By Erik Davis
Photographs by Michael Rauner

Chronicle Books, June 2006
80,000 words, 272 pages, 164 photographs, 9 5/8″ x 9 5/8″
$40.00

‘California is famous for its diversity, its eccentricity, and its prophetic influence on popular culture. Since the 19th century, the Golden State has also been one of America’s most fertile climates for spiritual and religious movements. Beautifully weaving together text and image, The Visionary State is the first book to address the full story of “California consciousness.” Ranging from Yosemite to Esalen, from televangelism to Neopaganism, from Mormon pioneers to contemporary Kali worshippers, acclaimed culture critic Erik Davis weaves together the threads of California’s religious history into an enchanting and vivid tapestry. Michael Rauner’s haunting iconic photographs ground the book’s many stories in the sacred landscape and architecture of the Golden State. Together Davis and Rauner map the peaks and faultlines that characterize the place that is both the nexus and far frontier of American religion.’

(Note: An expanded version of one chapter from this book was published in the May 2005 issue of Arthur.)

Book reading
June 21
7:00 pm
Booksmith
1644 Haight Street, San Francisco
415/863-8688

Gallery opening
June 22
5:30 – 7:30 pm
The Visionary State: Photographs by Michael Rauner
Scott Nichols Gallery
49 Geary Street, San Francisco
415/788-4641
(Exhibition runs through August 5)

Severe discount via Amazon!!!: