The Japan and India Journals, 1960–1964

“Here is a classic of zig-zag Zen. It conjures an era when certain Americans, seeing the pointlessness of USA consumerism, went overseas. They were willing to live cheap, immerse themselves in Zen and yoga, and learn Asian life-ways. You watch Joanne Kyger become a poet in these pages—writing daily, schooling herself in travel, friendship, marriage (unexpected), and the customs of post-War Japan. Four months in India with Snyder and Ginsberg recall a time when the adventuresome could walk in and talk to the Dalai Lama, stay at the Aurobindo Ashram, or match wits with sadhus, yogis, and philosophers. Put The Japan and India Journals alongside Mark Twain’s travel books, for relentless candor and dry smart humor.”—Andrew Schelling
“A fantastically attentive and personal glimpse into a moment in time when Joanne Kyger was coming into her own as a poet. She lives in Japan, travels to India, sees The Mother in Pondicherry, watches Ginsberg in front of the Dalai Lama, etc. She is always gardening, wherever she goes. And that becomes one of the investments her later poems, written in Bolinas, draw so much of their phenomenal particularity from.”—Forrest Gander