Straightedge Youth: Complexity and Contradictions of a Subculture

This is a great and quick read if you want a pretty good overview of the straightedge subculture. It does not focus on the negative/militant stereotypes (even though they are mentioned, which is not a bad thing. it is what it is.) This book talks a lot about the old school hardcore which is good because a lot of kids in the scene today have lost touch with their roots. It also talks about a lot of different beliefs that straightedge people may or may not follow, such as but no limited to veganism, satanism, and Krishna. Good book. Pick it up if your into or want to learn about this awesome subculture. only reason i didnt give it a five is because the guy who wrote it sounded kinda repetitive sometimes, but it was necessary at times, but other times he could have left things out.

As a straight edger who has only recently "claimed edge" (that's the term for when you finally make the lifetime commitment not to drink, do drugs, or smoke), I wanted to find out everything I could about straight edge. Robert Wood's "Straightedge Youth: Complexity And Contradictions of a Subculture" was the first book on straight edge that I found and read. And I recommend it to everyone who is straight edge, is thinking about becoming straight edge, or is even just interested in the idea. movement, and philosophy of straight edge. Wood's book covers it all--from the basics (what is straight edge, how did it start, who started it, the musical connections ect.) to more in-depth ideas, such as exploring the symbolism of the Xes (that straight edgers use to show they are straight edge) and the complexity of the straight edge identity. And I will admit that when I first found out that Robert Wood was a professor, I was a little nervous. I've looked through many academic books and found some to be dense and hard to read, filled with difficult-to-understand ideas and phrases. However, upon starting the book, I quickly found that Robert Wood doesn't let these kind of things get in the way. His writing style is clear and unpretentious yet it's certainly not simple. While Wood does sometimes use more academic ideas to study straight edge, he always keeps it accessible to non-academic readers. But my favorite thing about this book is that it isn't just Robert Wood's voice. Wood conducted many many interviews with straight edge people of all kinds, and uses their ideas and opinions as much as possible in the book. To hear the voices of real straight edge people is invaluable in trying to find out more about straight edge. Reading this book, you can find out about the opinions of everyone from members of hardcore/straight edge bands to your local straight edge teen. Informational, fascinating, fun and thought-provoking, Wood's book is a must-read. Especially since straight edge is so rarely written about, this book is a treasure not just for researchers and sociologists, but also for straight edgers or the casual reader interested in straight edge. I am proud to have it on my bookshelf!