Phish is a band that has generated a great deal of press over the years, with reviews in papers in the towns the band and their fans travel to, as well as articles in magazines and dozens of websites and blogs dedicated to The Phish from Vermont. Over time, the band’s history and fans have led to a number of books about Phish. When asked this summer by a non-Phish fan how many books were written about Phish, I couldn’t come up with an answer and the idea for a Book Club of sorts was born. Not a Book Club where we all sit down and have tea or something and discuss books, but an online Book Club where fans can find out about Phish books, read them and share their thoughts online with other fans. An interactive web-based Book Club with nothing but suggestions of books to read given and opinions shared when the books are read.

As a teacher, I felt this would also help to promote literacy, always a good thing at any age or level of education.  Over the next few weeks, we will be bringing you The ‘Read the Fucking Book’ Club. There is no cost to join. In fact, you are already a member just by reading this. Welcome to the club! There will be a page here on PhanArt.net that has all the Phish books written over the years. Click on a book and read a review by one of our primary reviewers and places where you can buy each book. Fans will be able to share their reviews of the books in the comments section of each page and discuss the finer points of Phish Lit.

Included in the ‘Read the Fucking Book’ Club will be:

The Phish Companion (volumes 1 and 2) by The Mockingbird Foundation

The Pharmers Almanac (volumes 1 through 6) by Bernstein, Steele, Chasnoff, Celentano, et.al

PhanArt: The Art of the Fans of Phish by Pete Mason

The Diary of Bobby Steiner: Tour Tales from the New Millenium by William Traveler

Mr. Miner’s Phish Thoughts by David Calarco (coming this holiday season)

The Melody of Motion: Following Phish and Widespread Panic by Carl Cole

Run Like an Antelope: On the Road with Phish by Sean Gibbon

PhanFood: From the Kitchen Pot to the Parking Lot by Taraleigh Weathers and Pete Mason

Mike’s Corner: Daunting Literary Snippets from Phish’s Bassist by Mike Gordon

Phish: The Biography by Parke Puterbaugh

The Phish Book by Richard Gehr

Go Phish by Dave Thompson

The Phishing Manual by Dean Budnick

Stay tuned for the launch of the ‘Read the Fucking Book’ Club in early October few weeks. include authors and where to buy each one. If you are interested in submitting a review of any of these books (that you may have previously read), please email Pete at phanart (at) gmail