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Great Lakes Books Series
John E. Fetzer and the Quest for the New Age
John E. Fetzer and the Quest for the New Age follows the spiritual sojourn of John E. Fetzer, a Michigan business tycoon. Born in 1901 and living most of his life in Kalamazoo, Fetzer parlayed his first radio station into extensive holdings in broadcasting and other enterprises, leading to his sole ownership of the Detroit Tigers in 1961. By the time he died in 1991, Fetzer had been listed in Forbes magazine as one of the four hundred wealthiest people in America. And yet, business success was never enough for Fetzer—his deep spiritual yearnings led him from the Christianity of his youth to a restless exploration of metaphysical religions and movements ranging from Spiritualism, Theosophy, Freemasonry, UFOology, and parapsychology, all the way to the New Age as it blossomed in the 1980s.
Author Brian C. Wilson demonstrates how Fetzer’s quest mirrored those of thousands of Americans who sought new ways of thinking and being in the ever-changing spiritual movements of the twentieth century. Over his lifetime, Fetzer's worldview continuously evolved, combining and recombining elements from dozens of traditions in a process he called "freedom of the spirit." Unlike most others who engaged in a similar process, Fetzer’s synthesis can be documented step by step using extensive archival materials, providing readers with a remarkably rich and detailed roadmap through metaphysical America. The book also documents how Fetzer’s wealth allowed him to institutionalize his spiritual vision into a thriving foundation—the Fetzer Institute—which was designed to carry his insights into the future in hopes that it would help catalyze a global spiritual transformation.
John E. Fetzer and the Quest for the New Age offers a window into the rich and complex history of metaphysical religions in the Midwest and the United States at large. It will be read with interest by those wishing to learn more about this enigmatic Michigan figure, as well as those looking for an engaging introduction into America’s rapidly shifting spiritual landscape.
Author Brian C. Wilson demonstrates how Fetzer’s quest mirrored those of thousands of Americans who sought new ways of thinking and being in the ever-changing spiritual movements of the twentieth century. Over his lifetime, Fetzer's worldview continuously evolved, combining and recombining elements from dozens of traditions in a process he called "freedom of the spirit." Unlike most others who engaged in a similar process, Fetzer’s synthesis can be documented step by step using extensive archival materials, providing readers with a remarkably rich and detailed roadmap through metaphysical America. The book also documents how Fetzer’s wealth allowed him to institutionalize his spiritual vision into a thriving foundation—the Fetzer Institute—which was designed to carry his insights into the future in hopes that it would help catalyze a global spiritual transformation.
John E. Fetzer and the Quest for the New Age offers a window into the rich and complex history of metaphysical religions in the Midwest and the United States at large. It will be read with interest by those wishing to learn more about this enigmatic Michigan figure, as well as those looking for an engaging introduction into America’s rapidly shifting spiritual landscape.
- GenresReligion
447 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 6, 2018
232 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Brian C. Wilson
13 books2 followersBrian C. Wilson is professor of American Religious History in the Department of Comparative Religion at Western Michigan University. He is the author of Dr. John Harvey Kellogg and the Religion of Biologic Living and Yankees in Michigan.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 3, 2018
From nothing to everything and the search for spirituality.
John Fetzer was a man with ambition and a vision of life unlike most. Starting with a single radio station, he built an empire in media and began the search for meaning in spiritual happiness. John studies everything from theosophy to UFOlogy. The story is well well written and catches the essence of John Fetzer. I found this to be an interesting and intellectual read that kept my interest and desire to learn more about this man and his search. I reccomed this one to those who like to see different perspectives of life and spiritual ventures. Check this one out and let me know what you think.
John Fetzer was a man with ambition and a vision of life unlike most. Starting with a single radio station, he built an empire in media and began the search for meaning in spiritual happiness. John studies everything from theosophy to UFOlogy. The story is well well written and catches the essence of John Fetzer. I found this to be an interesting and intellectual read that kept my interest and desire to learn more about this man and his search. I reccomed this one to those who like to see different perspectives of life and spiritual ventures. Check this one out and let me know what you think.
