Inspired Madness The Gifts of Burning Man

"Loosely structured around a week at Burning Man, Inspired Madness is literary nonfiction that combines personal stories with social commentary and thoughts on the historical significance of festivals. The evolution of the Burning Man event is linked to older currents in art, such as Dada and the Situationists and to the West Coast movements of collage and bricolage. That said, the book is primarily meant to be a fun read, juxtaposing images and stories of the surreal happenings at Burning Man to recreate a sense of its wild and unpredictable nature. The interweaving of dialogue, anecdotes, and stream-of-consciousness thoughts with historical, sociological, and political observation create a dreamlike text that mirrors the half-waking, half-dreaming quality of the Burning Man experience. In part a non-fiction discussion of the festival, in part a poetic romp through the Black Rock desert, Inspired Madness is both an irreverent introduction for those curious about Burning Man and an exhilarating reminiscence for veteran "burners"."

Dale Pendell is the author of the Pharmako trilogy. He has attended Burning Man since 1997.