My Name Was Mushroom: My Life as a Teenage Runaway in The Source Family Commune

by Wendy Baker, Brian Solon

At age 14, Wendy Gossard was drawn by the tranquil blue eyes and personal magnetism of a man known as Yahowah, leader of a spiritual group called the Source Family. Fleeing her own family and becoming a fugitive from justice in the state of California, Wendy followed the 1970s cult group across settlements in California and Hawaii on a quest for spiritual direction, communal harmony, and basic survival. Growing up, the teenager, called Mushroom by Yahowah, had questions about her pregnancy, relationships, and place in the universe—and about the boy who started her on her quest, the blond-haired son of the spiritual leader.

In this memoir, the author takes the reader on a journey through the 1960s and ’70s, with love-ins in Hollywood and on Sunset Blvd., hippie communal living, and survival in wilderness environments. It’s also a coming-of-age story about discerning universal wisdom and personal truth.

Genres: Nonfiction, Cults, Memoir

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 7, 2022

About the author

Wendy Baker is an award-winning author and entrepreneur. With her husband, Bart Baker, she runs an insurance agency. In her spare time, she volunteers at the Lighthouse Women’s and Children’s Shelter in Oxnard, California. She’s passionate about helping teenage mothers succeed in life. Wendy lives in Malibu, California, with her husband and enjoys spending time with their three grown children and four grandchildren.

Reviews

[Tracie Mochizuki · Rating 2 out of 5]

more of a list

This reads like notes for a book, not a book. Im fascinated by all things Source Family, and there are some general timeline factoids here I didnt know. But the writing is mostly factual—places and names, this happened, then that— emotions are named but not described in any original way, and not really accompanied by insights. She doesnt seem to have a sense of what questions people would have about the Family lifestyle—salad ingredients get more description than complex situations or motivations. Im sure it was cathartic to write all this down and self publish it, but it would be nice to have had some real editing or comparitive insight.

[Cori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was hard to put down because it was written in such an easy, conversational way. It was so interesting to learn about the Source Family and Wendy’s life within it. I loved how descriptive the book was with locations! It helped paint such a clear picture in my mind as I was reading, and I felt like I was right there experiencing these events myself.

[Stefanie]

The soft dirt felt like silk beneath her feet as she trudged down the beaten path. The warm air made her skin sticky with sweat as her long skirts blew around her ankles. There were children running and laughing in the lawn and women out washing and keeping watch on the little ones. She smiled as she watched her family and close community together.

My Name Was Mushroom follows the author Wendy and details her life as a young, runaway teenager and her time in a commune. Following her from Los Angeles, to Hawaii, to San Francisco… talking about her life and sharing stories of her time in the Source Family Commune all the way to where she is today.

I always enjoy reading a memoir and getting to learn about someone else’s life and this one was no exception. Reading Wendy’s story was heartbreaking, but showed how resilient she was and how strong she became as she battled neglect, legal battles, harsh living conditions, and health scares. Her descriptions of her time in the commune was very eye-opening and allows the reader to really see and experience what she went through.

If you enjoy reading memoirs and learning of other people’s stories and struggles, then I suggest reading this book.

TW: Neglect, Time in a Juvenile Home/Halfway House, Cult-Like Practices, Adult/Minor Relationship, Anxiety/Panic Attacks/Depression, Drug Use, Dangerous Health Conditions, Death of a Loved One.

*No rating for nonfiction

[Kim Sloan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was more of a personal journey of growth. Yes she was a teenage runaway but there is so much more to the book than just that. The constant moving within the Source Family commune alone is a journey. Add in the family dynamics including multiple children within the group growing up in the hippie era of the 1970s. I enjoyed this book and absolutely loved the ending which brought the author full circle to the life that she was meant to live!

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5. I listened to the book and I hate to say but the author’s voice was very irritating to me (sorry Wendy). Her voice had no oomph to it. I did find her story very interesting. Several times she was repetitious and her writing was sometimes very amateurish. I think that was bad editing. What a trippy life.