October 22, 2018
This biography of John E. Fetzer is more than just a biography of an influential man of the 20th century. It is his spiritual journey that influenced him. All of the religions, philosophies, and literary text that was accessible of the majority was something that he sought out to understand. Fetzer never settled for one answer and the author didn't either. There was so much research and so much content for the spiritual movements because it shaped Fetzer so much. Don't expect a run-of-the-mill biography with a one-dimensional view of a famous person. This is academic, insightful, and so much more.
October 4, 2018
Informative!
The novel on the life of a successful businessman John E. Fetzer, who started his business with a single station and built and empire. His passion and vision leads him to success that people dream. But he was not satisfied yet and questioned about a path for spiritual life. He combined various traditions to build a process called “freedom of spirit”. His spiritual vision institutionalizes into a thriving foundation-the Fetzer Institute-which was designed to carry his insights into the future in hopes that it would help catalyze a global spiritual transformation. The book is informative, especially around spiritual life and vision for free spirits.
The novel on the life of a successful businessman John E. Fetzer, who started his business with a single station and built and empire. His passion and vision leads him to success that people dream. But he was not satisfied yet and questioned about a path for spiritual life. He combined various traditions to build a process called “freedom of spirit”. His spiritual vision institutionalizes into a thriving foundation-the Fetzer Institute-which was designed to carry his insights into the future in hopes that it would help catalyze a global spiritual transformation. The book is informative, especially around spiritual life and vision for free spirits.
September 26, 2018
The story of John Earl Fetzer starts with a brief introduction of his family and native place. His father died when he was young. The family had to keep on moving places for the business purpose which was taken over by his mother Della Fetzer.
However, the absence of the father was covered when John’s sister married to Fred Ribble who introduced John to the radio. The three great influences in his life were Della, Harriet, and Fred. Other influences were innovation and intervention due to entrepreneurial culture of Midwest and impression was Evangelical Protestantism due to the intense focus on Bible.
This story discusses the arrival of Christians and large migrations of Protestants from the Eastern United States and Protestant from German extraction attributing vibrant German culture in the twentieth century. John adopted the aspects of both ethnic and religious history of Indiana and Midwest. Fetzer's faith became paramount when contracted with Spanish flu and countless life was gone. Later after the invention of the radio, music became the obsession for John which later became his professional life. He built and ran the first radio station in the southwest of Michigan.
In the end, Rhea Yeager has been mentioned to whom John tied in a spiritual knot. This story is about John Fetzer and Christianity religion starting from 1901 till the 1930s is, of course, a good read to people having faith on Jesus Christ and how the challenges in life could be overcome if one has belief in religion.
However, the absence of the father was covered when John’s sister married to Fred Ribble who introduced John to the radio. The three great influences in his life were Della, Harriet, and Fred. Other influences were innovation and intervention due to entrepreneurial culture of Midwest and impression was Evangelical Protestantism due to the intense focus on Bible.
This story discusses the arrival of Christians and large migrations of Protestants from the Eastern United States and Protestant from German extraction attributing vibrant German culture in the twentieth century. John adopted the aspects of both ethnic and religious history of Indiana and Midwest. Fetzer's faith became paramount when contracted with Spanish flu and countless life was gone. Later after the invention of the radio, music became the obsession for John which later became his professional life. He built and ran the first radio station in the southwest of Michigan.
In the end, Rhea Yeager has been mentioned to whom John tied in a spiritual knot. This story is about John Fetzer and Christianity religion starting from 1901 till the 1930s is, of course, a good read to people having faith on Jesus Christ and how the challenges in life could be overcome if one has belief in religion.
October 13, 2018
John E Fetzer and the Quest for the New Age(Great Lakes Book Series) by Brian C Wilson is a well written biography detailing the life of a Michigan tycoon businessman coming from humble beginnings.
