{"product_id":"the-rise-and-fall-of-synanon-a-california-utopia","title":"The Rise and Fall of Synanon: A California Utopia","description":"\u003cp\u003eChuck Dederich--a former Alcoholics Anonymous member who coined the phrase \"Today is the first day of the rest of your life\"--established Synanon as an innovative drug rehabilitation center near the Santa Monica beach in 1958. Synanon evolved quickly into an experimental commune and \"religion\" that attracted thousands of nonaddict members and was strongly committed to social justice and progressive education. Over 25 000 people were members of Synanon at various times  including jazz musicians Charlie Haden and Stan Kenton; supporters of the group included Senator Thomas Dodd  comedian Steve Allen  and psychologist Abraham Maslow. In its later years  however  the group became involved in highly publicized violent actions--including putting a rattlesnake in the mailbox of a Los Angeles-area attorney--making the groups name synonymous with paranoid cults. Based on extensive primary sources and interviews with former members  The Rise and Fall of Synanon explores how the institution evolved in the context of American social  political  and economic trends. Historian Rod Janzen argues that the groups downfall resulted from members giving too much power to Synanons charismatic founder and a small group of top-level associates. Media attention focused on the groups cultlike activities  neglecting the communitys significant successes in drug rehabilitation and social integration. Janzens in-depth analysis of Synanon serves as a fascinating case study of how alternative societies can change over time and how the general publics reactions to such societies can shift from tolerance to stances of fear and active opposition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44968196538421,"sku":"ByrdShop_0801865832","price":94.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780801865831.jpg?v=1770648853","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-rise-and-fall-of-synanon-a-california-utopia","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}