On February 12, the Morning Book Club discussed Eric Utne's memoir, Far Out Man: Tales of Life in the Counterculture, which chronicles his journey as a spiritual seeker, anti-war activist, and founder of the Utne Reader.

The book spans several decades, from the Vietnam era to the age of Trump, capturing the essence of the counterculture movement over time. Utne shares his experiences  of American history, exploring the Vietnam era, the sexual revolution, and the entrepreneurial spirit of the Eighties and Nineties.

Our group had a special guest, Diane H. who worked with Utne. She shared many anecdotes about Eric and others who knew him. Many members of our group didn’t care much for Eric Utne. He came across as a self-absorbed dropout who didn’t think much about others. He used drugs, dropped out, was divorced twice, flirted with women in the office, and lived the life of a hippy. He dropped out of college three times, went from job to job, and traveled all over the world seeking new people and new ideas. He wondered if he was just like his dad, being an absent father.  He did create a lot of things – a men’s group, a salon, a magazine and the Utne Reader. He sought out and attracted interesting people and brought them together. Many of us felt that he didn’t express much gratitude for the happiness in his life and didn’t take responsibility for his actions.