Flying Close to the Sun

Flying Close to the Sun is a memoir by Cathy Wilkerson recounting her experiences as a radical activist in the 1960s and early 1970s. The book chronicles her path from an idealistic college student to her involvement with Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and later the Weather Underground. Wilkerson details the political climate of the Vietnam War era and the evolution of protest movements during this turbulent period. Her narrative provides an inside view of key organizations and events that shaped the radical left, including the Days of Rage in Chicago and the split of SDS into competing factions. The author examines her own motivations and those of her fellow activists as they moved from peaceful protest to militant resistance. She documents the internal debates, personal relationships, and mounting pressures that influenced their decisions during this period of escalating conflict. The memoir serves as both a historical record and a meditation on the nature of political violence, youthful idealism, and the human costs of extreme commitment to a cause. Through her personal story, Wilkerson explores broader questions about social change and the boundaries between activism and militancy.

Readers value Wilkerson's honest self-reflection about her time in the Weather Underground and her ability to examine her past actions critically. Many note her clear explanations of how young activists became radicalized during the Vietnam War era. Readers appreciate: - Detailed historical context about 1960s activism - Personal insights into the movement's internal dynamics - Frank discussion of mistakes and regrets - Clear writing style Common criticisms: - Too much focus on early SDS years vs Weather Underground period - Some sections drag with organizational details - Limited coverage of post-Underground years Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (369 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (31 ratings) Reader quote: "She doesn't try to justify her actions but rather explains how she and others came to make the choices they did." - Goodreads reviewer Another notes: "The narrative becomes bogged down in meetings and organizational minutiae that distract from the more compelling personal story." - Amazon reviewer

Days of Rage by Bryan Burrough A chronicle of militant underground groups in 1970s America presents the parallel stories of other radical activists during the same period as Wilkerson's Weather Underground involvement.

A Radical Line by Thai Jones The son of former Weather Underground members traces his family's multi-generational history of radical political activism from the 1940s through the 1970s.

Underground by Mark Rudd A Weather Underground leader's first-hand account documents the transformation from student activist to militant revolutionary during the Vietnam War era.

Love and Struggle by David Gilbert A former Weather Underground member recounts his path from Columbia University activism to radical resistance and his subsequent 40 years in prison.

The Company You Keep by Neil Gordon The story follows a former Weather Underground militant who must confront his past life after living decades under an assumed identity.

🗯️ The book's author, Cathy Wilkerson, survived the infamous 1970 Greenwich Village townhouse explosion, which killed three members of the Weather Underground while they were attempting to build bombs. 💭 Wilkerson's father owned the townhouse where the explosion occurred, and she had been using it as a safe house for Weather Underground activities. ⚡ The memoir provides one of the most detailed first-hand accounts of the radical '60s movement's transition from peaceful protest to violent resistance. 🏛️ Before joining the Weather Underground, Wilkerson was a student activist at Swarthmore College and worked with the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). 📖 After living underground for a decade, Wilkerson surrendered to authorities in 1980. She later became a math teacher and education reform advocate in New York City.