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Bukowski may have said, "If you're going to try, go all the way," but Bukowski's tombstone reads, "Don't try." Bukowski spent most of his life as non-functionin
by kerkeslager 7y ago
Bukowski may have said, "If you're going to try, go all the way," but Bukowski's tombstone reads, "Don't try." Bukowski spent most of his life as non-functioning alcoholic, a lifestyle which is unenviable even in the slightly-romanticized form he presents in his writings. If you ever want to watch something truly unpleasant, pull up YouTube and watch him berate his wife on public television (possibly drunk). Bukowski was insightful on a lot of things, but his life doesn't look like a happy one to me, and I'd be cautious about taking life advice from him.
- kissgyorgy 7y agoI did and gosh, my life is not where it should be, but I don't want to learn from this guy: https://youtu.be/EJmQHT_HLOo https://youtu.be/EJmQHT_HLOo
- kerkeslager 7y agoThat link isn't to the interview where he yells at his future[1] wife. However, I think if you linked the actual interview, it would be inappropriate according to HN's content standards: Bukowski uses some very colorful language. [1] I was slightly incorrect in my previous post, she wasn't his wife yet at the time of the interview.
- 8bitsrule 7y agoI'm pretty damned sure that the tombstone advice means "Don't try ... do!" (As I recall, that was a line in a popular movie. Taking poets literally is risky.) IOW, 'go all the way' is not like a new-year's resolution. Bukowski spent most of his life being Bukowski. Better results than the post-office position. Beats the great, grey middle all to hell.
- kerkeslager 7y ago> Bukowski spent most of his life being Bukowski. Better results than the post-office position. Beats the great, grey middle all to hell. For us it's great, we get Bukowski. For Bukowski, it seems less enjoyable.