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The Visionary State: A Journey Through California's Spiritual Landscape
With a rich cultural history and Hollywood stars publicly attesting to a wide range of faiths, it's no surprise that California's spiritual landscape is as diverse as its natural surroundings. The Visionary State weaves text and image into a compelling narrative of religion, architecture, and consciousness in California, from neopaganism to televangelism, UFO cults to austere Zen Buddhism. Acclaimed culture critic Erik Davis brings together the immigrant and homegrown religious influences that have been part of the region's character from its earliest days, drawing connections between seemingly unlike traditions and celebrating the diversity of California's spiritual composition. Michael Rauner's evocative photographs depict the sites and structures where these traditions have taken root and flourished. The Visionary State is a landmark look at what is likely the most varied locale for religious activity anywhere.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 14, 2015
This is a fascinating coffee table book that deserves reading, as it details several surprising and interesting moments in Californian spiritual history both past and present. There's a lot of focus on architecture--which didn't really float my boat--but I learned more than I anticipated. Overall, it points to the syncretic nature of California's spiritual consciousness both positively and negatively, and makes for an awesome road-trip to-do list to boot. Beautiful pictures, great prose.
January 2, 2020
I adore this book. I live in the visionary state, though can’t travel as I would love to, to see many of these incredible sounding spots. I have learned a great deal, though! It indeed a great travel guide AND just super interesting. California is such an amazing and large state, with so much spiritual rebel unusual history, that one would never know of most of these. Kudos to the intrepid authors!
January 17, 2020
I found this to be a delightful book on the continuing "spiritual supermarket" that California has apparently been for over 100 years. There are a lot of illustrations, and little tidbits on celebrities, and the occasional person I know. The language is easy and the author avoids oversimplifications.
June 30, 2013
California has the reputation of being a magnet of all manner of new, old and regenerated religious and spiritual paths. And the many photographs in this book gives the feeling of a travelogue, of sorts, of all these groups with text descriptive and colorful to match. In fact, one *could* plan a trip based on this book! I would do it:)
December 29, 2008
Stretching from the early Theosophists through the hippies, the swamis, the LaVeys and Kenneth Angers, through to the present day, this book presents California as a haunted land. Everyone who lives here should have a copy.
July 7, 2009
The kind of book you can pick up scan through and find a picture you like and then read the corresponding explanation or story. I'm a fan of Erik Davis, so really enjoy his insight into various subcultures and spaces.
October 14, 2011
Though some "coffee table" books are just to thumb through looking at the pictures, this book was fascinating. The stories behind California spiritual thinkers are interesting. Sometimes the author is a bit too sarcastic about religious groups he doesn't relate to.
June 30, 2012
Worth picking up from the library. Some of the chapters are absolutely fascinating, and others only merited a quick browse. The photographs are good, but the fake black frame borders and layout of the 2 photo panoramas takes away from the content.
July 20, 2009
So good, and perfect fodder for a grand road trip.
September 1, 2011
Wonderful chapter called the Alchemy of Trash that delves into West Coast Assemblage!
February 15, 2013
Compelling photography and narrative focused on the spiritual dimension of California-scape. What a visionary book!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews