Abbie Hoffman

Abbie Hoffman (1936-1989) was an American activist who co-founded the Youth International Party (Yippies) and was allegedly behind the plot to disrupt the 1968 Democratic Presidential Convention. He was heavily involved in protesting the Vietnam War, with women’s rights, and civil rights.  He enters the life of the book in a big way on Day 8, when the Indian girl Natasha introduces Steal This Book to Roger and Otto.  From there, almost everything with the guys is Abbie, Abbie, Abbie.  We were obsessed (and entertained) with his countless tips on how to rip off meals, phone calls, housing, transportation, etc. We talked about his skills almost every idle moment at the height of this mania. We were intrigued that a book could be rejected by 30 publishers and still make it to the light of day. His advice came in handy on a couple of occasions, like stowing away overnight in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, and making free phone calls back home to our girlfriends. Mostly it was tepid stuff, but everything he said to do worked. Sooner or later the idea struck, “This guy is immoral, unethical, and just plain nasty!”  Roger is rather relieved when the book disappears . . . after all, that’s the title. He reasons, “That book has no other fate.”  Years later, I bought a copy at a used book store in New York for $20 (cover price 95 cents) and still have it on my shelf, yellowing pages and all.