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wendy Baker became an adult in the Source Family Cult and her experiences from start to finish could be its own movie. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that childhoods have certainly evolved over the decades and it was nostalgic to read about someone who had as much freedom as I did growing up.

From California to Hawaii and back again and again, the Source Family moved around a lot. Isolated from the world and under strict guidelines from the Father, it was fascinating to see the bits of hindsight as Wendy details her story.

Overall this is a well written memoir that kept my attention from start to finish.

Thank you Wendy Baker for gifting me a copy to review.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raw, Captivating, and Deeply Revealing
This memoir offers a powerful, unflinching look into life inside the Source Family during the countercultural 1960s and ’70s. Wendy Gossard’s story is both haunting and heartfelt, capturing the vulnerability of youth, the allure of spiritual belonging, and the cost of surrendering one’s identity. Rich with historical detail and emotional honesty, it’s a compelling coming-of-age journey that stays with you long after the final page.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the subject matter very interesting and never felt bored while reading this book. It just wasn’t very well written. The sentences were choppy and confusing at times and there was quite a bit of repetition. But simultaneously there felt like there could have been more to flesh things out. I do recommend reading it if you’re interested in The Source Family though.

[ellie zacks · Rating 5 out of 5]

My name was Anastasia.....

I was also Elome and Omega! Thank you, Wendy for writing your very personal story. I love that I felt as if I was walking down memory lane along with you. Thank you too, for your work helping young women.

[Teresa Bunch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense

This book was awesome! So much detail and history that I felt that I was there with her and she sought her independence.
A definite must read; you won't be sorry. I'm about the read it again!

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back in the day I wanted to join a hippy commune. I got to live it through Wendy's (Mushroom)book. It made me see what it was like. Her life came full circle for her best life.

[Michelle Behan · Rating 5 out of 5]

the Peek into cult life we all want.

A sweet ( with some spice) story of life and living. Finding family- good and bad. Living and growing and learning

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

This was a really great book.enjoyed reading it and learning labour different cultures . I read it a n 2 days.

[Lindsay Mayo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of names to follow but very interesting stories. Easy read

[Bridget Holbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

Very interesting true story written in first hand by the author who ranaway anto follow a cult in the early 1970s

[Rocky Festa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of a weird read. The style is very direct, without a lot of emotion. It's a pretty crazy story, I was entertained.

[Andrea Kaufman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fascinating experience to set this young girl up for the rest of her life. Amazing that she made it thru. Shows the ultimate strength of the human spirit

[Sybille Denninger · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason I’ve always liked reading books and learning about cults. As such, I did find this memoir very interesting. At times I felt that the main character and her friends (especially her 1st boyfriend) at age 12, were portrayed as too mature in the way they spoke, thought and acted. Are there really 12-yr olds who enjoy dates going out to eat in restaurants? As with nearly all memoirs I’ve ever read, I always stumble about one question: “How do they pay for everything/where is the money coming from? In this case multiple flights to/from Hawaii, huge mansions and villas in expensive cities, properties in Hawaii, when sometimes in the same week of a major purchase, they were living on the street, begging for food. The money question for me started in the very beginning when “Mushroom” age 12/13 met the cult leader’s son while they both scrounged for coins tossed in a fountain to buy candy. It was made clear that there was no money otherwise. Yet very soon after, they took taxis back & forth to see each other. I always get hung up on that same issue because it brings down the credibility of the story for me every time. Overall I found that there were too many repetitive paragraphs and the writing was amateurish, but it was an eye-opening story.

[Colleen Loftus · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Grand Adventure

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I own both the Kindle and the audible versions. In audible you hear Wendy (Mushroom's) story narrated in her own voice. In the kindle version you have the book and photography of the people and places you have become attached to.
It is an honest story told of innocence growing up and searching for a greater good.
Time invested in this book were hours well spent.