Smile, You're Traveling: Black Coffee Blues Part 3

by Henry Rollins

Henry Rollins's thought-provoking pieces about the life and times of a world-traveling entertainer are always intense and often humorous. In this book he chronicles a year spent rehearsing, recording, and touring for the Rollins Band's last-ever album, Come in and Burn, and shares travel stories from his trip around the world.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1880985691
• ISBN13: 9781880985694
• Release Date: October 2000
• Publisher: 2/13/61
• Length: 190 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Great Stories by great writer

A great addition to your library of Rollins books and if you do not have a library yet GET ONE!!!

Too Big For Most

It's going to take a fairly intelligent person to fully understand this book to its full potential. There is a lot going on here and even more to criticize. But that's what makes it so great; its complete honesty. It's interesting to see how this man's mind works and how he deals with the world around him. I don't believe it's a book to agree or disagree with but just to "watch". Only a pretty bright person can really relate to his base "you have to be alone to really create something worthwhile" attitude. I think for most people this book will be an all or nothing experience.

Set the world on fire

This is pure crass class! I have read all the Coffee Blues books and they get more positive with time. This book for me was a kick in the (...) that I so rightly deserved. I work in an office. Rollins would call me a god damn coward and he's right as well. The message from this book is loud and clear. Get off your ass and do all those things you want to do, or be damned. This book made me want to (...) myself - just check out the man's reviews of some tracks for MTV. If that doesn't make you laugh nothing will. I am now returning to my cold, fluorescently lit, crummy small room. BUY IT OR DON'T BUY IT!

short review

I think this is Rollins' best book so far. It is great to see how his writing has matured since Get in the Van or even Black Coffee Blues. It's like reading a cross between Jack Kerouac and Nietzsche. A wonderful travel journal, that is as much a journey of the mind as it is a journey of the world. A peek into a mind with focused attention, spiraling depressions, and burning aggressions. He has a deep misanthropy, because he likes people, and people do stupid things. He sees how people either don't think or simply pretend to think, rather than actually doing it. It's more evident here than in any of his other works. After reading this book, I listened to "Come In And Burn" again, and heard it in a whole new way.This is a great book, and even better after reading the first two books in the BCB trilogy!

He's done it again

I've been a fan of Henry Rollin's writing since I read _Art to Choke Hearts_ some years ago. I read his chapter on Africa when he emailed it to his website and howled until tears rolled down my face. This latest book reflects some of the twisted humour that first drew me to his writing and spoken words, but it also showcases his admirable misanthropy. Hard to tell someone you really admire them when you don't like people in general, much harder when they don't like people much either. I'll just have to settle for recommending this book because of its insight, candor, occasional venom, absurd moments, and the moments when reading it in public would defeat the purpose.