The Pleasures of the Damned: Poems, 1951-1993 Illustrated Edition, Kindle Edition

Freaking amazing! I'm not going to get all flowery and sentimental because Bukowski I don't think would have appreciated it or thought it too trite expressing the elite-est "cuteness".Bukowski wasn't cute or pretty in his writing...he wrote what he saw around him with an awake and aware in-the-moment presence that is reality. Reality is not pretty or kind. I love his writing for that.Also I found the words to his dead love in the poems "for Jane: with all the Love I had, Which Was Not Enough:", "Notice", and "for Jane" more touching than anything I have read in a long time. The grief he felt was enormous, world wrecking and I identified with that grief since I lost my husband and soul mate two years ago. I cried on the evening train reading these poems and found myself saying aloud "He KNEW!"No one that has lost such an integral part of themselves is able to express that sort of gut wrenching of a tribute without having truly loved and suffered greatly.He made me laugh, think, gasp at the rawness of life I remember seeing living in the outskirts of San Francisco in the 70's. He took down a memory lane of my own childhood and re-examine myself in a way I haven't in a very, very long time.I never met you, Chuck, but I feel like I knew you, I would buy you a drink at the races if I could. Thank you for being so brutishly honest and more clean in your observations about the world than 80% of the population.Bukowski clean? Oh, yeah.He stripped down things to what they actually are instead of what society likes to pretend them to be. That to me is a clean, healthy lungful of fresh air! He was vulgar in his language, but in case you haven't really stepped out of your cubicle or hide-y hole...the world IS vulgar, uncivilized and mean and a vast majority of us in the lower classes (which is damn near anyone under a million anymore) lives with that. We're your elderly on the pensions and social security, waitresses, garbage men, retail sales people, and secretaries. You know, the ones the upper classes can't live without because we are the professional maids and nannies and buttwipers making minimum wage to slightly over, but still in the poverty level that make their world go round. We see the unsanitized and unedited truth. Mother Nature is one cruel mother. Bukowski had the balls to say it!Thank you again for your humanity and insight.

Charles Bukowski or whichever of his colorful names he went by, was a fantastic poet both beat poet in establishments for money or beer or both, or in written in print, but also a beautifully spirited poet that has some of those works also featured inanother book by Bukowski called ‘Run With the Hunted’. I would suggest both of these books. ‘Hunted’ is not pure poetry, though. There is some of Bukowski’s background in it. This book was great to read. A nice array of the author’s poetry.

My used copy came with some brutal water damage and multicolored stains, but fortunately Bukowski's timeless texts were unobscured. This decades-spanning collection of poems helps summarize some of the most meaningful phases of Bukowski's career.However, this is still far from what would be the definitive book of Bukowski's work. Nevertheless, if you're looking to dive deep into his poems, this is a good volume to do so.

There's a lot of good in this book, but it misses some incredible poems. First of all, I'm really surprised that Some People didn't make it in... seeing as how it's easily one of Bukowski's most quoted poems. Same with Wandering in the Cage.My first Bukowski poetry book was Betting on the Muse. It made me fall in love with the dude. But the choices here are pretty terrible. Avoiding Humanity, the secret, let not, a challenge to the dark, think of it are all essential Bukowski. The worst omission is easily "let it enfold you." It's a fantastic poem of Bukowski examining life and allowing himself to be happy with what he has. It's one of his all time best, and it's hard to justify not including it.What Matters Most... has the most poems of any of his books, but most of the choices are just, eh. Lifedance is essential, icecream people is great, as is a vote for the gentle light and be alone. 25 poems from this book are here, and they didn't do a very good job of picking the best.A few more that are absolutely essential: i met a genius, dreamlessly, splashing, hug the dark, downers, they are everywhere, alone with everybody, and it's a shame.But most (definitely not all) of the poems in this book are fantastic. The last few written near the end of his life are pretty perfect. There are some hilarious ones (who needs it, a threat to my immortality), great political ones (American Flag shirt, putrefaction, commerce), and of course all the big ones (crunch, genius of the crowd, bluebird, etc).It's a fantastic collection. But don't stop here. Don't even think about it.

Really appreciated having so many of his best poems in one book with a great index. Easy on the eyes print and plenty of open space on each page for notes and doodles (Let's face it, paperback paper won't last long enough to become an heirloom.), but at this price I can afford to add it to my library. Would make a great gift or a book on guestroom shelf for visitors.

Hate to leave such a poor review, because the book itself (along with almost all Bukowski’s work) is incredible, but due to the damage, I am leaving 2 stars. I ordered two copies of the book and one cover arrived with a 2 inch rip in the back cover. Was going to give a copy as a Christmas present, but I will have to keep a ripped copy now.

This book was listed as VG; indeed, the text is very good; but, there is a big, mangled tear on the back of the dust jacket (not mentioned by seller): combined with the fact that no receipt was provided, I have listed this book as Good, as opposed to Very Good (as listed by seller) Delivery was very prompt, however.

A truly incredible collection of some of Bukowski's best work. This was my first time reading Bukowski and I found his verse a bit too lose at first without form but once you begin to understand where he's coming from then it just flows through you like a malt whiskey. Each poem is like a little snapshot of a moment in his life and he brings it together with real force and the bleak pessimism of a man who's seen the very worst sides of modern life. Well recommended if you want a reality kick.Some of my favorites include:no leaders, pleaseThe genius of the crowdself-inflicted woundsthe burning of the dreamfinishDinosauira, we

I have most of what Bukowski wrote. I could recommed his Novels , Poems & Shortstories they are all good. This one is for all of you to get a glimpse of his best work as a poet, its a brilliant Anathogy the best of his poetry ( Leonard Cohen also kept it on his bedside always )But NOTE - this does NOT contain his Prose or the short stories. Incase you want to make a start with that and read BUCK Chronologically then go for 'Run With the Hunted ' its starts with his early writing in all forms throughout his life, till the End.But this ' The Pleasures of the Damned' is the best of the best , you will always keep it by your bedside always. I personally have two copies.

Nice compilation of Hank's poems, but could have done with the poems being categorized by the books in which they originally appeared, and a longer intro would have been nice too. For any newcomers to Bukowski I'd suggest swerving this one and going straight to the Black Sparrow Press editions - 'You get so Alone...', 'Last Night of the Earth Poems', and also the novel 'Post Office', and the New Directions edition of short stories, 'Erections, Ejaculations, Exhibitions, and General Tales of Ordinary Madness' if you can find a cheap copy.

Bukowski will probably always be my favourite poet.He has a way with words, in which he manages to portray both bitterness, humour and a very realistic if not overly critical way of looking at even the smallest things in life.This collection is one I love very much, and I always wish for more people to read this book.I find it hard to put it away, and always take it with me in longer journeys. I never tire of it.If you are looking through the reviews to figure out whether you should buy this or not; do it.You Will get so many pages of valuable poems, there is nothing to regret except for letting this collection pass you by.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and by the end was so envious of his mastery in turning everyday observations into deceptively deep prose. His poems have an edge to them, a rawness so truthfully poised that they bring us to the microscope of life in all its beauty, in all its grit and dirty edges. He says what others rarely dare to say, and whether you find such honesty unbecoming or daring, no one can ever judge his poems, or his prose for that matter, as ordinary or inconsequential. I think everyone should try reading this book, even if they don't finish it.