Seattle has a long tradition of being at the forefront of technological innovation. In 1919, an eager young inventor named Alfred M. Hubbard made his first newspaper appearance with the announcement of a perpetual motion machine that harnessed energy from Earth's atmosphere. From there, Hubbard transformed himself into a charlatan, bootlegger, radio pioneer, top-secret spy, millionaire and uranium entrepreneur. In 1953, after discovering the transformative effects of a little-known hallucinogenic compound, Hubbard would go on to become the "Johnny Appleseed of LSD," introducing the psychedelic... Read More
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Seattle has a long tradition of being at the forefront of technological innovation. In 1919, an eager young inventor named Alfred M. Hubbard made his first newspaper appearance with the announcement of a perpetual motion machine that harnessed energy from Earth's atmosphere. From there, Hubbard transformed himself into a charlatan, bootlegger, radio pioneer, top-secret spy, millionaire and uranium entrepreneur. In 1953, after discovering the transformative effects of a little-known hallucinogenic compound, Hubbard would go on to become the "Johnny Appleseed of LSD," introducing the psychedelic... Read More
Seattle has a long tradition of being at the forefront of technological innovation. In 1919, an eager young inventor named Alfred M. Hubbard made his first newspaper appearance with the announcement of a perpetual motion machine that harnessed energy from Earth's atmosphere. From there, Hubbard transformed himself into a charlatan, bootlegger, radio pioneer, top-secret spy, millionaire and uranium entrepreneur. In 1953, after discovering the transformative effects of a little-known hallucinogenic compound, Hubbard would go on to become the "Johnny Appleseed of LSD," introducing the psychedelic to many of the era's vanguards and an entire generation. Join author and historian Brad Holden as he chronicles the fascinating life of one of Seattle's legendary figures.
Details
Pages: 144
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Imprint: The History Press
Publication Date: 26th July 2021
State: Washington
Illustration Note: Black and White
ISBN: 9781467148061
Format: Paperback
BISACs: TRUE CRIME / Historical BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Science & Technology HISTORY / United States / State & Local / Pacific Northwest (OR, WA)
Reviews
"Seattle Mystic Alfred M. Hubbard tells the story of a young Seattle tech wizard who used radio technology to help Northwest bootleggers during Prohibition, then played a key role in introducing LSD to Silicon Valley. This biography of an incredible, eccentric life is truly a mindblower." - Knute Berger, editor, TV host and author of Pugetopolis: A Mossback Takes on Growth Addicts, Weather Wimps and the Myth of Seattle Nice
"When Brad Holden first stumbled on "Captain" Al Hubbard a few years ago, he found a crafty Seattle rumrunner who'd achieved national celebrity during Prohibition. But Holden soon discovered that Hubbard's second act--as one of the key, hidden figures behind the psychedelic revolution of the 1960s--would prove even more extraordinary. In this groundbreaking attempt to peel back the many layers of myth and mystery that surround Hubbard's early life as a boy genius, bootlegger and spy, Holden lays out the epic life of a uniquely American character, a trickster who danced across the national stage for almost a half century. Holden, a dogged archaeologist of urban artifact and lore, performs an invaluable service by pulling together this compellingly readable introduction to "The Captain"--a man whose late-in-life dream to change the world with psychedelics is still reverberating through the culture today." - Ken Dornstein, Emmy-winning producer of Long Strange Trip and author of The Boy Who Fell Out of the Sky: A True Story
"This is the remarkable story of Captain Al Hubbard--inventor, con man, secret agent, uranium entrepreneur and indefatigable LSD apostle--who saw the light while high on psychedelics in the early 1950s and never looked back."- Martin A. Lee, author of Acid Dreams: The Complete Social History of LSD: The CIA, the Sixties, and Beyond
"An engaging biography about the mysterious Al Hubbard, who helped pioneer psychedelic therapy and is credited by Stan Grof with developing the model of the high-dose inner-directed session to catalyze a mystical experience." - Rick Doblin, PhD, founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)
"This is a captivating history of one of America's most colorful characters--Al Hubbard. Holden dives into the larger-than-life history of a man whose past intersects with rumrunning, spy rings, police informants and psychedelics. Brilliantly told, Holden brings Hubbard's enigmatic character to life." - Erika Dyck, PhD, professor at the University of Saskatchewanand author of Psychedelic Psychiatry: LSD from Clinic to Campus
"Through this wildly fascinating story of Al Hubbard, Holden details a huckster, dreamer and iconoclast who prototyped the next generation of eccentric Seattle tech entrepreneurs and lifestyle gurus. But Holden is getting at so much more here: a place, a time, a mentality that has gotten us to where we are today." - Thomas Kohnstamm, author of Lake City and Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?