Coming from the UK I had never heard of John E Fetzer however the detail that had been included into this book helped me learn more and have a better knowledge of the man.
The book begins with a brief introduction on John's family and origins. At a young age John lost his father and how the family moved around a lot due to the family business that their mother Della Fetzer took over the reins. The absence of John's father became apparent but he had great influences in his life from several people.
Although the book talks about Fetzer it discusses in depths religion particularly the arrival of Christianity and protestant migrants from the Eastern United States and German extraction protestants.
All in all an interesting read, those that didn't know who John E Fetzer was before reading this will come away with a better understanding.
Coming from the UK I had never heard of John E Fetzer however the detail that had been included into this book helped me learn more and have a better knowledge of the man.
The book begins with a brief introduction on John's family and origins. At a young age John lost his father and how the family moved around a lot due to the family business that their mother Della Fetzer took over the reins. The absence of John's father became apparent but he had great influences in his life from several people.
Although the book talks about Fetzer it discusses in depths religion particularly the arrival of Christianity and protestant migrants from the Eastern United States and German extraction protestants.
All in all an interesting read, those that didn't know who John E Fetzer was before reading this will come away with a better understanding.
August 22, 2018
A most unusual biography of a singular personality, this book focuses almost exclusively on the spiritual development and fascinations of John Fetzer, businessman, radio pioneer and owner of the Detroit Tigers ... who also founded a major foundation for the exploration of parapsychological phenomena and holistic healing. In his restless search for universal truth, Fetzer engaged with nearly every arcane belief system, secret society, and "fringe" science that existed in his lifetime. His story is a primer on Spiritualism, Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, Ufology, parapsychology, noetic science, and scores of other once outre countercultural arcana that are today collecively classed as "New Age" thinking. Plus, he had a childhood in West Lafayette, IN and eventually ended up in Ann Arbor, MI before settling into southwest Michigan, which tracks my own life story eerily enough.
October 4, 2018
John E. Fetzer and the Quest for the New Age by Brian C. Wilson is a biography of an outstanding person. Thanks to the author’s style, the reader has a feeling that he is living the life of the person in question. There is comfort and peace of mind, every stage of life.
The book describes the life of Fetzer. His life can inspire and give motivation to everyone. He was born in a small town, but always sought to develop, trying to find ways to self-realization. After 1991, after the death of Fetzer was included in the Forbes list, but wealth was not his main goal, he tried to develop spiritually.
I believe that the author understood the character and inner world of Fetzer and was able to convey this to the reader. He respectfully described his entire life path. I enjoyed reading. I recommend to get acquainted to the book.
The book describes the life of Fetzer. His life can inspire and give motivation to everyone. He was born in a small town, but always sought to develop, trying to find ways to self-realization. After 1991, after the death of Fetzer was included in the Forbes list, but wealth was not his main goal, he tried to develop spiritually.
I believe that the author understood the character and inner world of Fetzer and was able to convey this to the reader. He respectfully described his entire life path. I enjoyed reading. I recommend to get acquainted to the book.
August 22, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and understand the intent behind the push to get it out into the world.. I appreciate and also hold many of the spiritual views and interests that compelled Fetzer on his quest and in that sense was fully riveted by his path and ultimate mission. Growing up in the midwest, I also was surprised at the history of new age and metaphysical interest there, as I had not known about the significance of this area's part in the birthing of these concepts. I am inspired and fascinated by the trajectory of our world today and also extremely motivated to continue my own work in the fields of both science and spirituality, so his legacy and connections naturally resonated very deeply with me.
September 12, 2020
Overall, I did not like the way it was written. It was very dense and jumped around chronologically and topically. I feel it could have been better organized. It also seemed too factual and not personal enough -- it did not attempt to sway the reader one way or the other, which may have been better. It was informative, however, and I learned a little about the general idea of New Age spirituality, thought most of it was in the very last chapter.
August 22, 2021
Fascinating material about an eager consumer of occult and New Age practices, but the book is rather brief.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews