Powell’s Anarchist Cookbook was an entertaining read, although much of it is inaccurate or outdated. I was particularly interested in reading this text because of its controversial history, including its alleged use in the Oklahoma City Bombing. I thought that the prefatory note, forward, introduction, and postscript were all interesting, especially in providing context for the political and social state in which the text was written and the goals of the text. I only skimmed through the “recipes,” but I am not a good cook or chemist, but the instructions did seem pretty clearly written out. I found the drawings and diagrams quite helpful in understanding the processes. I enjoyed reading the quotations before each chapter, and how they were used to support the content. I do wonder whether it would be more difficult to create some of the bombs today, as opposed to when it was written, given that some materials are now more closely tracked. Some sections, like the bugging section, are mostly just irrelevant in 2019, since technology has changed so much. I was not expecting there to be an entire section on drugs, although I suppose it makes sense, given the time period and that it was a counter-cultural movement. I thought the line “there will be no more black kids in jail on trumped up charges” (31), referring to the free use of drugs in the “new society” was especially interesting, given what we now know about the War on Drugs and how it specifically targeted “the anti-war left and black people” to “disrupt” the communities, according to Nixon’s former domestic policy chief John Ehrlichman. I also found the information about what to do if arrested interesting, and I think that sort of information is pretty vital for any protesting group. Knowing your rights and how to best conduct yourself if arrested is very important, although, of course, in this instance the information is coming from a text from 1971 that contains instructions on how to conduct bombs, so it probably isn’t the best place to get this information, nor the most accurate. Still, I do think it is important to know, especially if you plan on protesting.
On a more personal note, I was curious about anarchism, since there has been a considerable anarchist group in my hometown for years. They have, to my knowledge, had a commune, occupied a lot intended to be the location for a new CVS, and held workshops, including a book fair, as well as contributing to the Really Really Free Market, which is frequently held in my hometown. Years later, the lot is still empty, so perhaps the anarchists won. I have always wondered about their existence in my hometown, and learning about anarchy and reading The Anarchist Cookbook has actually helped me understand why. In particular, learning that anarchism is about abolishing private property and getting rid of economic exploitation, including the state, and letting people organize themselves, gave me a greater understanding of their existence in my community.