Author Bio
Brad Holden is a local historian, collector and self-proclaimed urban archaeologist who searches for historical artifacts at estate sales, flea markets and dusty old attics. He showcases these historical finds on his Instagram page, seattle_artifacts@instagram.com, as well as hosting exhibits at local venues. Brad also volunteers his time at the Edmonds Historical Museum. This is his first published book.
Seattle has a long tradition of being at the forefront of technological innovation. In 1919, an eager young inventor named Alfred M. Hubbard made his first newspaper appearance with the announcement of a perpetual motion machine that harnessed energy from Earth's atmosphere. From there, Hubbard transformed himself into a charlatan, bootlegger, radio pioneer, top-secret spy, millionaire and uranium entrepreneur. In 1953, after discovering the transformative effects of a little-known hallucinogenic compound, Hubbard would go on to become the "Johnny Appleseed of LSD," introducing the psychedelic to many of the era's vanguards and an entire generation. Join author and historian Brad Holden as he chronicles the fascinating life of one of Seattle's legendary figures.
Pages: 144
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Imprint: The History Press
Publication Date: 26th July 2021
State: Washington
Illustrations Note: Black and White
ISBN: 9781467148061
Format: Paperback
BISACs: TRUE CRIME / Historical BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Science & Technology HISTORY / United States / State & Local / Pacific Northwest (OR, WA)
"Seattle Mystic Alfred M. Hubbard tells the story of a young Seattle tech wizard who used radio technology to help Northwest bootleggers during Prohibition, then played a key role in introducing LSD to Silicon Valley. This biography of an incredible, eccentric life is truly a mindblower." - Knute Berger, editor, TV host and author of Pugetopolis: A Mossback Takes on Growth Addicts, Weather Wimps and the Myth of Seattle Nice
"When Brad Holden first stumbled on "Captain" Al Hubbard a few years ago, he found a crafty Seattle rumrunner who'd achieved national celebrity during Prohibition. But Holden soon discovered that Hubbard's second act--as one of the key, hidden figures behind the psychedelic revolution of the 1960s--would prove even more extraordinary. In this groundbreaking attempt to peel back the many layers of myth and mystery that surround Hubbard's early life as a boy genius, bootlegger and spy, Holden lays out the epic life of a uniquely American character, a trickster who danced across the national stage for almost a half century. Holden, a dogged archaeologist of urban artifact and lore, performs an invaluable service by pulling together this compellingly readable introduction to "The Captain"--a man whose late-in-life dream to change the world with psychedelics is still reverberating through the culture today." - Ken Dornstein, Emmy-winning producer of Long Strange Trip and author of The Boy Who Fell Out of the Sky: A True Story
"This is the remarkable story of Captain Al Hubbard--inventor, con man, secret agent, uranium entrepreneur and indefatigable LSD apostle--who saw the light while high on psychedelics in the early 1950s and never looked back."- Martin A. Lee, author of Acid Dreams: The Complete Social History of LSD: The CIA, the Sixties, and Beyond
"An engaging biography about the mysterious Al Hubbard, who helped pioneer psychedelic therapy and is credited by Stan Grof with developing the model of the high-dose inner-directed session to catalyze a mystical experience." - Rick Doblin, PhD, founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)
"This is a captivating history of one of America's most colorful characters--Al Hubbard. Holden dives into the larger-than-life history of a man whose past intersects with rumrunning, spy rings, police informants and psychedelics. Brilliantly told, Holden brings Hubbard's enigmatic character to life." - Erika Dyck, PhD, professor at the University of Saskatchewanand author of Psychedelic Psychiatry: LSD from Clinic to Campus
"Through this wildly fascinating story of Al Hubbard, Holden details a huckster, dreamer and iconoclast who prototyped the next generation of eccentric Seattle tech entrepreneurs and lifestyle gurus. But Holden is getting at so much more here: a place, a time, a mentality that has gotten us to where we are today." - Thomas Kohnstamm, author of Lake City and Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?
Brad Holden is a local historian, collector and self-proclaimed urban archaeologist who searches for historical artifacts at estate sales, flea markets and dusty old attics. He showcases these historical finds on his Instagram page, seattle_artifacts@instagram.com, as well as hosting exhibits at local venues. Brad also volunteers his time at the Edmonds Historical Museum. This is his first published book.
