Radical Son: A Generational Odyssey

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In a narrative rich with political significance and literary strength, David Horowitz recounts his journey from a Sixties radical to a Nineties conservative. This political document explores three generations of an American family's fascination with the radical left, spanning from the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 to the fall of the Marxist empire decades later. As a founder of the New Left and editor of Ramparts, Horowitz offers vivid portraits of key figures from this transformative era, illustrating their roles in shaping the radical decade while simultaneously undermining America. Among those featured is Bertrand Russell, the renowned philosopher who, in his nineties, became a vocal critic of the Vietnam War, organizing a War Crimes Tribunal. Tom Hayden, the archetypal radical who advocated for urban guerrilla warfare, later transitioned to a Democratic state senator after his revolutionary aspirations faltered. The narrative also highlights Huey Newton, a street hustler who founded a black militia symbolizing black power and militance. A pivotal encounter with Newton and the Black Panthers, the most notable radical group of the Sixties, profoundly impacts Horowitz's life, leading to a transformative realization that ultimately positions him as a leading figure in conservatism and a prominent activist in Hollywood.