Jon Wiener

Jon Wiener is an American historian, journalist, and author known for his extensive work uncovering FBI surveillance of John Lennon and his broader contributions to political and cultural history. After receiving his PhD from Harvard University, he spent his academic career as a professor of U.S. history at the University of California, Irvine, where he is now professor emeritus. His most notable achievement was a 25-year legal battle with the FBI to release their files on John Lennon, which resulted in the publication of "Gimme Some Truth: The John Lennon FBI Files" (1999). This work established him as a leading authority on government surveillance of musicians and activists during the Nixon era. Beyond his Lennon scholarship, Wiener has maintained a significant presence in progressive journalism as a contributing editor to The Nation magazine and host of their weekly podcast "Start Making Sense." His recent work includes "Set the Night on Fire: L.A. in the Sixties" (2020), co-authored with Mike Davis, which became a Los Angeles Times bestseller. Publishing numerous books that examine the intersection of politics, culture, and history, Wiener's research interests span from the Cold War era to contemporary American politics. His work combines academic rigor with accessible journalism, particularly focusing on political movements and cultural figures of the 1960s and their lasting impact on American society.

Readers appreciate Wiener's thorough research and clear presentation of historical documents, particularly in his coverage of FBI surveillance of John Lennon. On Goodreads, readers highlight his ability to connect historical events to modern political issues. Readers liked: - Detailed documentation and primary sources - Clear writing style that makes complex topics accessible - Balance between scholarly depth and readability - Strong factual basis without sensationalism Readers disliked: - Some find his political perspective too prominent - Occasional repetition of information across chapters - Limited scope in some works that readers wished went deeper Ratings across platforms: - Goodreads: "Gimme Some Truth" averages 3.8/5 from 156 ratings - Amazon: "Set the Night on Fire" averages 4.6/5 from 83 reviews - LibraryThing: Books average 3.9/5 overall One reader noted: "Wiener lets the documents speak for themselves while providing crucial context." Another commented: "His research is impeccable, though his political views sometimes overshadow the narrative."

Set the Night on Fire: L.A. in the Sixties (2020) A detailed examination of Los Angeles during the 1960s, chronicling the social movements and political upheavals that transformed the city.

Gimme Some Truth: The John Lennon FBI Files (1999) A documentation of the FBI's surveillance of John Lennon, based on files obtained through Wiener's lengthy Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.

Come Together: John Lennon in His Time (1984) An analysis of John Lennon's political activism and its context within the social movements of the 1960s and 1970s.

Historians in Trouble: Plagiarism, Fraud, and Politics in the Ivory Tower (2005) An investigation into various academic scandals and controversies involving prominent historians.

Conspiracy in the Streets: The Extraordinary Trial of the Chicago Eight (2006) A detailed account of the Chicago Eight trial following the 1968 Democratic National Convention protests.

I Told You So: Gore Vidal Talks Politics (2012) A collection of interviews with Gore Vidal discussing American politics and culture.

Howard Zinn His works explore political movements and social justice through a people's history lens, similar to Wiener's focus on activism and cultural resistance. His examination of FBI surveillance and government opposition to progressive movements parallels Wiener's research on the Lennon files.

Todd Gitlin As a sociologist and former president of Students for a Democratic Society, he writes extensively about 1960s social movements and media culture. His analysis of the era's political upheaval complements Wiener's work on Los Angeles activism and cultural revolution.

Fred Kaplan He specializes in Cold War history and national security journalism, covering government surveillance and political culture. His work on the intersection of politics and culture mirrors Wiener's approach to examining historical events through multiple lenses.

Rick Perlstein His chronicles of modern American conservatism provide context for the political environment Wiener describes in his work. His research on Nixon-era politics directly connects to Wiener's investigation of FBI surveillance during that period.

Ellen Willis Her writing combines cultural criticism with political analysis, focusing on music and social movements of the 1960s and beyond. Her work examining the relationship between popular culture and political activism aligns with Wiener's exploration of John Lennon's FBI files and cultural resistance.