More Notes of a Dirty Old Man

More Notes of a Dirty Old Man compiles Charles Bukowski's previously uncollected columns and essays from the Los Angeles Free Press and other publications. Published in 2011 by City Lights, the book serves as a sequel to his 1969 work Notes of a Dirty Old Man. The collection continues Bukowski's raw examination of life through his experiences with alcohol, gambling, women, and the gritty underbelly of Los Angeles. His newspaper columns capture the essence of 1960s counter-culture through direct, unfiltered prose and autobiographical narratives. The writings showcase Bukowski's prolific output and his ability to document the physical and psychological landscape of working-class America. Editor David Stephen Calonne selected these pieces from various sources to create a comprehensive collection that rounds out the author's published works. These essays and columns reinforce Bukowski's position as a voice for the marginalized, combining brutal honesty with dark humor to explore themes of survival, desire, and alienation in modern society.

Readers describe this collection as raw and unfiltered Bukowski, consisting of newspaper columns he wrote for various underground papers in the 1960s-70s. Readers appreciate: - The shorter column format compared to his novels - Unvarnished observations about life in Los Angeles - Dark humor and social commentary - Less repetitive than some of his other works Common criticisms: - More scattered and uneven than the first Notes of a Dirty Old Man - Several pieces feel rushed or underdeveloped - Some readers found the content gratuitous - Lack of cohesion between entries Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,247 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (31 ratings) "It's like sitting at a bar listening to a drunk genius ramble," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Another states: "The columns range from brilliant to barely readable." Several reviewers recommend starting with the first Notes volume before reading this follow-up collection.

Post Office by Charles Bukowski A mail carrier's downward spiral through government work, drinking, and relationships unfolds through the same raw, autobiographical style found in More Notes.

Junky by William S. Burroughs The confessional narrative chronicles drug addiction and street life in 1950s America with unflinching directness.

Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell First-person accounts of poverty and survival in two cities capture the street-level experience with journalistic precision.

Ask the Dust by John Fante A struggling writer's life in Depression-era Los Angeles reveals the same gritty underside of the city Bukowski inhabited.

The Rum Diary by Hunter S. Thompson A journalist's descent into alcohol and chaos in Puerto Rico delivers the same unvarnished perspective on human nature.

🔹 Bukowski wrote his "Notes of a Dirty Old Man" column for the underground newspaper Los Angeles Free Press while working at the post office, earning just $10 per column. 🔹 The original "Notes of a Dirty Old Man" columns were so controversial that the FBI kept a file on Bukowski, monitoring his writings for potential obscenity violations. 🔹 During his lifetime, Bukowski published over 45 books of poetry and prose, but continued writing newspaper columns because he believed they kept him connected to everyday readers. 🔹 Many of the locations described in the book, particularly the bars and rooming houses of 1960s Los Angeles, have since been demolished or gentrified, making the collection an important historical record of a vanishing urban landscape. 🔹 Before achieving success as a writer, Bukowski worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 11 years, an experience that heavily influenced his observations of working-class life in these columns.