Over at Salon.com Max Cea reviews the documentary American Anarchist.  The film, directed by Charlie Siskel (he is the nephew of movie critic Gene Siskel), focuses on William Powell, the man who in 1971 published the very controversial book The Anarchist’s Cookbook.  The review of the film can be found here:

American Anarchist contends with the deadly impact of a writer’s words

I’m incredibly fascinated with the subject matter.

Back in High School, I recall at least one fellow dorm dweller having a copy, though I suspect it wasn’t so much that the person who had it fancied themselves an anarchist but rather they wanted to own this controversial book.  In the book, Mr. Powell, who wrote it when he was 19, weary of the Vietnam War, and held a “radical libertarian’s” viewpoint, offered a manual of how to make DIY explosives/weapons and drugs.

Mr. Powell is now 65 years old and, according to the review, was not aware of the “influence” this tome has had over the years, including being found among the possessions of the Columbine shooters.

According to the review:

(Mr. Powell) has publicly denounced the book’s message and argued for it to be taken out of print. “Over the years, I have come to understand that the basic premise behind the Cookbook is profoundly flawed,” he wrote in a 2013 Guardian op-ed. “The anger that motivated the writing of the Cookbook blinded me to the illogical notion that violence can be used to prevent violence.”

Further, the review notes Mr. Powell is not that interested in looking into his book’s connections to other acts of violence.  Though he clearly regrets the book and its contents today and wishes it was “out of print”, I get the feeling from the review that Mr. Powell feels the publication of the book is not unlike a gun-maker producing weapons which subsequently are used for violence.  The defense is the old “guns don’t kill people, people kill people” cliche.

I’m very likely simplifying things as Mr. Powell no doubt holds his own views and I cannot get into his mind.  Nonetheless, the documentary intrigues me.

I certainly feel for Mr. Powell as 1971 was a rough time to be a 19 year old.  With the Vietnam War raging and the draft still in effect, the idea of going overseas to fight -and possibly die- for what many considered by then a worthless war must have created a tremendous strain in many people of Mr. Powell’s age.

His book, created at the height of these very harsh times, will likely be his life’s legacy and it must bother him that a book he now wishes was “out of print” remains out there and, possibly, influencing minds if not actions.

As someone who writes, this proves to be a cautionary tale.  Whatever you choose to write and publish might linger for many, many years beyond the time of publication and if you’re forward thinking you may want to carefully consider this before releasing something into the general public.

It is possible to regret your words.