In the foreword on this collection, the editors note that they've worked to choose poems which are not Only slam poems, but which work as spoken word pieces that also translate well to the page---for the most part, amazingly, they've succeeded.

I have books from some of my favorite slam poets, and most of their works, frustratingly, just don't translate to paper; then, we wouldn't expect music to translate so well, so we probably shouldn't ask the same of spoken word poetry. Yet, of course, we do. The editors here have done a phenomenal job of finding a varied assortment of poems that do, for the most part, transmit their sounds and voices through the page, showcasing how a poem can shine when/whether printed or performed.

Of course, you may still want to find the recordings and performances. I've had the honor of seeing some of these poems performed in person, and in other cases seen the authors perform even where I haven't seen them run these particular poems; in those cases, I could hear and see the poems coming forth even as I read them, and those poems gained a different level of life than the others here. Some authors represented here--Buddy Wakefield, Mike McGee, and Taylor Mali among them--are just too powerful to be adequately represented in print because they are not just poets, but performers. In these cases especially, I hope you look up the poets after enjoying their words here. But either way, this collection is entertaining, varied, and smart.

Absolutely recommended to all those who feel even a curiosity, whether you think you might like slam...or not. ( )