The Anarchist Cookbook
Encyclopedia
The Anarchist Cookbook, first published in 1971
, is a book that contains instructions for the manufacture of explosives
, rudimentary telecommunications phreaking
devices, and other items. It was written by William Powell
to protest United States involvement in the Vietnam War
.
, the copyright
was taken out in the publisher's name, not his, and the current publisher had no desire to remove the book from print. Powell has since created many websites devoted to the book, explaining his desire to see it removed from circulation as he no longer advocates what he had written. He wrote on one of those websites:
At the time of its publication, one Federal Bureau of Investigation
memo described The Anarchist Cookbook as "one of the crudest, low-brow, paranoiac writing efforts ever attempted."
In 2009 the magazine Vice
published a brief history of the book as well as excerpted recipes. The magazine's associate network, VBS.tv
, also broadcast a documentary on the subject.
In 2010, the Federal Bureau of Investigation released the bulk of its investigative file on The Anarchist Cookbook.
dispute the association of the book with anarchist political philosophy. The anarchist collective CrimethInc.
, which published the book Recipes for Disaster: An Anarchist Cookbook in response, denounces the earlier book, saying it was "not composed or released by anarchists, not derived from anarchist practice, not intended to promote freedom and autonomy or challenge repressive power – and was barely a cookbook, as most of the recipes in it are notoriously unreliable."
More recently, in 2010, Ian Davison
and his son were imprisoned under anti-terrorism laws for the manufacturing of ricin
, and their possession of the Anarchist Cookbook, along with its availability, was noted by the authorities.
1971 in literature
The year 1971 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*The Destiny Waltz by Gerda Charles wins the UK's first Whitbread Novel of the Year Award.-New books:*Hiroshi Aramata - Teito Monogatari...
, is a book that contains instructions for the manufacture of explosives
Explosive material
An explosive material, also called an explosive, is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure...
, rudimentary telecommunications phreaking
Phreaking
Phreaking is a slang term coined to describe the activity of a culture of people who study, experiment with, or explore telecommunication systems, such as equipment and systems connected to public telephone networks. As telephone networks have become computerized, phreaking has become closely...
devices, and other items. It was written by William Powell
William Powell (author)
William Powell is the author of The Anarchist Cookbook, which he has since disowned. He and his wife are currently the co-directors of Education Across Frontiers, an organization aimed at the professional development of international school teachers and administrators.-Employment:* CEO of the...
to protest United States involvement in the Vietnam War
Role of United States in the Vietnam War
The role of the United States in the Vietnam War began soon after the Second World War and escalated into full commitment during what is termed the Vietnam War from 1955 to 1975.-Woodrow Wilson :Milestones of U.S...
.
Post-release history
Since writing the book, Powell has converted to Anglican Christianity and has attempted to have the book removed from circulation. However, Powell noted that when the book was published by Lyle StuartLyle Stuart
Lyle Stuart was an American author and independent publisher of controversial books....
, the copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
was taken out in the publisher's name, not his, and the current publisher had no desire to remove the book from print. Powell has since created many websites devoted to the book, explaining his desire to see it removed from circulation as he no longer advocates what he had written. He wrote on one of those websites:
The book, in many respects, was a misguided product of my adolescent anger at the prospect of being drafted and sent to Vietnam to fight in a war that I did not believe in.
At the time of its publication, one Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
memo described The Anarchist Cookbook as "one of the crudest, low-brow, paranoiac writing efforts ever attempted."
In 2009 the magazine Vice
Vice (magazine)
VICE is a free magazine and media conglomerate founded in Montreal, Quebec and currently based in New York City.Vice is available in 27 countries...
published a brief history of the book as well as excerpted recipes. The magazine's associate network, VBS.tv
VBS.tv
VBS.tv is an online television network owned by the Vice media conglomerate. The network produces original, short-form, documentary-style video content. Subject matter includes humanitarian issues, music, insider travel guides, and news. The creative director of the network is Spike...
, also broadcast a documentary on the subject.
In 2010, the Federal Bureau of Investigation released the bulk of its investigative file on The Anarchist Cookbook.
Relationship to anarchism
Advocates of anarchismAnarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
dispute the association of the book with anarchist political philosophy. The anarchist collective CrimethInc.
CrimethInc.
CrimethInc., also known as CWC , is a decentralized anarchist collective of autonomous cells. CrimethInc. emerged in the mid-1990s, initially as the hardcore zine Inside Front, and began operating as a collective in 1996...
, which published the book Recipes for Disaster: An Anarchist Cookbook in response, denounces the earlier book, saying it was "not composed or released by anarchists, not derived from anarchist practice, not intended to promote freedom and autonomy or challenge repressive power – and was barely a cookbook, as most of the recipes in it are notoriously unreliable."
Legality and the alleged relationship to terrorism
In 2007, a seventeen year old British youth was arrested in Britain and faced charges under Terrorism Law in the UK for possession of this book, among other things. He was cleared of all charges in October 2008, after alleging that he was a prankster that just wanted to research fireworks and smoke bombs. He claimed that he would not have been persecuted in this way if he had not been of Muslim background.More recently, in 2010, Ian Davison
Ian Davison
Ian Davison is a British unemployed lorry driver, white supremacist, and neo-Nazi who was arrested in 2009 for planning terrorist attacks. Davison's then-18-year-old son Nicky, a milk man's assistant, was also arrested at the same time....
and his son were imprisoned under anti-terrorism laws for the manufacturing of ricin
Ricin
Ricin , from the castor oil plant Ricinus communis, is a highly toxic, naturally occurring protein. A dose as small as a few grains of salt can kill an adult. The LD50 of ricin is around 22 micrograms per kilogram Ricin , from the castor oil plant Ricinus communis, is a highly toxic, naturally...
, and their possession of the Anarchist Cookbook, along with its availability, was noted by the authorities.