This was just a blast. Giorno is ridiculous, but also -- what a life! Last year MoMA had a small exhibit of Giorno's Dial-a-Poem project, and several months back Patti Smith mentioned Dial-a-Poem in one of her mesmerizing stories from the stage. My son and I also had a lengthy discussion of Andy Warhol's Sleep (for those who have not seen it, it is 5 hours of John Giorno sleeping.) All this is to say he has been on my mind. I was not aware this book existed until last year, but as soon as I learned of its existence, in the midst of all the Giorno references in my life, I put it on the short TBR. What a good choice.

For anyone interested in the mid-20th NYC art world this is a must-read. Giorno waxes nostalgic on the "golden age of promiscuity" and he banged most anyone who was anyone. He knew everyone and had sexual encounters and/or lengthy relationships with Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Allen Ginsburg, Jack Keroac, William Burroughs, Jasper Johns and others (some without the widely known brand names of those mentioned here, but many of who were very important to art history.) In truth this is not my favorite artistic epoch. Burroughs had some real antisocial personality disorder hallmarks and Ginsburg was a pedophile, and I, for aesthetic reasons rather than their unappealing personal choices, find their work to be unadulterated shit. True story, I once stepped on a Rauschenberg installation at MoMA and set off all the alarms because I thought it was just a pile of shipping packaging someone had not disposed of yet. Concept alone is not art, the concept needs to be well executed. Warhol and Jasper Johns made things pretty to look at, (whether it is art is in the eye of the beholder), and effectively shattered the barriers between iconography and art (or maybe popular movements and fine art.) I am not sure we were not better off with the barrier, but I also cop to being super comfortable considering myself as a member of the cultural elite. (I can't say if anyone else considers me to be in that club, but it is one I am happy to pay my dues to.) All that said, it is hard to argue that these people were not interesting, and they unquestionably moved art forward with good and bad results. Reading this it appears they were all hatched in some Area 51 facility and it is clear they all brought unique visions to the world. This is as good a chronicle as I have ever read of an artistically fecund time, one that changed the larger society, and it is entertaining as hell. Ridiculous? Yes, frequently, but compelling and well-written.

I don't usually include trigger warnings, but if you think you will be traumatized by reading descriptions of the specific sensations of penetrating the assholes or the unique taste of the cum of Rauschenberg, Burroughs, et al, take a pass. Ditto if drug use bugs you. There is a lot of both. Also if you don't want to read about ushering Burroughs through the Bardo, you don't want to read this -- there is a lot of Eastern Mysticism lite running through the second half of the book that might be problematic for Buddhists and Atheists. Otherwise, have at it!

I could not put this book down, but made myself because I wanted to try and roll it out and make it last. Giorno's ability to write such intimate and revealing details with complete detachment and non-judgement, reveals his commitment and practice of Buddhism, and his natural state of being-ness which seems to me as one who was absolutely present and understood his natural and complete-yet-evolving growth of self irregardless of societal norms, and ways of being. An incredible life he shares with a rare honesty. I loved this book. I loved feeling as-if I were with him as he regarded his experiences, exploits, loves, and in turn reminded me why I am an artist and seeker, especially as (currently) hitting the one-year mark with Covid duress.

For anyone who is a fan of the 1960s, poetry, Andy Warhol, and the history of Gay New York City. I wish John would have focused a bit more on his writing, reflections on his impact to the scene, as he spent a lot of time focused on the details of others. And although those other characters - Warhol, Rauschenberg, Burroughs - are fascinating, I was hoping to learn more about Giorno. Unless, is he just a sum of parts - a collection of experiences from this other 'Demon Kings'? Nevertheless, a fascinating, scintillating read from a dying breed.

where to begin with this review...
this is one extraordinary book and I waited for it for a few months and was able to get the book book from my library in SF CA. This is definitely not a book for all to read. It has must have a particular audience of readers. Many may read it and say its not well written or its too sexually graphic or it is boring or anything rather than to recognize that this is a special book about a time in history and with its focus on NYC and the art scene and the artists and then further on it is about the life of a gay man who is very sexual and who did lot of drugs and alcohol. This is also a man who was an activist. Nothing about him or his life is "usual" ....
John giorno knew everyone in NYC then in 60s and most of the book is about that period yet not all. It is also about his own development as a Tibetan Buddhist and his time in India.
I would say this is a very rich book for some people...
The great demon kings in his title are those powerful famous men he knew who survive thru their Egos...
John Giorno finished this book in 2018 after 25y and it could not have been published I think during his lifetime. He died in 2019. the book was just released now in 2020.
John Giorno was a gay Italian American from outside of NYC in Roslyn Heights and his parents were wealthy and loved him. This book isn't about his childhood tho it begins when he was young. He met Warhol when he worked on Wall Street and he left the job to Be a poet and his parents supported that and him. He was an important Poet and very well regarded by many people in New York City. This book is about his life and his beliefs and his fears and his depressions and his affairs and his loves and his inner struggles.
I wish I had known him...

from Judy g

Absolutely adored. The most salacious memoir I’ve ever read. Which, I guess is to be expected- this is John Giorno we’re talking about! When the subtitle of this book says “a memoir of poetry, sex, art, death, and enlightenment” it MEANS you’re gonna GET poetry, sex, art, death, and enlightenment.

As a fantastic of New York in the 1960s/70s this was very my ish, and it’s truly miraculous to see this all captured and rendered by Giorno with such wisdom and truth. It’s the golden age of promiscuity! Everyone was gay, f*cking, high as hell, and severely depressed. We love to see it!

This culminates in something really divine- an approach to death that I don’t think we see enough. Tranquil and embracing.

Love. Can’t wait to dive into his poetry more. Put some respect on his name!!!!

Sometimes you just wanna read a gossip-ey memoir that has some but not much redeeming value- but lots of who slept with who and catty gossip I now know Andy Warhol had a foot fetish.

It was a fascinating read that opened a windows on the creative world of New York in '60s and ''70s.
I read a lot about John Giorno but I this is his first book I read and loved it.
I loved the tenderness and how well he describes the persons he got in touch and the experiences he lived.
It was an excellent read and I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

It was a fascinating read that opened a windows on the creative world of New York in '60s and ''70s.
I read a lot about John Giorno but I this is his first book I read and loved it.
I loved the tenderness and how well he describes the persons he got in touch and the experiences he lived.
It was an excellent read and I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.