American Anarchist is a 2016 American documentary film written and directed by Charlie Siskel. It premiered out of competition at the 73rd edition of the Venice Film Festival. It deals with the story of the 1971 book The Anarchist Cookbook and of its author, William Powell.
The Anarchist Cookbook, first published in 1971, is a book that contains instructions for the manufacture of explosives, rudimentary telecommunications phreaking devices, and other items. The book also includes instructions for home manufacturing of illicit drugs, including LSD. It was written by William Powell at the apex of the counterculture era in order to protest against United States involvement in the Vietnam War.
