A one-off spiritual publication and one of the many ill-fated ventures of the German-born, counterculture philanthropist, Rick Strauss. Strauss emigrated to the U.S. in 1941 and for two decades undertook a variety of jobs before making and losing a fortune in commodities futures. At 46 and down to his last $250,000 Strauss joined the Oracle of Southern California commune and helped with their eponymous newspaper until it dissolved in 1968. He then used his remaining fortune on "crash pads for long-haired street children, rock music festivals, a drug rehabilitation program, a yoga training center, a dune buggy manufacturing scheme and an assortment of other ill-fated enterprises -- all in the name of bringing peace to the world by midsummer night, 1972" (Rosenzweig, p. 20). During this time, Strauss also published one issue of The Oracle, similar in content and appearance to its forebears, The San Francisco Oracle and The Oracle of Southern California, but more spiritual in nature than either of those papers. The content includes Strauss' own writings and those from other spiritual gurus and religious texts. Also included is a centerfold psychedelic poster, nature photographs, and a lengthy two-page spread describing Strauss' worldview and his many proposed ventures. Besides the newspaper, Strauss also wrote and published a number of manuals: How to Win Games and Influence Destiny: A Manual for Apprentice Gods ([1969]), The Way to Effective Living (1970) and The Masters of Destiny (1970). A lengthy 1971 profile of a penurious 51-year-old Strauss in the Los Angeles Times finds him, his wife, their new baby and a small coterie of disciples about to be evicted from their house, although throughout the article Strauss remains optimistic about his quest for peace and enlightenment. Tabloid format printed in pink and purple on newsprint, [24] p., illus. A fine copy. Only two copies in OCLC at Emory and UC-Irvine. Scarce. Reference: Rosenzweig, David. "He Exhausts Fortune on Dream of World Peace: Ex-Millionaire Faces Eviction as Schemes Inspired by Visions Fail." "The Los Angeles Times, Mon, Sep 13, 1971, pgs. 3; 20.
