As a long-time reader of Beat literature, and as a man, I must say that Joyce Johnson's take on those heady, wine soaked days of poetry and madness is absolutely as good and as necessary as anything Kerouac or Ginsberg or any of the more famous (male) crew ever wrote. For my money it's right up there with On the Road.I guess I've read this book three or four times now and it never gets old.I also recommend Ms. Johnson's novel, In the Night Cafe, another skillful invocation of the Beat period.