The I Chong: Meditations from the Joint

It always amazes me how well the stoners, smugglers and dealers can write. Not exactly what I suspected when I got the book - primarily from a spirituality standpoint. I had no idea he had that much spiritual wisdom. But then that is not uncommon in comics whose material shows the hypocrisy in the illusion we live in. They just seem to "get it" and express it in a humorous way.But when the U.S. government wants to make an example of you for doing just that, you pay the price. Well, that and making artisan quality bongs. Of course everything happens for a reason, and for Tommy, his prison time gave him an entirely different perspective on life, the world and our prison system.The only downside to the book is that anyone who understands life the way Tommy does, not judging people, since, as he writes, all of our "mistakes" are merely learning experiences to help us get to the truth, should not express a venomous attitude toward all Republicans. I can understand his feelings, but they have lessons to learn too, and you cannot deny anyone their learning experience. It would have been better if he had left it as "politicians" instead. It comes through as too obsessive. To quote Tommy, "Resist no evil."A thoughtful and open book on his life experiences beyond just the time he spent at Taft. Quick and fun read - I finished it on one airline flight.

Overall enjoyed the book.Could have been 25 pages shorter as Tommy repeats himself a lot.At this point the U S goverment is locked into supporting THE BIG LIE as it concerns pot.Tommy mentions all those who have been imprisoned under these unjust laws but doesn't really touch on the 10's of thousands of families torn apart by these BS policies.As I'm approching 70 years I doubt I will live to see this country ever admit to it's wrong doing.As Mark Twain once stated "there is no criminal class in th U.S. excepting Congress"

This book is really a self-help manual in the form of a memoir.Mr. Chong's attitude about a horrid series of events is a model for everyone. He's a splendid storyteller, as we already knew, but there's an indescribable innocence and a glowing spirituality that appears in the book-- aspects that came through in his comedy less often than they do here.Of course there's tons of humor, and justified, informed, surprisingly-forgiving rants against the so-called War on Drugs. (Each page makes the point clearer and clearer that this war is actually a war on the powerless.) But there's also a tranquility about his approach to the simplest aspects of daily life that is reminiscent of some sort of Zen master. The book ends with an optimism that will inspire any reader to attend to life as well as to take action to improve the world, whether it be through the legalization of marijuana, helping prisoners, or contributing to charity. I can't recommend this enough. It's honestly a 'feel good' book despite the topic.

Very nicely written story by an honest man that was wrongly incarcerated. Tells how the experience made him a better person. If you like Tommy, read this book and you'll like him more.

I bought it because it said meditations in prison. I was surprised to find it was the Chong of comedy. I didn't smoke pot during his time so was not familiar with his work. I would call it more of confinement rather than prison. My daughter spent 27 years of hard time and it certainly wasn't that plush, especially the 3 years in solitary. Yes it was political. Yes I agree that pot should be legal and the prison free those who were put there behind minor amounts. Perhaps even big time dealers if that is all they delft in.and no violence was involved. I have voted for it's legalization every time it appears on the ballet. I would have liked to have seen his glass works..

I recommend this book to anybody who feels like they've been mistreated and need a way to get back on their feet again.His way of coping while in prison is something that we can all use when we're faced with trying times.The people who imprisoned Tommy Chong should themselves be thrown in jail for a few weeks. If there were a chance that it would smarten them up enough to change their ways, it would be worth a try. But the anti-drug zealots of the United States will probably never change their minds and never change their ways.Taking six months of a man's life for making bongs is the real crime.

I've always been a fan of Cheech and Chong, and picked this up thinking it would be a light comic read. Boy was I wrong. It's funny yes, because Tommy Chong is entertaining in everything he does, but it's also a very moving look into his personal life and experience. It's also a must read for anyone who thinks our Federal Justice system is fair and honest. Read this book!

This is an excellent account of what Tommy Chong had to go through after the feds took down his glass pipe buisness and put him in jail. The book flows and you get Tommy's blow by blow of what occured to him. You see his genuine soft heart throughout the book as well as his endless love for his family. He makes great friends in the joint and also has some great stories to share as well. For anyone who thinks the money being paid on the war on drugs is a joke, this is a must read. Strongly liberal in its nature.

Tommy Chong is an amazing guy and I didn't realise how spiritually wise he is until I read the book. It's a page turner and I finished it too fast. Highly recommended!

i would highly recommend to others

funnytrue and totally funnytotally cool he still got it chong and anecdote from cheech days real cool real funny

Tommy Chung is a funny guy. This book could have been better written, but it's amusing and makes you wonder how stupid the US gov't is on so many levels. I am now a devoted Tommy Chong fan. Fast read, could have been great, but hey, what do you expect? You shoud check out his youtube videos... keep searchin' man!

Tommy Chong v America. And its all laid bare here.Basically I got this because I believe in pretty much what Chong describes about modern day America, and of course I loved his Cheech and Chong movies.But surprisingly the book shines way before he goes to prison by the way he gets banged up for selling glass bongs! Exactly.He tells the story of his tough up bringing but loving parents extremely well and some parts are even quite moving. The fact that his dad did not see him for four years is a fine example. At this stage Chong's writing and humor is pin point.There are disappointments though. Its all well enough Chong building us up to his 9 month prison sentence and he does this brilliantly as if he is on death row but when the time comes he seems to have a better life inside than out. He gets the respect from the inmates and is given priority over others because of his fame.The thing that really got me is that he complains and goes on about Bush's America for much of the book, but when he is sentenced he makes a vow not to smoke weed again. What the hell is that about? Because for me it sends a message that Bush was right to bang him up, as Chong confesses about 651 times in the book the only reason he is banged up is because of his joint smoking adventures with Cheech in the old movies.By the way a warning to non believers, there are several pages in which Chong talks about his love of God. To be fair to him he pokes jokes at himself for doing this, but you can't help thinking that he is spreading the good word at the same time which may be off putting for some readers.Chong comes off as a likeable guy in which you could have a good conversation over a few beers and a er actually no joints.If your a fan or hate the admin under Bush this is a good read, nothing more, which is a slight shame given how strongly the book starts off. Still worth a purchase at a good price.