differ? How does Tom Wolfe compare or contrast the two?

Consider how Ken Kesey and the setting on Perry Lane evolved after he began taking part in the experiments with psychotomimetic drugs at the Veterans Hospital. What is Wolfe’s attitude to Kesey’s enthusiasm for psychedelic drugs?

Explain and discuss what Kesey means by his repeated metaphor of “being on the bus.”