Zzyzx and The Last Shaman of the Desert
Based upon the author's firsthand investigation, together with original letters, newspapers, government records, photographs, memoirs, oral histories, and archival documents.
About This Book
More than the story of the mysterious Zzyzx Road exit along Interstate 15 in the Mojave Desert, Zzyzx and the Last Shaman of the Desert uncovers the extraordinary rise and fall of Curtis Howe Springer, the self-proclaimed physician, evangelist, and health entrepreneur who transformed the remote mineral springs at Zzyzx into one of America's most infamous health resorts. Drawing upon the author's firsthand experiences during a 1969 undercover investigation, together with years of scholarly research and original historical sources, the book separates fact from legend to reveal the remarkable history behind Zzyzx.
The Rise and Fall of Curtis Howe Springer
Built upon original newspapers, government records, photographs, memoirs, oral histories, and archival documents, Zzyzx and the Last Shaman of the Desert presents the fascinating story of Curtis Howe Springer and the extraordinary desert empire he created on public land in the Mojave Desert.
More than a biography of Springer, the book explores the worlds of alternative medicine, radio evangelism, health fraud, public lands, law enforcement, and the unique history of the California Mojave Desert. It follows Springer's transformation from charismatic promoter to one of the twentieth century's most controversial religious and medical entrepreneurs.
Drawing upon firsthand investigative experiences, historical documentation, and previously overlooked archival sources, the book corrects decades of myths and misinformation while documenting the federal investigation that ultimately brought Springer's remarkable enterprise to an end.
Illustrated with historical photographs, newspapers, maps, and archival material, the volume presents one of the most comprehensive documentary histories ever written about Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Curtis Howe Springer.
Rather than relying upon legend and folklore, Zzyzx and the Last Shaman of the Desert allows readers to discover the remarkable story of Zzyzx through documentary evidence, firsthand investigation, and the historical record.
Historical Highlights
Recommended for readers of Mojave Desert history, California history, Western history, true crime, investigative history, alternative medicine, and primary-source documentary research.
Book Details
Length: 199 pages
Genre: Documentary History • Mojave Desert History • California History • American West
ISBN: 978-0-9904161-4-2