Bringing Down America

Bringing Down America chronicles Larry Grathwohl's experience as an FBI informant who infiltrated the Weather Underground Organization in 1969. The book provides firsthand accounts of operations, meetings, and plans within this radical leftist group during a turbulent period of American history. Written with co-author Frank Reagan, Grathwohl details the inner workings of the Weathermen organization and its transformation into a militant underground movement. The narrative follows his navigation through the group's hierarchy while maintaining his secret identity and gathering intelligence for federal authorities. Through a combination of personal recollections and historical context, the book documents a volatile chapter in America's political landscape. The authors examine the ideology, tactics, and personalities that drove the organization's activities. The memoir raises questions about ideological extremism, political violence, and the boundaries between activism and terrorism. Its examination of radicalization and underground movements remains relevant to contemporary discussions of domestic extremism.

Readers view this book as a firsthand account of Weather Underground activity from an FBI informant. Most reviewers cite its value as a historical document and primary source about 1960s radical movements. Readers appreciated: - Direct observations from inside the organization - Details about planned acts of violence - Insights into the group's tactics and beliefs - Straightforward writing style without embellishment Common criticisms: - Limited context for broader social movements - Dated writing and formatting - Some readers question potential bias due to author's FBI connection Ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (46 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (37 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Raw look into a terrorist organization from someone who was there" - Amazon reviewer "Important historical record but needs more background information" - Goodreads reviewer "Reveals operational details other books gloss over" - Goodreads reviewer

Days of Rage by Bill Ayers This first-hand account chronicles the rise and fall of the Weather Underground through the perspective of one of its founding members.

Underground: My Life with SDS and the Weathermen by Mark Rudd The narrative details the transformation of the Students for a Democratic Society into the militant Weathermen organization during the late 1960s.

The Way the Wind Blew: A History of the Weather Underground by Ron Jacobs The text examines the evolution of the Weather Underground through documents, interviews, and historical records from 1969 to 1976.

Revolution's End: The Patty Hearst Kidnapping, Mind Control, and the Secret History of Donald DeFreeze and the SLA by Brad Schreiber This investigation connects the Symbionese Liberation Army, the FBI, and the complex web of radical political movements in 1970s America.

The Company You Keep by Neil Gordon The narrative follows a former Weather Underground member who must confront his past while evading federal authorities in the present day.

🔸 Larry Grathwohl worked as an FBI informant who infiltrated the Weather Underground Organization in 1969, becoming one of the few people to witness their operations from the inside. 🔸 The Weather Underground planned to establish "re-education centers" in the Southwest where they estimated they would need to eliminate 25 million Americans who couldn't be converted to their cause. 🔸 The book details how members of the Weather Underground were trained in bomb-making and guerrilla warfare tactics in Cuba, with support from the Cuban government. 🔸 Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, two of the Weather Underground's most prominent leaders discussed in the book, later became respected academics despite their militant past. 🔸 The hardcover edition was published in 1976 and became increasingly rare until it was republished in 2013, following renewed interest in domestic terrorism after 9/11.