This post is part of an ongoing series featuring items recently cataloged from the Julio Mario Santo Domingo Collection.
Ever wondered how you can live like a hippie in the 1960s? The hippy’s handbook : how to live on love could be just what you need.
This tongue in cheek guide tells you how to save money on rent- hint live in a a 10-person commune with a $60 per month rent. To save on laundry just don’t wear underwear, if you want to buy beads that is a one time expenditure of about $3 and you can simply pick flowers yourself. How can you save on food costs? They recommend implementing economy measures such as “sleep late so you can skip breakfast; writers who are doing hippy stories will be happy to interivew you over lunch ; wait tables- provides an income plus all you can eat free : go home for a meal once a week (your parents will be happy to see you even if they don’t act it) ; free food from digger stores can cut food bills to almost nil.”
There is even a handy fashion guide for both men and women within its pages.
Do you possess hip-hugger pants, a flowered shirt, tattoos, long hair and a beard? If you a man that said yes and can borrow a flute you are good to go! The women’s outfit appears both dos and don’ts, telling her to NOT wear lipstick or a bra but to definitely include ankle bells, silver rings, beads and of course a micro skirt.
The volume also includes a glossary of common words used by hippies such as:
BOO n. marijuana
ELECTRIC adj. having psychedelic powers; as in electric banana or electric Kool-Aid
UP TIGHT adj. in a state of extreme anxiety.
To learn more and see a few digitized pages you can find The hippy’s handbook : how to live on love / by Ruth Bronsteen. New York, N.Y. : Canyon Book Co., c1967 in Widener’s collection.
Thanks to Alison Harris, Santo Domingo Project Manager for contributing this post.