Award winning author and biographer Robert Greenfield brings readers the definitive biography of a Grateful Dead legend--Augustus Owsley Stanley III, known better by his nickname, Bear. From extensive interviews with Bear and a major Rolling Stone piece, Greenfield brings readers unparalleled access to one of the most important forces in the rise of the counter-culture of the sixties.Owsley provided the high octane rocket fuel that enabled Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters to put on the Acid Tests. Convinced of The Grateful Dead's potential, Owsley helped loose the band upon the world by supplying the money that kept them going in their early days. He then faithfully recorded many of their greatest live performances before designing and perfecting the Dead's sound system.Greenfield's biography masterfully takes us through the life and times of Owsley--from the acid tests of the sixties through his years with the Dead--to bring us a full picture of this fascinating man for the first time. Full of amazing stories, this book is perfect for Grateful Dead fans and Sixties enthusiasts.