If part 1 introduced us to Manhattan, this introduced us to The Bronx, Gordon Schwerzmann's book is not pretty. And it's not meant to be. It's a vivid, brutal recollection of the Outer boroughs of New York. Particularly, the Bronx. By mixing memoirs from his own life with photos and historical accounts, Schwerzmann presents readers with an honest and gritty look into these parts of the Bronx during the 70's and 80's. He lets us see how police violence, crime, and burning riddled the area then, and how those same problems have evolved in the present day. I also enjoyed his dark humor. I was intrigued by the early reviews of the book all humorously downgrading it.

Gordon Schwerzmann’s Stoner to Seeker is an evocative memoir that captures the free-spirited energy of the 1970s Asian Hippie Trail. With vivid descriptions and heartfelt honesty, Schwerzmann takes readers on a transformative journey through exotic locales and inner growth. While his storytelling skillfully balances the adventurous escapades, this was a touchy subject for me making some parts difficult to read. While the pacing occasionally slows, the book’s raw authenticity and rich cultural insights make it an engaging read. For fans of travel memoirs and countercultural history, this book is a fascinating window into a bygone era. A compelling story of growth and exploration! Four Stars.

Sojourner to Stoner: The Journal was a really interesting book that was also fun to read. After all, this author believes pod people are in control of San Francisco. The book tells about an amazing adventure, and the author provides plenty of equally impressive photographs to really drive home what the experience was like, many of which the author took. The writing is really good, and many of the pages get you thinking about what it would be like to live in the places described in the book. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the world or likes hearing about different places from someone who knows how to tell a good story with a huge bonus for the many pictures.

Gordon is/was our Marco Polo; visiting strange lands and bringing to us the metaphorical riches of the East. That, after daily sampling all the mind-altering substances, he is/was still able to produce this work is evidence of an exceptional constitution.

On his first deployment in Southeast Asia during tensions in Korea, a U.S. soldier fell in love with Asian culture and women. In this book, the author returns to Asia as a retired soldier in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and other countries. Consistent with the previous book, the author details his promiscuous adventures and gives his opinion on Asian history and culture. This book features beautiful photographs of historic sites and Asian people. I recommend this book for those looking to tour Asia.

It is not often that you can read about different parts of the world and get a true picture of what life was and is like. This author has the gift and put me in the travels with him. No glamour, just true life, the non-tourist way of life. I have read two of his novels and have felt drawn in. I feel empathy for other countries, I dont always understand their way of life, but Gordon has helped me understand more.