The Tell with Christine Axsmith

The Tell with Christine Axsmith

Share this post

The Tell with Christine Axsmith
The Tell with Christine Axsmith
The Revised Boy Scout Manual  by William S. Burroughs

The Revised Boy Scout Manual  by William S. Burroughs

- a review by Christine Axsmith

Christine Axsmith's avatar
Christine Axsmith
Aug 30, 2021
∙ Paid

Share this post

The Tell with Christine Axsmith
The Tell with Christine Axsmith
The Revised Boy Scout Manual  by William S. Burroughs
Share

The Revised Boy Scout Manual

What a long way of saying “the pen is mightier than the sword.” 

The book is disturbing, and was probably meant to be.  It is also a book that cannot be ignored. Burroughs made too many accurate predictions for the politics of the Information Age we now live in.  

Burroughs is at the same time prescient and reflective.  He predicts the political impact of electronic information distribution, but what he describes is an extension of Nazi tactics.  He uses the term “virus” to explain the spread of an idea throughout society. He describes a “meme.” He predicts the impact of handheld recording devices to challenge the entrenched power of institutions.

Burroughs is not content to deliver these gems without graphic and disturbing descriptions of violent crimes.  As in, that’s most of the book. If we view that choice as strategy, maybe the trudge through blood has purpose.  It could be an exorcism of base impulses, only to bring the revolutionary down to earth an…

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to The Tell with Christine Axsmith to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Christine Axsmith
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share