In, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, the main characters are on a journey throughout the United States on acid, freaking out as many squares as possible. The book describes a journey that is both physical and spiritual at the same time. The regiment of druggies is lead by a charismatic character by the name of Kesey. He leads his group (dubbed the Merry Pranksters) with a large schoolbus he had purchased and re-modified to be as physcodelic as possible. The bus had a large hole cut in the roof, functioning similar to a large sunroof, a whole array of speakers and mics wired into different areas and a Day-Glo paint job. While traveling cross country in this monstrosity, the Merry Pranksters experiment in increasing amounts with acid and speed and other such nonsense.
This book relates to the quote because the travelers have a somewhat clear dream of what they think their adventure is. It’s only somewhat clear in the way that they themselves have a perfect vision, but since their high off their rockers the “normal” people have no idea what they’re on about. Also in the way that the travellers are not only “looking for a revelation”, they believe they have found the revelation and are traveling to promote it.
And of course the whole book heavily discusses the hardships involved in being a free spirited gypsy/hippie/drug advocate. Of course you have to deal with the fact you have no home, no one who loves you, no known purpose in this world, and your self-destructive drug habits. Plus you have to constantly listen to people remind you of all these things 24/7!
Being a physcodelic-pioneer is a very demanding job. The job itself entails dreaming almost nonstop, and being an outcast. So it seems in all aspects that this quote is perfectlly describing the book, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.
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