Occult America: The Secret History of How Mysticism Shaped Our Nation by Mitch Horowitz

A terribly objective albeit friendly record of mysticism and its relationship to American political history, this book is disturbing and enlightening. Mitch Horowitz does not differentiate between mysticism that has its source in Christianity from mysticism that derives from other spiritual bases but he does show the synergy of ideas such as hyper-nationalism, prosperity, and positive thinking across the boundaries between church and society at large. He returns again and again to the theme of the commercialization and the popularization of spiritual ideas both within the Christian and what would traditionally be considered Occult traditions. He also reveals how secret mystic traditions that came from Europe and Asia became commonly known practices here. The key figures involved are named, the places where their influence was centered and to which it spread are clearly identified, and dates, other affiliations, and the presidents and other strongmen who fell under their sway are listed. Horowitz's narrative starts in Colonial New England and, while it peeks a bit into the 1960s, it really covers the period up until that decade began. It is extremely well written and does no more than provide an alternative window through which to view our history which, to many should be investigated and addressed courageously in the spirit of truth.

Horowitz, Mitch. Occult America: The Secret History of How Mysticism Shaped Our Nation. 2009. Bantam Books, New York.