System of the World by Neal Stephenson. Part three of the Baroque Cycle. It's a long ass read, but completely worth it. Historical fiction at it's finest.
Re: Motherfuckin' Surf/Garage/Psych Awesome Thread Full of Great
http://recordbrother.typepad.com/imagesilike/2005/10/truly_internati_1.html
Some Japanese garage and psych shit from the 60's.