Season of the Witch

Enchantment, Terror, and Deliverance in the City of Love

By: David Talbot

Narrated by: Arthur Morey

Length: 16 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Nominee, History, 2013

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 - and then revolutionized the world. The cool gray city of love was the epicenter of the 1960s cultural revolution. But by the early 1970s, San Francisco’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, and finally a terrifying sexual epidemic. No other city endured so many calamities in such a short time span.

David Talbot takes us deep into the riveting story of his city’s ascent, decline, and heroic recovery. He draws intimate portraits of San Francisco’s legendary demons and saviors: Charles Manson, Patty Hearst and the Symbionese Liberation Army, Jerry Garcia, Janis Joplin, Bill Graham, Herb Caen, the Cockettes, Harvey Milk, Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple, Joe Montana and the Super Bowl 49ers. He reveals how the city emerged from the trials of this period with a new brand of “San Francisco values”, including gay marriage, medical marijuana, immigration sanctuary, universal health care, recycling, renewable energy, consumer safety, and 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, and exemplify the ways that the city now inspires us toward a live-and-let-live tolerance, a shared sense of humanity, and an openness to change.

As a new generation of activists and dreamers seeks its own path to a more enlightened future, Season of the Witch - with its epic tale of the wild and bloody birth of San Francisco values - offers both inspiration and cautionary wisdom.

©2012 David Talbot (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

The Battle for the Soul of San Francisco

Well... It took me months to listen to, digest, and absorb this book. But it was absolutely enjoyable, epic, educational and deeply resonant. Being a child of the 60s and thinking I knew something about the City which had "flowers in her hair", my eyes and ears were opened by David Talbot about the dark, conflictual, and troubled history of the City of Love. Of course, I knew about Jerry Garcia, Janis Joplin, Patty Hearst, Harvey Milk, Bill Walsh, the Castro and Haight Ashbury, and I knew of Altamont, Jim Jones, the Hells Angles, and the AIDS epidemic, but I didn't know about Vincent Hallinan, the two-fisted legal godfather of the City or his vitriolic Catholic rival, Joseph Aliota. I didn't know of the decades-long battle for the soul of the City that not only brought us the Summer of Love, but followed it with decades of murder, darkness, plague, and eventually... resurrection. If you love a great non-fiction book that turns pages like a potboiler, listen to "Season of the Witch"!

City of St. Francis

I am a citizen that lives by those "San Francisco Values." This book gave me insight to my role in our city's history.

After reading Mr. Tabbot's work, I better understand why our city is so different. It is the unique group of people portrayed within the book that built our city's foundations. We the citizens of San Francisco continue take their strong and many times frightening experiences to shape our present lives. By knowing who we are then remembering their legacy, ulitmately we will create a better world.

WOW!

Possibly the best book i have listened to this year. Brought back alot of memories.

Northern CA Is A Little Bit Creepy.

I've lived in northern California, in Stockton and the Bay Area. There is an under-current of violence there that I've that always felt but couldn't understand. This book helps to identify why I've felt that way. It is physically one of most beautiful places on earth but it is a land of political extremes with extreme actors who've been swept up by the politics and have done some very very bad things. The book left me saddened that for all the gains we've had there they had to come at the expense of so many great losses. The violent under-current gives the beauty a hard edge still today. Nirvana comes at a cost.

Brought me back to the 60s

Would you listen to Season of the Witch again? Why?

I might. There was so much information and so many chances during that era I probably missed some the first time I read it

What did you like best about this story?

I lived, went to school and worked in the Haight Medical Clinic in 1969 for a year. I was very young and listening to the book I remembered all the names, but had no idea how they all fit together. So this was journey back in time where all the puzzle pieces were put together.

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved all of them

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me realize how politics, lack of integrity, and greediness seem to be the human condition with most in positions that hold any power

Any additional comments?

I'm just grateful that someone told me about this book and that the author took so much tie researching and writing such a changing time in history

Fascinating book, great narration

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you are interested in San Francisco, the Summer of Love, the Gay Movement, etc., you will love this book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

N/A

Which character – as performed by Arthur Morey – was your favorite?

N/A

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This non-fiction book about San Francisco was as captivating as a mystery novel. It was moving, scary and amazing.

San Francisco warts and all...

If you truly love San Francisco, this is the book for you. It gives you a deeper look at the grit that created a city known for its grit. After the Summer of Love (1967) came, some dark elements arose which were essentially a capitalist backlash against the communal example being set by those in the Haight-Ashbury district.

Hoover’s COINTELPRO came and spelled the beginning of some dark days in San Francisco. The “hippie movement” (or the true counterculture) simply couldn’t be allowed to work.

This book goes into the darkness that was created following the Summer of Love in San Francisco (w/some brief history leading up to it).

Loved it

All the history I was looking for and then some. If you've ever adored SF this is for you

LOVED this book!

I loved this book from beginning to end. The history and stories were fascinating especially when growing up in the Bay Area. Excellent read!

SF is the setting but it’s the epic story of an era

Yes San Francisco is a magical place. But it’s people, their resilience, character, charm and empathy make it world renowned. This book is about those extraordinary people, their vision and grit that altered and enlightened our society forever. Born in SF and having lived through all of it, I still learned so much.