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Busting Timothy Leary
Busting Timothy Leary: An Action-Packed Novel of Love, Truth, and Transformation set in the tumultuous 1960s.
From the battlefields of Vietnam to the psychedelic heart of San Francisco, from covert missions to spiritual awakenings—Busting Timothy Leary is a sweeping tale of passion, danger, and redemption set against one of America’s most turbulent eras.
Sean Kelly has lived many lives: star quarterback, Green Beret, spy. Scarred by an abusive childhood and hardened by war, he is recruited to infiltrate Timothy Leary’s LSD-fueled counterculture at the height of revolution. Immersed in acid trips, communes, and political rebellion, Sean finds himself battling enemies both external and within. Each mission tests his loyalty, his conscience, and his very sense of self.
But beneath the espionage lies a deeper journey—a spiritual journey—a search for inner truth. Drawn into mind-bending visions and fleeting glimpses of grace, Sean discovers that his greatest struggle is not with governments or radicals, but with the darkness inside himself. Love, betrayal, brushes with history, and near-death encounters force him toward a single, terrifying choice: obey the mysterious command to “live in the light of truth,” or risk losing not just his mission, his marriage, and his freedom—but his soul.
Vivid, emotional, and richly historical, Busting Timothy Leary is both a gripping adventure and a profound spiritual quest. For readers of historical fiction, counterculture memoirs, and stories of transformation, it is a reminder that even in chaos, truth and love can prevail.
From the battlefields of Vietnam to the psychedelic heart of San Francisco, from covert missions to spiritual awakenings—Busting Timothy Leary is a sweeping tale of passion, danger, and redemption set against one of America’s most turbulent eras.
Sean Kelly has lived many lives: star quarterback, Green Beret, spy. Scarred by an abusive childhood and hardened by war, he is recruited to infiltrate Timothy Leary’s LSD-fueled counterculture at the height of revolution. Immersed in acid trips, communes, and political rebellion, Sean finds himself battling enemies both external and within. Each mission tests his loyalty, his conscience, and his very sense of self.
But beneath the espionage lies a deeper journey—a spiritual journey—a search for inner truth. Drawn into mind-bending visions and fleeting glimpses of grace, Sean discovers that his greatest struggle is not with governments or radicals, but with the darkness inside himself. Love, betrayal, brushes with history, and near-death encounters force him toward a single, terrifying choice: obey the mysterious command to “live in the light of truth,” or risk losing not just his mission, his marriage, and his freedom—but his soul.
Vivid, emotional, and richly historical, Busting Timothy Leary is both a gripping adventure and a profound spiritual quest. For readers of historical fiction, counterculture memoirs, and stories of transformation, it is a reminder that even in chaos, truth and love can prevail.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
343 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2025
6 people are currently reading
997 people want to read
About the author
Bernard Ross
2 books66 followersBernard Ross is not a best-selling New York Times author, although his wife believes he should be. He began writing at 76 after selling his stake in a tech company. His books aren’t about business; they are adventures from the hippie-drenched 1960s—a subject he’s well-versed in. He’s written Sipping Sunlight, a memoir, and Busting Timothy Leary, a historical novel.
He splits his time between his homes in Delray Beach, Florida, and Brewster, New York. Ross attended City College of New York and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, became a CPA, founded three companies, and co-founded another. Ross, a child of Holocaust survivors, was born in Poland and moved to Bolivia as an infant. When he was five years old, he immigrated to the U.S.A. with his family.
Ross has practiced meditation since 1969 and credits his success in life and business to the benefits he has gained from meditation and following the ethical principles of his spiritual path. His hobbies include tennis, pickleball, travel, photography, gardening, nature walks, and writing. Ross is happily married and blessed to have a wonderful, close-knit family, including four children and four grandchildren.
He splits his time between his homes in Delray Beach, Florida, and Brewster, New York. Ross attended City College of New York and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, became a CPA, founded three companies, and co-founded another. Ross, a child of Holocaust survivors, was born in Poland and moved to Bolivia as an infant. When he was five years old, he immigrated to the U.S.A. with his family.
Ross has practiced meditation since 1969 and credits his success in life and business to the benefits he has gained from meditation and following the ethical principles of his spiritual path. His hobbies include tennis, pickleball, travel, photography, gardening, nature walks, and writing. Ross is happily married and blessed to have a wonderful, close-knit family, including four children and four grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 10, 2026
Espionage, Psychedelics, and a Search for Truth
This felt like being dropped right into the chaos of the 1960s. Sean Kelly’s journey, from war zones to the heart of the counterculture, hit hard, especially watching him wrestle with trauma, loyalty, and faith while undercover in Timothy Leary’s world. The action is sharp, but what stayed with me was the inner conflict: the pull between duty and conscience, control and surrender. The spiritual undertone gives the story real depth, turning it into more than a spy novel. By the end, it feels less about busting Leary and more about whether Sean can face himself and choose truth in the middle of total upheaval.
This felt like being dropped right into the chaos of the 1960s. Sean Kelly’s journey, from war zones to the heart of the counterculture, hit hard, especially watching him wrestle with trauma, loyalty, and faith while undercover in Timothy Leary’s world. The action is sharp, but what stayed with me was the inner conflict: the pull between duty and conscience, control and surrender. The spiritual undertone gives the story real depth, turning it into more than a spy novel. By the end, it feels less about busting Leary and more about whether Sean can face himself and choose truth in the middle of total upheaval.
