David Talbot
In a kaleidoscopic narrative, bestselling David Talbot recounts the gripping story of San Francisco in the turbulent years between 1967 & 1982â€”& of the extraordinary persons who led to the cityâ€™s ultimate rebirth & triumph. ,Season of the Witch, is the first book to fully capture the dark magic of San Francisco in this breathtaking period, when the city radically changed itself & then revolutionized the world. The cool gray city of love was the epicenter of the 60s cultural revolution. But by the early 70s, San Franciscoâ€™s ecstatic experiment came crashing down from its starry heights. The city was rocked by savage murder sprees, mysterious terror campaigns, political assassinations, street riots & finally a terrifying sexual epidemic. No other city endured so many calamities in such a short time span. ,Talbot goes deep into the riveting story of his cityâ€™s ascent, decline & heroic recovery. He draws intimate portraits of San Franciscoâ€™s legendary demons & saviors: Charles Manson, Patty Hearst & the Symbionese Liberation Army, Jerry Garcia, Janis Joplin, Bill Graham, Herb Caen, the Cockettes, Harvey Milk, Jim Jones & the Peoples Temple, Joe Montana & the Super Bowl 49ers. ,He reveals how the city emerged from the trials of this period with a new brand of â€œSan Francisco values,â€ including gay marriage, medical marijuana, immigration sanctuary, universal health care, recycling, renewable energy, consumer safety & a living wage mandate. Considered radical when they were first introduced, these ideas have become the bedrock of decent society in many parts of the country & exemplify the ways that the city now inspires a live-and-let-live tolerance, a shared sense of humanity & an openness to change. ,As a new generation of activists & dreamers seeks its own path to a more enlightened future, ,Season of the Witch,â€”with its epic tale of the wild & bloody birth of San Francisco valuesâ€”offers both inspiration & cautionary wisdom.
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Season of the Witch: Enchantment, Terror and Deliverance in the City of Love