Paul Krassner, The Realist

Age: 65

Selection:"Between the Lines" (page 73)

Recent reviews(from the FBI): "The Realist is an unimportant, smutty rag. To classify Paul Krassner as some sort of social rebel is far too cute. He's a nut. A raving, unconfined nut."

Sample:The Realist is no longer published but many issues are posted online at the Realist Archive Project.

When did you launch your zine? What inspired you to do so?

I started the Realist in 1958, discontinued it in 1974, then began it again in 1985 to communicate with compromise and to provide readers with absurdity and irreverence about social and political developments.

Why publish a zine?
To reach people I would not reach if I didn't publish.

Any general tips for aspiring zinesters?
Keep your ego reasonably restrained. Assume your readers are your peers.

What's your favorite part of doing a zine?
Giving ideas a form and creating that invisible spark of recognition with readers.

In my other life, I'm a:
Standup comedian.

Fan Mail
Collected Writings (book)
Impolite Interviews

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