October 12, 2025
What a ride! Busting Timothy Leary captures the chaos, beauty, and madness of the 1960s like nothing I’ve read before. The Vietnam scenes are raw and vivid, but it’s Sean Kelly’s inner transformation that gripped me most. His journey from soldier to seeker is emotional and unsettling in the best way. It’s a novel that doesn’t just tell a story, it asks you to question your own relationship with truth and faith.
October 12, 2025
“Spy Thriller Meets Spiritual Awakening”
This book somehow manages to be both an espionage thriller and a meditation on the human soul. Sean Kelly is such a complex protagonist, haunted, loyal, broken, and brave. The mix of historical events and countercultural exploration felt seamless. I loved how the author wove the psychedelic scenes into moments of genuine spiritual clarity. The ending left me breathless.
This book somehow manages to be both an espionage thriller and a meditation on the human soul. Sean Kelly is such a complex protagonist, haunted, loyal, broken, and brave. The mix of historical events and countercultural exploration felt seamless. I loved how the author wove the psychedelic scenes into moments of genuine spiritual clarity. The ending left me breathless.
October 13, 2025
“History and Humanity Collide”
Few novels balance action and philosophy so well. I came for the historical intrigue and stayed for the emotional depth. The references to Timothy Leary, the communes, and the antiwar movement were fascinating, but Sean’s personal awakening stole the show. My only wish? A few slower moments near the end to savor the transformation. Still, easily one of my favorite reads of the year.
Few novels balance action and philosophy so well. I came for the historical intrigue and stayed for the emotional depth. The references to Timothy Leary, the communes, and the antiwar movement were fascinating, but Sean’s personal awakening stole the show. My only wish? A few slower moments near the end to savor the transformation. Still, easily one of my favorite reads of the year.
October 13, 2025
“A Trip Through Time and Consciousness”
There’s a hallucinatory quality to the writing that mirrors Sean’s own transformation. One moment you’re in a warzone, the next you’re in a haze of color and light, questioning what’s real. Ross perfectly captures the tension between control and surrender, ego and enlightenment. I was surprised at how spiritual this book became, it’s not just about busting Leary, it’s about busting yourself open.
There’s a hallucinatory quality to the writing that mirrors Sean’s own transformation. One moment you’re in a warzone, the next you’re in a haze of color and light, questioning what’s real. Ross perfectly captures the tension between control and surrender, ego and enlightenment. I was surprised at how spiritual this book became, it’s not just about busting Leary, it’s about busting yourself open.
October 13, 2025
“A Masterpiece of Mind and Heart”
From the first chapter, I knew I was in the hands of a gifted storyteller. The pacing, emotion, and tension build beautifully toward a conclusion that’s both haunting and transcendent. Ross doesn’t just tell a story about the 60s, he captures the restless, searching energy of that entire generation. I closed the book feeling inspired, shaken, and oddly at peace.
From the first chapter, I knew I was in the hands of a gifted storyteller. The pacing, emotion, and tension build beautifully toward a conclusion that’s both haunting and transcendent. Ross doesn’t just tell a story about the 60s, he captures the restless, searching energy of that entire generation. I closed the book feeling inspired, shaken, and oddly at peace.
October 13, 2025
“From Violence to Vision”
This story hit hard. Sean’s trauma from Vietnam and his violent past are portrayed with brutal honesty, and his later journey into Leary’s world feels like stepping through a mirror, from chaos to consciousness. Ross manages to honor both the pain of war and the hope of spiritual rebirth. It’s emotional, cinematic, and deeply human.
This story hit hard. Sean’s trauma from Vietnam and his violent past are portrayed with brutal honesty, and his later journey into Leary’s world feels like stepping through a mirror, from chaos to consciousness. Ross manages to honor both the pain of war and the hope of spiritual rebirth. It’s emotional, cinematic, and deeply human.
October 13, 2025
“A Vivid Portrait of a Turbulent Era”
You can almost smell the patchouli, hear the protest chants, and feel the tension of a country tearing itself apart. The author’s attention to historical detail is amazing, but it never feels like a history lesson, it’s alive. The way Sean’s undercover missions intersect with real counterculture figures gave the story a chilling authenticity.
You can almost smell the patchouli, hear the protest chants, and feel the tension of a country tearing itself apart. The author’s attention to historical detail is amazing, but it never feels like a history lesson, it’s alive. The way Sean’s undercover missions intersect with real counterculture figures gave the story a chilling authenticity.
October 13, 2025
“Raw, Riveting, and Redemptive”
This novel took me by surprise. It’s rough around the edges in places, much like its hero, but that’s exactly what makes it feel authentic. The writing pulses with life, and the moral questions it raises are timeless. Do we obey authority or conscience? Do we live for duty or truth? I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.
This novel took me by surprise. It’s rough around the edges in places, much like its hero, but that’s exactly what makes it feel authentic. The writing pulses with life, and the moral questions it raises are timeless. Do we obey authority or conscience? Do we live for duty or truth? I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.
June 17, 2025
I loved this book from beginning to end. Bernard Ross evokes the ecstatic arc of the 60s and its chief psychedelics guru, Timothy Leary. An intriguing insider's tale, well-written and endlessly gripping. Take the trip!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews