The Upstart Spring: Esalen and the Human Potential Movement: The First Twenty Years

By Walter Truett Anderson

Book Overview

"The first responsible account of an important, uniquely American happening - worthwhile reading for anyone who wants to piece together the social undercurrents of the '60s"
--Robert Marquand, Christian Science Monitor

"A charming, gossipy multiple biography of the curious gurus who spawned Esalen . . . a complex story, but a sequential one nonetheless, with feuds and psychic shoot-outs, games of capture the flag and smell the roses."
--Arthur Hough, San Francisco Chronicle

"Upstart Spring tells Esalen's riveting, unfinished story - even-handedly, entertainingly, with sympathy, and yet holding little back."
--David Toolan, Commonwealth

"An absolute delight: brimming with juicy gossip, and as carefully crafted as a page-turner novel. And it has substance, the gift of a therapist who also happens to be a cultural historian with a good eye for the telling meta-detail."
--Sandy McDonald, New Age Journal

"Walt Anderson has the requisite experience, humor, and affection (if not detachment, since Esalen teaches, indeed proves, that detachment is a universal impossibility) to carry off a wonderful account."
--Stewart Brand, Co-Evolution Quarterly

"A wonderful read, consistently entertaining on several levels."
--Michael Rossman, Associate for Humanistic Psychology Newsletter

"A superb wrap-up of a notable influence on our popular culture." --Rita Fink, Pacific Sun

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0595307353
• ISBN13: 9780595307357
• Release Date: February 2004
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Length: 356 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Closest thing to being a part of this amazing place, amazing time

Walt Anderson is a fantastic writer. And Esalen is such an amazing place that this is a must read for anyone who is interested in the birth of the human potential movement in America. The stories of Michael Murphy, Dick Price, and the early days are inspiring, thrilling, and a testament to the power of a few to change the consciousness of a generation.

Couldn't put it down

This too little known book deserves to be on everyone's bookshelf. Walter Truett Anderson is a great raconteur of the highest caliber. And the story there is to tell! The only wonder is why this hasn't been made into a movie...the stories are sooooo interesting and the cast of characters in the first chapter alone would make the book worthy of attention...from Joan Baez and Hunter Thompson (one can only imagine what he was like as "security guard/caretaker") to gay bathers, Hell's Angels and Big Sur's bohemian artistes like Henry Miller...what a time. This book seems like a worthy memoir of it all. A sort of collective Big Chill for the rest of us.