Documentarian Says 'Anarchist Cookbook' Author Was Filled With Remorse
But remorse and regret are two different things. William Powell's 1970s book contains instructions for making explosives. Charlie Siskel interviewed him for his film American Anarchist.
If you've been around long enough, you've probably seen The Anarchist Cookbook: It has a black cover, blocky white letters and instructions for making your own explosives. The book was published in the early 1970s with this warning: "Read this book, but keep in mind that the topics written about here are illegal and constitutes a threat. Also, more importantly, almost all the recipes are dangerous, especially to the individual who plays around with them without knowing what he is doing. Use care, caution, and common sense. This book is not for children or morons."
William Powell has sold more than 2 million copies. It has also been linked to the Columbine shooting and the Oklahoma City bombing,as well as other acts of violence.
