Straight Edge by Ross Haenfler

St. Louis lacks a good straight edge scene, and of course this is with valid reason. St. Louis is just another baseball town with a drinking problem and it is hard to find other like-minded individuals running against the grain. I can name two other people I personally know that identify as being straight edge; in high school I ran with a group of fellow straight edge kids, but like many they grew older and just started drinking or smoking. I was from a small town and some people only saw drugs and alcohol as the only way out (at least mentally).

So obviously sometimes I need support and I have learned to find this in books:


For Christmas my Junior year of high school my parents bought me a book titled Straight Edge: Clean-Living Youth, Hardcore Punk, And Social Change (see amazon). I have read this book a handful of times, just as I have listened to the BBC Documentary on Straight Edge more than a dozen times. Why? Because as someone with a small straight edge network of friends it is nice to find support in other means. When I feel like I have purposely alienated myself by not partaking in stereotypical frat-boy activities (like shotgunning a beer), I can pick up a book or watch a youtube video to remind myself that I am not alone in my choices and I can find strength, motivation, and pride once again in my lifestyle choices.

That is why when I came to college and had to pick only a few books to take with me, I made sure I packed the aforementioned one. It was written in 2006 by Ross Haenfler, and is one of the few Straight Edge books once can find on amazon (I think there's 3). Not only is it one of a crying few, but it is probably one of the only truly academic views on the movement that is published. Sadly though, many feel like it still isn't a fair representation on Straight Edge. But I felt like it showed the contradictions in Straight Edge, the struggles, the beliefs, it really gave a rounded out view especially with interviews and quotes from people in the actually "scene." Although it doesn't delve enough into it, the book also talks about straight edgers that are not tied to the hardcore scene. I personally thought it was a great look into how straight edge has developed from the 80's to the new millennium and is a must read for any straight edge person. Sadly though this is a rare find, and usually cannot be found in your local Borders or Barnes & Noble so I recommend buying it through amazon!

If you have read the book, how did you enjoy it?